Anna Bloom is depressed–so depressed that her parents have committed her to a mental hospital with a bunch of other messed-up teens. Here, she meets a roommate with a secret (and a plastic baby), a doctor who focuses way too much on her weight, and a cute, shy boy who just might like her. But wait! Being trapped in a loony bin isn’t supposed to be about making friends, losing weight, and having a crush, is it? In her fiction debut, Julie Halpern finds humor in the unlikeliest of places, and presents a character whose voice–and heart–will resonate with all of us who have ever felt just a little bit crazy.
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"In my opinion the book started kind of slow...BUT THEN! woah. I LOVED IT! I did not love the ending thought I HATE it. All of theses theme books i read just end. Leaving you wondering WTH HAPPENS!?!? but its not a series. :( I want to know more about Anna and welll ya know who ;) GOOD thing theres a book 2!!! WOOO!"
— Tiki (5 out of 5 stars)
" This book was good but it didn't really have a significant ending but it still a good book. :) "
— Amber, 1/26/2014" i love this book i can relate to anna so much(exept I havent gone to the looney bin) its so heart warming.People get to understand how much teens go through with weight issues. "
— karina, 1/16/2014" Interesting book about a girl who is put in a mental hospital by her parents. I thought it was a really cute book with some funny characters. "
— Shelley, 12/31/2013" when i was a t(w)een, i wasn't much for the sick-and-dying girl books. lurlene mcdaniel's never made any money off of me. but crazy girl (or boy) books i was all about. so, i would've been all over this one. and even as a grown-up who isn't quite as attracted to the crazy, i still liked it. "
— Jenn, 11/11/2013" It's rather cheesy. It took place in a psych unit of a hospital. However, it had some twists I wasn't quiet expecting, albeit the twists were rather cheesy. I did enjoy it as a nice fluffy read. "
— Angelique, 9/9/2013" really cool book i really liked this book :) "
— Hamis, 9/4/2013" I loved this book! It went inside the head of someone with anxiety and depression, which not many books have been able to do. It could have been more action filled but I still loved the book in general. "
— Christa, 8/11/2013" Julie Halpern captures the anxiety ridden yet ambivalent teenage voice perfectly here, and creates a really unique narrative deals with mental illness in an honest and nonjudgmental way. However, sometimes that voice is so well captured that our narrator gets a little annoying. "
— Sarah, 2/4/2013" Wow, this is like the coolest book ever. Written from a new perspective, the main character starts out as writing a letter to her friend instead of a journal. Because apparently journals don't help very well. Some edgy parts, but definitely a good pick from the bookshelf, as far as random goes. "
— Sharon, 1/23/2013" This was on the banded reading list. Why? It is about a girl who is going through lots of issues in her teens. She is sent to treatment and the book follows her progress. It makes me think that I don't ever want to be a teenager again. "
— Book, 12/25/2012" The reason I even picked up this book was because of its yellowness. It's so YELLOW! Then I just couldn't put in down. "
— CindyJean, 8/24/2012" I loved this book so much(: I can't wait to read the next one. "
— Sarah, 6/21/2012" I laughed out loud all the way through the book. Hilarious and sweet. "
— Sylvie, 12/5/2011" My favorite book it was so funny and Anna had a great spence of humor "
— Madison, 6/7/2011" Interesting. Similar to Suicide Notes, but, I think, more girly and flight-y, wishy-washy. The character is believeable, but the main conflict is not as drastic nor interesting. It's a chick-flick hybrid, so it might not stick with everyone. "
— Alaina, 5/29/2011" A girl is sent to a mental hospital when she feels like she doesn't need it. She learns a lot about others and life. "
— 'Chele, 4/9/2011" It is so good, i don't know how to explain it but I loved it! "
— Natalie, 3/30/2011" Interesting. Similar to Suicide Notes, but, I think, more girly and flight-y, wishy-washy. The character is believeable, but the main conflict is not as drastic nor interesting. It's a chick-flick hybrid, so it might not stick with everyone. "
— Alaina, 2/17/2011" Just like the other Julie Halpern book i have read, i couln't put this one down! <br/>it was soo funnny, even though being in a mental hospital is a kinda seriouse topic. <br/>Highly recommended to everyone!! :) "
— Lillian, 2/14/2011" This book was the most hilarious book i have ever read! :D Loved it! "
— Cathy, 1/27/2011" Interesting book about a girl who is put in a mental hospital by her parents. I thought it was a really cute book with some funny characters. "
— Shelley, 12/17/2010" really cool book i really liked this book :) "
— Hamis, 11/12/2010" This book is sooooooo not for people who want to read about normal things!!! It is about this girl who is sent to a loony bin because she is depressed and she cuts herself. So i really think that it is a crazy type of book. "
— Ann, 11/9/2010" Loved it. I loved how the characters changed... with the help of medication. Yippee!! "
— Jennifer, 11/8/2010Julie Halpern is the author of five young adult novels and one picture book for young readers. Maternity Leave is her first novel for adults. Prior to her life as full-time mom and author, Julie was a school librarian. In her imaginary spare time, she enjoys traveling, watching television for grown-ups, and eating baked goods. Julie lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, author and illustrator Matthew Cordell, and their two children.
Mandy Siegfried has worked at theaters in New York, on and off Broadway, and around the country. Her film work includes School of Rock, Two Weeks Notice, Winter Passing, Liberty Maine, The Out-of-Towners, and St. Andrew’s Girls.