4 Relevant Topics in Mosquitoland

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/316647/mosquitoland-by-david-arnold/

3 Relevant Topics in Mosquitoland

Mosquitoland  by David Arnold follows Mary Iris Malone, or Mim for short on her adventure through the US. She originally lived in Ohio, until after a sudden divorce, she was forced to move to Mississippi with her dad and new wife. This compelling novel published in 2016 may be written for teens, but it focuses on some issues and topics that are very prevalent in our world today and can teach readers quite a bit.

I would recommend this book especially to teens, but also to some adults as well, as it can give an insight into a younger perspective. This could be especially appealing to people who have experienced some of these things, and to those who have not, it may expose them to new ideas.

1. Grief and Death

In Mosquitoland,  Mim is forced to deal with the sudden and surprising death of a friend, a hard experience which practically everyone deals with at some point. After a horrible accident, she says “I am empty […] All that’s left is a fierce hunger for flight […] Choking back a flood of tears, I wonder, What in the world am I going to do without you?” (Arnold 60-61). This passage shows the raw feelings that come with a big loss, and throughout the book continues to show her grieving. Later she describes “Pushing back the Arlene [friend] shaped knot in [her] throat,” when doing something that reminds her of the friend.

Because loss is such a human experience, I think the feelings and horror that surround it should be normalized so that people feel that their feelings are valid. Many people may feel as though the extent to which they are grieving is wrong, but the truth is, it can be a very traumatizing experience. This book does an excellent job at discussing these feelings.

2. Mental Illness

There are several characters in this book who experience mental illness. Mim herself was diagnosed with Schizophrenia at a young age. She struggles with mild hallucinations but on top of that it creates a lot of tension within her family. Her father, who’s own sister hung herself, is afraid for Mim and pressures her to take various medications which are making her sick and unhappy. She says, “Dad bought into the notion that there was One Right Way to solve a problem. Or rather, to solve my problem. […] Peer pressure is one thing, but when your dad’s the pusher, it’s something else entirely,” (Arnold 171). This quote clearly shows the toxicity of his actions. Her mother on the other hand is more supportive, listening to what she needs, and taking her to a therapist who was really helping her. Mim says of the therapist, “Dr. Makundi as it turned out was more than a decent doctor. He was a decent man. […] He let me talk when I needed to talk, and talked when I needed to listen,” (Arnold 170). This clearly describes a much more respectful and beneficial relationship, one that, had her father not cut off, could have continued to help her.

These starkly different opinions, each person sure they are right, cause a lot of issues and lead to bad relationships between the family. Mim then feels misunderstood, which is a common feeling that people experience with mental illnesses. By reading about her experiences, those who struggle with this might feel more understood, and even learn more about how to cope. Also, for those caring with family members going through this, people can learn how to listen better, and really try to do what is best for their loved one.  

3. Sexual Assault

Unfortunately today, many people are sexually harassed every day, and Mosquitoland gives insight into that experience in an eye-opening way. Mim throughout the book is followed by a man, who pays obsessive attention to her. The two characters have complicated relationship, until eventually Mim’s suspicions about his evil intentions are confirmed. During the intense scene in which the man assaults her, she says “Predator versus Prey, passed down from a thousand generations of women who, like me, feared the inevitable. We’d seen the footage of the hyena and the gazelle, and it always ended the same,” (Arnold 83). In this quote she describes the traumatic experience in the moment, but throughout the rest of the book we really see some of the damage this can do. She expresses guilt and shame for not being able to stop him, as well as inability to revisit the place of the incident without panicking. Because this is sadly so common in today’s society, I think it is important for people to read about. For those who have experienced sexual assault it may offer comfort, and for those who have not – insight.