2 comments about From Mission to Madness: LAST SON OF THE MORMON PROPHET.

1. I hold a master's degree in history and am particularly interested in Mormon and Western history. This is perhaps one of the best books I have ever read. This has been a research topic for the author for nearly twenty years, beginning as her doctoral dissertation entitled "Insanity and the Sweet Singer." Avery took great pains in researching this book, and delayed its publication until full disclosure of all works became available upon the death of David's final grandson. David was like a young prince, forced to live in the shadow of a famous father and older brother, both leaders of respective churches. Avery shows the slow descent into madness experienced by David Hyrum Smith as he tries to find his place. A disasterous mission to Salt Lake City to convert Mormons will be of interest to Mormons, Reorganized LDS members and readers in general. The look at the Elgin asylum is an fascinating topic for interested parties as well. You cannot go wrong with this book.



2. The book From Mission to Madness proves that mental illness can afflict even the posterity of the Prophets. David H. Smith, son of the famed Mormon prophet Joseph Smith, never lived to know his father; he missed the fatherly embrace by five months. Much to Brigham Young's dismay, David became affiliated with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and was one of its most effective and revered missionaries. Mental illness overcame him, and he spent the last three decades of his life in a mental hospital. Avery performed wonderfully well in framing his life story, using personal and official RLDS church correspondence. I felt the heartache and pain that David's family experienced as they struggled, hoped and despaired. This book was so engaging that I actually read the entire book in less than two weeks (which, for me, is noteworthy when considering any non-fiction work over 100 pages). David Smith's life was replete with pathos and unfulfilled expectations (he was destined to take his father's place as Prophet). The book also adequately describes the perpetual tension that existed, and at times does currently exist, between the Utah and the RLDS Mormon churches. Even though Avery placed an inordinant emphasis on Smith's poetical works, I would recommend this book to all.

5 comments about Helen And Teacher: The Story Of Helen Keller And Anne Sullivan Macy (Radcliffe Biography Series).

1. This is the best biography about Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller that I have read. Since I was a child I have been fascinated by them and have read everything that I could get my hands on. Lash goes beyond their heroism and describes Annie and Helen as real people with "feet of clay."
   
   He relies heavily on voluminous correspondence to show the many facets of Helen and those in her life. Many of these details are not explained in other biographies. For example, Helen's father tried to shore up his finances with loans (often defaulted) from Helen's patrons. The "Frost King" incident caused many people to doubt Annie's veracity and credibility as a teacher for the rest of her life. Mr.Sandborn and Mr. Anagnos used the controversy to divert attention from Annie's role as Teacher to Helen and to re-focus attention on the role that the Perkins Institute played in her education. Lash also shows that John Macy had a complex relationship (for the good and the bad) with both Annie and with Helen. Helen was a radical Socialist and often risked her popularity and, therefore, their income by speaking out in support of Socialist leaders and causes. In the end the reader sees that Helen and many of those around her did great things, but they were not perfect. Insecurity, jealousy, money and a desire for love and fame caused all of them to act ugly sometimes.
   
   The other point that was never clear to me before, is that Helen and Annie spent their lives marketing themselves in order to generate an income. Helen's father faced a serious financial downturn that prevented him from supporting them from Helen's young womanhood on. Therefore, to continue Helen's formal education and to maintain a home away from Alabama, they had to cultivate sponsors, write publishable material, and earn money speaking at a myriad of functions. In many ways, this was an uncertain life that dictated that they remain in good standing with public opinion at all times.
   
   The other connection that Lash made for me concerns the complexity, the depth and the breadth of Annie and Helen's relationship. Because Annie suffered through a harrowing childhood, she desperately needed to create a loving family. Helen presented the perfect opportunity for Annie to be needed and to love and be loved unconditionally. While some people construed their relationship to be unhealthy or manipulative, it seems that it was a natural outgrowth of their particular situation. Once again, it was not perfect, but it served a huge need for them both.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to see a more realistic view of the lives of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan.



