The Art of Insanity

High schooler Natalie Cordova has just been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. Her mom insists she keep it secret.

Putting up a front and hiding her mental illness from her classmates is going to be the hardest thing Natalie's ever done. It's her senior year, and she's just been selected to present her artwork at a prestigious show. With the stress of performing building, it doesn't help when Natalie notices a boy who makes her heart leap. And then there's fellow student Ella, who confronts Natalie about her summer car "accident" and pressures her into caring for the world's ugliest dog. Now Natalie finds herself juggling all kinds of feels and responsibilities. Surely her newly prescribed medication is to blame for the funk in which she finds herself. But as Natalie's plan to self-treat unravels, so does the perfect façade she's been painting for everyone else.

Written from experience, this contemporary YA is a heartfelt and candid exploration into the shame surrounding mental illness and offers an uplifting narrative where the protagonist doesn't die at the end.


About the Author
Christine Webb enjoys writing about teenagers and the struggles they face, and she thinks adults should give young people way more credit for successfully navigating the minefield that is growing up. When she's not writing, she enjoys hanging out with her zoo (three goofy dogs, an evil cat, twenty nameless pigeons, and a friendly rat) or traveling with her husband. She also loves studying British history and laments the fact that she will never be Queen. Follow her on Twitter @cwebbwrites.

• Mental wellness advocates will appreciate a book featuring a neurodiverse character.
  
• Teens struggling with feelings of shame about mental disorders, either in themselves or with a family member, will find solace in Natalie's story as she learns to embrace her diagnosis and treatment.
  
• Libraries and their teen communities looking for conversation starters about Bipolar disorder will have plenty to discuss.