Review
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Title: When the Bough Breaks
Author: Kay Lynn Mangum
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Fiction
Year Published: 2007
Number of Pages: 343
Binding: Softcover
ISBN: 978-1-59038-748-1
Price: $15.95

Reviewed by Holly Jones

Rachel Fletcher is not your typical LDS teen. She is falling in love with her step-brother, who lives in the bedroom next door. Another brother is a closet alcoholic, and Rachel pretends, along with her family, that nothing is wrong. Rachel’s mother has recently re-married, but Rachel grieves for her dad, who has so recently passed away.

There are many hot-button issues at play: death of a parent, step-families, alcohol addiction, romance. Although each issue plays a significant role in the novel, alcohol addiction is the issue that is the most thoroughly explored. Generally speaking, this book is an expanded case study of the issues involved when an LDS family confronts the challenge of an alcoholic family member.

What do you do with a family member who starts experimenting with alcohol? Initially, Rachel’s family takes the approach that 17-year-old Ryan is going through a harmless phase, and that as long as they show him love and trust, he’ll eventually stop experimenting. Rachel’s now-deceased father had such a phase as a teen, which seemed short-lived and harmless.

However, unlike his father’s teenage drinking, Ryan’s drinking does not seem to be a phase, but gets worse and worse. His health, grades, relationships are all deteriorating drastically, and his family finally – perhaps too late - decides to intervene. The family’s attempts at intervention meet with varying levels of success. The author approaches this topic with compassion for each character, clearly showing that although each family member has made mistakes, there is still hope for healing.

Both author and publisher are to be commended for dealing with important social issues. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to any LDS family who may be dealing with alcoholism or other addictions, or anyone who wants to expand their understanding of this topic.