Raising Panic

by Rhonda Zimlich

Set in 1978, a time of Ditto jeans and rabbit's foot keychains, Raising Panic captures the bond of sisters struggling to find security in an alcoholic home and their attempt to escape. PJ McCormack wants nothing more than to leave her rural valley and alcoholic mother, the way her father did years earlier. But she cannot leave behind her nine-year-old sister, Panic. Instead, she teaches Panic about survival, hoping to prepare her to someday leave. After Panic witnesses the historic PSA 182 jetliner crash (the first televised mass-casualty event in the U.S.), the family is thrown into crisis, solidifying the sisters' plan to leave. As their situation spins out of control, they'll learn the reason behind their father's disappearance, the source of rabbit's foot keychains, and the origin of Panic's name.

240 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2024

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhonda Zimlich's novel: Raising Panic is a captivating, beautifully-written novel about two young sisters attempting to survive in an often hostile environment. Set at the time of the horrific plane crash on September 25, 1978 -- PSA Flight 182 -- in California, that incident serves as a backdrop to this powerful story. The author captures the natural beauty of the San Diego area in the late 1970s, in such vivid and magnificent detail that I pictured myself there (and it's -not- an area I'm familiar with). I laughed, I cried, I held my breath during many of the book's scenes but, most of all, I rooted for these brave young women who, in the midst of so many obstacles, fought for their emotional and physical survival. As many people are, I'm an avid reader, but this book will stay with me forever; it's a gift to all who read it and I highly recommend it.

[Melissa Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhonda Zimlich is a rare talent who compassionately and critically examines rural American communities for their hope and humanity. Through tragedy, sister bonds, and family secrets, Raising Panic reveals the tension between our origin stories and the rocky path of leaving home to save ourselves. This book is astonishing!

[Dena Leibman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, from its descriptions of Southern California's dry-chaparral desert to the story unfolding against the backdrop of a horrific San Diego plane crash to the two sisters who find resilience against their mother's violent abuse by seeking refuge in each other and their beloved desert. So looking forward to the author's next book!

[Mary Beath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found so many things to admire in Raising Panic! I loved the way Zimlich captured the thinking processes and language of the 9- and 14-year-old sisters Panic and PJ, and their incredibly touching relationship. I was captivated by the way that relationship slowly evolved through the book and the way they both matured, step-by-step. The book deals with their fraught interactions with their mother Betsy in a direct but ultimately loving way that I found completely believable. The scene of Betsy’s violence early on was absolutely hair-raising and really well rendered. I felt the tension building, but it still seemed to come out of nowhere when it happened, one of the terrible aspects of alcoholics. Of course, I resonated with the desert landscapes and loved the way Zimlich rendered them and how much they mattered to the story. The various plot twists always came as surprises (but no spoilers here!). All the characters were well drawn, even the minor ones. The book builds to an entirely satisfying ending.
One of the craft things I appreciated was the smooth way POV switched from PJ to Panic and back, without confusing the reader about who was thinking or speaking.
Despite—and perhaps partly because of—some of the emotional difficulties portrayed in this book, it’s ultimately a terrific read and I recommend it to anyone looking for a deeply honest book written with unfaltering lyricism. I’m so happy it’s out there in the world.

[Rhonda Dixon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weird characters, strange story. Barely kept my attention in that I wasn’t sure where it was going, but the multiple tangents ultimately did not pay off. A lot of trauma and abuse mentioned and even glossed over and/or not taken seriously a bit? PJ has a lot of dumb character inconsistencies (IE she loves dissecting worms but loses her mind at the thought of rabbits dying).

Also, not sure this book had a real editor, or anyone actually read it before it was published. I caught multiple typos, grammatical errors, and word usage errors (“American the Beautiful,” “weighted” tables instead of waited tables). The mom’s age was first referenced as being 32, and then 36 a few chapters later. Sloppy writing or possibly written by (bad) AI? Almost as if the author was given a list of tropes, topics, or situations and was told to include them all in one story whether it made sense or not.

One slightly redeeming factor was the author’s description of the natural Southern California desert landscape so if you like plants that might be interesting. Also, references to PSA Flight 182 that crashed in the area in 1978. I was unaware of that historical event and it was interesting to learn about (from the internet…not this book). Overall would not recommend.

[Kim Zimlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raising Panic fearlessly tells the story of sensitive exploration of a dysfunctional family in such a way that illuminates the beautiful relationship between sisters. It’s a wonderful portrayal of powerful bonds, survival, strength, and hope as PJ and Panic navigate life while learning to cope, grow, and thrive.
This book will stay with you long after you put it down for the quiet persistent hope that flickers in the darkest places.

[David J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zimlich’s novel is a rare peak into a Southern California we rarely see: inland areas of chaparral and creosote bush. A rural San Diego populated by downtrodden people struggling to get by. Panic and PH’s story is triumphant nonetheless. This is a terrific read that will have you on the edge of your reader seat.

[London · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhonda Zimlich's novel, Raising Panic, takes place in 1978 Southern California and tells an absolutely riveting story of two young girls growing up in a dysfunctional family in poor, rural America. There's a lot to admire in Zimlich's writing. What was so striking is how visceral the descriptions were-- usually, books do not strike my imagination as intensely as this one did. I felt like I was in the dry-chaparral desert myself, exploring El Cajon with PJ and Panic, breathing in the arid air and feeling the hot wind on my skin. This deeply emotional coming-of-age narrative was done very well, and the switch between PJ and Panic's points of view were seamless. The events of the story unfolding around the PSA Flight 182 crash were a brilliant way to both pay homage to a tragic part of San Diego history, as well as show the sisters' development as young women growing up in an unwelcoming environment.

This was a heavy, but a highly necessary read. The depictions of abuse and alcoholism were honestly petrifying, but this is what made it feel so real and well written. I like how nothing was sugar coated, and to someone who has gone through a similar (although not the same) situation, PJ and Panic's reactions and choices felt very much like they were still kids just trying to navigate a hostile world. The way PJ and Panic leaned on each other and slowly became strong, resilient women despite everything was very beautiful. There were certainly some plot twists but they were not unwelcome, and the ending (without spoilers) had me in tears. Brilliant book, I will be recommending it to all of my reader friends.