2. Informative! It does get a bit long & wordy at times, but it's a fair representation of Helen & Annie's lives. The more I read about Annie Sullivan, the more I like her. I think it was a real shame that Arthur & Kate Keller felt threatened by the close bond Annie had with Helen. I think Arthur & Kate just wanted Helen to be "trained," but not really the free independent spirit she was meant to be. I'm so glad Annie stood by her & helped her become a free person & became a lifelong friend to Helen as well. Annie was very open about whatever failings she'd had & was a warm, loving supportive guide in Helen's life. I get the feeling Helen & Annie had almost a mother-daugher-like bond, which of course practically killed Arthur & Kate. The stupid thing was, the Keller parents wanted to just shift over the responibility to Annie of educating her & getting her to fit into society, yet wanted total control over Helen's life. If anyone was manipulative & controlling, it was Arthur & Kate. Esp. Arthur, I think was really patronizing & downright domineering toward Annie. Kate didn't help matters either & when I read about her attempts to break Helen & Pete up later on & her consent to try to split Helen & Annie up, I really lost respect for Kate. I know I'm slamming Kate & Arthur here, but I see Annie as more of a loving parent figure in Helen's life. I really commend Annie for standing strong against Helen's domineering, manipulative parents. Oh, boy, was that John Macy a real creep! I was sooo glad Annie got away from him; he accused Annie of being "manipulative & controlling" when he was controlling himself! He KNEW Annie & Helen had a tight bond, yet after he married Annie, he started giving poor Annie a hard time about it! What was really contemptable was that John wrote to Kate & others badmouthing Annie behind her back & it's good that the book exposed that clearly. That made me lose respect for John too; sorry, but I have no sympathy for John Macy. I think Annie tried really hard to be a good wife, yet John just criticized her for being too close to Helen. Poor Annie, it was sad reading about her heartbreak. It was touching & kind of reassuring to read that it was Helen who came to Annie's support when Annie couldn't stop crying for several days over John. It was Helen who fired a letter off to John blasting him for badmouthing Annie. I cheered when Helen was the one who helped Annie get back on her feet, esp. since I hear that John cleaned out the Macys' joint account & closed it without Annie's consent & Annie had to struggle to get her career going again. Boy, was it inspiring to read about Annie's heart healing & her getting her writing going again as well as back on her feet financially! I love how Helen & Annie stood by each other all the way & once Polly joined them, stood by them too. Annie's shaky pride suffered a lot of blows in her life, but always she managed to get back on her feet. I always knew Helen was forever grateful to Annie for freeing her from her early wordless prison & helping her get started to an independent free life & Helen showed this gratitude by being the one to take care of Annie when Annie grew old & frail & went permanently blind. It was a touching mother-daugher bond almost...when Helen was young, Annie looked out for her, then the roles reversed; when Annie got older & weaker, Helen was the one to look out for her & it was great that Helen was able to be by her bedside when her mentor & friend died. What was wonderful also was that Annie was a really sweet, accepting person; she had so many problems in her life, yet never sank into self-pity; she even made wry jokes about her blindness & even wrote a self-effacing column "Foolish Remarks From a Foolish Woman." That part cracked me up! Annie was a quick-tempered little thing, but was quick to forgive & had a big heart & I'm glad this book acknowledged that. Even Helen said that Annie was generous "to a fault." But the last best gift Annie gave Helen was the capacity to be completely independent, even from her, so once Annie died, with only a little help from Polly, Helen was able to live a free life, even long after Annie was gone. I say kudos to both Helen Keller & Anne Sullivan!!!!



3. The lives of Helen Keller and her teacher, Ann Sullivan Macy are eternally intertwined. Helen Keller, blind and deaf since infancy depended on Annie since the age of 6 when the latter was hired to teach her.

   This comprehensive, fascinating and completely riviting biography does an excellent job of separating the two women's lives and analyzing each woman in her own right. Helen takes giant steps beyond the water pump where Annie first impressed upon her the concept of language. It is to this author's credit that the reader does not languish at that water pump, but follows these women throughout their lives.

