Girl, Interrupted: Summary and book reviews of Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen, plus links to an excerpt from Girl, Interrupted and a biography of Susanna Kaysen.

First published in 1994. Reprinted and a bestseller in 2000 (due to movie based on the book). In the late 1960s, the author spent nearly two years on the ward for teenage girls at McLean Hospital, a renowned psychiatric facility. Her memoir encompasses horror and razor-edged perceptions, while providing vivid portraits of her fellow patients and their keepers. "Searing . . . captures an exquisite range of self-awareness between madness and insight."--Boston Globe.

Media Reviews

Library Journal This is a powerful and moving account of the 17 months Kaysen spent on a ward for teenage girls at McLean Psychiatric Hospital.... This is a well-written account of one woman's journey into madness and back.   Kirkus Reviews When Kaysen was 18, in 1967, she was admitted to McLean Psychiatric Hospital outside Boston, where she would spend the next 18 months. Now, 25 years and two novels (Far Afield, 1990; Asa, As I Knew Him, 1987) later, she has come to terms with the experience - as detailed in this searing account. ...... Every word counts in this brave, funny, moving reconstruction. For Kaysen, writing well has been the best revenge.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by jay jae
realistic one
It gives me the hint about the different personality disorders and how they behave as they are. As SPED student it makes me aware of it. Awesome!!!!!

Rated of 5 by Giselle
I'm fourteen years old and a freshman in high school. I chose to write about this book for a reading journal in my english class. It gave me an insight into the lives of mental patients and made me think about the difference between crazy and sane....   Read More

Rated of 5 by Chris
The story gave me an outlet and was so captivating that I could not put the book down and have recommended it to all of my friends. I am still recommending it to people even though I read it about two years ago, when I was 15. Being 17 now I still...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Angela
Very accurate portrayal. If you've been there you can relate. If you haven't been in the situation it is very good way to try and undestand.

Rated of 5 by trappercpt
anyone who is in the world in which she lived in can relate to this book, and people who are not in this world get a look at what it is like, It's an amazing book and I honestly didn't put it down

Rated of 5 by kt
this book was ok but the movie was better--the ending just kind of ends and doesn't let you know if she is truly cured and sane again?

...36 More Reader Reviews

Readalikes

If you liked Girl, Interrupted, try these:

---

---

These are 2 of the 8 readalike suggestions for Girl, Interrupted. Members have full access to all readalikes. If you are a member, please login. To find out more about membership, click here.

Books with similar themes

• Biographies & Memoirs
  
• Adult-YA Crossover
  
• USA 
  
• Northeast 
  
• Mass. 
  
• 1960s & '70s 
  
• Physical & Mental Differences