The Boy Who Loved Tornadoes

by Randi Davenport

Randi Davenport’s story is a testament to human fortitude, to hope, and to a mother’s uncompromising love for her children. She had always worked hard to provide her family with a sense of stability and strength, despite the challenges of having a son with autism and a husband whose erratic behavior sometimes puzzled and confused her.

But eventually, Randi’s husband slipped into his own world and permanently out of her family’s. And at fifteen, her son Chase entered an unremitting psychosis—pursued by terrifying images, unable to recognize his own mother, unwilling to eat or even talk—becoming ever more tortured and unreachable.

Beautifully written and profoundly moving, this is the heartbreaking yet triumphant story of how Randi Davenport navigated the byzantine and broken health care system and managed not just to save her son from the brink of suicide but to bring him back to her again, and make her family whole.

In The Boy Who Loved Tornadoes, she gives voice to the experiences of countless families whose struggles with mental illness are likewise invisible to the larger world.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Autobiography, Psychology, Biography, Disability

384 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2010

About the author

Randi Davenport is the author of The End of Always (Twelve, 2014) and of The Boy Who Loved Tornadoes (Algonquin, 2010). In 2011, she received the Great Lakes Colleges Association New Writer’s Award for Creative Non-fiction, and was a finalist for the Books for a Better Life Award. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in Huffington Post, Washington Post, Ontario Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, Women’s History Review, Literature/Film Quarterly, Victorian Literature and Culture, among others.

Reviews

[George Ilsley · Rating 2 out of 5]

While sympathetic to the story, this book left me wanting . . . less. It was too long and too rambling. The main story, about Chase, sadly never goes anywhere until the epilogue. Story with husband — dangling loose ends. Story about younger sister . . . well who knows, I starting skipping those digressions.

Written by someone who teaches creative writing, so I kept looking for the great sentences and stellar writing. Well, the last sentence stands out. The rest is just okay. I guess she deserves credit for moving this story along in a serviceable manner, but overall too long. Also, her own personal story was oddly missing. I read lots of memoirs, and lots of autism memoirs, and lots of family mental illness memoirs, and this one does not stand out. Sorry.

[Mical · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is intense. A mother's memoir of her life with her son who was born with a developmental disorder (autistic-like, but never pinned down) which escalates into psychosis as he gets older (while developmentally disordered, seizure disordered and probably schizophrenia, true childhood schizophrenia which is very rare), and how she struggles (now a single mom and professor, as her husband also eventually ended up with a milder form of the psychosis - though it took her years to realize it) with a system that leaves the mentally challenged more often on the streets rather than assisted. Big sigh. The book is a big sigh actually, and it's work reading it, because it highlights American society's lack in caring for its mentally ill, but after holding my breath and wiping my tears through every page of the book, I was given a few pages of respite in the last chapter. I kept expecting for the book to inspire and uplift and change and wiggle into a happy story -- for someone to find a magical cure. I kept thinking it would happen . . . but that's not the kind of book it is. It's real life. Her life.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't truthfully say that I've read all that many memoirs in my life; I've read fewer still about families coping with mental illness. That said, Davenport's book stands tall not just as an historical record of her family's nearly unimaginable struggles, but as a creative work written with an ability to construct an almost literary structure, framing the events in an emotional and chronological span that encompasses multiple lives, decades, and locations.

Because of Davenport's skill as a writer, "The Boy Who Loved Tornadoes" encompasses not just the primary story at hand, but Davenport's own experiences growing up as an aspiring poet (including the common tendency among poets to glorify mental illness as a divine state), her perceptions of mental illness, and the struggle to make sense of the chemical and psychological tethers that bind her son, Chase, and baffle caregivers at all levels of the medical community. Her cross-country travels as a professor, the dissolution of a failed marriage, and her attempts to simulate a normal life (even when none seemed possible) with her daughter, Haley, as well as her struggles against a health care system that constant seeks loopholes in order to push the most difficult patients (who are, by default, those also in the most need of care) out into a nearby alley imbues the true-life story with rich, complex emotions and situations. At times, the book reads like an especially intense one-act play between two players; at other times, gentle memories or sly asides evoke not just the low moments, but also the flickering moments of relief and clarity. Far from maudlin, the book is written by an author with a gift for (and love of) language that dissects fleeting, intangible emotions and delivers them to the reader in a very comprehensible way.

If you are a parent who has traveled down this same difficult path, you will no doubt find solace in aspects of this book. However, readers with no comparable experiences would still be advised to immerse themselves in this intense, harrowing, and ultimately transformative memoir.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book moved me so much - it terrified me, exhausted me, made me cry and left me puzzled - that I had to take a break from it halfway through, and read some frothy chick lit. I'm ashamed to admit that, when Randi Davenport lived (lives!) every parent's worst nightmare - when there is something horribly wrong with your child and no one can figure out what it is.

