I really wish I had read this book a couple months ago.
When I tried to kill myself no one understood why I was in the hospital so long and why I was so sick. I overdosed on tylenol just like Jason did in the book. And just like Jason, I waited too long for my stomach to be pumped.
The whole story was very accurate and brought me back to that night. When she said that Jason had stomach pains and was sweating and his face was flushed... that's what tylenol does. It takes a long time but eventually the symptoms kick in.
Suicide is very serious and I think every has thought about it at one time or another. But it does get better. You just have to take life day by day and remember that God is always there.
This is a really great book and I wish it wasn't labeled Christian so that more people would read it because I know a lot of people who would benefit from it.
September 13, 2007

"Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem."

I hope no one has ever experienced the death of someone close to them. Unfortunately the majority of people have. It's even more sad when you know someone who's committed suicdie. As the 2nd most common form of death among teengers, it's very rare to go to a high school that has not experienced the effects of it. Even more scarier are the number of teens who have considered the thought of taking their own lives.

Pitch Black, book 4 in the True Colors series, takes a look at teen suicide, a sensitive yet important issue. Morgan's best friend has taken his life and she and two friends are struggling to figure out why. They come up with the solution that it is best to join him and they make a suicide pact. As Morgan finds out what really happen, she decides to rethink her stance and help others realize that it's not worth it to end your life.

I feel that this was a very good book that teens should read. What I found interesting is that Jason tried to kill himself not for the sake of his peers' attention but for his father's. Imagine the guilt his father will now face the rest of his life. The essay about the effects of Tylenol overdose was very informative and should be made more public. I also appreciated Carlson's aknowlegement that Christian teens sometimes shy away from situations they are uncomfortable in handling. When Morgan found herself questioning God, her youth group and even her best friend distanced themselves away from her. Those are the times when they should have been there for her the most.

I feel that many teens believe that no one would care if they died and everyone would be better off if they were gone. I know that because I used to feel that way myself. This should not be the case. Suicide is a topic that many Christians are afraid to bring up. Churches and youth groups need to be aware that even their members are struggling with this idea. I hope that more people, teens and adults, read this book and understand that there needs to be more attention brought to this issue. It might even save a life.
October 24, 2006

An emotional story about the difficulties of adolescence

In this fourth installment of her TrueColors series, Melody Carlson focuses on the feeling of being lost --- to a point where suicide seems a viable option to alleviate the debilitating emotional pain. In the opening section of this story, Morgan Bergstrom just wants to be left alone. Not only does she have to contend with an out-of-touch divorced mother who's dating a man almost half her age (and whose plans to wed in Vegas over the weekend have Morgan in deep distress), Morgan also must cope with her kleptomaniac drug-addicted brother, an absentee dad, and a grandmother who took off to sow her wild oats in her later years.

Nothing about Morgan's life seems to be going according to plan or improving with time, which is one reason why she decides to ditch the youth group scene, attending church and speaking to God. At a standoff, Morgan believes it's useless to continue praying for "good things" to happen when it appears life just keeps getting more out of control.

Relishing a good pity party, Morgan doesn't realize that her current life's woes will seem small in comparison once she receives the devastating news that her good friend, Jason, committed suicide the night before. It takes some time for a stunned Morgan to realize that the news is true. Considering that Jason seemingly had it all together, Morgan wonders (along with her high school class) what chance the rest of them have.

In response to this event, an emotionally devastated Morgan and two other students desperately make a suicide pact with actual plans to carry out their joint suicide together. Thankfully, they are interrupted by the unexpected appearance of Morgan's grandmother, whose recent conversion to Christianity provides some steadying influence and a whisper of hope to Morgan. Through a series of mishaps, Morgan ultimately realizes that choosing to live --- even in the face of horrific pain --- is the most courageous decision she can make.

Trying to deter her fellow students (whose numbers begin to swell) from following through on their suicide pact is more daunting. Yet Morgan's newfound sense of hope in Christ and His ability to stand alongside others, even during the most dire tragedies, is contagious. She is able not only to thwart her peers' plans, but also joins them in establishing a "pact to live."

Though the storyline might at first glance appear trite, Carlson's ability to capture the emotional highs and lows overcomes any weakness in plot. Another excellent and practical inspiring text from this author.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

May 31, 2006

Sucide's not the answer

I read the book Pitch Black by Melody Carlson. This story is about a girl named Morgan who has a big problem. Her problem is her best friend Jason commits suicide by taking an overdose of Tylenol. Morgan also thinks about committing suicide like Jason did and being with him where he is. She and two other friends from the suicide pact decide to do it together at Morgan's house but her grandma shows up and the whole plan is messed up for that night. Then Morgan starts to go to church and has second thoughts on committing suicide. You will have to read the book to find out the shocking but realistic secret about Jason's death that changes Morgan's thoughts about the suicide pact.
The lesson to learn is that you don't need to follow others because you could end up hurting your self, that's in the book but you have to read the end to really get it. There is one connection I have and that is that Morgan's mom and my mom both got re-married. I think they should have put more information in about Morgan and Jason's fun times so that I could get to know him better. The author got my interest by saying," Did you hear about Jason." No one under 11 should read this book, because it could give them bad thoughts.

May 22, 2006

Through Tough Times You Need Courage

Pitch Black is a book about a girl named Morgan. After her friend commits suicide, she and some of her friends try to follow in his footsteps. She tries not to chicken out until her grandma shows up. Morgan starts to see God's work even through bad situations. Hopefully, her friends will think the same thing.
The theme of the story was bad things happen, but you can get through it. The theme came to me when Morgan was trying to convince her friend that it's not worth killing yourself. The suicidal pact in this story really caught my attention. Teenagers should really read this book because many of them are faced with the same problems.

May 22, 2006

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Torch Red: Color Me Torn (TrueColors Series #3)
by Melody Carlson

Burnt Orange: Color Me Wasted (TrueColors Series #5)
by Melody Carlson

Deep Green: Color Me Jealous (TrueColors Series #2)
by Melody Carlson

Fool's Gold: Color Me Consumed (TrueColors Series #6)
by Melody Carlson

Blade Silver: Color Me Scarred (TrueColors Series #7)
by Melody Carlson