Week 32 Book 29--Last Night I Sang to the Monster

Zach is an 18-year-old alcoholic who is living in a rehab center. But he doesn't remember how he got to the center, who's paying for it, or what happened. And something big must have happened because he has repressed all memory of it. Rooming with Rafael, a 53-year-old alcoholic, and Sharkey, a 27-year-old drug addict, Zach prefers to focus on others rather than face his own demons. But eventually he has to face them and prepare to move on with his life. This is definitely a dark YA book--it's not warm and fuzzy AT ALL--as you spend the majority of the book focusing on Zach's thoughts. And his thoughts are a bit all over the place as he struggles with trying to piece together his memories or even wanting to remember at all. He attends personal and group therapy sessions and breathing sessions, too, to help deal with moments of panic. I wasn't a huge fan of this book because I just tire of reading so much of a character's thoughts--I prefer action instead. But I did appreciate that this book had a hopeful tone throughout the plot...this is often lacking in the darker books. But I feel like you have to be in the mood for this one--dark thoughts, bad memories, and deep issues.