Love, Grief, and Adolescent Trauma — Reviewing Kekla Magoon’s “The Minus-One Club”.

Written by Riley Hlatshwayo

This book had no reason to be so viscerally haunting in its depiction of grief, trauma, and living with the void of loving someone who has died. When I finished reading it, I remember being taken back to a line from Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. I have since come to terms with the fact that where memory and grief are concerned, we will always return to Vuong’s words.

On sadness, Vuong says:

Did you know that people get rich off of sadness? I want to meet the millionaire of American sadness. I want to look him in the eye, shake his hand, and say, “It’s been an honour to serve my country.”

I mentioned this particular quote because of how much it encompasses both the personal aspect of sadness as much as it does the collective. In getting rich off of sadness, one would require a collective to harness their sadness in abundance. In Kekla Magoon’s The Minus-One Club, we meet Kermit Sanders who is currently going through the emotions after the loss of his sister from a drunk driving accident. When Kermit receives a note in his locker telling him to meet up in a secret location, he discovers a group of students from his school (Janna, Simon, Celia, Patrick, and a guy he’s had a crush on for years, Matthew) each dealing with their own personal loss and facing the aftermath of grief. They tell him that they know what he is going through, that they formed this club they call “The Minus-One Club” as a sort of support group for when they need to get away from everything else.

The book was very poignant and sickening in how it adeptly captures the raw emotions that accompany the experience of losing someone, highlighting the confusion, sadness, and sense of emptiness that the characters feel. These emotions are further exacerbated by the fact that this is a story of young people still dealing with life and navigating the tempestuous waters of adolescence all the while trying to make sense of such profound loss.

It is also important to note that this book deals with heavy emotional themes like substance abuse, bullying, suicidal ideation and the harrowing experience of dying inside from grieving silently — this is something that is especially faced by the young people at the centre of our story and the parents that they feel do not understand them and what they are going through. By using these tropes and storylines, the author takes us on a triggering journey to healing as we suffer with the characters.

One of the rules Kermit is told is important in The Minus-One Club is that you do not talk about it. The big It is what happened or what you’ve lost. The club exists as a safe space and an escape from the sense of loss and hopelessness. I found this element to be quite jarring and interesting, how the theme of theme of grief and healing takes center stage, weaving a poignant and emotionally charged narrative that resonates deeply with readers. In not talking about It, these young people foster a toxic culture of repression that they believe is helping them. Even when they call on each other through tough times where they are expected to simply be there without asking questions, they are expected to abide by this one rule.

Kermit’s integration into this world dismantle that rule. His grief is still new, raw and the loudest, so he questions why things are done the way they are done, and finds that the more he spends time with Matthew — falling deeper in love along the way — that this culture of silence and repression doesn’t really work. We are invited into these people’s lives and experiences, see them through Kermit’s eyes, and delve into their emotions and witness how grief can become a defining aspect of their existence. We see them withdraw into themselves, burdened by the pain and struggling to find solace. We watch as they grapple with anger and confusion, lashing out as they try to come to terms with their new reality. Through this diverse range of responses, Kekla Magoon captures the varied ways individuals cope with loss, showcasing the depth and complexity of human emotions.

Today, I dug myself out of my head long enough to say “I’m thankful for my friends,” and at the time it was hella perfunctory. But now, looking at the five squares with their smiling, bantering faces, the truth hits hard. I am grateful. I’m grateful for this.

The Minus-One Club viscerally explores how young individuals grapple with the weight of loss and the transformative power of friendship in the healing process. However, it is within the context of the Minus-One Club, the bond formed between the four central characters, that the healing process truly begins. The friendships they cultivate become a source of strength and support, enabling them to navigate the overwhelming emotions and find solace in shared experiences. The power of connection and understanding that blossoms within the group allows the characters to heal not by forgetting their losses, but by embracing their memories and learning to move forward with hope.

Magoon’s sensitive and authentic portrayal of grief and healing emphasises the importance of acknowledging one’s pain, allowing oneself to lean on others for support, and finding resilience in the face of tragedy. The book serves as a valuable reminder that healing is not a linear process but a journey unique to each individual.

The book is a powerful exploration of grief and healing, capturing the complexities of loss and how powerful it is to have friendship and community through such a harrowing time in your life. Through her warm and gentle storytelling, Magoon crafts a narrative that speaks to readers of all ages, offering comfort, understanding, and a sense of hope amidst the inevitable challenges of life. It’s a touching and heartfelt reminder that, together, we can find strength in vulnerability and healing in connection.