Terrible. Hated it. ( )

Part of the Gravel Road series. This free verse novel tells the story of Lexi McCleen, a sixteen-year-old at Lakeview High School who uses poetry and art to escape from her family’s issues. Her father is in jail for a DUI, her stepmother is neglectful of Lexi and her younger brother Blaine, who has autism and ADHD, and the family is still recovering from the death of Lexi’s infant sister Clarissa Grace.Lexi’s emotional problems reach a critical point and she is sent to be treated at a mental hospital, after which returns to school and begins building a healthier life. Lexi’s poetry captures her struggle with depression and self-harm, embarrassment over her family’s problems, and the feeling of being an outcast in her new school. The dark tone of the poems helps communicate Lexi’s character and the depth of her emotional issues. The poems are highly accessible but in some cases rhymes feel forced and the tone borders on melodramatic. This book would be a good choice for hi-lo readers with an interest in poetry or creative writing because of the relatable subject matter and easy-to-read free verse style. Additional Selection. Ages 13 & up. ( )