Things I Know: A deeply moving YA novel about mental illness and recovery

How do you piece yourself back together when everything falls apart?

18-year-old Saoirse can’t wait to leave school. But just before the final exams, her ex-boyfriend dies by suicide. Everyone blames Saoirse – even Saoirse herself, who cheated on him with his best friend. Shunned by her schoolmates, she suffers unbearable levels of anxiety, which her useless counsellor does nothing to alleviate.

On prom night, everything becomes too much, and Saoirse makes a decision that lands her in a psychiatric hospital. Slowly, painfully, with the support of a friendly hospital cleaner, her old best friend, her kind and hilarious grandmother, and even her irritating sister, Saoirse regains hope of finding herself again.

"Things I Know" was nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing 2023.

Praise for "Things I Know":

"A bittersweet, honest look at loss and trauma." - Kirkus Reviews

"Close has a great ear for dialogue and a keen eye for the often-stifling dynamics of small-town life ... Read it - and buy a second copy to thrust into the hands of the next platitude-utterer you encounter." - Claire Hennessy, The Irish Times

"A delightfully scathing look at the platitudes around mental health ... The sharp wit of the protagonist Saoirse and the pitch-perfect dialogue make this book a pleasure to read." - The Irish Times

Helena Close is a renowned Irish author celebrated for her impactful young adult novels. Her debut, "The Gone Book," made history as the first Irish book nominated for the prestigious Carnegie Medal. Her later novel, "Things I Know," was nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal.