16 year old Deian and seventeen year old Anest meet at a psychiatric facility. They attend the same school but their friendship doesn't evolve until they attend a birthday party. From then, they support each other through everything but can they also find a way to free themselves from their own burdens?
Deian and Anest are two very different teenagers: he is quiet and very unsure of himself, all he want to be is 'normal'; Anest, however, is loud and talkative but hides her emotions because she doesn't want to trouble anybody. The one thing they have in common is that they are both struggling with their mental health. As their friendship grows, they find it easier to support each other, without being able to always help themselves. The friendship and support that builds between the pair is lovely to see and really showcases the fact that people struggle differently with mental health issues.
Told in dual narrative, Megan cleverly distinguishes between the two main characters in the way she writes their voices, particularly Anest's. This is a powerful book that tackles some very tricky issues (suicide, self-harm, panic attacks) and comes with a warning at the front of the book and a list of ways people can reach out if they need help (this is definitely a book for older YA readers). Things get very dark for both characters at times, particularly Deian, and readers need to be aware of that; however, Megan does this sensitively and in a believable way.
Publishing on the 1st October, Behind The Sky is a heart-felt, powerful YA novel that will stay with readers long after they have finished reading it.
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