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Elephant in the Sky
A testament to the healing power of unconditional love.
Widely acclaimed for her emotionally powerful stories that capture the real lives of women, Heather A. Clark, bestselling author of Chai Tea Sunday, tackles the subject of childhood mental illness and the impact it has on a close family.
The story begins from nine-year-old Nate’s point of view, etching the details of an unbalanced mind struggling to make sense of rampant thought patterns and heightened paranoia. Enter Ashley, Nate's mother, and a hardworking advertising executive concerned that she’s not giving her family enough of her time — especially now that she senses something might be wrong with her son. As the story moves deftly back and forth between the two perspectives, the narrative converges to reveal one family's journey of discovery as they strive to find balance in their lives.
Based on a true story, Elephant in the Sky articulates a complicated, real-life subject with grace, wisdom and sensitivity, and beautifully explores the distance a mother will go to protect her child.
Widely acclaimed for her emotionally powerful stories that capture the real lives of women, Heather A. Clark, bestselling author of Chai Tea Sunday, tackles the subject of childhood mental illness and the impact it has on a close family.
The story begins from nine-year-old Nate’s point of view, etching the details of an unbalanced mind struggling to make sense of rampant thought patterns and heightened paranoia. Enter Ashley, Nate's mother, and a hardworking advertising executive concerned that she’s not giving her family enough of her time — especially now that she senses something might be wrong with her son. As the story moves deftly back and forth between the two perspectives, the narrative converges to reveal one family's journey of discovery as they strive to find balance in their lives.
Based on a true story, Elephant in the Sky articulates a complicated, real-life subject with grace, wisdom and sensitivity, and beautifully explores the distance a mother will go to protect her child.
328 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2014
21 people are currently reading
1157 people want to read
About the author
Heather A. Clark
6 books20 followersHeather currently lives in Oakville, ON with her husband, three children and miniature wiener dog, Duke. When not writing, Heather enjoys reading, travelling, spending time with her family and drinking red wine with her girlfriends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
June 30, 2014
I was disappointed in this book. Childhood mental illness is not a common subject, and I was eager to learn how a family navigated the journey. However, I felt the book was simplistic, the boy was very childish for a 9 year old (super-heroes at age 9? I think not) and the mom was ridiculous. She ignored the daughter, doted on the son, was always so perfect in her job & consideration/interactions with her husband. Completely not realistic. And the moment she says no to her boss he backs down & says they need her & they'll take her whenever she's available? Please. Also, it seemed to me that Nate was showing signs of schizophrenia, not bipolar disorder (but I am not a doctor).
I'm giving this a 3 instead of a 2 because childhood mental illness is important and anything that gets people educated is a start.
I'm giving this a 3 instead of a 2 because childhood mental illness is important and anything that gets people educated is a start.
January 30, 2015
When nine-year-old Nate Carter disappears into a world of his own making, fault-lines appear in his once-happy family. As his parents and sister adjust to a new and troubling reality, they are forced to reevaluate everything they thought they knew about themselves and their future together. Heather A. Clark’s wonderful novel, Elephant in the Sky, is a brave and unflinching portrait of childhood mental illness, a meditation on what it means to be a family, and a testament to the healing power of unconditional love.
September 30, 2014
This book grabbed my attention from the very first page and I could not put it down. It was amazing to read what mental illness would be like for a 9 year old boy and alternately how it affected his mother and then the whole family. This is our Book Club read for the month and I am sure the discussion will be amazing.
June 9, 2024
What a special book this was - both perspectives gave me pause yet seemed more than a little familiar. I’m happy it exists.
November 8, 2024
Mental illness is such a hard topic to write about, because it is so complex and there really aren’t many books out there that really do the subject justice. I believe that this book did. It was able to paint a vivid picture about childhood mental illness and it was not based on stereotypes or prejudice. A really good read and quite moving.
October 12, 2022
The message of this story is a good one. Mental illness being discussed and brought into the open is a good thing.
