All My Puny Sorrows

This engaging, award-winning Canadian novel, suitable for grade 12 students, follows the relationship of two sisters who grew up in a devout Mennonite community in Manitoba. As adults, Elf is an accomplished pianist who struggles with depression and has attempted suicide several times, and Yoli is a divorced mother of two who writes popular fiction and tries desperately to help her sister in whatever ways she can. Suitable as an independent novel or lit circle selection, the novel deals realistically with complex and sensitive issues, notably suicide, mental illness, and assisted dying. Social considerations were noted.