SOMETHING HAPPENED TO OUR MOM

A family comes to terms with, and overcomes, a parent’s addiction.

“My life turned upside down after Mom’s car accident,” notes Claire. After a doctor prescribes Mom pain pills, things change; sometimes she’s unusually boisterous, but other times she withdraws to her bedroom. Claire tries pitching in as Mom neglects household chores; younger brother Emmett stops bathing and damages Mom’s favorite scarf. When Mom doesn’t wake up one day, Claire calls 911. Mom soon begins going to an addiction recovery clinic, while Claire and Emmett attend a kids’ group. By story’s end, Claire realizes that nobody is perfect and that many other children are dealing with similar issues. The co-authors sensitively unpack complex feelings and dynamics, underscoring that addiction doesn’t make someone a bad person, that the path to rehabilitation can be bumpy, and that drug issues are far more common than children might realize. Tan’s artwork is emotionally charged, reinforcing the theme of support as Claire looks after Emmett and their mom and tries to be there for a similarly troubled classmate. A dramatic nighttime scene of Claire’s mother releasing pills from a curled fist contrasts effectively against the otherwise mostly bright palette, which also dims to subdued colors during more difficult scenes. Robust backmatter includes information for educators and caregivers, including a sample dialogue for discussing the story. The protagonists are pale-skinned.

An empowering and empathetic jumping-off point for important conversations about addiction and recovery.