   The true symbiosis is fully described when other teachers as well as Helen's own mother Kate, try to separate her from Annie. Feeling that her maternal authority had been usurped, Kate understandably wanted to wean Helen from Annie. Each attempt by any person to effect such a change resulted in disaster. Even Annie's marriage to a gifted editor named John Macy ended in an acrimonious split because he felt Helen took up too large a portion of their lives together. From all accounts, Macy seemed to feel that Annie used the same domineering methods she had used on the child Helen with him. He also described Annie as "manipulative and controlling," which certainly seem like apt descriptions of her approach. Resentful of Helen's constant presence and feeling like an odd member of an equally odd triadic relationship, John retreats further from the marriage.

   When Annie dies, Helen is disconsolate; she feels she can't survive without her "Teacher," although she, by that point had been at Annie's side for nearly half a century. A bright, progressive woman named Polly assumes the role of "Teacher," and Helen flourishes under her gentle tutlage and interpretation. Polly is clearly accepting of Helen's challenges and appears to make a sincere effort to see that Helen is fully included in all conversations and activities which she [Polly] is part of. One does not get the sense that Polly is a martyr. One gets the impression that Polly is loyal and determined with no agenda of her own.

   Helen's relationship with Polly does appear to be much healthier than her relationship with Annie. This book fully explores Helen's character, her life experiences and the types of relationships she forged in the post-Teacher years with intelligence and sensitivity.




4. AFB Press is the publishing arm of the American Foundation For The Blind. Helen And Teacher, written by biographer Joseph P. Lash and published by AFB Press, is a magnificent, 811-page opus that is the most comprehensive work ever done on the unique and moving story of a little blind, deaf and dumb girl, and the dedicated woman who brought her into contact with the world, and with people. The basic story is well known to the general public, the subject of stage plays and movies. But in Helen And Teacher, we are treated in exhaustive, definitive detail to this landmark biographical story of the human spirit. Also highly recommended from AFB Press is their wonderful little gift book, To Love This Life: Quotations By Helen Keller which is also available in an audiobook format.



5. There is no need to read anything else on Helen Keller or Annie Sullivan Macy, because it is all included in this incredible biography. This in-depth look at these two remarkable women was both readable and throughly informative. Of all my research on Annie Sullivan, I have found nothing that is not mentioned in Mr. Lash's work; he has truly captured her spirit, along with her triumphant pupil.

3 comments about If You Could See What I Hear.

1. I ran across this book and was compelled to read it. This stunning portrayal of the life of Tom Sullivan and how he overcame adversity in a world that he was unable to see, opens the eyes of the reader. He takes his darkened world and livens it up with color and animation taking you on a journey that surprises and delights. This is a must read.



2. I'm stationed overseas in bosnia, and it can be very boring. this book gave me hope that my life will be better when i get back to the world. we'll see.



3. I gave this book 5 stars because it has to be at least 20 years since I read it last (read it over and over and over then) and I still remember it with a great deal of fondness. My personal favorite has to be his descriptions of spending the summer in Scituate Mass--my mother was great friends with Tommy and his family and this is one of those books that just gives lots of laughs and reflections.

1 comments about Heather's Rage: A Mother's Faith Reflected in Her Daughter's Mental Illness.

1. Heather's Rage helps people understand that having a loved one or them self that has a mental illness is no one's fault. It is a illness that can be inherited just like any other illness. It also helped me see how long I went undiagnosed with bipoler.

5 comments about Notes from a Minor Key: A Memoir of Music, Love, and Healing.

1. What an incredible writer Dawn is, and what a heroic story she shares with us.
   I was awed by her word-ability -- Dawn is truly capable of giving the reader an intimate portrait that has us experience, along with her, the triumphs and tragedies that she so adeptly relates with her two-character style of writing.
   