However, this book was simplistic, "sweet", unrealistic. The mother, Ashley, was so self-absorbed. She spoke of a close family, working together, etc. but she thought in terms of herself, she made important decisions without speaking to her husband (and he always supported her without feeling left out). Dialogue didn't seem real, trajectory didn't seem real, reactions of many (boss, husband) didn't seem real. Everything went Ashley's way.
The story could also have been heavily edited. The scenes were very drawn out.
I'm sorry that this wasn't a more interesting story. The subject matter is important.
However, this book was simplistic, "sweet", unrealistic. The mother, Ashley, was so self-absorbed. She spoke of a close family, working together, etc. but she thought in terms of herself, she made important decisions without speaking to her husband (and he always supported her without feeling left out). Dialogue didn't seem real, trajectory didn't seem real, reactions of many (boss, husband) didn't seem real. Everything went Ashley's way.
The story could also have been heavily edited. The scenes were very drawn out.
I'm sorry that this wasn't a more interesting story. The subject matter is important.
November 6, 2016
When I began reading, I thought I was in for an easy, yet interesting read. The style that Clark was using to write seemed easy to follow, and seemed to read smoothly. Unfortunately, it didn't take long before I grew bored and uninterested in the story because the style seemed to become juvenile.
The subject of mental illness is a difficult one to take on, especially where the point of view of a child is concerned. I have yet to find another book that has attempted to portray what this might be like for a child, and as such I feel like Clark bit off more than she could chew. Her portrayal of Nate was very skewed and unbelievable (she writes that he is of the age of 9, but his dialogue and love for superheros depicts his maturity level of someone of a much younger age). His bipolar tendencies are described as horrific hallucinations, which does not seem to mirror the appropriate symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Nate's mother Ashley also comes across as a very selfish individual, and everything about her seemed very delusional. She is described as this very important career woman, but her skill set and position itself are very poorly developed. I felt like Clark was trying to depict her as a magazine big-wig from New York in a high rise office building, being pulled from one meeting to the other in an attempt to keep all her clients happy. Yet, when she is finally faced with making a choice between her work and her home life...she has a heart to heart with her boss and all is right in the world of advertising!
When the big "plot twist" is revealed, I wanted to stop reading. I actually rolled my eyes and thought - "that's the best you could come up with?"
Maybe I am still coming down off of the high of Shutter Island (a VERY well written suspense surrounding mental illness)... but this book just wasn't it for me.
The subject of mental illness is a difficult one to take on, especially where the point of view of a child is concerned. I have yet to find another book that has attempted to portray what this might be like for a child, and as such I feel like Clark bit off more than she could chew. Her portrayal of Nate was very skewed and unbelievable (she writes that he is of the age of 9, but his dialogue and love for superheros depicts his maturity level of someone of a much younger age). His bipolar tendencies are described as horrific hallucinations, which does not seem to mirror the appropriate symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Nate's mother Ashley also comes across as a very selfish individual, and everything about her seemed very delusional. She is described as this very important career woman, but her skill set and position itself are very poorly developed. I felt like Clark was trying to depict her as a magazine big-wig from New York in a high rise office building, being pulled from one meeting to the other in an attempt to keep all her clients happy. Yet, when she is finally faced with making a choice between her work and her home life...she has a heart to heart with her boss and all is right in the world of advertising!
When the big "plot twist" is revealed, I wanted to stop reading. I actually rolled my eyes and thought - "that's the best you could come up with?"
Maybe I am still coming down off of the high of Shutter Island (a VERY well written suspense surrounding mental illness)... but this book just wasn't it for me.
September 12, 2014
Throughout my time reading Elephant in the Sky, I felt so very torn. At once, I felt both engrossed, so invested in the story of Nate's diagnosis and recovery, and simultaneously annoyed and furious with the personality and inner dialogue of his mother Ashley. The constant repetition at times of the offensive phrase 'crazy people' and the should-have-been-edited-because-it-was-included-far-too-often 'our son' - even though Ashley often claimed ownership over Nate and made important decisions without discussing them with her husband - were frustrating. Her own painfully uninvestigated biases and stigma about mental illness, her simpering and one-dimensional desire to protect her twelve-year-old, her naive realization that she had never had to not be 'normal' in society because she is a white straight able-bodied woman and how upset she was that this privilege would be revoked once people found out about Nate's condition... Were she real, I would not want this woman in my life. She was not likeable.
