Death, Dickenson, and the Demented Life of Frenchie Garcia

Author: Jenny Torres Sanchez
Publisher: Running Press
Genre: Teen
ISBN: 978-0-7624-4680-3
Pages: 272
Price: $9.95

Frenchie Garcia is having a rough time. Although she tries to be upbeat while hanging out with her friends, her mood is morbid and she’s easily ruffled. Her dark secret won’t let her go. Frenchie was the last person to see Andy Cooper alive, before he committed suicide, and now she wonders why he chose to spent his last night with her.

Frenchie had a crush on Andy, and when he suggested a grand adventure, she happily went along for the ride. Now, months have passed, and she wonders what really happened that night. When Colin suddenly appears in her life and offers his friendship and maybe more, Frenchie decides the best way to find out what Andy was doing is to relive the whole night with Colin.

Colin is a wonderful support for Frenchie, going along with her scheme with no complaints. As she revisits the places Andy took her that night, she finally finds peace with her inability to see what he was planning and stop him from committing suicide.

Frenchie is a compassionate and caring girl who feels Andy’s loss deeply. As she works through her own grieving process, she comes to understand Andy and herself better, finally freeing herself from the unconscious burdens she placed on herself as his protector. And once she frees herself from the past, she’s finally able to move forward into her own future. I really enjoyed Death, Dickenson, and the Demented Life of Frenchie Garcia, and I highly recommend it for teenagers and young adults.

Reviewer: Alice Berger