Anna Gonzales-Typical Teenager, Well, Not Really

books:

	• After the Death of Anna Gonzales Terri Fields Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 2002 - 112 pages average customer review:based on 12 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Death That Doesn't Matter

AFTER THE DEATH OF ANNA GONAZLES

A Girl's Suicide Causes Anger and Questions to a School of "Everyone"

By Terri Fields

Henry Holt and Company, 100 pp. $16.95

A girl's death, a school in uproar, frantic parents, this is what After the Death of Anna Gonzales entails. The story involves a series of forty-seven confessions from various people throughout her school. Teachers, students, security guards; they all have thoughts about why Anna took her life. The confessions appear chronologically, starting at the beginning of the day, then progressing through the day, and ending with her much-hyped suicide note.

Though the confessions prove to be surprisingly interesting, the book starts off a bit slow. The confessions reveal many people's opinions and reactions. Some people in the story do not even know of Anna's suicide, or have their minds elsewhere. Other people are haunted by her death and find it cowardly and wrong. Some of these confessions could shake a reader up to no end, but do not let this intimidate you. Confessions share personal experiences of disease and hardship and show anger towards her death; while others wish they had the "courage" to take their lives as well.

The confessions prove to be an enticing treat, but then once the page has turned and the long awaited "note" is shown, there is excitement like no other. This triggers various questions through your mind. Will there be a twist? Why did she do it? Is there a reason that condones her actions or was it just to attract attention? Diving into the two-page note, read carefully or you may find yourself asking if that was it. If you read it slowly and carefully, your disappointment might not be as great. Either way, that was it. The long awaited question has been answered, but not with a twist or startling secret. It is answered with a letdown.

The author states she wrote the book because of her strong feelings over teen suicide. Of course that is a touching characteristic, but is that why the note was a letdown? Even if she was trying to let people know that this is why some troubled teens end their lives, the note does not hold up. If a person is as troubled as Anna was they may be able to understand her reasons. However, for the rest of the sane, non-suicidal people the end of this story could lead to frustration with the sympathetic author.

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I shouldn't like this but I do

Maybe I was in a weird flashback teen angst mood when I read this, but, call me crazy, I liked it. The bizarre thing is that these were all written by a single author, even though it looks like it's some weird class project.

The theme of this poetry collection is that a girl named Anna Gonzales has committed suicide. The resulting poetry exploes a wide myriad of thoughts and feelings from her fellow classmates.

There is hope, joy, fellow depression, wonder, and in the end a simple celebration of life, despite this collection's heartbreak.

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Excellent poetry collection!

I hate poetry, but I know others like it so I decided to add a poetry unit to my teaching plans (8th grade). We had just finished Tears of a Tiger by Draper (another excellent read!) and it blended the units beautifully. Even though I majored in literature I never really got into poetry, but like Make Lemonade by Wolff, this set told a story. I loved the way you see so many points of view--and they're so REAL. I definitely recommend this book to junior high-high school level students. It is an easy and enjoyable read.

Anna Gonzales-Typical Teenager, Well, Not Really

I would say "Terri Fields has done it again!" but After the Death of Anna Gonzales is the first book I've read by this author. Terri Fields, author of more then 20 books, has crafted a wonderful book. Personally, I couldn't think of a better book to read and/or review. This book reminds me of myself at times...Feeling alone, wondering what things would be like without me, sometimes even sometimes thoughts about what it would be like to cut myself, but then I remember that even though it may be my last resort, suicide is not the answer. Apparently, Anna Gonzales disagreed with me.

At some point in our lives, I'm pretty sure we all have asked the classic question, "What would the world be like without me?" Well, Anna Gonzales didn't only ask that question, she took action. This fictional YA (Young Adult) book is a collection of poems written by 42 of Anna Gonzales' classmates and 7 of her teachers after she takes her life one dark and stormy night. Everybody expresses their feelings on this matter through their personal poems. Anna's coach wrote;
The game doesn't always go your way,
Forget fair.
Feel forgotten.
But damn it, Anna,
You don't stop playing.
There is nobody that isn't affected by Anna's choice to end her world. No body can comprehend why this poor soul was so tortured that she just had to take her own life? At least, not until they read Anna's poem, expressing her feelings and her side of the story.

After the Death of Anna Gonzales is a heart-warming, tear-jerking book that will make any suicidal teenager realize what pain taking their life would be to others. Still having those thoughts about taking your life, ending your world, or to just say it plainly, committing suicide? Well, maybe after you read this book, you'll change your mind.

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Give it a chance

okay, after the death of anna gonzales was one of the greatest books i have ever read. not just because of the unbelievably shocking and true poems, but because we used the book as our winter play at my high school. the director was unbelievable, each actors character was made up of three of the original characters in the book. i played lynn helter, a bitchy cheerleader thats worried the suicide will interfear with the pep assembly. and not just reading but acting out the emotions and issues that this girl had was unbelievable. terri feilds has incredable currage and power to write about such an important issue that impacts american teenagers everyday. many people in my school had problems with a high school doing a play about this topic, but i was overjoyed to do a play about this. its better to do a play like anna gonzales that effects the life of people, than a play like lion king or a christmas carol and get 400 people to come see it a night, but it doesnt offect anyone.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

A powerful look at the effects of one girl?s suicide on her high school

"I can feel
The whispering of the hallway walls
Growing louder as the groups gather.
Each clique adding to its morning input.

?Did you hear??
?Who told you??
?Do you think it?s really true??

New at this school,
I stand alone.
Watching . . ."

Brutally honest and authentic in tone, this collection of voices centers on the suicide of high school freshman Anna Gonzales. Each piece, read alone, portrays a classmate?s or teacher?s personal reaction to the loss, taken hard by some, by others barely noticed. Read together, the poems create a richly textured and moving testimony to the rippling effects of one girl?s devastating choice. Terri Fields has written a thought-provoking, important work that resonates with both pain and hope. This is a book that will stay with readers long after they put it down.

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