Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Published: March 31, 2003 by Knopf Books
Received: bought from Barnes & Noble

Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastian's, a boys' school that pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an an impossibly dorky accordion player. The boys are no better, from Thomas who specializes in musical burping to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop thinking about.

Then there's Francesca's mother, who always thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, alone, and without an inkling who she really is. Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest of all—herself. {taken from goodreads.com}

Once I finished this book, my first reaction was -- WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!  Seriously.  If you have not been introduced to Melina Marchetta and the beauty of her writing, then I suggest you put down whatever book you're reading & grab this one RIGHT NOW.  I had heard such wonderful things about this author, and a part of me was ashamed for not reaching out to her sooner.  But now that I have, I am ever so grateful for it.

Francesca is starting her eleventh year at a new school, a predominantly all boys school.  Her parents, mostly her mother, felt that she needed to be challenged more so they uprooted her from her comfort zone & dropped her in to new surroundings.  Every thing about this new place, Francesca hates.  She liked her old friends, her old school, but most of all she relished in the ability to just seep in to the hallways and be lost every day.  She didn't have to impress anyone, she was already accepted.  Things at home have taken a turn for the worse, as well.  Francesca's mother refuses to get out of bed.  The once lively, heart beat of the family has now isolated herself to her bedroom.  As Francesca tries to remember the warning signs as to what could have possibly gone wrong to lead her mother to such a deep depression, she also struggles with her father who refuses to get help -- and in turn thinks that she will just "get better eventually".

This book took me by surprise; a very sweet surprise.  I was not expecting such a deep connection to be made.  The writing is what drew me in from the first few pages.  The story is being told through Francesca's eyes and immediately you are right there with her, among the uncertainty and uncomfortableness.  The relationships that she finds at her new school is what stood out the most for me.  To say that I am completely in love with the way it unfolded, is an understatement.  Here we have 4 girls, adolescent girls, trying to find their way among a sea of teenage boys.  The hormones are out of control!  At first every one's defense is up, but page by page their shells are pealed away and we start to see that just like Francesca they are all just trying to find their way.  It's a beauty full of so much raw emotion.

I felt that Melina Marchetta did a superb job of touching on the effects of what depression can do to a family.  It does not effect just one person, but every one else in their lives as well.  The brutal truth of not knowing how to help someone is always present, but I also appreciated the fact that it isn't wrapped up nicely in the end either.  Depression is a disease that can have a long road of recovery ahead of it.  One day at a time, one step at a time.  That is how Francesca tackles this beast.  Sometimes, even the strongest people need to lean on others for support.  And that's ok.  We all need saving at one time or another.  So do me a favor, pick up this book and let it consume you.  Relish in the beauty of Melina Marchetta's writing and then move on to her other books, as I am doing now.  This author creates more than just stories, they are pieces of art.  Art that effects your mind and heart.