26. Living When a Young Friend Commits Suicide or Even Starts Talking about It by Earl A. Grollman and Max Malikow

Grollman, Earl A., Malikow, Max. (1999). Living When a Young Friend Commits Suicide, or Even Starts Talking about It. Boston: Beacon Press. ISBN 0807025038

Summary
Grollman's book is a compassionate and helpful book for anyone who has been affected by suicide whether someone you know has committed suicide, or is thinking about it. He guides the reader through emotions they may feel, why people commit suicide, and how to cope. Chapters include:
1) The First Days after a Death: What You May Feel
2) Was It Really a Suicide?
3) The Need to Know Why
4) Facing the Immediate Future
5) How to Cope
6) How Can You Help Suicidal People?
7) Religious Questions
8) Popular Misconceptions about Suicide
9) And Now, the Future
10) Conclusion: Suggested Materials and Resources

Critical Evaluation
Grollman's book could not be more relevant right now considering the news coverage of the rash of teen suicides currently plaguing the country. Each chapter in the book is relevant and should be read. One of the important things about the book is that Grolllman avoids venturing into clinical, technical explanations about suicide. He writes in a way that is always compassionate and he clearly has a lot of knowledge on the matter. He covers a lot even reminding people to laugh because it can provide occasional relief from sadness. Grollman doesn't just stop at giving advice, he provides valuable resources for those considering suicide, or those who want to help someone thinking about doing it. This is a very, very important book. Teenagers may not want to ask for help and if a book like this is available for them at the library they can begin to search for answers on their own and hopefully be able to eventually find the help they need.

Reader's Annotation
This book discusses the impact of suicide. Why do people do it? How to help someone who is thinking about it? How to deal when someone you know kills themselves.

About the Author
Earl A. Grollman is an internationally recognized grief counselor who often works with children and teenagers. He is the author of Living When a Loved One Has Died.

Max Malikow is a professor at Syracuse University and a pastoral counselor.

Genre
Nonfiction, Suicide

Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Health Education

Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss what you can do to help a friend considering suicide.
2) Discuss the recent news reports of teens committing suicide. How do they make you feel?

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 7 & up

Challenge Issues
Suicide, religious discussion

Challenge defense ideas
-Research the topic and understand the importance of talking about such a topic
-Research the author's credentials

Why Included in Titles Selected
A book like this is so important considering the teens committing suicide at an alarming rate.