![]() This realistic but hope-tinged story, told by a girl whose mom is seriously mentally ill, manages to truthfully present the challenges while conveying a warm tenderness. ![]() The book might be resonant for kids experiencing other types of family challenges, for instance other health crises or alcoholism, and can be a sweet, thoughtful read for all. In this small Southern farming community, white and black families are friendly and close, and many in the community offer help, infusing the book with hope and a reassuring feeling of connection. Still, there's a palpable warmth to the material, and Baldwin doesn't leave Della without support. The stakes are high, the subject matter serious, and author Baldwin doesn't gloss over the challenges. ![]() ![]() Della's mom, who's diagnosed with schizophrenia, is experiencing a psychotic episode, and Della and her dad brace themselves since they've been through this before. It's narrated by 12-year-old Della in a first-person, soft, North Carolina drawl. Parents need to know that Where the Watermelons Grow, by debut author Cindy Baldwin, is a novel about a family touched by mental illness. I'd never heard Daddy use so many bad words all in a row."ĭid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide. When Daddy explodes at Mama, he says, "Damn it, Suzanne." When other tensions rise, he "swore so loud and dirty it made me jump. ![]()
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