St. Matthew’s Calendar

September 12 Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker,370 pp. 13.1 hrs. PWC 5, F 10, OD.This is an extremely engaging and informative nonfiction work that reads almost like a novel. It is an account ofan American family with 12 children (10 boys and 2 girls), a family that was included in research studies focusingon the etiology of schizophrenia. Six of the boys were diagnosed with schizophrenia and received treatment inpsychiatric facilities at various points during their lifetimes. A review of the history and treatment ofschizophrenia and pertinent research on the factors contributing to this disorder (genetic, neurological,biochemical, as well as the role of trauma) are interwoven with the account of this remarkable family. Theimpact of the significant mental health challenges on the family, the differing responses of the parents, and theinteractions between the siblings are also highlighted. I found this book fascinating and very difficult to putdown.