The Truth About My Dad

Nine-year-old Bella has a question she's wanted to ask her mom for a long time. It's about her dad who abandoned her and her mother when Bella was just a baby. However, the answer she receives is not one Bella expects. In fact, it alarms her when she discovers her dad has a condition that might be hereditary. Then she finds out her best friend's older sister suffers with the same disease and eventually abandons her family, just like Bella's dad had. Bella worries she may do the same one day. Learning about the disease and consequences, and being assured by a supportive family including a new step-dad, helps Bella cope with the truth about her dad. Not only does this story help reveal how untreated bipolar disorder can affect individuals, but it also emphasizes the importance of family.