Title: Chiara In The Dark
Author: Maya Chhabra
Publisher: West 44 Books
Genre: Poetry, Teens, YA, Health, Mind & Body
Release Date: 1st April 2022
BLURB from Goodreads
Chiara is gliding through her senior year with ease, with a great babysitting job, a loyal best friend, a loving Indian-Italian immigrant family, and a shot at the summer ice-skating camp of her dreams. Then, out of nowhere, she starts having violent and unwanted thoughts and obsessions. The thoughts won't leave Chiara alone, making her wonder if she's a bad, violent person. Chiara's parents urge her to get help through therapy, but the idea of talking about her disturbing thoughts out loud is unthinkable. As Chiara opens up to therapy, she sees a glimmer of hope that she can have her life back. But her dark thoughts lie just beneath the surface, threatening to take it all away.
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REVIEW
The cover of this book is quite dark which totally fits with the thoughts that the main character Chiara starts to have on an increasing basis. Also featured on the cover is the ice rink, where Chiara regularly goes for lessons. I think the ice skating is the one thing that acts like a light at the end of a tunnel for Chiara. This book is a Hi-Lo book and is told in verse. There was a time I would have shied away from anything told in verse or poetry but these Hi-Lo books published by West 44 Books really have changed my view on poetry and I find I really love these books told in verse.
The one thing Chiara wants most to do is to go to skating summer camp. Her parents have agreed to help her dream of going but she also has to contribute to the cost, which is why she eagerly takes on babysitting duties. However, its whilst babysitting that Chiara experiences her ever darkening thoughts of harming those around her. She abruptly stops babysitting resigning herself to not going to the summer ice skating camp. Eventually she ends up speaking to her parents who encourage her to go to therapy to talk about her dark thoughts. At first Chiara resists, but slowly comes around to the idea and speaks and reveals what has been going on in her head and her thoughts to the therapist.
I think, once again West 44 Books has published another book that deals with an extremely serious issue in a format a large age range and reading abilities will be able to read and relate to. Chiara really has a problem that’s deep inside her own head. At first, she seems to be able to shrug it off and push the dark thoughts away, but gradually they build up and become stronger and darker. Though her parents help her by encouraging her to go to a therapist, which it does seem to help Chiara somewhat, but her therapist explains that it will be a slow process. That its only Chiara herself that can learn to live with, learn coping strategies and eventually defeat and hold off the dark thoughts.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing reading this book were that though it’s a short read, it was an interesting and thought provoking one. Once again, West 44 Books have published yet another conversation starter book about an extremely important issue.
Summing up, another great, short but thought provoking and enlightening read.
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