Life, in Spite of Me

Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice

She wanted to die. God had other plans.

Overwhelmed by wave after wave of emotional trauma, Kristen Anderson no longer wanted to live. One January night, determined to end her pain once and for all, the seventeen-year-old lay across train tracks not far from her home and waited to die. Instead of peace, she found herself immersed in a whole new nightmare.

Before the engineer could bring the train to a stop, thirty-three freight cars passed over her at fifty-five miles per hour. When the train stopped and Kristen realized she was still alive, she looked around—and saw her legs ten feet away. Surviving her suicide attempt but losing her legs launched Kristen into an even deeper battle with depression and suicidal thoughts, as well as unrelenting physical pain—all from the seat of a wheelchair. But in the midst of her darkest days, Kristen discovered the way to real life and a purpose for living.

For anyone struggling to find the strength to go on, this heart-wrenching yet hope-building book is a clear and extraordinary reminder that even when we give up on life, God doesn't give up on us.

What You'll Discover

• Kristen Anderson's true story—from a seventeen-year-old who wanted to die to a young woman with a purpose for living
• An honest look at emotional trauma, depression, and suicidal thoughts—and the road toward healing
• The way to real life that Kristen discovered in the midst of her darkest days
• Notes of encouragement from Kristen herself
• Resources for suicide prevention
• A paperback memoir reminding struggling readers that even when we give up on life, God doesn't give up on us

Grades:

Teens & young adults

Subjects & Topics:

Biography & Memoir, Christian Living, Suicide Prevention, Mental Health, Social Topics