From the Publisher
At times poignant, bitter, and funny, this narrative captures [a] unique voice that questions what it means to die-and to live.” — Booklist (starred review)
“My Heart and Other Black Holes is alive with intensity, gut-wrenching honesty, moments of humor, and-of course-heart. This is an extraordinary debut by a striking new voice in YA fiction that left me in awe and moved beyond measure. Not to be missed.” — Nova Ren Suma, author of IMAGINARY GIRLS and 17 & GONE
“With high intelligence and a massiveness of heart, Warga gifts us with a novel that has the music of Mozart, the logic of advanced physics, and the vision to see the link between them. This is something utterly new, a book that is kinetic and beautiful and unexpectedly life-affirming.” — Chris Lynch, National Book Award Finalist for Inexcusable and Michael L. Printz Honor-winner for Freewill
“[The book] addresses serious issues with complexity and humor . . . thoughtfully presented.” — School Library Journal
“Earnest and heartfelt . . . any teen who’s ever felt like an outsider will be able to relate to Aysel’s and Roman’s fully realized characters.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Debut novelist Warga addresses adolescent depression and suicide with honesty and grace” — Publishers Weekly
“Debut author Warga unflinchingly tackles the grim subject matter with empathy, sensitivity, and honesty, without trivializing her protagonists’ disturbing thoughts or emotions . . . [with an] utterly endearing romance.” — The Horn Book
“Warga delves honestly into the very difficult issues of teenage depression…sometimes sad, sometimes funny, but ultimately filled with hope.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Warga delves honestly into the very difficult issues of teenage depression…sometimes sad, sometimes funny, but ultimately filled with hope.
The Horn Book
Debut author Warga unflinchingly tackles the grim subject matter with empathy, sensitivity, and honesty, without trivializing her protagonists’ disturbing thoughts or emotions . . . [with an] utterly endearing romance.
Chris Lynch
With high intelligence and a massiveness of heart, Warga gifts us with a novel that has the music of Mozart, the logic of advanced physics, and the vision to see the link between them. This is something utterly new, a book that is kinetic and beautiful and unexpectedly life-affirming.
Nova Ren Suma
My Heart and Other Black Holes is alive with intensity, gut-wrenching honesty, moments of humor, and-of course-heart. This is an extraordinary debut by a striking new voice in YA fiction that left me in awe and moved beyond measure. Not to be missed.
Booklist (starred review)
At times poignant, bitter, and funny, this narrative captures [a] unique voice that questions what it means to die-and to live.
Booklist (starred review)
At times poignant, bitter, and funny, this narrative captures [a] unique voice that questions what it means to die-and to live.
Kirkus Reviews
2014-11-04
Two teenagers make a suicide pact in this poignant, first-person debut.Sixteen-year-old Aysel's life "can be neatly divided into two sections: before my father made the nightly news and after." Since her mentally ill father murdered a local boy with Olympic hopes, Aysel feels as though her only escape from the public shame is suicide. She also worries that her father's madness is genetic and exists inside her as well. Through a website that matches suicide partners, Aysel meets Roman, a kind, attractive, athletic boy who feels responsible for the drowning death of his little sister. Even though Aysel harbors a passion for science and Roman a love of basketball, they are determined not to let each other "flake out." Together they begin enacting a fake relationship designed to lull Roman's overprotective mother into allowing Roman more freedom so they can carry out their fatal plan. But when Aysel begins falling in love with Roman for real, she knows she can no longer follow through on their pact. Can she convince Roman that his life is worth living before it's too late? Any teen who's ever felt like an outsider will be able to relate to Aysel's and Roman's fully realized characters. The countdown at the beginning of each chapter to the couple's death date (the same day Roman's sister died) will help propel readers forward to a hopeful if not entirely unexpected ending. Earnest and heartfelt. (author's note, resources) (Fiction. 13-17)