Secondly, as a Torontonian, this story did not ever, once, truly feel like it was taking place in Toronto. Mentioning Bloor and Sassafraz does not a Toronto story make. The brief mention of Oakville, when her neighbour says they are moving there so they have a parking space for their car, fell flat and did not contribute to anything else in the story (except to serve as a shout-out to the author's hometown).
All of this said, I found Nate's voice truthful and convincing, and I think that telling stories about mental illness in children and in families is important. The dimension of the novel that focuses on Ashley's father is strong.
I don't usually write Goodreads reviews, but I had such a conflicting experience reading this novel that I just had to distill those thoughts.
Secondly, as a Torontonian, this story did not ever, once, truly feel like it was taking place in Toronto. Mentioning Bloor and Sassafraz does not a Toronto story make. The brief mention of Oakville, when her neighbour says they are moving there so they have a parking space for their car, fell flat and did not contribute to anything else in the story (except to serve as a shout-out to the author's hometown).
All of this said, I found Nate's voice truthful and convincing, and I think that telling stories about mental illness in children and in families is important. The dimension of the novel that focuses on Ashley's father is strong.
I don't usually write Goodreads reviews, but I had such a conflicting experience reading this novel that I just had to distill those thoughts.
April 9, 2018
What an amazing book. I could feel the family’s pain and the young boys. I learnt so much, and felt I understood how scary it must be to see your own child suffer. It’s also a book filled with hope and thankfully a positive description of the health care system.
June 17, 2024
Such a good book. I read some of the other reviews and I don’t fully disagree but when a child is dealing with mental illness, it came make them act younger. Yes he’s 9 but 9 year olds also need their parents. They aren’t grown. This book really showed the insides and outsides of mental illness.
June 1, 2014
Story Description:
ECW Press|May 1, 2014|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-1-77041-083-1
The stigma of mental illness and the power of a mother's love come together in this achingly honest novel. Widely acclaimed for her ability to tell emotionally powerful stories that capture the real lives of women, bestselling author Heather A. Clark tackles the subject of childhood mental disorders. ELEPHANT IN THE SKY is told from both nine-year-old Nate's point of view and that of his mother, Ashely, an overworkd ad executive who struggles with a demanding workload and the worry that she's not spending enough time with her family - especially as her son's battle with mental unbalance and paranoid delusions escalates. The two narratives converge in a deeply moving tale of a family dealing with mental illness. ELEPHANT IN THE SKY is a story about unconditional love, and it articulates a complicated, real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity. It looks at what it means to be different in our society and beautifully explores the distance a mother will go to protect her child.
My Review:
ELEPHANT IN THE SKY was a riveting read. The characters were well fleshed out and the situation of dealing with mental illness was real, it was like reading a true story. I felt that Ashely and her husband were a bit slow on the uptake in picking up the fact that their nine-year-old son was exhibiting behaviours that were very inappropriate for his age and felt they should have sought help for him much sooner than when they did. However, they finally did become involved with the right people and the story moved at a steady pace holding my attention page after page after page.
This was one book I really enjoyed! Heather's first book was titled: Chai Tea Sunday and was also an excellent read.
ECW Press|May 1, 2014|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-1-77041-083-1
The stigma of mental illness and the power of a mother's love come together in this achingly honest novel. Widely acclaimed for her ability to tell emotionally powerful stories that capture the real lives of women, bestselling author Heather A. Clark tackles the subject of childhood mental disorders. ELEPHANT IN THE SKY is told from both nine-year-old Nate's point of view and that of his mother, Ashely, an overworkd ad executive who struggles with a demanding workload and the worry that she's not spending enough time with her family - especially as her son's battle with mental unbalance and paranoid delusions escalates. The two narratives converge in a deeply moving tale of a family dealing with mental illness. ELEPHANT IN THE SKY is a story about unconditional love, and it articulates a complicated, real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity. It looks at what it means to be different in our society and beautifully explores the distance a mother will go to protect her child.
