The Ripples

What Lies Beyond

Fiction - Social Issues
250 Pages
Reviewed on 06/09/2020
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

A victim of cyber-bullying chooses death over coping, leaving his friends and family reeling from the aftermath of his choices in the YA novel, The Ripples (What Lies Beyond) by Danielle Aitken. Popular athlete Mark Fredrick excels at everything he does. Pushing harder to meet everyone's expectations can be taxing, so Mark finds his escape on social media. When things turn dark in the cyber world, the effects cause him sleepless nights and more stress, but he can't stop. He's become addicted to his screen. After a while, the pressure, pain, and stress become too much for Mark, and he decides that the only way to end his misery is to end his life. Only the moment he commits, Mark becomes aware of a tender love surrounding him, and he realizes that he's made a mistake. Is it too late? Can Mark heal the repercussions of his actions?

Discover life after suicide in the poignant story of unconditional love and healing, The Ripples (What Lies Beyond) by Danielle Aitken. This story is a phenomenal representation of suicide and the devastating effects it has on a family and the community. It speaks of the heartache, the grief, and the guilt of those left behind. They must find a way to survive; a piece of them has died, and now they must move into healing. Although this is a heart-rending story, I appreciated how answers and solutions are given to the family and the community to initiate healing from the devastation. This novel is a must-read as it contains an important message regarding mental health. I highly recommend this book to anyone who suffers or knows someone who suffers from mental health issues or anyone needing to look at life from a different perspective.