Ever since I saw this set of brightly color-coordinated books lined up on a shelf in a bookstore, I have sought for the True Colors series. Unfortunately, because it's a Christian series, Christian bookstores sell each book for at least $10, which can get pretty steep considering the series has at least 10 books. After visiting the Library Sale a couple of weekends ago, I found Pitch Black, the fourth in the series, for a dollar. The books aren't necessarily sequential since each one deals with its own self-contained characters, plots, and themes, but I'm pretty sure they're all connected somehow. Regardless, I didn't mind starting with this one since it's got a deep subject--suicide.
Pitch Black's main character is Morgan, a girl with a drug addicted brother and a mother who's run off to Vegas to marry a man twenty years her junior. Morgan's best friend, Jason, commits suicide by downing a bottle of Tylenol. This news shocks Morgan to her core since Jason's life seemed so together especially because Jason was a devoted Christian. Unable to cope, Morgan and two friends bond over a suicide pact and decide to die the same way Jason did. Fortunately, God intervenes in a number of ways and a shocking secret undermines the suicide pact entirely.
I read the book a couple of chapters at a time for my nightly devotionals. I was surprised at how easy the read was and how easily I connected to the story. The timeline is also surprisingly condensed considering how much character depth Carlson included. I made a lot of personal connections and world connections to the text. While Morgan was relieved that she was able to talk a couple of friends out of suicide, I haven't been able to trust my words so dearly. Twice I've called the cops on two Christian friends because I was terrified that they'd commit suicide, and I would not be able to live with myself if they died because I didn't do enough. Granted, I probably could've called their parents or our pastors or something, but the police thing seemed the most logical. The two scenarios played out very differently, but, like in Pitch Black, both of my friends lived so that they could die to Christ.
Carlson, M. (2004). Pitch black: Color me lost (True colors series #4). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
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