   She is a genius of a person. A gifted musician and now an insightful story teller. She expresses her superior intelligence in such a down to earth way that she makes it easy for us to like her and want to be her friend. I was moved emotionally as the story unfolded. In fact, knowing her story in advance of my reading, I found myself reluctant to read on, knowing what was to come. I'd put the book away for days eventually braving her words.
   I couldn't believe the amount of pain she somehow tolerates, yet transmutes through her spiritual exercises. Dawn shows us the way a true believer struggles with overwhelming situations and actually achieves victories over adversities.
   
   Worthy of being put on the Oprah Show, and let the world get to know a Giant of Spiritual Power, one who shows us the way. She is truly a 21st Century woman.God Bless Her.



2. If you have any doubts at all about the quality of the writing in _Notes From A Minor Key_, please take a look at the following excerpt.
   
   I step onto the stage, feeling cocooned within the stage lights. Again, public privacy. Curry, who has followed me onstage, grabs my hand, and we bow together to the sound of the applause. Then we turn and nod to the orchestra. I go directly to the piano and miss the bench, nearly falling before I manage to sit.
   
   G minor. The piano has a long solo in the beginning, which almost sounds like a duet - the bass and the treble banter back and forth like a man and a woman. The woman wants to fly and the man protests, trying to keep her grounded. Finally, they merge in a resistant passion, which is predominantly feminine. And the struggle continues into a series of somber bass chords: big, bossy, and dogmatic. When the orchestra comes in, it sounds a little like Mozart's Requiem Mass, but this quickly relinquishes to a romantic melody, lushly dark, foreboding, then nostalgic. The music is too painful - it separates me from myself. At least, I think it is the music that is doing this. Glassy couplets in the high register make me feel that I am dying, suddenly connecting me to the beginning and the end at the same time: babies in their mothers' arms, old people breathing their last breaths, and me, disintegrating into vapor, becoming nonexistent - everything that I was, evaporating. I am beyond all thoughts except one: I miss my life, yet I long to be more because my life is closing in. My brain turns inward on itself, so that I can see myself dying. I am both afraid and unafraid, breathing and resisting breath. My humanity rails in self-defense, in desperate crashing passage-work that encompasses the entire keyboard. The numbness in my hands switches to stabbing pain. Then, I feel numbness and pain simultaneously. I do not understand this, but I am split between my sensation and my self. I can actually sense the signals that my brain is sending to my hands. They are moving so slowly, I can feel them traveling down the nerve pathways, struggling to reach my hands. I have to concentrate to make my hands respond: there is no automatic response. The effort is immense, and it takes everything I have - every ounce of power still remaining in my body. My brain seems to disconnect, but I cannot feel what it is disconnecting from. I am separated from myself, but I am still aware that my self exists. Yet, I cannot find it... pounding, percussive... suddenly, the entire left side of my body disappears. I cannot feel my leg, my foot, my arm, face, torso - nothing. In my left eye, there is only darkness. It is difficult to breathe, and my sense of being becomes distorted. Dear God, am I having a stroke? Is this it?
   
   I fall off the bench. I am flat on my back in front of over 2,000 pairs of eyes. The stage lights are too penetrating for my one remaining eye. Too bright. Then, somehow, I know it's over. The music has stopped. At least, for me.



3. This is a facinating story of a remarkable woman who courageously survives in spite of contacting MS and suffering other personal tragedies. This is a passionate love story of a gifted artist that is deeply moving and invites the reader inside her thoughts. A page turner.



4. What an exceptional piece of writing! I've never read anything by a man or a woman that is as raw and honest. Through the telling of a beautiful love story, Dawn Bailiff becomes vulnerable to the the reader in a most powerful way.
   
   She came into this world with incredible intelligence and talent. While she continuously struggles with the effects of multiple sclerosis and has suffered unimaginable losses, she continues to share her greatness through the gift of this book.



5. Dawn Bailiff's title describes living with multiple sclerosis - but it's much more. It's also the story of a half-Jewish, half-Japanese girl who played with Leonard Bernstein when she was just 10, who was accepted into the Peabody Conservatory of Music at age 15, and whose music helped her struggle through MS diagnosis and symptoms. Bailiff is a composer, former world-class concert pianist, and here integrates her musical passion and experiences with powerful first-person insights on living with ms.

