Jaguárovo sbohem – Garcia Joanjo (2023)

The first-person narrative begins with the return of nineteen-year-old Aina from Valencia to the countryside of Valhonda, where she used to visit her grandparents. This time, however, it is different. She does not find her kindred spirit and former love, Juan David, nicknamed Jaguar, who committed suicide at the age of 18. Aina is troubled by the fact that she does not even know how and why it all happened; she learned about Jaguar's suicide only a few days later, and she feels that her friends from their shared group are hiding something from her, avoiding any conversation about Jaguar. The word 'suicide' is taboo, and no one dares to utter it. The turning point comes when she meets Jaguar's mother, who is the only one with the strength to name things as they are, as the word 'suicide' finally comes from her lips. ***** García tries in his short text to bring the whole situation closer to young readers, to open a discussion, and to show that it is okay to ask for help, whether we have thoughts of suicide or someone in our surroundings has taken their life. ***** The book is supplemented with an epilogue by Martin Pešek from the Luctus counseling center and contacts for institutions and hotlines where help can be sought.