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A review by siobhanward
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
3.5
NYT Notable Books 2020: 37/100
I'm not sure what I expected this book to be about going in, but the reality surprised me. Six children in one family with schizophrenia is both wild and fascinating, and I appreciated that Kolker included the family's contributions to scientific research in the book. The story is obviously sad, heavy and challenging, but it was told in a way that was very empathetic and humanized the Galvin siblings. Kolker doesn't shy away from challenging topics (I read his book <i> Lost Girls <i/> a few years ago), and tells these stories in a way that is interesting without being exploitative.
I'm not sure what I expected this book to be about going in, but the reality surprised me. Six children in one family with schizophrenia is both wild and fascinating, and I appreciated that Kolker included the family's contributions to scientific research in the book. The story is obviously sad, heavy and challenging, but it was told in a way that was very empathetic and humanized the Galvin siblings. Kolker doesn't shy away from challenging topics (I read his book <i> Lost Girls <i/> a few years ago), and tells these stories in a way that is interesting without being exploitative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Violence, Murder
Minor: Death of parent