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Fiction Family Life

Elephant in the Sky

A Novel

by (author) Heather A. Clark

Publisher
ECW Press
Initial publish date
May 2014
Category
Family Life, Contemporary Women, Literary
  • Downloadable audio file

    ISBN
    9781770909632
    Publish Date
    Jan 2018
    List Price
    $26.99
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781770410831
    Publish Date
    May 2014
    List Price
    $14.95

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Description

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 Nate’s 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 she’s 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.

About the author

Contributor Notes

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.

Editorial Reviews

"Convincingly told from both Ashley’s and Nate’s 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! Canada

"Following 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 Clark’s second novel, Elephant in the Sky , offers a clear portrait of childhood mental illness and accompanying family stress...Nate’s chapters, in particular, are skillfully crafted. They provide an accurate portrayal of childlike thought patterns, both rational and delusional." — Foreword Reviews