As Kelly, a suicidal teen in a lockup facility, seeks to answer the titular question, she learns more about herself and her will to survive than she ever thought possible. Her interactions with fellow patients and social workers gradually lead her to a better understanding of her own trauma and ability to heal.

Dedicated to featuring "realistic teenage characters in stories that focus on contemporary situations or problems", Orca Soundings represents some of the best of Hi-Lo storytelling. Though readers know relatively little about Kelly's life outside of lockup, they will swiftly bond with this profoundly troubled but good-hearted 15-year-old. The relatively simple vocabulary and larger print encourage reluctant readers to try it out, and, for the most part, they won't be disappointed. Goobie's empathetic and very immediate depiction of Kelly's innermost thoughts both explains her state of mind and prompts the reader to hope that she gets better. As she spars with and later learns to pity her dramatic foil "Pit Bull", we are treated to a front-row seat of Kelly's emotional development. When, in the end, she determines that she owns herself, the moment is neither trite nor cliched but painfully earnest.

Because of frank discussions of prostitution, drug use, smoking, drinking, and sexual abuse, this book is recommended for older high school students from more sheltered backgrounds, but could be used effectively with troubled teens of younger ages. Recommended (widest parameters) for grades 7 through 12. ( )

Meh. I have really liked the Orca Soundings books thus far, but this one didn't cut it for me. I think it was partly because I'd read so many similar stories before, and partly because the ending seemed really rushed and way too happy. It would have been more believable if there had been more detail -- but the Orca Soundings books are supposed to be really short. The other characters at the residential treatment center were definitely believable though, as was Kelly herself. ( )