To save their souls, a high-functioning Autistic boy, unaware that he is dead, must convince a suicidal comatose boy to choose to live.
Publisher’s Description:
Bound by a dark act of hate and despair, high school freshmen, Andrew and Kiernan, learn that their untimely deaths did not bring an end to their pain, but only began the suffering of those left behind. While his lost memories return, Andrew must master seemingly impossible feats, both spiritual and physical.
As a dark spirit stalks Kiernan through the borderlands of life and death, he must also face the pain his actions have caused his loved ones. To save both their souls, Andrew must convince Kiernan to return to life and open his eyes to the love and beauty which had always been there.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation:
Gender:
Cis boys: Michael Andrew, Kiernan, David
Cis girls: Judith
Sexuality:
Gay: Michael, Andrew, Kiernan
Heterosexual: Judith, Casey, David
Romantic Orientation:
Heteroromantic: Casey
Not mentioned in the book: Judith, David, Raphael
Race/Ethnicity:
White: Andrew, Kiernan, Judith, Casey, David, Michael
Black: Raphael
Religion:
Christianity: (All of them)
Disability: Andrew is an Aspie, Kiernan was in an accident when very young and limps with a permanent hip injury
Location: Smalltown, Iowa
Trigger Warnings: Suicide, bullying
Additional Notes: Entry for this title written by the author E.L. Reedy
Story related: The story is narrated by Casey, the younger brother of Kiernan, who witnessed everything seven years earlier.
From the authors: We wrote UPON BROKEN WINGS to show that all suicide accomplishes is the creation of a world of immeasurable pain for those left behind. It’s about saving lives, and if we save even one, our efforts in writing and publishing were well worth it!
Ending:
In the end, Andrew convinces Kiernan to return to the living world. Some years later, he gets married to his boyfriend. Casey, the narrator, falls in love with a girl his age, who can also see spirits, Life goes on–if we let it.