Description
Fifteen-year-old Jonathan Dupree knows what it’s like to live with madness. He has seen his uncle, “Raving Ron” Dupree, at his best, and his worst.
Even a new school isn’t an escape. The stigma of mental illness follows in the form of taunts and threats from a gang known as “The Misfits.” In a desperate attempt to fit in, Jonathan lashes out, tipping Ron over the edge into complete relapse.
Now Jonathan must find a way to reach his uncle and, when a failed initiation ceremony leaves him trapped in a derelict house, the way to redemption will come from a very unlikely source.
About the author
Jeffery is married with two children and lives in Worcestershire, UK.
Dave Jeffery is author of 15 novels, two collections, and numerous short stories. His Necropolis Rising series and yeti adventure Frostbite have both featured on the Amazon #1 bestseller list. His YA work features critically acclaimed Beatrice Beecham supernatural mystery series and Finding Jericho, a contemporary mental health novel that was featured on the BBC Health and the Independent Schools Entrance Examination Board’s recommended reading lists.
Jeffery is a member of the Society of Authors, British Fantasy Society (where he is a regular book reviewer), and the Horror Writers Association. He is also a registered mental health professional with a BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Studies and a Master of Science Degree in Health Studies.
My thoughts
What a fantastic novel! From the mental health theme to the sensitivity in which it was written, this book is both heartwarming and eyeopening in equal measures.
I really enjoyed the characters, my favourites being Jon and Uncle Ronald. Jon’s character was so skilfully written that I slipped into his world almost immediately. The words on the page are more than just that, I saw a real person who I felt a lot for and I so wanted him to him to become his best self. I found this to a be a really moving piece of work and I’m so glad I read it.
I loved the references to ‘Of Mice and Men’. They were apt for the story and added a deeper layer to it all, as did Uncle Ron’s poems and prose. All in all, a fantastic read that gives insight into mental illness and how sufferers are, and have been, treated by society over time. Also, the parts discussing what society defines as mental illness across the ages, were also insightful.
To top it all off, the author is a qualified mental health professional and you could tell from the piece.
Beautifully written and I loved the coming of age element too. This is definitely on my recommend list, in fact I’d put it on my essential reading list!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Finding-Jericho-Dave-Jeffery-ebook/dp/B083TDNQKH/
By Carla Kovach – author of Amazon and iBooks bestseller, The Next Girl.