Lisa, Bright and Dark

I read this book as a pre-teen, as I was beginning to deal with severe juvenile depression. The dark feelings and fear described in the book are real and impossibly unbearable, especially for a child. Some may believe that the material is dated (the terminology is less than PC), however, adults are still reluctant to acknowledge that children/teens experience mental illness. The book helped me to realize that I was neither "crazy" nor alone at a time when my teachers and parents labeled me as shy and typically moody. This book has stayed with me all these years, and I would recommend it to anyone who is dealing with childhood emotional issues or a child with emotional issues. As a current mental health professional, I keep several copies on hand for at-risk children and families.

This book tells the story of Lisa and her friends.Lisa is a high school student who has gone from being your average bubbly teenage girl to being suicidal and acting very oddly for the times. This story was placed in the sixties, when mental illness was VERY taboo.Her parents want to ignore her disturbed behavior, because they think she's just being stupid. Her friends, however, are seeing the dangers behind her self-destructive behavior.I think this book is rather descriptive in its matter, which is good, because sometimes, with things like this, you have to be seeing what's going on in your mind to understand it. Of course, I think it would be cool if they had done the story from Lisa's point of view, too.

Lisa Bright and Dark is the tear-jerking tale of Lisa Shillings' descent into madness. This was one of those books that stops and makes you think about how awful it must be to be slowly going insane while the only people who carry enough about you to do anything are your friends while your parents lay back and do nothing. It hurts me to think that anyone should not only have to suffer the pain of not being "sane" but also of having your family not give a damn whether or not you live or die. This book really stirred up a lot of emotions for me not only because I know quite a bit about psychology but also because I know that Lisa's parents and teachers had the power to help her but instead left it up to her friends. I really think that Neufeld does an excellent job of making you pity Lisa. Even though this book is set in the 1960's it is still just as meaningful now, almost 40 years later, as it was then. The part of this book that made me feel the most emotion is the fact that even though Lisa told her parents she was going mad they did nothing, nothing at all. This sort of made me realize how much easier people growing up now have it. Even if your parents don't seem to listen or care about your mental health there are places online and hotlines where you can get help. I totally felt Lisa's pain, not the pain of going mad but the pain of having those closest to you not believe you. If you don't read this book you are really cheating yourself out of one of the most influential pieces of literature written this century. Even if you don't read this book for yourself read it for the Lisas of the world.

I read this book when i was in high school. I was told to read the book and write a review on it by my school councelor. I was so messed up then and i just wasn't doing too good, not just in school but inside myself i felt wrong and i couldn't explain it. I thought for sure that if i didn't get help somehow, someway that i would die from the pain i felt inside myself. My friends tried to help and they spoke to the coucelor, who was also a creative writing teacher and he spoke to me often and had me transfered into his class. I don't how i got by day to day but my friends could see i was just letting go and slipping into whatever insanity that was upon me and so did my councelor. One day i was in class and my councelor had us write a book review. Everyone got to choose thier own book except me. He handed me Lisa, Bright & Dark and told me that in order to pass his class (and graduate high school) i had to review this book. I read it and could not believe how much this story related to me. I so much wanted for someone to help her. I thought for sure no one would. When i got to the end of this story, with out any hesitation i started writing my review. The next day my councelor read it and it actually brought tears to his eyes and he looked at me and told me that everything would be ok and that i was going to be alright. I guess by reading this story i was able to associate it w/ how i felt inside and i was able to seek out the help i needed to make me right. I graduated w/ honors that year and i got the right therapy to be able to pull out of the sickness that i was willingly falling into. I am 28 yrs old now and i really believe that if it wasn't for reading this story and having a great councelor who really cared for me and my well being i would have gone insane.

I would reccommend John Neufeld's book Lisa Bright and Dark to anyone. It's a "keep you on the edge of your seat book". I really enjoyed this book, mainly because it's about people my own age. I also enjoyed it because it also showed how adults ususally don't listen to everything that you would say just because your not as old as them. This book is about a girl who is about 17 years old and she is going crazy. She tried to tell her parents but, they wouldn't listen to her. All the teachers in school were also trying to ignore the fact, in fear that they would make Lisa's parents feel like they didn't raise her right. The only people who would dare to try to help her was her friends. It really realtes to alot of situations that go on today. Most of the time parents and adults just don't listen to you and take you seriously.That pretty much summerizes what i read so far so thats all the opinion i can give you. All i can say is that strongly reccomend you read this book, and if you don't read it then its your loss.