REMEDY

High school freshman Cara has been suffering from a severe, debilitating chronic illness since third grade.

She’s missed so much school that she’s way behind and struggling to catch up. Her seemingly caring mother, Shaylene, records videos for her social media channel that not only offer detailed information about Cara’s health struggles, but recently have been used to raise large amounts of crowdsourced money to—supposedly—pay for specialized health care. Now Dr. Eric, a new medical professional, has come on the scene with a different, even more intrusive care plan. After Cara is befriended by Xavier, a clever classmate afflicted with sickle cell anemia, she discovers that her mother is monitoring their text messages. Xavier’s belief that Shaylene is inappropriately interfering and controlling inspires Cara to take a fresh look at her relationship with her mother—and the care she provides. Although there are tiny hints that Cara’s mother has a frightening role in her illness, Xavier is the one who suggests the possibility of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Cara decides to test that possibility, leading to a breathlessly scary confrontation and a satisfying affirmation of her unbroken spirit and emerging maturity. Characters are believably depicted, although Shaylene’s downward evolution, under Dr. Eric’s guidance, is perhaps a bit too facile. Most main characters are White; Xavier is African American.

Chilling and mostly frightfully believable.