Breathe My Name by R.A Nelson is both an informational and heart-wrenching read. The story takes place in a southern, suburban setting. Frances Robinson, the main character, is a seventeen year-old girl with a storied past. She was adopted at the age of eight, under unthinkable circumstances. Frances is quiet, shy, and sheltered by her parents. That is, until she meets the new kid, Nix. Nix quickly charms Frances and helps her open up about her past. When Frances suddenly receives a letter from her birth mother, asking her to come see her, she can not resist. Together, her and Nix embark on a journey across the country to find her mother and allow Frances the chance to finally come to terms with the psychological abuse she has suffered with. Frances learns what it means to overcome your fears, accept love, and to make peace with the past. For the most part I am in love with this book. While the story is nothing short of morbid and deals with topics like adoption, death, and mental illness, R.A Nelson also focuses on the positive relationships between Frances and her family and friends. The writing is excellent and R.A Nelson does a spectacular job of making Frances’ character closely resemble that of a teenager’s  thoughts, feelings, and actions. However, no piece of writing is ever perfect, and the ending of this book left me disappointed. The author throws in an unbelievable plot twist just before the book ends causing the ending to seem cheap, unrealistic, and clash with the powerful effect the rest of the story has. Still, the rest of the story is definitely worth the read. This is a book that will not only leave readers feeling connected to Frances and her story but also questioning their morals and values when dealing with mental illness. R.A. Nelson writes unabashedly about taboo topics like adoption, mental illness, and disabilities. Because of this readers will gain a very raw perspective on what dealing with some of the traumatic feelings in this book  is really like. This is a good read for anyone who wants to learn more about mental illness in general. It is a heartbreaking read, but it’s definitely worth the tears.  Not to mention R.A. Nelson adds a little bit of humor and romance to the story as well. Overall, if you like cathartic writing, emotional characters, and real world problems, this book is a great choice for you.