Explore the psyche of a mother and struggling artist with this month's pick: Where’d You Go, Bernadette?

Where’d You Go Bernadette?

Exploring family and the world at large from a child’s perspective 

August reminds me of returning to school no matter how old I get. I may or may not have picked up some school supplies I don’t need on my most recent Target run despite not going back to school myself. 

To lean into this, and our amazing theme of EXPLORE, this month I’m recommending a book with one of my favorite child protagonists: Bee (short for Beatrice) Branch of Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette? (It’s also worth noting that in 2019, the iconic Cate Blanchette starred opposite The Morning Show’s Billy Crudup in a film based on the novel. While it’s a cute and worthy watch, we promise the book is better!)

Told from Bee’s perspective, the novel is a sharp, heartwarming, and deceptively complex portrayal of a family in turbulence. Specifically, a loving portrait of a mother in quiet crisis. On the surface, they seem like an idyllic if quirky family living in the Pacific NorthWest (specifically, Seattle.) Beatrice is a bright student and loves her parents. Her Dad, works in tech and her mom Bernadette Fox, is a former artist and Bee’s best friend. 

In celebration of Bee getting perfect grades, her parents have promised her that she can choose the destination for the family vacation and she selects… Antarctica. Bernadette throws herself into plans, but perhaps too much. Even through Bee’s innocent perspective, we can see that Bernadette is struggling as she explores both herself, her creativity, and later the world at large. 

At first, Bernadette’s family watches on, but soon her behavior grows so erractic that it begins to impact the whole family in curious ways they never saw coming. Bee begins to ask questions to explore who her parents truly are. Things take an unexpected turn, secrets come to light, and Bee’s dream trip might actually turn into a nightmare. 
Where’d You Go Bernadette? is about growing up but also how we never really stop exploring. It left me with the hope that if we commit to this constant exploration, we can make ourselves and our relationships better for it. It’s the perfect beach or vacation read and an all around page turner.