Brave Face

by Shaun David Hutchinson

[layawaydragon]

I don't read biographies or memoirs or non-fiction in general. I finally read my first self-help book this year, which I need to add on here too.

I wasn't sure I'd actually read this, but since it was free on Rivetedlit.com 12/10/19, I decided to try it out.

The Trigger Warnings? LOVE.
The disclaimers about Truth and memory and owning shitty behavior in the beginning won me over.
Then there's the journal entries, which oh my heart. It balances the adult writing the YA POV and cements the reality of Teen Shaun.

And again the trigger warning for the actual suicide attempt.
I was okay reading about the self-harm and crappy angsty poetry, though they did capture how I felt then too perfectly, but I didn't want to risk reading that section.

This one read like a YA book, which really worked for me. I love the casual conversational storytelling style. Including all the facts about pop culture then and now, with hindsight and context.

I've read two of Hutchinson's books before: We Are The Ants and At The End of the Universe. I was one of the few that didn't love We Are The Ants, but I did love At The End of The Universe. For both, the characters, writing, and handling of tough topics were amazing.

This gives me a new appreciation and understanding of his work. I do plan on reading any of them that strikes my fancy in the future.