Lullabies for the Insomniacs

A teen with bipolar disorder fights for survival in Ella Grace Foutz’s memoir in verse.

Foutz weaves an intimate and gripping chronicle of her experience with mental illness. Amidst the turbulence of manic and depressive episodes, often accompanied by insomnia, Foutz relentlessly pursues stability and self-understanding. She examines the struggles that come with her illness, the ways it can be managed, and the ways in which it’s inextricable from her deepest self—informing how she sees the world around her and within her.

Balancing poignancy with moments of levity, Foutz invites the reader along for her journey as she navigates the complex terrain of mental health to forge her path forward.