"This poignant, character-driven novel meditates on themes of grief, loss, trauma, masculinity, vulnerability, and healing . . . A tender and honest coming-of-age tale."
—Kirkus Reviews
"Gage's growth and journey of healing are marked by empathetic and engaging characters and a solid plot that will have readers cheering for Gage and his friends."
—Booklist
"A compassionate, fast-moving novel about grief, shame, and loss."
—SLJ
“Stunning and beautifully written, Don’t Ask If I’m Okay explores the complexities of love, loss, and grief, as we follow one young man on a poignant journey of self-discovery, and ultimately, healing. Vulnerable, real, and relatable, this is a book that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.”
—Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be
“Wise, gentle, funny, and incisive all at once, this is an absolutely enthralling book that tackles grief, friendship, male vulnerability, and the many unpredictable ways we move on after tragedy. Don't miss this beautiful book, though be sure to have tissues and perhaps some lembas bread on hand while reading.”
—Jamie Pacton, author of The Vermilion Emporium, Lucky Girl, and The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly
“Don’t Ask If I’m Okay is a tender story about a teen boy’s struggle with grief and vulnerability. Jessica Kara’s thoughtful, nuanced writing is like a warm hug for the reader as she gently guides them towards a powerful, heartfelt resolution.”
—Tobias Madden, author of Anything But Fine and Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell
“Don't Ask If I'm Okay deftly explores guilt and grief, hope and healing, forgiveness and found family. Evocative and heartbreaking, readers should have a box of tissues nearby!”
—Becky Wallace, author of Far From Normal and Stealing Home
10/13/2023
Gr 9 Up—It's been a year since Gage survived a car accident that killed his cousin and best friend Hunter during their senior year of high school in small-town Iowa. Gage still can't get into a car and frets when loved ones drive off in theirs. Suppressing his PTSD and depression, he builds up Hunter in his memory as perfect and invulnerable, forgetting that the grief immobilizing him is something Hunter never had to experience. When a rageful outburst at a customer at the local diner makes Gage a stranger to himself, his boss gives him the week off. Still pretending everything's okay, he loses himself in the work he loves—cooking—by preparing special dishes for his family, and while they are away, organizing a days-long feast and memorial for Hunter's friends that inevitably falls apart. A generous serving of fantasy informs this peer group, who are sensitive to Gage's fragility. But he has to come clean to himself first. All the characters are white except Mia, who's one of "only about seven" local Black families. She's also one of several close friends whose familiarity with the characters, costumes, movies, and music of The Lord of the Rings binds them together and brings about Gage's emotional catharsis. VERDICT A compassionate, fast-moving novel about grief, shame, and loss; references to The Lord of the Rings will strongly engage readers fond of the fantasy series.—Georgia Christgau
2023-02-08
A small-town Idaho teenager in mourning must find the courage to reveal his pain and ask for help.
One year after surviving the car accident that killed Hunter, his cousin and best friend, recent high school graduate Gage is hiding his nightmares and panic attacks. His belief that everyone else is dealing better with grief, combined with pressure from his dad to be a rock for his family, convinces Gage that he must pretend to be OK. Aunt Gina, Hunter’s mother, has the opportunity to showcase an art piece about grief at an exhibition in Seattle, which Gage, unable to get in a car since the accident, refuses to attend. With his aunt, mom, and stepdad out of town, Gage agrees to host a memorial for Hunter for their friends. To Gage, the memorial, a potential job working in his favorite celebrity chef’s restaurant, and a budding romance with a charming new girl seem like the perfect opportunities to show how well he is handling things, but when it all gets to be too much, Gage is forced to reevaluate how to live with grief while also caring for others. This poignant, character-driven novel meditates on themes of grief, loss, trauma, masculinity, vulnerability, and healing in ways that are accessible for teen readers. Gage is initially resistant to suggestions that he seek therapy; his father and stepfather offer contrasting examples of openness to mental health support. Main characters read White.
A tender and honest coming-of-age tale. (Fiction. 14-18)
