A review by chelsloukelly
A Tragic Kind of Wonderful by Eric Lindstrom

4.0

4/5: ‘A Tragic Kind of Wonderful’ is a Young Adult, Mental Health Contemporary by Eric Lindstrom; Mel Hannigan is on a strictly managed cocktail of medication to control her Dysphoric Mania, a form of Bipolar Disorder which makes sufferers feel simultaneously Manic and Depressed. Mel is also mourning the death of her Brother, who suffered from the same condition; Mel seeks to maintain equilibrium. Lindstrom offers an intense look at one person’s experience with bipolar disorder, as well as the internalized shame often felt by individuals with mental illness. Details about Mel’s deceased brother and estranged best friend are revealed slowly, providing tension and mystery. Emotions run high as Lindstrom’s story confronts mental illness, grief, and shame, but the optimistic resolution provides balance. As Mel goes through different mental and emotional states, the writing reflects the different moods and energy. From how Mel thinks while having a manic episode; without pause, without breath, without a filter. As for bipolar disorder representation, I cannot comment on the accurate representation because I haven’t had any experiences with bipolar disorder. However, I really did like seeing Mel’s “animals”, each chapter begins with a notation of Mel’s emotional state, with various internal forces illustrated by animals, which offer insight into Mel’s thoughts and actions. I do wish we had more scenes of her visits with Dr. Oswald because I feel it was very important – Knowledgeable!