Stepping out of my (writing) comfort zone.
The Plot Thickens
I will be honest, friends—I was scared to write my newest Young Adult novel, All the Things We Didn’t See. So much so that I almost didn’t. Terrified that I would say something wrong, that I would do more harm than I would be a help, I refused to write this novel for several months. Then I realized I needed to get over my fear and write it anyway. And it was hard. Very hard. But I am so thankful I did.
Penning this novel was an emotional journey for me. All the Things We Didn’t See deals directly with depression, suicide, and the prevalent stigma regarding mental illness. Too many people, those I love and those I don’t even know, struggle with these issues, and the stigma regarding mental illness needs to be eradicated.
In the End
While a work of fiction, the characters were inspired by friends and acquaintances in my life who endure their own personal struggles and some whose loved ones sadly lost their battle with depression. My hope was to create something that would help those who are struggling, and also bring awareness to those who may not realize what others go through and fight against on a daily basis. I wholeheartedly believe that All the Things We Didn’t See has a message to which both children and adults can relate.
In preparation for the release on September 1, 2021, I’ve shared advance copies of the novel with friends and colleagues—some recent reviews include:
“A powerful read that explores the realities of depression and how we can help those who struggle with it.” –Amy Klco, Author
“(D.A. Reed) is a tremendously gifted writer…She is sensitive to both the celebration and distress of teenage angst, writing…with a clarity and realism few can match.” –Diana Wolf-Plopa, Writer and Owner of Pages Promotions, LLC
If I’ve shared an advance copy with you and you’ve had the opportunity to read All the Things We Didn’t See, please consider leaving a review in the comments of this blog post.
Thank you for your help, friends!
It’s said the chances we regret most in life are the ones we never take. Author D.A. Reed admits she was scared to take on a story like All The Things We Didn’t See, yet she met the challenge head on and took that chance.
Having finished reading the book and feeling like I’ve lived in the skin of main character Isobel Crane, I’m glad I took the chance and read it. This isn’t the typical genre I enjoy, yet it is an important one. D.A. Reed captures lightning in a bottle here, digging into the life and psyche of a teenager experiencing life, death, mourning, betrayal, angst, friendship, what it means to grow up, and everything in between.
I’d like to think that if writer/director John Hughes had suffered from depression, or knew someone close who did, this is exactly the kind of story he’d have taken on and filmed. D.A. Reed has channeled Hughes’s understanding of youth, and all its associated troubles, but she’s added her own unique stamp.
We all know someone who’s suffering from depression whether we realize it or not. Our lives are touched by it, influenced by it, and yet we seldom understand how to acknowledge it or help someone who may be in the throes of it.
All The Things We Didn’t See is a starting point.
Read it.
I was afraid to read this. I was afraid I would be triggered, or that it wouldn’t be accurate and I’d have to throw out some negativity on a book with only positive remarks. But I love the way depression is shown from so many perspectives. It really does affect everyone in some way. This book brought me to tears and left me in awe. Thank you for talking openly about such a taboo topic.
This is a great book
As a school counselor, I am always looking for honest and poignant books for my students that reflect their unique experience. Reading about and discussing suicide erases the stigma that so many kids feel–D.A. Reed manages to find the beautiful middle ground where kids can have a genuine connection to characters, feelings, and a difficult topic all in the pages of a book. Much gratitude to her for writing about the hard things that are our kids real lives.
Despite it being a very difficult topic to discuss, you tackle it with such respect and grace that makes the reader hold on for hope. The beauty in the writing and incredible characterization surround the delicate yet powerful plot to give a wonderfully fulfilling reading experience fit for any age. An absolutely incredible read that I cannot recommend enough!
Such a powerful story about a very important topic. Thank you, D.A. Reed, for always telling the stories that need to be told.