Gaslit

Gr 8 Up–Ella is facing two deadly situations in her life: after learning that the migraines debilitating her are actually a symptom of a brain tumor, her beloved aunt and cousins fall victim to a gas leak in their homes, and Ella is the one to find them. With her surviving cousin, Ella decides to investigate the lethal accident, which leads to several twists and turns, in addition to a romance with a neighborhood bad boy. The story by Davidhizar (Silent Sister) is broken into two sections, separated by a black page that symbolizes the narrator coming to terms with several truths. Readers who appreciate an unreliable narrator will have to suspend some disbelief regarding the symptoms of Ella’s tumor, though the breakneck pacing will aid along this hazy journey that takes place over the course of 10 days, with the tension ramping up steadily. There is an extensive educator guide with ethical statements and questions to use before, during, and after reading, in addition to fiction and nonfiction text pairings. However, there are no mental health resources for teens, despite the suicidal notions of one of the characters. Characters are primarily white.