Herbach shines a light on the often-stigmatized subject of mental illness as he explores the impact it has on the Reinstein family. Jerri’s mental health challenges, coupled with unresolved trauma from Steven’s suicide, deeply affect Andrew and Felton, altering their feelings about themselves and Jerri. As Felton and Andrew each take a different stop-gap approach to coping with Jerri’s mental health crisis, they reveal their own emotional struggles. Jerri attempts to manage her illness, but it progresses beyond her ability to self-remedy. Herbach illustrates the far-reaching emotional effects of mental illness on the family, and the importance of acknowledging and seeking help.

Felton notices—but ignores—early signs that Jerri is struggling. He recognizes there is a “problem” in the family, but he attaches it to Jerri, who gradually becomes more unstable and unpredictable. Family roles change: Jerri no longer acts like an adult, or a mother. After Jerri’s refusal to parent Andrew following his thefts, Felton tells Aleah, “I don’t know any adults,” suggesting that he believes Jerri has lost her adult rationality (179). Jerri’s illness progresses until she is unable to cope with everyday life. Her cry, “I can’t help you” when Felton is about to attack Andrew reveals she feels she cannot care for her family—and is also a cry for help (214).