Super Short Summary

Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer is a contemporary young adult novel about sixteen-year-old Jamaica "Jam" Gallahue, who is sent to a therapeutic boarding school in Vermont to recover from depression following the death of her British-exchange student boyfriend, Reeve. At The Wooden Barn, Jam joins a unique English class studying Sylvia Plath, where her journal writing transports her to the mystical world of Belzhar, enabling her and her classmates to revisit their lives before their traumas and slowly find healing through friendship and shared experiences. The story explores themes of grief, loss, and the healing power of friends. Contains topics related to mental health and traumatic experiences.