Edward is nearly four when he begins his slow, painful withdrawal from the world. For those who love him - his father, Jack, and mother, Rachel, pregnant with her third child - the transformation of their happy, intelligent firstborn into a sleepless feral stranger is a devastating blow. As Rachel delves into family history in search of answers, flashbacks from the past afford insight into the coping mechanisms of different families and marriages. A WILD RIDE UP THE CUPBOARDS poses questions not easily answered. How much should a mother sacrifice for her children? When do parents' ambitions for their offspring become counterproductive, even destructive? And who should decide what is best for the child? Ann Bauer's spellbinding fiction debut is a brilliantly nuanced portrait of a marriage - and a family - under siege.