Do you know that 50% of mental illness start by age 14 and 75% by age 24? (Source) How about approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States suffer from mental health issues? That's about 43.8 million people and nearly 40% of them do not seek any treatment or help. (Source) And then add in the pandemic and how things have gotten worse for people's mental health. There is a lot going on here. There is a stigma around mental health issues. People don't like to talk about it and many don't want to get treatment for it in fear of being shamed. It is something we need to talk about and we need to educate the next generation about it and what resources there are to help with treatment so we do not continue this stigma. Let's face just about everyone would take medicine for diabetes or cancer, but many people are ashamed to take antidepressants or antianxiety medicines or even seek therapy. Today's novel is about one middle school girl and her family's experience with a bipolar disorder in the family. The book is My Life in the Fish Tank by Barbara Dee. It is being released next week! (We have also had the pleasure of reviewing another of Barbara Dee's books which we categorized as a must read for all middle schools.)
When twelve-year-old Zinnia's older brother gets diagnosed with bipolar disease her family life is turned into chaos. First there is the not knowing for Zinnia, her older sister, Scarlet, and younger brother, Aiden. They know Gabriel was in a bad car accident but their parents are not letting them see him or really know what is going on. Then when they finally tell them they ask them not to tell other people. In fact Zinny hears her mother lie about how Gabriel is doing rather than admit he is in a rehab center. Her friends don't know what to do but feel like Zinny is not wanting to be with them since she never seems to want to talk anymore. The only place that seems normal is her science teacher's lab. Zinny tries to escape there at lunch. Then there is the invitation to the lunch club at school. Should she go? One of her friends tells her not to because it will be boring and filled with weirdos. But Zinny feels guilty and when the science lab isn't open she goes to check it out. They share secrets there but would if Zinny isn't ready for that. After all her parents said they shouldn't talk about Gabriel and his problems. Why does it have to be a secret? She just doesn't get it. Plus she has started doing most of the cooking and watching out for her younger brother. Her parents seem to be only focused on Gabriel and are letting the household fall apart and the other kids fend for themselves. How can things go back to normal and when?
