A moving story of grief, honesty, and the healing power of art â€”Â the ties that bind us together, even when those we love are gone.Melanie and Damon are both living in the

Speak of Me As I Am

A moving story of grief, honesty, and the healing power of art â€”Â the ties that bind us together, even when those we love are gone.

Melanie and Damon are both living in the shadow of loss. For Melanie, it's the loss of her larger-than-life artist mother, taken by cancer well before her time. For Damon, itâ€™s the loss of his best friend, Carlos, who took his own life.
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As they struggle to fill the empty spaces their loved ones left behind, fate conspires to bring them together. Damon takes pictures with Carlosâ€™s camera to try to understand his choices, and Melanie begins painting as a way of feeling closer to her mother. But when the two join their schoolâ€™s production of Othello, the play they both hoped would be a distraction becomes a test of who they truly are, both together and on their own. And more than anything else, they discover that it just might be possible to live their lives without completely letting go of their sadness.

Praise for Speak of Me As I Am:

"Debut author Belasco adeptly captures the tribulations of high school life while also celebrating art's ability to help clarify and contextualize its joys and sorrows. . . . The novel's most intriguing character . . . is grief itself, which the author illuminates, examines, and dissects with a surgeon's precision and the gentle touch of an artist. A stirring account of the trials of adolescence."Â â€”Kirkus Reviews
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"This book will undoubtedly be compared to Rainbow Rowellâ€™s Eleanor & Park. . . .Â Teens seeking a quieter but no less moving story will find this book a perfect read."Â â€”Booklist

"Never maudlin, always authentic, the portrayal of their struggles to deal with grief and with love will resonate with many teens."Â â€”VOYA

"A good purchase for realistic fiction collections and for readers looking for books about survivorâ€™s guilt and healing." â€”School Library JournalÂ

"Belascoâ€™s novel sends a powerful message about the complicated nature of grief. . . . This powerful,Â emotional work should be earmarked to be aÂ favorite with teen readers."Â â€”BookPage

Country	USA
Author	Sonia Belasco
Binding	Hardcover
Brand	PHILOMEL
EAN	9780399546761
Feature	PHILOMEL
ISBN	0399546766
Label	Philomel Books
Manufacturer	Philomel Books
NumberOfItems	1
NumberOfPages	272
PublicationDate	2017-04-04
Publisher	Philomel Books
ReleaseDate	2017-04-04
Studio	Philomel Books

Speak of Me As I Am

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