88 pages • 2 hours read
Susanna KaysenGirl, Interrupted
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1993A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen is a memoir that recounts the author's experiences as a teenager admitted to McLean Hospital in the late 1960s after being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Kaysen narrates her interactions with fellow patients, the medical staff, and her reflections on the subjective nature of mental health diagnoses, the hospital's institutional environment, and her eventual transition back into society. This book includes topics such as self-harm, institutionalization, and suicide.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen offers a poignant and introspective look at mental illness, with a compelling narrative that is both raw and thought-provoking. Positive reviews applaud Kaysen's candid storytelling and vivid character portrayals. However, some critics cite a lack of depth in addressing broader societal issues related to mental health. Overall, it's a gripping memoir that sparks essential conversations.
Who Should Read Girl, Interrupted?
Readers who appreciate candid and introspective memoirs exploring mental health will be captivated by Susanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted. Fans of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar and Elizabeth Wurtzel's Prozac Nation will find a kindred narrative in Kaysen's raw and reflective journey through psychiatric care.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
760LBook Details
Depression / Suicide
Mental Illness
Psychology
Identity: Mental Health
Life/Time: The Past
Identity: Femininity