What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I'm looking for a book that identifies with and advises my 10 yo daughter how to cope with her paranoid schizophrenic mother. She’s starting to show some effects and reading about another kid’s struggle would be very helpful.

Long--do you want a specific book--or just any book dealing with this topic?

A book who's character she can identify with and will also offer her ways of dealing with things. There should be some books like this. The age or Mother's condition isn't that important.

How about Eggs by Jerry Spinelli?

Helicopter Man by Elizabeth Fensham might be good though it's about a father and son relationship.

Miles from Ordinary looks good but might be a little adult for a 10-year old. You might want to preview it.

I haven't read these, but I did a search on my library website for schizophrenia and mother. I also went to a website that recommended books on schizophrenia for young people.
I'd read them first, of course.

Younger readers:
Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry
Jars of Glass
How to be a Real Person
Becoming Naomi León
Crazy Quilt
Edward the Crazy Man

Adult readers:
The Memory Palace

Thank you Kate & Diana. I'll look into all of these suggestions.

The Illustrated Mum is really good stuff. It was made into a shortish tv series in the UK maybe 10 years ago, that's well worth watching too if you can find it, although rather different to the book. I remember watching it with my own daughter, then about 12, and it helping us to discuss some things about mental illness and "outsiders" in general, and I still remember it quite fondly.

Fair warning though, it doesn't have a particularly happy ever after ending, the family is split with the kids ending in (good) foster care, and the mother hospitalized. The TV series was rather brighter. That said, it shows the daughter coping with this turn of events and learning that her mum is still her mum, and they are still a family.

Notes from an Exhibition might do the trick although the reading level might be a bit old for her. It deals with the children of a bipolar artist.

I'm pretty sure Afternoon of the Elves was one of the first books I read that dealt with a mentally ill parent. The actual situation is revealed to be a bit grim: 11-year-old Sara-Kate is left taking care of everything because her mother is mentally ill. It handles the subject matter pretty gently, though. The main character also shows a lot of development throughout the book, going from a semi-snobby cliquish girl that laughs at Sara-Kate to understanding her situation and being her friend.

I'd definitely read it beforehand, as I don't think it ends on a totally happy note.

Longjack--since you are looking for title suggestions and not for a specific book I'm moving this down to the Request thread. You'll get a lot more help down there.

thanks