Hurry Down Sunshine

by Michael Greenberg

Michael Greenberg's 15-year-old daughter Sally is suddenly "struck mad". He admits her to a psych ward, where he and the rest of Sally's family is sent head-first into the land of psychologists, medication and the other residents.

In a rare foray into non-fiction for me, I don't recall how this book ended up on my book list. But I needed a non-fiction for my summer reading game card and so I made the unusual trip to the second floor of the Kalamazoo Public Library to find it. I liked this very much. Sally is manic, convinced she knows how to find the genius in everyone, if only someone would stop and listen to her. Her father is lost in knowing how to help her. Her mother is little help. Her stepmother tries to be supportive, but is unsure of her role with Sally's mother around. All in all, Sally's trip to the psych ward serves as an impetus for the adults in her life to figure out what they're doing.

I was a little concerned about this book at first for a lot of personal reasons. It's non-fiction, which I generally struggle with. I have also recently read a book that was supposed to be about someone having a breakdown and it was quite lacking in details. And, I'll admit, I was a little put off at first by the author referring to his daughter being "struck mad" or "having a crack up". But soon I was drawn into Sally's story, and that of her family. Greenberg gives the reader a glimpse into the other residents in the wards and the doctors struggles with finding a medication that will help Sally, yet not render her helpless.

I enjoyed this book. I would give it a high recommendation.