A Tragic Kind of Wonderful
ISBN13
9780008147501
Review published
21/05/2017
By Reviewer
Catherine
Star Rating
By Author / Illustrator
Eric Lindstrom
Age range(s)
11+
Review
A Tragic Kind of Wonderful (now available in paperback). A YA title which at its simplest is a story of not just coping with mental illness but living with it. But that hardly does it justice. It's about relationships and trust; about the ability to be honest about who you are and trust that friends will be OK with that. Mel Hannigan is back at school, she's doing her level best to catch up on work missed and maintain friendships. She's working hard to recognise her bipolar disorder, categorise her dysphoric mania and develop strategies to live with it and with the help of her friend Dr Jordan, a resident at the Silver Sands Suites where Mel works, it looks like she's managing! But revelations within her previous friendship group look set to upset the balance threatening to bring the fragile house of cards down. Eric Lindstrom has deftly constructed an immensely likeable character in Mel and surrounded her with the very best of family and the charming residents of the Silver Sands Suites. With Mel's brother, Noah, Eric has added in a mystery which we unwrap as the narrative progresses. With Zumi, Annie and Connor we see both the beauty and the destructive nature of some relationships - and are drawn to wondering whatever happened in their group? I was really rooting for Mel, daring her to be brave enough to open up and talk about her illness to key people, about her daily battles, but I could also feel her nervousness, the fear that that knowledge laid bare would alter those friendships. The power of talking, honest talking, should not be underestimated and I am delighted to see mental health tackled in fiction in the hope it will prompt conversations and foster understanding. 352 pages / Ages 14+ / Reviewed by Catherine Purcell, school librarian.
