"I knew what bipolar was in a vague, strictly literary way, but I didn't know the differences between I and II, didn't know the treatment protocols. I didn't know that they were telling me my daughter would never live a completely functional adult life, that she would always be on medication, that the medication would affect her health, that she might not be able to hold a job, that she might not be able to graduate college, that she might not be able to sustain long-term relationships, like a marriage or even close friendships, that she should not have children. I thought they were telling me my daughter was being rebellious and emotional, things I already knew."

Rufi Thorpe's characters are nuanced in ways that make them spring to life. They're people we know: friends, family, beings we believe in and (often) empathize with. Everything about this fictional story rings true. From its presentation of a dysfunctional family to the challenges of living with bipolar disorder and depression. Yet, all that is secondary to the real heart of the narrative ~ the dynamic of an estranged father trying to connect with a daughter he desperately loves.

This is fantastic story telling that I found hard to put down.