Breaking Spirit Bridge

Ruth Perkinson
Spinsters Ink

In Piper's Someday, Perkinson gave her plucky heroine Piper Cliff some tough stuff to deal with, including an abusive, alcoholic grandfather and the death of her parents. But that's nothing compared to the heartbreak of the sequel, which begins with Piper being admitted to a mental ward while in the throes of a psychotic break. The book alternates between descriptions of Piper's delusions and treatment, and the story of how she ends up non compos mentis. Even so it's hard to believe that the Piper we see going off to college on a basketball scholarship, making new friends and flirting with a teammate is headed for such spectacular disaster. The growing suspense doesn't entirely pay off (at least, not as expected) but Perkinson's vivid picture of Piper's mental state, and the contrast of her interwoven time lines, makes for compelling reading that's often harrowing, touching and even funny.