Parents' Guide to The Lightness of Hands

In THE LIGHTNESS OF HANDS, Ellie is a lonely 16-year-old battling bipolar II and feeling the wear and tear of living in an old RV with her formerly famous magician father. Ten years earlier, at the height of his career, her dad attempted a major feat of illusion on live television but failed spectacularly. Her mom died shortly thereafter, adding another layer of emotional complexity to an already rough life. Bouncing from one low-paying gig to another, they aren't making enough to live on and both have to sacrifice taking medications important to their emotional and physical well-being. When they seem to have hit bottom, Ellie gets a call from one of the most famous magic acts in the world asking whether her dad will agree to re-create his failed illusion as an opening act to their live television special in Los Angeles. She agrees, and as his manager negotiates the deal and signs the contract, all without telling her father. She knows he'll say no, but she thinks that if she can get him from the Midwest to L.A., she can convince him to go through with it. Along the way, she receives the support of Ripley, her only friend, and Liam, a romantic interest she meets at a magic gig. The journey exposes the seriousness of her mental health issues and her dad's heart problems, the need for stability in a child's life, and the importance of honesty and communication in relationships.