*This* is what a real Tiger Mother is...the devotion and dedication and determination (alliteration not intended) she exhibits while trying to get the appropriate care for her teenage son, who has suddenly descended into psychosis is nothing short of heroic.

Lots of questions are raised, and not all of them are answered, though not for lack of trying by the author. Was there a hereditary link to what happened to Chase? This aspect fascinated me, because I work in egg donation and deal with issues of genetics every day.

If I were to be exceedingly picky, I would say that there seemed to be some serious run-on sentences, especially towards the end of the book - it almost seemed like she too was exhausted in the telling of it. That she had to get it all out, in great gulps of words before she ran out of energy or will.

That minor complaint aside, I would strongly recommend this book, but know that you are embarking on a very challenging literary journey. This was truly one of the most harrowing, overwhelming memoirs I have ever read. I am so glad I did.

[K2 ----- · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book mostly because it was published by Algonquin and it's rare to read an Algonquin Book that I don't enjoy. I thought it was about a woman's struggle with an autistic son and that seemed interesting to me also since I don't know that much about autism.

What I read instead was a mother's journey to get her son's challenging mental illness treated properly and her quest to cope with life as a single mother while trying to maintain some balance in her younger daughter's life.

Amid all the heartache and trauma of having a special needs son, in his early teens he becomes particularly psychotic, and no one can seem to diagnose what the issue is nor have a clear picture how to beat treat him medically. Author Randi Davenport is an educated intelligent woman who pushes hard to do the right thing amid self-doubts and utter exhaustion.

The book is a compelling read, well written, and tells how messed up the system is for dealing with the most mentally ill among us. At one point she reluctantly "pulls strings" to get her son properly seen too against difficult odds and after trying everything else.

She said in an interview she didn't want to be viewed as such a hero but I think that few readers could feel anything other than admiration for the dedication she has shown her son and against terrible odds. Recommended!

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hauntingly beautiful book about one Mother's fight to save her son Chase and the sad tale of the mental health system in North Carolina.

"Chase was fourteen that day, and Haley was ten. Despite my high hopes, and I had many, there was never any possibility of staying with the others. The cant of Chase's head, the soft slur of his words, the pitch and lean of his walk, his tendency to fall to staring or into convulsions, his preternatural interest in things morbid and otherwordly, his obessions and monologues, his endless pacing and agitating, his body that served like a drain and took all of the air out of the room, all off the air and all of the energy, and all of the focus and all of the attention--these things made a wall between us and everyone else. It was as if we were on one side of a thick plate-glass window, through which we could clearly see the world, forever out of reach.
Having a disability in the family locks you in a space whose borders the rest of the world cannot see, and which you yourself cannot see until you smack into its limits."

[Esther Bradley-detally · Rating 5 out of 5]

A harrowing tale brilliantly told, of a very loved child and his mother who fights to save him. Randi Davenport is heroic, a mother, aren't we all heroes when it comes to our kids, but she goes beyond the pale.

Because of the multitude of brain symptoms, Randi Davenport faces Kafkaesque situations, i.e., stairways leading nowhere, primitive conditions for mental health care, and for years she is up front and dealing with no care for her son in the schools, in the state's mandates, no institutions who can care for him, and yet she persists.

She also has a daughter who has endured this suffering and Daven;port has the capacity and love to meet her daughters nees.

My words are careful and stilted, because the book is intense; it is glutted with scenes of horror, scenes of despair, but triumphed by scenes of perseverance! Amazing. a must read!

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a difficult book to read - you feel so sorry for the Mom trying to deal with everything by herself and not really knowing what was wrong. When something goes wrong with a child, we hope that there will be experts who can help and agencies that can point us in the right direction, and facilities that will help care for our child if it comes to that. But, in many cases, it seems like luck if you find what you need. A parent must be incredibly resilient, brave, and steadfast, and Randi Davenport is. Her book should offer hope for other parents dealing with these same issues. This book was interesting, well written, and ends on a hopeful note. The Mom and her son and daughter are all likable and you hope for the best for their family.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written, gripping, heartbreaking and ultimately triumphant story of Randi Davenport's experiences as the mom of a son with... no one is ever sure what, but with numerous, sometimes conflicting and always confusing neurological, mental and developmental problems, rendering him unable to care for himself or interface with the world. Autism? Schizophrenia? Certainly seizures are part of the problem, but a global diagnosis evades, and Chase seems to live in a world of one. Davenport's struggles with the state of North Carolina to find legally mandated care for her son are heartbreaking in and of themselves.

[Evanston Public Library]

Chase was always different; however the medical community was never really able to put a label on Randi Davenport’s son. After being assured that autism and mental illness could not exist in one person, her son, at age 13, seemed to have fallen into that category. The Boy Who Loved Tornadoes is Davenport’s account of life with an atypical autistic and profoundly psychotic son and the broken healthcare system in America which has no place for a boy like Chase. This profound story of a mother’s love for her child has an uplifting ending as Chase finally gets the help he needs and begins the slow road to recovery.

