PITCH BLACK: COLOR ME LOST
Melody Carlson
Th1nk Books/NavPress
Fiction
ISBN: 1576835324
203 pages

In this fourth installment of her TrueColors series, Melody Carlson focuses on the feeling of being lost --- to a point where suicide seems a viable option to alleviate the debilitating emotional pain. In the opening section of this story, Morgan Bergstrom just wants to be left alone. Not only does she have to contend with an out-of-touch divorced mother who's dating a man almost half her age (and whose plans to wed in Vegas over the weekend have Morgan in deep distress), Morgan also must cope with her kleptomaniac drug-addicted brother, an absentee dad, and a grandmother who took off to sow her wild oats in her later years.

Nothing about Morgan's life seems to be going according to plan or improving with time, which is one reason why she decides to ditch the youth group scene, attending church and speaking to God. At a standoff, Morgan believes it's useless to continue praying for "good things" to happen when it appears life just keeps getting more out of control.

Relishing a good pity party, Morgan doesn't realize that her current life's woes will seem small in comparison once she receives the devastating news that her good friend, Jason, committed suicide the night before. It takes some time for a stunned Morgan to realize that the news is true. Considering that Jason seemingly had it all together, Morgan wonders (along with her high school class) what chance the rest of them have.

In response to this event, an emotionally devastated Morgan and two other students desperately make a suicide pact with actual plans to carry out their joint suicide together. Thankfully, they are interrupted by the unexpected appearance of Morgan's grandmother, whose recent conversion to Christianity provides some steadying influence and a whisper of hope to Morgan. Through a series of mishaps, Morgan ultimately realizes that choosing to live --- even in the face of horrific pain --- is the most courageous decision she can make.

Trying to deter her fellow students (whose numbers begin to swell) from following through on their suicide pact is more daunting. Yet Morgan's newfound sense of hope in Christ and His ability to stand alongside others, even during the most dire tragedies, is contagious. She is able not only to thwart her peers' plans, but also joins them in establishing a "pact to live."

Though the storyline might at first glance appear trite, Carlson's ability to capture the emotional highs and lows overcomes any weakness in plot. Another excellent and practical inspiring text from this author.

   --- Reviewed by Michele Howe

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