Suicide Notes: A Realistic Portrayal of Teen Suicide and Recovery

An unforgettable coming of age novel for fans of 13 Reasons Why, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Don't miss the sequel, Every Star That Falls—available now!
Fifteen-year-old Jeff wakes up on New Year’s Day to find himself in the hospital—specifically, in the psychiatric ward.
Despite the bandages on his wrists, he’s positive this is all some huge mistake. Jeff is perfectly fine, perfectly normal; not like the other kids in the hospital with him.
But over the course of the next forty-five days, Jeff begins to understand why he ended up here—and realizes he has more in common with the other kids than he thought.
“With a sprinkling of dark humor and a full measure of humanness, Suicide Notes is quirky, surprising, and a riveting read.” —Ellen Hopkins, author of The You I’ve Never Known and Love Lies Beneath
“Like the very best teen novels, Suicide Notes is both classic and edgy, timeless and provocative.” —Brent Hartinger, author of Geography Club
“Makes a powerful emotional impact.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Jeff’s wit and self-discovery are refreshing, poignant, and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny.” —School Library Journal
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Community Reviews
My Key Takeaways from Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford:
Just because someone doesn't say the right thing doesn't mean they don't care.
People don't always mean the things they do, sometimes they just don't know how to be.
What if being crazy is just... feeling too much?
It's not about being okay. It's about learning how to be not okay and still try.
Turns out, the end of the world was just the start of a better chapter.
It wasn't about dying. It was about not knowing how to live.
Not crazy! Just... vacationing from reality.
Healing isn't pretty. But neither was breaking.
I didn't want to die. I just didn't want to feel like this anymore.
This book didn't just speak, it listened.
The “twist” doesn’t quite pack as much of a punch in 2025 as it did in 2008, but I still enjoyed this read!
Simple, poignant, and meaningful. Reminds me of It’s Kind of a Funny Story.
Simple, poignant, and meaningful. Reminds me of It’s Kind of a Funny Story.
I literally read this entire book in a day, I just couldn’t put it down. The subtly and humor woven throughout the pages had me so hooked. There were moments where I laughed, and definitely, moments that made me cry (like that ending, which you could kind of see coming, but it doesn't make it any less heartbreaking). Absolutely would recommend this book!
4.5/5
I loved the protagonists witty and sarcastic comments and I love how the author demonstrates in the book that it is ok to be in denial for a while and shows the progress that the protagonist faces throughout the story
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