Elena is a high school freshman, and her sister, Dora, is a junior. Throughout their lives, they have been best friends. But then Dora is hospitalized for severe depression, and Elena takes it on herself to look after Dora when she comes home. With her parents in denial, and few friends of her own, Elena is almost overwhelmed by the responsibility, and the family is in danger of coming apart. By the way, the title is a reference to the black box that is found on prescription medication with an increased risk of suicide by patients taking it (this was a bit obtuse at first).
Depression is a hard subject to write about, but Julie Schumacher does it well here, providing a sympathetic portrayal of how depression affects everyone in a family. All of the problems aren't solved in the story, but the reader is left with a hopeful impression about the future.
The book is a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2009.
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