Review: Hidden Valley Road

★★★★★

I was enthralled by Hidden Valley Road. Robert Kolker takes us inside an American couple with twelve children, six of whom were diagnosed with schizophrenia and suffered numerous psychotic breaks throughout their lifetimes. Drawing upon countless hours of interviews with family members, Kolker expertly crafts a narrative that feels intimate and personal. Kolker takes the reader through the history of schizophrenia, from the very beginnings of our understanding of the disease to modern-day studies of how the brain is impacted. While reading, I felt connected to the family in a way I did not expect to be -- Kolker draws the reader into the familial drama with such inviting arms that you almost feel like you're sitting at the kitchen table arguing about whether or not to check your son into a mental institution. Overall, Hidden Valley Road was a riveting portrayal of a seemingly perfect, all-American family that went drastically awry. 10/10 recommend.