"Growing up, Shawn Thornton's life was anything but normal--but then, so was his mother. Upon waking from a coma following a car crash, Beverly Thornton's once gentle, loving disposition inexplicably dissolved into violent mood swings, profanity-laced tirades, and almost animal-like fits of rage. Inside the Thornton house, floors and countertops were piled high with garbage because Bev couldn't move well enough to clean, and dinners were a Russian roulette of half-cooked meat, spoiled milk, and foods well past their expiration dates. A moment of frustration might prompt Bev to hurl a knife at the family, or to vehemently cuss them out, only to shower them with affection moments later as though nothing had happened,"--NoveList.