Rika G.

[Holli Keel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is truly miraculous. It's beautifully written - almost like poetry at times, but it's also a gripping story. It's a heartbreaking story of a mother who goes through so much to keep her family together while fighting for her son, who suffers from something nobody really knows or understands. They thought it was autism, but it seemed to be much more. My heart ached for this family and it also inspired me anew to help shed light on (and find ways to help improve) the limited rights of the mentally ill in our society.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard enough to have a child with emotional disorders. But having a child with an extremely rare and debilitating mental health disorder is an incredible experience. This family faced the additional challenge of seeking treatment at a atone when their state underwent a difficult and in many ways unsuccessful shift in the way mental health services are provided. The result was that no one was prepared to provide the needed treatment for this unique young man. Davenport's commitment to both of her children is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.

[Logan Berrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a boy's slide from acute to chronic psychosis, and what happens to his family along the way. All I can say is: Wow. What a fing story. I can't imagine what Randi Davenport went through, but damn was it intense. I've been thinking I'd be into trying out Pediactric Psych one of these days, when my current research work (adult dual diagnosis) is complete, and this book has made me feel that this would be a great specialty to move into. So thanks Randi and Chase for the inspiration!

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a memoir about the author's severely developmentally disabled son and her struggle to find a place that would treat him. Specialists are unsure whether her son Chase's psychosis is a result of schizophrenia or extreme autism, but virtually EVERYONE refuses to treat him. I found it absolutely heartbreaking, very well researched, and full of insight on the state of our broken mental health system. I could feel the mother's frustration as doctors struggled to diagnose Chase, and as hospital after hospital turned him down. This memoir was very affecting and well-written.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a teacher, I really identified with this mother's search to find a "label" for her son and thereby find a treatment. The book was a nice reminder that children aren't just labels, and many children truly are a population of one, but that doesn't mean anyone should give up on them. Inspiring and sometimes heartbreaking true story.

[Agatha Donkar Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this extra heartbreaking because it's a story of North Carolina and North Carolina's failure to cope with mental illness; many of the facilities named in Davenport's story of her son's psychotic break are places I work with on a regular basis, and it made me despair a little in a lot of ways.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly beautiful -- a mother's memoir of trying to find adequate care for her psychotic son. Not just a heartbreaking story, but beautifully written. She tells the story with the exact right day-to-day details so that you can't help but identify with her. I can't recommend it highly enough.

[Tim]

A difficult to read book, written by the mother of a boy with mental illness. It examines the effect of this on her life, the life of the young boy, their family, and those around them. It also examines the way in which mental illness is dealt with, or not dealt with in our society, and how difficult it is to get appropriate care for the mentally ill. 7/17/11

[MaryPat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very disturbing memoir about one mother's fight to save her son from mental illness. Randi worked hard to provide a stable home for her family but when her young son, Chase, began to exhibit a break from reality she feared for his safety. What follows is her heartbreaking search for care & treatment for Chase when he just seems to fall deeper & deeper into psychosis.

[Helene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreaking story of a mother's determination to get help for her son. Well-written and somehow not overly sentimental, this book kept me up to finish it and then because I couldn't get it out of my head.

[Sue Kozlowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

True story. She has a son Chase that no one can diagnose. Her husband Zip seems to have a mental issue too. She works to get the system to help her son. He is committed but does come home regularly to visit.

[Kristin R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the true story of a family that despite mental illness, struggles to maintain a little normalcy.

Chase is 15, high-functioning autistic, who suffers from seizures,and eventually slips into a psychosis that holds a tight grip on him.

His mom fights for him every way possible.

[Barbara Golberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

As s mental health provider and a mother I could feel the frustration and despair everyone felt in finding care for Chase. Through love and perseverance, hope prevailed. A very inspiring book.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sad situation that even in this day and age, there are not adequate facilities for those with mental illness. :( This was so captivating, I read it in one day.

[Tri-reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just all right. It is highly rated here on goodreads, but I just had too many unanswered questions I feel the author could have talked about.

[Emily Goenner Munson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another 3.5, but the topic is close to my life so I can identify with much of the story...

[Steve Voiles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good novel to help you contemplate mental illness and the challenges of family support. You will probably recognize parts of yourself or your loved ones somewhere in this book.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sad, but hopeful biography of her son, by the author. The mystery involved was:what is the matter with her son? No one is able to figure it out! The mom makes sure that her son is well-cared-for all the time!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly inspiring story of surviving his own suicide attempt and the way he chose to live his life afterward.

It's raw and emotional and genuine. This book will definitely stick with me.

[Laura Duffield Biegger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotionally draining at times.