R.I.P. Eliza Hart

This is a unique look at two forms of illnesses: depression and claustrophobia. The majority of the story is told through sixteen year old Ellie while we get slivers from her ex-friend from first grade, Eliza, who has appeared to have ended her life.

Ellie and Eliza were friends in kindergarten and first grade. Then Ellie moved away. When she applies at an elite school, she is surprised and excited to see that Eliza is also attending, only Eliza makes it clear that she wants nothing to do with her, and the school believes that she is both obsessed with Eliza and is a pathological liar. An interesting contrast to Ellie's own feelings as she remembers their childhood fondly and wonders why they can't reunite, and more importantly, why Eliza is spreading rumors that Ellie is a liar.

The book does contain mystery, but it is more a depiction of a teen trying to make sense of what eventually happens to her former friend Eliza while dealing with the aftermath of her rejection (annoyance and anger from classmates) and the at times debilitating claustrophobia.

While Eliza's death is explained, through Eliza, the actual way it happened remained a bit fuzzy. I think it would have been also helpful to give us flashbacks that helped explain how she mentally and emotionally got to this point. Sheinmel does hop into Ellie's past quite frequently, so it would have also added another nice parallel. The flashbacks for Ellie, however, were sometimes jolting as they were spontaneously mixed in with the present moment, so some kind of marker would have been helpful. The reveal at the end was truly surprising and well done.