Trowbridge Road Summary
Marcella Pixley

Trowbridge Road Overview

Marcella Pixley's novel, Trowbridge Road, is the story of a girl named June Jordan who is living in a house filled with secrets. June's father died of AIDS and her mother, who has always struggled with mental illness, has become so manic about avoiding germs that she is losing weight. June is suffering the consequences. June's life changes when a neighbor named Nana Jean welcomes her grandson Ziggy for a visit. As June and Ziggy become immediate friends – the first for both of them – they begin to recognize the pain each feels. When June's situation reaches a breaking point, Nana Jean steps in to help. When June's mother is sent to the hospital, her Uncle Toby steps up to be her parent. The novel's main themes are the role of a friend, the effects of mental illness, and the blurred line between fantasy and reality.