Ordinary People, by Judith Guest, is a well written novel, well suited for high school students to read in the public school classroom because of its strong focus on mental illness, including depression, and the aftermath of death, in the lives of both teens and adults. Written in 1976, the text was banned in many public settings due to language, casual, but non-explicit, sex scenes, and the destigmatized discussion of mental illness.
The main themes of Ordinary People include ways in which people cope with loss and the successive healing process, and the role and importance of communication to maintain healthy and dynamic relationships.
“Good manners have nothing to do with communication (Ordinary People),” if people only say what they believe…