Customer Reviews

Pictures in the Dark

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I am a firm believer that some books are lifesavers. This is one. Patricia McCord's "Pictures in the Dark" is an unsentimental, but moving depiction of how two sisters, one twelve, the other fifteen, endure their mother's madness. Set in the 1950s, when mental illness was more stigmatized and misunderstood, this is about a family that keeps bad secrets. The writing is spare and taut and the suspense will keep older children and teenagers turning the pages. This is a courageous and daring book that deserves a wide readership.

This thoughtfully written story tells of the pains of growing up with a family that has a problem they are not willing to face, having a mother that needs mental assisitance. However, sisters Sarah and Carlie manage to make their lives bearable. But when their mother beats Carlie for trying on her dress, and she runs away, Sarah realizes she needs to release the truth to her father and the people she loves. Make sure you don't miss out on this remarkable story!!

Pictures in the dark is about two girls named Charlie and Sarah that have a horrible mother. They don't eat regularly, take showers regularly they can't even go to the bathroom at night because the flushing of the toilet will wake their mom up. Charlie has a boyfriend named Jesse who she really loves. Sarah is afraid that Charlie will run off with Jesse and leave her with her nasty mother. Then, something dramatic happens to Charlie and Sarah, and their lives are never the same. I would definitely recommend this book; it was awesome. The way its written makes you want to keep reading and reading. I'm not a big reader but this book captured me. You will also love this book if you have read A Child Called It. They're about kids going through a tough time in their lives.

Carlie (15) and Sarah (13) are the two unwanted daughters of a mentally unstable mother and an uninvolved father. Their mother resents their presence and requires them to spend the majority of their time in their attic room. They are not allowed to use the bathroom without permission, and their mother frequently chooses not to feed them. Their father is enamored of their mother and doesn't realize, or chooses not to realize, that anything is wrong.

Carlie has realized that this is not normal and she is eagerly counting down the days until she is old enough to move away and begin a life of her own. Sarah is beginning to understand that other people don't live like this. Her first and only friend, Kim, is allowed to do amazing things like wander about her house freely and make popcorn to share with the family. Kim is not punished when the bathroom floor is wet or their is a dirty spot on a washcloth.

This difficult situation comes to a head when Carlie decides to run away. Carlie's drastic decision causes Sarah to be brave and tell the truth and forces their father to face the truth he has been ignoring for so many years.

This was not a particularly easy book to read. It is not violently graphic, but it is intense at times. It was a good reminder to me, as a teacher, that some of my students are facing abuse that is not so obvious to the naked eye. Those students need an environment where they feel safe to talk about their fears and to be accepted. I also appreciated this book because, even though it has a dark theme, it ends well. There is light at the end of the tunnel.