Synopses & Reviews
A testament to the healing power of unconditional love.
Widely acclaimed for her emotionally powerful stories that capture the real lives of women, Heather A. Clark, bestselling author of Chai Tea Sunday, tackles the subject of childhood mental illness and the impact it has on a close family.
The story begins from nine-year-old Nates point of view, etching the details of an unbalanced mind struggling to make sense of rampant thought patterns and heightened paranoia. Enter Ashley, Nate's mother, and a hardworking advertising executive concerned that shes not giving her family enough of her time especially now that she senses something might be wrong with her son. As the story moves deftly back and forth between the two perspectives, the narrative converges to reveal one family's journey of discovery as they strive to find balance in their lives.
Based on a true story, Elephant in the Sky articulates a complicated, real-life subject with grace, wisdom and sensitivity, and beautifully explores the distance a mother will go to protect her child.
Review
Convincingly told from both Ashleys and Nates perspectives (Canadian author Heather, a mom herself, is adept at illuminating the mind of a troubled nine-year-old boy), the novel explores the dynamics of a family in crisis.”
HELLO! CanadaFollowing Clark's successful debut novel Chai Tea Sunday, her second novel is a magnificent story about mental illness and the unwavering love of a mother for her son . . . Clark expertly presents Ashley as someone who fears and lacks understanding of mental illness but who, with guidance, learns to accept what she cannot change and begins to deal positively with the situation.” Publishers Weekly
Heather Clarks second novel, Elephant in the Sky, offers a clear portrait of childhood mental illness and accompanying family stress . . . Nates chapters, in particular, are skillfully crafted. They provide an accurate portrayal of childlike thought patterns, both rational and delusional.” Foreword Reviews
Synopsis
Widely acclaimed for her ability to tell emotionally powerful stories that capture the real lives of women, bestselling novelist Heather A. Clark tackles the subject of childhood mental disorders.
Elephant in the Sky is told from both nine-year-old Nates point of view and that of his mother, Ashley, an overworked ad executive who struggles with a demanding workload and the worry that shes not spending enough time with her family especially as her sons battle with mental unbalance and paranoid delusions escalates. The two narratives converge in a deeply moving tale of a family dealing with mental illness.
Elephant in the Sky is a story about unconditional love, and it articulates a complicated, real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity. It looks at what it means to be different in our society and beautifully explores the distance a mother will go to protect her child.
About the Author
Heather A. Clark is the author of the bestselling novel Chai Tea Sunday. She lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband and three children. Visit her online at heatheraclark.com.