Saving Red

Molly is still wracked with guilt over what happened to her brother last year, but she's not ready to talk about yet.  Maybe never.  She's lost all her friends and her sense of who she is.  Her best friend is Pixel, the therapy dog.  He didn't start out as Molly's dog, but her therapist thought it could help.  Now, Pixel and Molly go everywhere together.

Her parents have their own way of dealing with their grief.  Her mother smokes marijuana and buys junk from the home shopping channel.  Her dad just buries himself in work so much he's rarely home.

One day a chance meeting with a homeless girl changes everything for Molly.  The girl has wild red hair and loves to dance.  It doesn't take long for Molly to realize Red isn't quite right.  One minute she seems normal enough, and the next she's dashing off into the street or talking to herself.

Molly decides to reunite Red with her family for Christmas.  That gives her two weeks.  It won't be easy, but the fact that her parents barely know she's alive makes it easier to go out at all hours.  Molly thought she was going to be Red's savior, but the more time they spend together, the more Red feels like a real friend.  This isn't just about helping some girl she feels sorry for.  It's about helping a friend in a vulnerable situation.

This new book by Sonya Sones is a fast-paced story that cuts right to the heart of mental illness and the challenges of living with mental illness for those who suffer and their families.  The ending ties up a bit too quickly, and I could have done without the love subplot, but this is definitely a book kids will love!