Clara Vidal

A pithy and elegant portrait of a child slowly collapsing under the weight of her mother's mood swings and her father's indifference. I'm not sure how to classify this one -- it was in the young adult section in the library, and I suppose it could be young adult, but it could also be for adults, and the first half (before Melie reaches puberty) would even be suitable for children.

I thought this did a very good job of showing how pathological Melie's mother was, and the effect it had on Melie. But the ending was abrupt and inconclusive.… (mehr)

Molly Humphrey
EDCI 4120/5120

Vidal, C. (2002). Like a thorn. New York: Random House.

Grade Levels: 6-9
Category: Fiction
Read-Alouds: pp. 1-11 (Melie describes two mothers); 23-35 (Appendectomy); 58-66 (Rituals); 87-95 (Menstruation); 106-119 (Seeking help)

Summary: Melie is a young girl who lives in France with her seemingly normal family, but Melie knows something is wrong with her mother. Melie describes herself as having a Rosy and a Dark Mother who come out unexpectedly. The Rosy Mother cares for Melie and makes her feel safe while the Dark Mother makes Melie feel like an unwanted burden. When Dark Mother stays longer and longer, Melie develops complex rituals as a means of shielding herself from her mother's emotional abuses. The consequences of these rituals is isolation and accusations of insanity. Finally, Melie's mother takes her to see a therapist and for the first time in her life, Melie is allowed to speak to someone who doesn't know her mother and only wants to focus on her needs.

Themes: This short novel highlights the stigma of depression and mental illness, but then leads Melie toward possible recovery, thereby also highlighting and quelling the stigma of therapy. Understanding mental illness and banishing the idea that therapy is only for “others” is an important lesson for teenagers to learn because they are at the highest risk for suicide and it is also a time when mental illness often develops. People of all ages need to understand that mental illness is nothing to fear or be ashamed of, but rather something that needs to be recognized as a normal part of life that needs to be seen with a compassionate eye.

Discussion Questions:
What role does Melie's rituals have in the novel?
Why does Melie need to separate her mother's personality?
How and why is it difficult for Melie to find help?

Reader Response: I really didn't like this book at all. There was no character development whatsoever and the tense of the writing seemed awkward at times. The book ended before it practically started. While I think understanding mental illness is important for students, this is probably not the book to use because it does nothing to delve into the complexities of mental illness. I also do not like how Melie's mother appears to be the cause of her daughter's problems because she has plenty of her own that are unfortunately never addressed. It gives the appearance that Melie's mother is some kind of monster who is trying to kill Melie's spirit and does not recognize that she desperately needs just as much help as her daughter.… (mehr)