A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards: A Novel

Edward is nearly four years old when he begins his slow painful withdrawal from the world. For those who love him -- his father Jack; his pregnant mother Rachel; his younger brother Matt -- the transformation of this happy intelligent firstborn into a sleepless feral stranger is a devastating blow one that will send shockwaves through every nook and cranny of family life. A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards is the story of Edwards descent into autism and Rachel and Jacks struggle to sustain their marriage under this unanticipated strain. Threaded through the novel too is the tale of Rachels late uncle Mickey who may have suffered from a similar disorder during a time when societys notions of parenting pediatrics and psychology were dramatically different from todays. As Rachel delves into her own family history in search of answers flashbacks to Mickeys life afford moving insights into both the nature of childhood trauma and the coping mechanisms that families employ. Carefully crafted and deeply entertaining A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards reveals the authors remarkable gift for language and offers a striking exploration of domestic life that will resonate with readers everywhere.