A compelling story of a family coping with mental illness, in the manner of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Read an extract here.
Diary: Saturday, May 6th The helicopters are flying low today. Dad has kept us inside. Too dangerous to go out, Pete. We're both in our sleeping bags. Dad's trying to think, but he keeps dozing off. His grey hair has fallen out of its ponytail. He's snoring with his mouth open. I'll organize my pack today in case we have to evacuate…
Fifteen-year-old Peter Sinclair's father is a paranoid schizophrenic, afraid of helicopters, police, and life itself. When Peter's mother leaves home one day and doesn't return, Pete and his father soon find themselves living hand-to-mouth, estranged from family, and teetering on the brink of homelessness. Based on a real experience, this is a haunting and ultimately redemptive story of illness, love, and a boy's indomitable spirit to survive.
Recognition

Helicopter Man has been named a NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People.
Reviews
"Staying firmly within the experience and understanding of a preteen, Fensham keeps the tension mounting as the boy goes back and forth between the tedium of his present life and his recollections of earlier days, when things were better. . . . [S]tudents will find this a worthy and thoughtful look at mental illness and the strength of family bonds."-School Library Journal
"Moving story of courage and devotion. . . This poignant story of a boy's loyalty in the face of his father's bewildering mental illness offers a realistic take on a difficult contemporary theme." -Kirkus Reviews
"Fensham uses the diary format to excellent advantage, giving the reader a real sense of the uncertainty and boredom of Pete's life and his love for his father and desire to protect him. This brief, intense read, set in Australia, will speak directly to teens growing up with a schizophrenic parent, as well as to a wide range of readers who will finish the affecting story with more questions about and compassion for the mentally ill.