Black-eyed Suzie

Black-eyed Suzie

Author: Susan Shaw

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (2002)

ISBN: 156397729X

4.5 (out of 5) STARS

Summary: Suzie suffers many psychological and physical abuse from her mother. She copes by living in a "box." After a stay in a mental hospital she is able to make new friends and work through her life experiences.

Review: Suzie sits in her chair. She is good at sitting. Sitting so still. Suzie lives in a box with four sides. A tall, brown box that presses in on her from all four sides. She sits in the box on the chair. Her feet rest on the chair and her chin rests on her knees. No one can see the box, but Suzie feels it. She knows it is there.

Suzie’s mother feels like she has sacrificed her music career to be a mother. Suzie’s father is never home. Only Suzie’ sister, Deanna, pays any attention to what is going on with Suzie.

Suzie’s uncle comes to visit and sees Suzie sitting on her chair. What is going on here? It’s just a phase. Suzie’s mother tells him. My daughters never went through a phase like this. Suzie is gathered up and driven to the hospital where she is soon checked into St. Dorothy’s mental hospital.

Suzie cries and cries. The nurse helps her eat. Suzie cries. She goes to art class. The pencil drops out of her hand. Suzie cries. If only she can stop crying, maybe she can go home. There are fragments of memories hovering. A broken bike. Burned cookies. Flames. Singed hair and hands. Yelling. How do these pieces fit together? With much time and help Suzie is able to solve the mystery of her past and feel safe again. Loved this book!