The Lightness of Hands by Jeff Garvin
Published by Balzer + Bray on April 14, 2020
ISBN: 0062382896
Genres: Adventure, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

Life is not all glamour when you and your Dad work parties and bars as magicians.  Ellie manages to schedule performances and attend HS online as she struggles to live with her bipolar issues.   Her story is well depicted and exposes the truth about living with mental illness.  The story is far from gentle but offers a real presentation of a teenager’s life on the road in an RV.   Both Ellie and her Dad are well drawn characters who possess flaws but are resilient.    An online BBF and recently found boyfriend add interest while balancing Ellie’s life to a more manageable and normal existence.

Teens dealing with mental illness will find hope and satisfaction in this story.  A strong dose of family love is written into this book which should find a home on all HS media center shelves.  Public libraries who collect YA fiction must add this to their next book order.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian, Scarborough, ME