HCI’s Louder Than Words series features stories about serious issues from real teens who have experienced them.

When she was in first grade, her mother died from leukemia. When she was 14, her father was murdered by a burglar in a hotel room. This is Chelsey Shannon’s account of what happened next. Being a teen is all about exploring who you are and what you are going to be. Chelsey now feels she has no one who really knows or understands her. She barely exists, thinking and crying about her father. Chelsey’s aunt moves in and tries to take care of her, but is stretched among several responsibilities.

Another aunt has Chelsey fly out to the west coast with the possibility of staying out there. But Chelsey has always enjoyed writing, and is now doing it more than ever to help her with her grief. She learns about a school for creative teens back home and decides to return. This time, though, her old house has been sold, so she moves back in with her first aunt.

A new school is not the entirely fresh start she is hoping for as she feels more alone than ever. She is biracial and was used to being in a predominately white area. This school is much more diverse, but Chelsey becomes shy and can’t figure out how to fit in with any of the teens she meets. Even with therapy, she feels like she will never get over the desperate feeling of being orphaned.

While dark, CHELSEY is more about Chelsey’s journey out of the depths rather than a focus on the awful things that happened to her. Getting over such unthinkable tragedies is not as easy as it is often depicted in TV or the movies, and Chelsey’s narrative is gripping in its first person account. She has respect for all those who try to help her get through her terrible time, and it is then with hope and maturity rather than bitterness and resentment that she emerges. Chelsey is powerful but not perfect, making her story relatable for anyone.