My Review:
ELEPHANT IN THE SKY was a riveting read. The characters were well fleshed out and the situation of dealing with mental illness was real, it was like reading a true story. I felt that Ashely and her husband were a bit slow on the uptake in picking up the fact that their nine-year-old son was exhibiting behaviours that were very inappropriate for his age and felt they should have sought help for him much sooner than when they did. However, they finally did become involved with the right people and the story moved at a steady pace holding my attention page after page after page.
This was one book I really enjoyed! Heather's first book was titled: Chai Tea Sunday and was also an excellent read.
May 1, 2014
This is a good read which really grabbed me. It is the story of Ashley and her nine year old son Nate and is told alternatively from each perspective. Ashley is a hard working career woman whose husband Pete stays at home every day to look after their two children. Ashley is convinced that something is not right with Nate, but Pete will not take her fears seriously, claiming Nate is just a normal kid, who gets moody, naughty and acts hyper now and again. As the story progresses into the tale of mental illness in the young, it becomes absolutely gripping. It covers the suspicions, the diagnosis and early attempts at medication and as it is told from both viewpoints you really get an idea of what it is like for both of them. I really felt for Nate as he suffered and the parts of the book in his voice could be quite moving. I equally empathised with Ashley and how she was torn between wanting to be with her son 24 hours a day and her career, which at the end of the day she needed in order to pay medical bills if nothing else. It is a very difficult subject to tackle, but I felt it was handled sensitively and realistically. I could feel the strain it was putting the whole family under, not to mention the relationship between Pete and Ashley. It is not always the easiest story to read, because of its content, but one that is well worth reading. Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in return for an unbiased review.
May 17, 2015
I was really looking forward to reading this book. Childhood mental illness has touched several families close to me lately. I was looking forward to learning about the diagnosis process and the disease and impact on the family. Unfortunately, the terrible writing and lack of editing completely got in the way of any actually learning or reading pleasure.
I found Ashley, the mother, completely selfish and unbelievable. Her self-absorbed way of processing everything was flat and lacked realism. This would have benefitted from reality checking with actual working parents.
Nate, though ill, was not delayed. The dialogue for Nate sounded so much more like that of a much younger child that I found it distracting.
It takes years for a family to come together and realign after a diagnosis of mental illness. This dysfunctional family (on arguably at least three dimensions) healed completely within four months. This implausible feat would have been fantastic to learn about as an accomplishment- but since it is so implausible that even the author likely didn't believe it - it was added as the last chapter .... A kind of look how well we are doing now.
Do yourself a favour - find something else to read.
I found Ashley, the mother, completely selfish and unbelievable. Her self-absorbed way of processing everything was flat and lacked realism. This would have benefitted from reality checking with actual working parents.
Nate, though ill, was not delayed. The dialogue for Nate sounded so much more like that of a much younger child that I found it distracting.
It takes years for a family to come together and realign after a diagnosis of mental illness. This dysfunctional family (on arguably at least three dimensions) healed completely within four months. This implausible feat would have been fantastic to learn about as an accomplishment- but since it is so implausible that even the author likely didn't believe it - it was added as the last chapter .... A kind of look how well we are doing now.
Do yourself a favour - find something else to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2021
🐘 Book Review 🐘
𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤
I went to post this yesterday but I had just finished Crawdads and needed to put my thoughts down first before I forgot what I wanted to say about it 🙈
But with everything going on in the world... with so much now focusing on mental illness and by people who have a mental illness letting us into their world by sharing more.. we all learn.
Elephants in the Sky is a book about being bipolar. It is told from his mom (Ashley) and Nate's (9year old) perspective; which was a very effective way to show readers another view into what a child is thinking or experiencing life around them.
