"Hopping Roller Coasters" tells the story of author Rachel Pappas who was an in-your face mother, but loved her daughter more than life. "Mom doesn't play around when the neighborhood bully's taunting got way out of hand. She stood up to hard-nosed teachers who didn't get that you don't punish a child who's flailing; Marina needed help. And she sat in the front row, clapping till her palms hurt when her half-Greek, half-Jewish daughter took the podium at her predominantly African American school—glowing in her cap, gown, and greased cornrows." No one was going to hurt Marina. No one. Except Rachel herself, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition her daughter would struggle with too. This is the story of a mother and daughter's journey, a two-decade-long roller coaster ride. Actually you're hopping from one roller coaster to the next through this openly told story of unexpected turns and pure love. A story that's both intense and quite funny at times as Rachel takes you on the journey of Marinas psychiatric hospitalizations, cutting and overdosing, while Rachel deals with her own demons and the diagnosis of cancer. This openly, honestly told story finally comes full circle leaving us with lessons on redefining success, mortality, loving, forgiving and being forgiven.

get focused | kate hennessy | rachel pappas | bi polar | mental issues