“Belzhar” by Meg Wolitzer

I have not known many people who have died. One who stands out is my friend Gordon who lived on my floor in Willard Hall at Northwestern freshman year. He was my buddy who always looked out for me and made me laugh. When a boy did not invite me to a formal as I had hoped, Gordon slipped a note under my door that said simply, “I love you.” He did not love me that way. He loved my friend Gerda, that way. But still the fact that he wrote me a note when I needed to read it most has always stuck with me, and I still have that note among my important papers. Gordon died of Hodgkin’s disease before he turned 30. His death still haunts me, and I sometimes dream about him. Grief and loss are difficult, and I’m about to dive deeper. I just accepted a job as the coordinator for Camp Erin, a bereavement camp for children ages 6-17 years old. It is a summer camp for children who have recently lost a loved one. I did not choose this job, it seems as if this job choose me. And, oddly enough, I recently read Belzhar, a book about a therapeutic boarding school for teens dealing with grief and loss. Written by Meg Wolitzer, this book represents young adult fiction at its best. I read a lot of YA fiction, which leads me to believe that there is still a part of my heart stuck at the age of 16 years old. This lovely work of fiction tells the story of Jam Gallahue as she tries to find meaning in her own life after the death of her beloved first boyfriend Reeve. Last year, Amber Dermont wrote in The New York Times, “Belzhar is about friendship and recovery; Wolitzer is always, most observant when writing about intense devotion among close-knit groups of kindred souls.” Connecting with other teens that have been through similar loses ultimately gives Jam the strength to examine her grief and begin to heal. Whether you have experienced a great deal of loss, or are just preparing for loses later on, I think this book is an excellent read.   To purchase this book on Amazon click here.