About this item
Seventeen-year-old Catherine Pulaski knows Zero is coming for her. Zero, the devastating depression born of Catherine's bipolar disorder, almost triumphed once; that was her first suicide attempt. Being bipolar is forever. It never goes away. The med du jour might work right now, but Zero will be back for her. It's only a matter of time.And so, in an old ballet-shoe box, Catherine stockpiles medications, preparing to take her own life before Zero can inflict its living death on her again. Before she goes, though, she starts a short bucket list. The bucket list, the support of her family, new friends, and a new course of treatment all begin to lessen Catherine's sense of isolation. The problem is, her plan is already in place, and has been for so long that she might not be able to see a future beyond it. This is a story of loss and grief and hope, and how some of the many shapes of love - maternal, romantic, and platonic - affect a young woman's struggle with mental illness and the stigma of treatment.
About the Author
Karen Fortunati is a former attorney, whose experiences on the job with children and teens and personal experiences witnessing the impact of depression, bipolar disorder, and suicide inspired her to write this story of hope for those who struggle with mental illness.
The Weight of Zero was named to the prestigious Indies Introduce list for Summer/Fall 2016. It was featured in Seventeen Magazine (September 2016 Issue) : "What's Hot This Month." Chosen as both an Amazon Editors Favorite Young Adult Books Fall 2016 and one of BARNES and NOBLE's 11 of Our Most Anticipated Debuts of the Second Half of 2016. It was selected to the YA Buzz Book List by Shelf Awareness Pro that " ... features upcoming young adult and middle grade titles that booksellers around the United States are most looking forward to." The manuscript was also awarded the 2014 SCBWI Work-in-Progress Grant in the Contemporary YA category.
