Craiger & Mary

Craiger & Mary: Fragments of a Childhood Shaped by Mental Illness is a deeply personal, often humorous, and sometimes heartbreaking memoir told through the eyes of the youngest of four brothers. Set in small-town Virginia in the 1980s and '90s, this collection of stories offers a raw and relatable look at what it means to grow up surrounded by mental illness, poverty, and unpredictability, yet somehow still come out laughing.

At the heart of the book are two unforgettable characters: Mary, a fiercely creative but unstable mother with bipolar disorder, and a passion for decorating; and Craig (or Craiger), the spirited older brother with bipolar and schizophrenia who loves music, and making people laugh. Together, their highs and lows formed the backdrop of Brady's chaotic but unforgettable childhood.

Told with grit, grace, and a wry sense of humor, Craiger & Mary doesn't attempt to sanitize or solve mental illness, it simply tells the truth about living in its shadow, and all its madness. Whether you grew up in a similar kind of household or are stepping into this world for the first time, this book is a reminder that even the most fractured families can leave behind something beautiful.