Written by Meg Wolitzer
I almost finished this in one sitting, it was so captivating. Certainly once Jam slips into the other universe, Belzhar, I couldn’t put the book down. A fine collection of wounded souls are collected at a special school for high school students who have suffered some kind of trauma in their lives and need to be in a more therapeutic surrounding for a while. The English teacher guides them through discussions of The Bell Jar and Sylvia Plath. But at night, in their journal writings they can revisit their moments before the trauma. I was a little dismayed that the narrator, Jam, was an unreliable witness. She lies about her own trauma. But in discussing this book with another reader, she and I decided high school girls really are able to work themselves into a totally depressed state over something that seems trivial to adults.
It is very well written and a good look into the kinds of trauma our youth may be suffering.
Review by Kaydean Judy, Granger High School Media Center
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 9-12
Author Website: http://megwolitzer.com/
Belzhar
Written by Meg Wolitzer
Dutton Juvenile
264 pages
Release Date: September 30th 2014
ISBN: 9780525423058 (hardcover)
