Who Put This Song On by Morgan Parker
Who Put This Song On by Morgan Parker
Available: September 24, 2019
Delacorte Press
ISBN: 9780525707516
Summary: Morgan is a California girl but she’s far from typical. Fresh from a suicide attempt and on the shaky ground of recovery, she’s figuring out how to deal with parents who don’t understand her moods (though, she doesn’t really understand them herself), and how to continue to survive as one of only a handful of Black kids at a private Christian school. She doesn’t look like the other girls, dress like the other girls and she prefers Emo to Hip-Hop. Firmly outside of what passes for normal at her school she’s not really doing so well and without a roadmap she’s got to learn what “okay” means for her and how get there safely.
I enjoyed the book. Reading about the experiences of a Black girl dealing with depression and anxiety is absolutely needed and anyone whose wondering what anxiety feels like will appreciate the first person view from inside Morgan’s head. We see her thoughts spiral, and journey with her as she makes decisions based on insecurity or whim. We feel the world close in on her in social situations root for her when she makes gains. Morgan does get a happy ending, but like life it isn’t like that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it’s more like a sunset you watch from your favorite spot on a hill on really nice Summer day, perfect in its way.
If You Like This Try:
Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn. Given all the music references in Who Put This Song On you’ll probably spend a good bit of time on Spotify, and while you’re there, you might want to go on a one-night musical journey with a two kids in search of a super secret concert location for a mythical band. It’s light and fun and has a great back beat.
This book is great for:
People who have never and need to read about someone dealing with anxiety and depression
People who like books about music
People who’ve felt completely misunderstood
Discussion Questions:
Morgan has to see “Susan”, her therapist after her incident. Why is this so difficult?
Discuss how “different” Morgan is from her classmates. Is the difference she feels real or perceived.
Why do you think Morgan’s parents chose to send her to the private school?
Do you think Mr. K likes Morgan? Give evidence support your answer.
Morgan makes some questionable decisions regarding her relations with boys. Why do you think she went to the truck outside of the movie theatre?
Discuss the Curse of Ham and how the theory may impact how Morgan is treated at school.
Morgan’s friends say she isn’t “black”, she’s Morgan. What does that mean?
Morgans family has a hard time relating to Morgan. Why?
How did medication help Morgan? How did talk therapy and journaling help?
Soundtrack: “Girl from the Gutter” by Kina. It’s not emo, but as a founding member of Brownstone she was firmly entrenched in the mold people thought she should be in by singing standard and quite bumping R&B jams, until she broke the mold and made a rock album for her debut in 2000. I think it works as we contemplate, defying expectations and doing what’s best for ourselves.
