2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Kim learns that her mother is getting a parole hearing and is expected to be released. When she lets Lily, Patty’s therapist, know that she never sent those letters, did you expect them to reconsider the situation?

I thought they would look into the letters and try to figure out who sent them and why. I mean...why would they think Kim was lying about this?

I guess the outcome showed that the mental health facility really did put their patients first before the family. I don't have any background in professional mental health but I get the feeling that the sections about Patty's mental health and how it is handled isn't really accurate. The section at the release tribunal makes a good story that Kim was able to trigger her mother into revealing her true self but I'm sure well qualified psychiatrists working closely with her would have known this already.

I didn't expect that they would withhold the letters from Kim.

Since they believed a pivotal aspect of Patty’s improvement stemmed from finally hearing from Kim through those letters authored by Alex, I felt certain they would re-evaluate the woman, disclosing to her that the letters didn’t come from Kim.

I was very disappointed in Lily for not giving more consideration to Kim in the matter. Because Kim never really opened up to anyone about the level of cruelty levied against Mikey, they really didn’t have a great foundation for therapeutic application. Unfortunately, this happens in real life all too often, especially when the victim isn’t part of the therapy.

I was surprised that Lily brushed off Kim. I thought postponing the hearing, even for a short time, At a minimum she should have shared with Patty that the letters weren't from Kim to see the reaction.

Patty had too violent a history to ignore Kim totally.

In the beginning I did think they would reconsider, but Kim was right when she said that people who have jobs like Lily's have to make the patient their first priority. They don't really care why Patty has improved, just that she has.