𝘈𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮, 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.
𝘈𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵, 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥.
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱.
Beautifully written ✍🏻 thank you @heathera
#flowersfavouritefiction
𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤
I went to post this yesterday but I had just finished Crawdads and needed to put my thoughts down first before I forgot what I wanted to say about it 🙈
But with everything going on in the world... with so much now focusing on mental illness and by people who have a mental illness letting us into their world by sharing more.. we all learn.
Elephants in the Sky is a book about being bipolar. It is told from his mom (Ashley) and Nate's (9year old) perspective; which was a very effective way to show readers another view into what a child is thinking or experiencing life around them.
𝘈𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮, 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.
𝘈𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵, 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥.
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱.
Beautifully written ✍🏻 thank you @heathera
#flowersfavouritefiction
January 27, 2014
I received this as one of the Goodreads giveaways. Although the over-arching message of the book was a good one and I think there need to be more books concerning mental health issues, I found the story to be overly simplistic and the writing to be rather juvenile. A lot of the chapters from the mother's point of view were rather boring, as they dealt with a lot of the conversation and intricacies at her office. I found the story overly predictable and I thought it could have been developed much further.
November 5, 2018
I wanted more from this book than it delivered and I felt cheated. The reviews made it sound like it was going to be a true account of a family’s journey through the world of mental illness and for me it wasn’t. It was too easy, too quick and had too happy of an ending. From personal experience I can tell you this is not the case for the majority of families.
This is the second book I have read by this author, Chai Tea Sunday was our book club’s selection for the month of October. While most enjoyed the book there was criticism that it was unrealistic, especially the way it ended with a happily ever after for Eric and Nicky. I love happy endings and defended the authors choice but now I am seeing a pattern in her writing. Life doesn’t always work that way. Especially for those dealing with the most serious mental illnesses such as Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia.
I did feel for the characters in this book and it brought me to major tears a few times. However there was a lack of realism. For most families dealing with such illnesses it is a never ending roller coaster ride of up and downs, major crisis, suicide attempts, hospitalizations, addiction.... Many of these stories end by suicide. Most families have to fight the system for years before getting help, and that help is often inadequate.
If you are looking for a fairy tale account of mental illness, one that comes full circle in a mater of months this book is for you. If you are dealing with mental illness in your family and want to read a book about a family you can relate to, this book could or could not be what you are looking for. There were moments that I related to, a parent’s panic as their son goes missing, the strain on a marriage as parents come to terms with their child’s illness, the confusion at what is happening, fear of the unknown, utter helplessness... These felt real and brought me to tears. My complaint was how easy it was to get help, to recover and to never experience another psychotic episode again. This is not reality for most families. Thus the book became unreal to me, and I felt let down by it.
This is the second book I have read by this author, Chai Tea Sunday was our book club’s selection for the month of October. While most enjoyed the book there was criticism that it was unrealistic, especially the way it ended with a happily ever after for Eric and Nicky. I love happy endings and defended the authors choice but now I am seeing a pattern in her writing. Life doesn’t always work that way. Especially for those dealing with the most serious mental illnesses such as Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia.
I did feel for the characters in this book and it brought me to major tears a few times. However there was a lack of realism. For most families dealing with such illnesses it is a never ending roller coaster ride of up and downs, major crisis, suicide attempts, hospitalizations, addiction.... Many of these stories end by suicide. Most families have to fight the system for years before getting help, and that help is often inadequate.
If you are looking for a fairy tale account of mental illness, one that comes full circle in a mater of months this book is for you. If you are dealing with mental illness in your family and want to read a book about a family you can relate to, this book could or could not be what you are looking for. There were moments that I related to, a parent’s panic as their son goes missing, the strain on a marriage as parents come to terms with their child’s illness, the confusion at what is happening, fear of the unknown, utter helplessness... These felt real and brought me to tears. My complaint was how easy it was to get help, to recover and to never experience another psychotic episode again. This is not reality for most families. Thus the book became unreal to me, and I felt let down by it.
