Charlotte Pierce-Baker did everything right when raising her son,
providing not only emotional support but the best education possible. At
age twenty-five, he was pursuing a postgraduate degree and seemingly in
control of his life. She never imagined her high-achieving son would
wind up handcuffed, dirty, and in jail.
The moving story of an African American family facing the challenge of
bipolar disorder, This Fragile Life provides insight into mental
disorders as well as family dynamics. Pierce-Baker traces the evolution
of her son's illness and, in looking back, realizes she mistook warning
signs for typical child and teen behavior. Hospitalizations, calls in
the night, alcohol and drug relapses, pleas for money, and continuous
disputes, her son's journey was long, arduous, and almost fatal. This
Fragile Life weaves a fascinating story of mental illness, race,
family, the drive of African Americans to succeed, and a mother's love
for her son.