Buy Links
Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Her-Felicia-Johnson-ebook/dp/B00D64V0F6/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384277837&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=her+felici+johnson
Synopsis
In many ways, Kristen Elliott is a normal, seventeen-year-old girl.
Kristen loves her family. She works hard academically, and tries to
please her mother. She takes on the additional responsibility of caring
for her twin siblings, Nick and Alison. She idealizes her best friend,
Lexus, who not only seems to lead the perfect life, but also catches the
attention of John, the boy Kristen secretly loves. However, as is the
case with many teenagers, Kristen feels frustrated, isolated, and
confused.
In other ways, Kristen is not like other kids her age. She knows something is wrong with her. Kristen feels like an utter failure. She is unable to please her abrasive mother, and scared to confront Jack, her abusive stepfather. She is also unable to protect Nick from Jack, making her fell all the more helpless. Adding to her problems, she knows she will never be as beautiful as her best friend Lexus. Kristen finds solace in self-injury, and the company of Mr. Sharp, her imaginary friend who encourages her feelings of self-loathing.
After a failed suicide attempt, Kristen is placed in the Bent Creek mental hospital, where she is diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. While in the hospital, she meets a group of peers suffering with their own mental illnesses, and a compassionate staff of doctors and counselors. From there, Kristen begins her journey to survival. She discovers the circumstances that brought her to this breaking point, struggles to understand her mental illness, and fights to be a survivor against her own worst enemy: her self-blame.
Kristen’s tale of endurance illustrates the complex illness of Borderline Personality Disorder. Readers – including those suffering from BPD and their friends and family – can glean insight into the illness from Kristen’s humanity. Her story is an example of how, if we try to push the past away, we are either doomed to repeat it or let it haunt us to our graves.
In other ways, Kristen is not like other kids her age. She knows something is wrong with her. Kristen feels like an utter failure. She is unable to please her abrasive mother, and scared to confront Jack, her abusive stepfather. She is also unable to protect Nick from Jack, making her fell all the more helpless. Adding to her problems, she knows she will never be as beautiful as her best friend Lexus. Kristen finds solace in self-injury, and the company of Mr. Sharp, her imaginary friend who encourages her feelings of self-loathing.
After a failed suicide attempt, Kristen is placed in the Bent Creek mental hospital, where she is diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. While in the hospital, she meets a group of peers suffering with their own mental illnesses, and a compassionate staff of doctors and counselors. From there, Kristen begins her journey to survival. She discovers the circumstances that brought her to this breaking point, struggles to understand her mental illness, and fights to be a survivor against her own worst enemy: her self-blame.
Kristen’s tale of endurance illustrates the complex illness of Borderline Personality Disorder. Readers – including those suffering from BPD and their friends and family – can glean insight into the illness from Kristen’s humanity. Her story is an example of how, if we try to push the past away, we are either doomed to repeat it or let it haunt us to our graves.
Review
5 stars of truth. Kristen is a strong individual facing BPD and this book is an insight of her struggle. Most of the time when we read a book its for entertainment and never really has a meaning. This book emotionally drained me but made me appreciate those facing BPD. It makes you realize that even though life may be hard others have it harder. Thank you, Felicia Johnson for writing a book that not only touched my heart but inspired me to appreciate every aspect of my life!
~Raquel~
Author Bio
| Felicia Johnson is a writer, youth mentor, student, and big sister. She loves ice cream, and seeing her little sister, Laura, smile. |
Interview
Q. What inspired you to write your first book?
A.
Mental health has always been a big part of my life. When I was a
teenager I was diagnosed with major depression. And I had a best friend
named Holly who had suffered from BPD. She was the inspiration for my
book. After her death, I began to study more about mental health and
psychology. I had used the journals that I had wrote about my experience
growing up with depression and knowing Holly, and turned it into a
fictional story about a girl who suffers from BPD and her struggle to
understand her mental illness and become a survivor. I wanted to create a
story of hope for not only people who suffer with BPD and mental
illness, but their friends and family as well.
Q. What was the hardest part in writing your book?
A.
There's a really haunting character in the book. His name is Mr. Sharp.
He's the imaginary friend of the main character. He kind of a ghostly
and dark figure that talks to the main character through a butterfly
pendant that she covets. He was pretty hard to write because he was so
dark and almost scary. I even had a few nightmares about him while I was
writing the book. haha
Q.How did you come up with the title?
A.
I came up with the title Her because this is a story that is told from
the point of view of the main character named Kristen. Her takes you
into the mind of someone with BPD. It's her telling HER story in her own
voice and in her own way. While you're reading, you may feel like
you're going a little crazy at some points, but that's a good thing
because you're in HER mind.
Q.How much of the book is realistic?
A. I'd say that it's as real as any other story that's based off true events. It's a realistic YA novel.
Q.What books have most influenced your life most?
A.
That's a loaded question! lol I love it! My favorite book is a classic
called Cages of Glass, Flowers of Time by Charlotte Culin. Also, The
Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake. It's a book about self acceptance and
self love despite adversity and discrimination.
Q.If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
A. Maya Angelou, without a doubt. She said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
I use that quote as motivation for my writing because I don't only
write for myself, but I write to make my readers feel. It doesn't matter
what they feel, as long as they feel something.
Q.What book are you reading now?
A. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Q. Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
A. Nancy Kilgore
Q.What are your current projects?
A. I'm working on my new novel called Black Girl.
Q.Do you see writing as a career?
A. Absolutely! Writing is my life.
Q. Can you share a little of your current work with us?
A. Black Girl is a novel that reveals the stigma of racism and discrimination within the Black community. I'm hoping to release Black Girl sometime in the Fall/Winter of 2014.
Q.Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
A. Always be you. It's easier to live when you're not trying to be someone else.
Q.What is the most embarrassing moment you've had?
A. Once, I had fainted in my sleep....long story.
Q.Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
A. My favorite character in my book is Daniel. He's a strong kid and tries to be a good influence on Kristen.
Q.Whats your favorite snack?
Q.Whats your favorite snack?
A. Gummy Worms!!!
Q.What do you do for fun?
A. Karaoke!
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