The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent - by Ann Jacobus (Hardcover)

About the Book

Eighteen-year-old Del is in a healthier place more than a year after a suicide attempt, but her aunt's terminal cancer diagnosis forces her to confront the demons she has been keeping at bay.

Book Synopsis

Eighteen-year-old Del is in a healthier place than she was a year and a half ago: She's sober, getting treatment for her depression and anxiety, and volunteering at a suicide-prevention hotline. Her own suicide attempt is in the past, and living in San Francisco with her beloved aunt has helped her see a future for herself.

But when Aunt Fran is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Del's equilibrium is shattered. She's dedicated herself to saving every life she can, but she can't save Fran. All she can do is help care for her aunt and try to prepare herself for the inevitable--while also dealing with a crush, her looming first semester at college, and her shifts at the crisis line.

After Aunt Fran asks for her help with a mind-boggling final request, Del must confront her own demons and rethink everything she thought she knew about life and death.

Review Quotes

"[T]his book takes readers on a bittersweet, hard-hitting journey with Del as she tackles more than an 18-year-old should. Jacobus expertly covers numerous tough subjects."-School Library Journal

-- (4/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)

"Honestly and courageously explores sensitive topics."--Kirkus Reviews

-- (1/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)

"Jacobus (Romancing the Dark in the City of Light, 2015) has done a beautiful job with many difficult subjects, striking just the right tone and treating her highly sympathetic characters with dignity and compassion."--Booklist

-- (2/17/2023 12:00:00 AM)

"Skillfully rendered, this novel raises difficult questions about life and death. Instead of finding simple answers on the page, readers receive something better: honesty, hope and reassurance."--Sarah Tomp, author of The Easy Part of Impossible and My Best Everything

-- (6/20/2022 12:00:00 AM)

With intensely emotional and honest prose, Jacobus (Romancing the Dark in the City of Light) conveys Del's inner turmoil and longing for relief from the constant pain and fear of death she believes haunt her life. . . . supportive health coordinators and mentors help Del confront her fears and find a new appreciation for life in this hopeful read."--Publishers Weekly

-- (1/30/2023 12:00:00 AM)

"A story that never shies away from the difficult, The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent is both challenging and compassionate."--Kelly Loy Gilbert, author of Conviction and Picture Us in the Light

-- (8/2/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Achingly beautiful, emotionally complex and thought-provoking. A deeply felt and ultimately hopeful novel." --Catherine Linka, author of A Girl Called Fearless

-- (2/6/2023 12:00:00 AM)