March 19, 2020
Four stars for the subject matter. Three stars for the book in general. Her portrayal of childhood mental illness was pretty spot on in my opinion, although I do think/agree that her son was written more like a six year old than a nine year old.
It’s worth reading and worth sharing among families that have children with mood disorders among them. However, it’s not exactly going to be comforting for anyone who is struggling with mental illness and doesn’t have access to all the unlimited resources that they are immediately connected to. Her son gets a decent diagnosis in weeks where many families struggle for years. A perfect hospital has a mental health floor with a bed for a child available when he is in need. His first doctors and therapists are amazing and his teachers are super understanding and they have the perfect hospital experience and a great school available for special needs children with a spot right when he needs it. Zero chance of that happening even here in the United States. Pediatric mental health resources are extremely limited. But in an ideal world. Yes, this is what good care could and should do for behavioral health for our kids.
It’s worth reading and worth sharing among families that have children with mood disorders among them. However, it’s not exactly going to be comforting for anyone who is struggling with mental illness and doesn’t have access to all the unlimited resources that they are immediately connected to. Her son gets a decent diagnosis in weeks where many families struggle for years. A perfect hospital has a mental health floor with a bed for a child available when he is in need. His first doctors and therapists are amazing and his teachers are super understanding and they have the perfect hospital experience and a great school available for special needs children with a spot right when he needs it. Zero chance of that happening even here in the United States. Pediatric mental health resources are extremely limited. But in an ideal world. Yes, this is what good care could and should do for behavioral health for our kids.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2024
This book offers hope that it is possible (although difficult) to live a happy and functional life with bipolar disorder. I want the hope I feel to be true for those I love who suffer with this disorder, but it is so difficult to believe it could be true. The author has experienced being close to someone with the disorder & the story is based on the experiences.
The feelings evoked are very real to the family turmoil surrounding mental illness. The mom believes she can somehow make everything "all better" & sometimes blames herself. This can be infuriating to read as it is infuriating when you are in this situation to realize you are thinking the same things.
I wish the author would have read her own acknowledgements in the audio book - it's weird that a man is reading them. That is the only negative I can state, because this is a very complex situation and any "annoying" things within the text just add to the realistic feeling of confusion and frustration that permeate life in a family affected by mental illness. The acknowledgement of the real-life story behind this book lends poignant hope to the reader.
The feelings evoked are very real to the family turmoil surrounding mental illness. The mom believes she can somehow make everything "all better" & sometimes blames herself. This can be infuriating to read as it is infuriating when you are in this situation to realize you are thinking the same things.
I wish the author would have read her own acknowledgements in the audio book - it's weird that a man is reading them. That is the only negative I can state, because this is a very complex situation and any "annoying" things within the text just add to the realistic feeling of confusion and frustration that permeate life in a family affected by mental illness. The acknowledgement of the real-life story behind this book lends poignant hope to the reader.
January 16, 2022
I was very interested in this book, and felt it was a compelling narrative. As a reader with two lifelong mental health disabilities, I felt the mother in this narrative stigmatized her son, and the use of the word crazy in describing him did not sit at all right with me. My parents were middle class and educated like the characters in this book, and I was never referred to as crazy. I found the author’s refusal to name the person who inspired this story because of stigma against people with bipolar strange when the individual has given her permission. I have bipolar and borderline personality disorder, and I fully agree with her: yes, I am stigmatized by some who are ignorant as I am transparent about my disabilities, but far more often, people appreciate my openness and discuss their own or their family’s struggles with mental health with great relief and thanks. I firmly believe that the only way mental illness can no longer be stigmatized is to talk openly about it, as we have every ethical human right to do so.
