Joyce C. Cooper
Mental health is just as important as any other health issue. High School Stories: Life Interrupted is the first installment in the High School Stories series. This historical fiction is about a group of teenagers who are all set to begin their junior year of high school. Their summer break after their sophomore year began as any other summer break. However, their lives are interrupted with the death of a friend due to gun violence. The summer after their junior year is plagued with the death of another peer due to gun violence. In the midst of their junior year, the 'March For Our Lives Movement' is embraced to bring awareness to school violence, mental health, and voting rights.Stockard, who lives with anxiety and depression, tries to manager her life and come out of her shell. Her mental health challenges become more complicated as she tries to open herself to life as a typical teenage student. Past life experiences make it difficult for her to trust and enjoy life in the same way her best friend does.Ashanti is trying to find her place in life after the death of her mother. Living with her grandmother and aunt is a joy but does not allow her to live life as a typical teenager.Chris is Eastridge High School’s star cornerback. He had learned to mask his feelings to maintain his image. His secrets become too much to bear.Javaris has always had a crush on Ashanti. Friendship and loyalty have gotten in the way of him being able to purse his happiness. His secret love for Ashanti makes him feel like he is betraying his best friend.Stockard and her friends work through their lives being interrupted by three significant events due to gun violence – the death of a friend the summer before their junior year, the Parkland, FL massacre, and the death of another friend the summer after their junior year. They look forward to all the traditions that have been a part of Eastridge High School for decades. Typical events, such as homecoming; prom; testing; first loves; frienships; grade point average; class rank, are all the things these teens manage and work through during their junior year. Events throughout their junior year make the characters question their identities and want to give up on life. How will they work through the issues teenagers deal with on a daily basis while being able to make it to their senior year? 3
