On a Scale of One to Ten

Gr 9 Up—Scott's debut novel explores the realities of mental health treatment in a psychiatric facility. Readers will be immediately intrigued by fragments of information surrounding the death of Tamar's friend, Iris. Flashbacks reveal that Tamar was the last person to see her alive, and it is clear that she is withholding critical details from the adults in her life. Tamar struggles with a constant sense of hopelessness and uses cutting to cope with an emotional numbness. After an intense breakdown, Tamar is admitted to Lime Grove. Scott depicts the ups and downs of Tamar's recovery process as a journey filled with thoughts of self-loathing, comparisons to other patients, and both toxic and healthy friendships. When a patient named Elle arrives at the facility, Tamar finds herself swept up in Elle's charismatic, infectious energy. However, when her reckless actions put patients at risk, Tamar finally begins to see Elle's condition with a critical lens and evaluate her own. Readers will explore the shift to recovery and the thoughts that often threaten it. The plot leads to a clear resolution of what happened to Iris and the acknowledgment of a truth that solidifies Tamar's recovery. This novel draws on Scott's own experiences with borderline personality disorder and represents an #OwnVoices text.