October 12, 2017
I had read Heather's first book 'Chai Tea Sunday' and loved it so, I thought I would give this book a read as well. I really liked the premise of the book itself as it is so rarely talked about in books. I really felt for Nate, especially when it came to the kids bullying him in class; it was unfair and harsh. Ashley was definitely stuck in a hard place as she had to deal with her career and Nate's failing health. I felt that the author portrayed each of the characters well by outlining their ups and downs as they dealt with Nate's illness. I also liked how the book was told by both Nate and Ashley's perspectives, although I would have loved to read of Pete's perspective being that he was the main caregiver of the children while Ashley was at work. Definitely a very thought-provoking read about childhood mental illness.
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February 22, 2020This book has the author’s heart on every page.
Unfortunately I never fell into the story. It felt like a how-to pamphlet for what to expect and how to act when your kid has a mental illness. The writing broke the rule of show don’t tell. And all of the health care providers talked in the same patient instructive way—again making me feel like I had looked something up on Wikipedia.
And many unbelievable things. Lovely Nate could not have been 9, even if his mental troubles slowed his maturity. This kid seemed much younger. The secret Ashley’s husband kept. The inaction of the stereotypical guys at the bar. And Ashley seemed way too slow in doing everything she could for her kid: didn’t the first doctor tell her about depression?
I wanted to love this book. How could your heart not go out to this family?
Unfortunately I never fell into the story. It felt like a how-to pamphlet for what to expect and how to act when your kid has a mental illness. The writing broke the rule of show don’t tell. And all of the health care providers talked in the same patient instructive way—again making me feel like I had looked something up on Wikipedia.
And many unbelievable things. Lovely Nate could not have been 9, even if his mental troubles slowed his maturity. This kid seemed much younger. The secret Ashley’s husband kept. The inaction of the stereotypical guys at the bar. And Ashley seemed way too slow in doing everything she could for her kid: didn’t the first doctor tell her about depression?
I wanted to love this book. How could your heart not go out to this family?
September 5, 2024
Couldn’t stop listening to it. I just wanted to figure out what was going on. This family was going thru something scary and unknown for them and it was sad to see what Nate had to go thru and then what the family went thru. Ashley had a mother’s intuition and she just wanted to get to the bottom of it and understand it. My daughter has gone thru something that we didn’t know was so prominent and we are trying to figure out what to expect and how to handle things. I love how they said take one day at a time and maybe 1 hr at a time. Also loved this quote: “After all the complicated layers have been peeled away from the complex onion we call life. What’s really left is the unconditional love for those we care about most. It’s the connection that keeps us tied to them, helping them, forgiving them, no matter what else has happened. Unconditional love Keeps us moving forward”
January 8, 2018
This book deals with a terrifying situation: a young boy experiencing mental health issues causing mania, hallucinations, and depression. It covers the challenges the parents go through trying to determine if his behaviour is just related to Nate being an imaginative child or something more. His disappearances and medical treatment paints an image that is believable and heart-breaking. The storyline of this book and subject matter was good and interesting. The low rating I gave was because of the writing style. I found it clunky and simplistic. This may have been ok for Nate's sections but it felt just awkward for Ashley's (the mother) bits making the experience of reading the book irritating.
June 5, 2024
🐘 Elephant in the Sky 🐘
•Based on a true story, Elephant in the Sky articulates a complicated, real-life subject with grace, wisdom and sensitivity, and beautifully explores the distance a mother will go to protect her child•
All throughout this book I felt torn on the review I would leave. The back and forth of the characters and emotions really kept me engaged.
It was one of my first books about mental health/bipolar disorder in children. It was sad, but, simply precious. I just wanted to give this little guy the biggest hug. We need to learn to be there for people and their children. 🤍
5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ because I appreciated the
positive view on the healthcare system and any lesson or knowledge learned on mental illness in children is worth the learn.
•Based on a true story, Elephant in the Sky articulates a complicated, real-life subject with grace, wisdom and sensitivity, and beautifully explores the distance a mother will go to protect her child•
All throughout this book I felt torn on the review I would leave. The back and forth of the characters and emotions really kept me engaged.
