Jackson battles to take control of his own mind and life but is haunted by demons. His mother faces her own turmoil and anguish, struggling to accept and understand the unthinkable, as she desperately tries to save her son. With unwavering empathy, Jackson is a bold and unforgettable story of a family navigating through the terrifying waters of mental illness. While there is no simple fix with a kiss to the forehead, will Jackson learn to hear the chatter in his head and know what to do about it? Will love and hope prevail?
Jackson is about the struggle of living with mental illness. This story centers on Jackson and his mother, June. Jackson's dialogue narrates the struggles of coping with severe anxiety, and his mother's dialogue expresses her struggles while caring for someone with mental health issues. Jackson is full of emotional highs and lows, but the love that they share guides them through to a hopeful conclusion.
"Jackson masterfully portrays the raw and emotional ups and downs of living with mental illness. McLaughlin also adequately portrays the anguish and frustration that comes with supporting a person dealing with mental illness. I especially like how June, a typical mother, wants to help and support Jackson even when he makes bad decisions. She essentially almost takes on his illness and struggles as well in the form of her own anxieties over his reactions to triggers and poor decision making. McLaughlin shows us how some forms of mental illness can manifest as explosive rage and temper tantrums...Jackson is powerfully written and gives an honest depiction of parents' experience of trying to get to the bottom of a mental health issue to assist their child in coping with his illness. I appreciate the research that clearly was done in order to give accurate information and educate readers on the struggles of living with mental illness. Jackson is packed with helpful tips for those seeking to support and guide but not enable those who struggle with mental illness. A great source of information, and a powerful story of love, hope, and the drive to persevere." (Rolanda Lyles Readers' Favorite)
"What I liked most about this book because it is an informative and helpful novel that would help mothers and sufferers alike. This book lets us get an insight into what goes through the mind of a person with anxiety and how their loved ones deal with it. The parents of Jackson were great examples of how to act as a parent. They are very patient and understanding to the point they unintentionally babied their adult son. However, as time goes by, they learned from their mistakes and eventually pushed Jackson to make his own decisions. This novel also advocated the importance of seeking help and being open-minded about mental illnesses. I loved how it also used a support group to prove to Jackson that he's not alone in his struggles. And I believe that someone out there in the world would be inspired by this novel. And they would be encouraged to seek out help and at least have a little ray of hope shining through the darkness....
I would recommend this specifically to people who are having a tough time dealing with someone with mental illness. I feel like this would help people learn to take a step back and give someone a chance to grow and take responsibility. And I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about mental illnesses. I feel like every book that talks about mental illnesses should be treasured because, during our time in this pandemic, we need every knowledge we could muster to help others or to cope on our own." (F. Enchatee, Online Book Club)
