Night Shift

Gr 7 Up—At first glance, this may appear to be a picture book for young children; even the title belies its intent and audience. Instead, it is an eloquently worded story of the author's experience of depression. Expressive imagery-heavy language, such as "The fog rolled in every night" and "But I had lost my compass and without it any map was pointless," is accompanied by dark, splotchy wisps of gray and an illustrated spiky dragon that appears to follow the author everywhere. In short, lyrical sentences packed with meaning, Gliori defines "night skills" ("the ability to survive inside my own darkness"). The author's note adds additional substance to the meaning of her narrative, but most will recognize the imagery and metaphors she uses. In her final note to readers, she states, "Being ill and unable to communicate how we feel is such a lonely business. My hope is that this book will help explain what we're going through." Counselors, therapists, and parents could easily use this as a discussion starter or a mentor text for helping adolescents who experience the effects of depression.