Ryan’s Bed

Tijan

Wow, let me just wipe the tears and blow my nose before I start. 

Not having read any off Tijan’s books before Ryan’s Bed, I wasn’t expecting much. But boy, does this story break your heart and mend it back together.

In the book we are introduced to the main characters Mackenzie and Ryan. Both young adults still in high school. They face your everyday run off the mill teenage angst but end up being each other’s rock.

Both Mackenzie and Ryan have experienced loss at important milestones in their young adult life. The story focuses on Mackenzie’s recent loss, her twin sister. She is left destroyed as you can imagine, questioning how she missed the signs. Her sister, Willow, was the life off the party. Popular, academically gifted, beautiful. How could she kill herself?

The only comfort that helps her deal with this tragedy is Ryan. Having lost his cousin a few years ago he knows the pain Mackenzie is feeling. During his morning, he withdrew from his friends and family. He became a different person.

As Mackenzie’s world falls apart, her brother has been shipped off to a gifted school and her parent's are working all the time. Mackenzie is left alone, only able to turn to Ryan for strength and comfort. He introduces her to new friends, makes her laugh, offers her his bed but most off all he becomes the one steady person she can trust. Through Ryan and her new-found friends, Mackenzie is able to rebuild herself.

This story is beautifully written. The emotion expressed in the story hits you from start to finish. You can feel Mackenzie’s pain and Ryan’s love through the pages. 

The content of the story is relevant to today's society, we have all experienced pain, loss and devastation. It's about rebuilding yourself, no matter what age, race or sex you are. Suicide is such a difficult subject to discuss, some would say its a taboo subject. But I am glad that Tijan, took a chance. This story shows how suicide can effect, not just the family but the whole neighbourhood. 

Well done Tijan and thank you.