It was one of my first books about mental health/bipolar disorder in children. It was sad, but, simply precious. I just wanted to give this little guy the biggest hug. We need to learn to be there for people and their children. 🤍
5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ because I appreciated the
positive view on the healthcare system and any lesson or knowledge learned on mental illness in children is worth the learn.
May 19, 2025
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and while I didn't specifically choose this book with that in mind, I'm happy to have read it during this time.
It's staggering to think that around 970 million people worldwide are living with a mental disorder, which means roughly 1 in 8 individuals faces some form of mental illness, with anxiety and depression being the most common.
Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding mental health persists, making it difficult for many to discuss their struggles openly. This stigma is particularly pronounced for less understood conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis. It is important to acknowledge that many individuals can lead fulfilling lives with the right combination of medication, therapy, and a good support system.
This book offers a unique perspective by delving into a family's experience as they navigate the difficulties of parenting a child with a mental disorder. It also highlights the emotional challenges they face while waiting for an official diagnosis and uncovering hidden mental health issues within the family.
It's staggering to think that around 970 million people worldwide are living with a mental disorder, which means roughly 1 in 8 individuals faces some form of mental illness, with anxiety and depression being the most common.
Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding mental health persists, making it difficult for many to discuss their struggles openly. This stigma is particularly pronounced for less understood conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis. It is important to acknowledge that many individuals can lead fulfilling lives with the right combination of medication, therapy, and a good support system.
This book offers a unique perspective by delving into a family's experience as they navigate the difficulties of parenting a child with a mental disorder. It also highlights the emotional challenges they face while waiting for an official diagnosis and uncovering hidden mental health issues within the family.
May 23, 2017
I thought this book portrayed mental illness in children very well. I had an imaginary friend when I was about five and I think a lot of children do but the extremes that Nate demonstrated clearly indicated his illness and the line between imagination and illness. Parents can rationalize extreme behaviour as normal boy behaviour when they don't share their concerns with anyone. It's like admitting you are a bad parent that can't control your child. I thought the author portrayed the family dynamics, everyone's emotions, fears, anger, stress, concern and love exactly as I would feel. I loved this book.
August 6, 2024
I would give this a 3.8 for sure. At first I thought it was based on a true story and when I lreaned that it is based on many true experiences it made sense. Heather really gets into the head of Nate and all that he is experiencing as he struggles as a young child to make sense of the voices in his head. I felt like I learned a lot about Bipolar, its grip on an individual and the countless people who are impacted - family and friends. While the end may have wrapped up nicely I think it was meant to give hope. I would recommend this for those who know someone who is or could be struggling with their Mental health.
November 13, 2024
I really enjoyed this book, but I also realize it’s not a book that everyone would love. I learned a lot about what dealing with certain mental disorders can feel like for those who deal with them on a daily basis. It opened my eyes to a lot of things in the world of bipolar and schizophrenia and that is one of the reasons I gave it five stars.
And of course, this book reiterated the fact that you cannot truly know what someone is dealing with on the inside. We, as humans, have to be caring and understanding in the fact that we are all simply doing our best and jumping our individual hurdles in life, some being higher than others.
And of course, this book reiterated the fact that you cannot truly know what someone is dealing with on the inside. We, as humans, have to be caring and understanding in the fact that we are all simply doing our best and jumping our individual hurdles in life, some being higher than others.
August 9, 2024
This book is thought provoking and very well written. It deals with childhood mental illness which still has such a stigma attached to it. But the author did her research and handles the topic beautifully. The parent’s reactions to their child’s strange behavior and subsequent diagnosis just felt spot on to me. And the way it was written from both the mom and the child’s perspectives gave so much more insight into everything that was happening. It’s a short book, so a quick read, but it will stay with you for a long time.
February 6, 2018
Two voices, two perspectives telling a much needed story about mental illness. Nate is a young boy living in a dark world full of fear, loneliness and paranoia. Nate’s mother Ashley is struggling to understand and cope with the immediate crisis involving everyone she loves. “Based on a true story, Elephant in the Sky articulates a complicated real-life subject with grace, wisdom and sensitivity. .... “
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