4 comments about Terry Fox: His Story (Revised).

1. On harsh moments, Terry's story seems to be the reminder and remmedy. An inspiring life. A must read book!



2. This is a great inside look at the inspirational life, and especially the three thousand plus mile 1980 trek, of Terry Fox. If you don't know who Terry Fox is, shame on you... You need to read this book. If you do know who Terry Fox is, read this book to bring back the memories of this selfless hero. The book has been updated since its original publishing 25 years ago and still has the inside story from Terry's family and friends, as well as his own words from interviews and journal entries. If you are interested in Terry Fox, you should check out the Terry Fox Foundation website as well as the newly published "Terry" by Douglas Coupland.



3. Terry Fox His Story is a wonderful and intriguing book about a young man who touched my heart in ways you couldn't imagine. I felt that I was right there with him all the time and I knew what he was going through.
   This is a book about a young man who had a wild dream. Running across Canada. The really unbelievable thing about this is Terry lost his leg to bone cancer. By the time he died he had raised more than 24 million dollars for cancer research. Because of Terry we are getting closer and closer to a cure for this horrible disease!
   I would definitely recommend this book to everyone. It taught me to take a hold on life and to not let it slip away. If everyone read about this amazing young man I'm sure the world would be a better place!!



4. "Terry Fox: His Story" tells of the life of a man who needs little introduction the world over. Terry's one-legged run halfway across Canada in 1980 is a story of great national pride here, and indeed many countries have caught on to the spirit. Terry's tragic, heroic story is commemorated every year with the fundraising "Terry Fox Run", held around the world, with the proceeds going towards cancer research.

   "His Story" succeeds in providing a comprehensive, if not overly personal, look at Terry's life. I was also impressed by the dynamic and care given to the run itself, as it progressed from one location/town to another. Not every city was as enthusiastic as the last one, for instance, and the author takes care to show how Terry learns to respond to these varying regional reactions, and learns to become a very capable public speaker. The author also takes great care to show that the running was not easy work for Terry, that on many days he simply physically could not accomplish what he set out to do. It makes what he did accomplish all that much more impressive.

   All in all, I was left with a new respect for Terry as a result of reading this book. As an occasional runner myself, I know how difficult it is to get up, on two legs, and go. Which makes you wonder, if Terry Fox could jog nearly a marathon every day for six months on one leg, by comparison, what excuse has anybody else got to not do anything?

   Matthew D. Johnston

4 comments about Alone in the Mainstream: A Deaf Woman Remembers Public School (Deaf Lives Series, Vol. 1).

1. This book was on a list of 15 books for a speech disorder class. I chose it based on the information that was provided by Amazon, which was very accurate. The book provides insight of deaf and hard of hearing individuals who are mainstreamed in public schools, often feeling isolated and frustrated. I would recommend the book to any who is interested in knowing more about Deaf culture and the obstacles individuals encounter.



2. Alone in the Mainstrain sensitively relates the experiences of the author growing up a hearing impaired child mainstreamed into the hearing world. Reaching out to others who have been similarly mainstreamed she presents a study of the effects of the mainstreaming experience on other deaf and hard of hearing people. Teachers and parents of both deaf and hard of hearing, as well as hearing, children would learn much from reading Oliva's combination autobiography/study. Frankly, I found it surprising how little I was aware of the social isolation experienced by a non-hearing person in a hearing environment. Oliva discusses how those individuals with a cochlear implant can still experience isolation in a room filled with many sounds
   Oliva advocates giving deaf children opportunities to be a part of both the deaf and hearing worlds. Through examples from her own rich life, she shows ways in which one can intertwine the two. I recommend this excellent book both as general autobiography and as an insightful study of the effects of mainstreaming, told by those most qualified to comment, those who have experienced it.



3. This quarter I had the amazing opportunity to take Brenda Brueggemann's class "The Disability Experience in the Contemporary World" at The Ohio State University. She encouraged me to read this book (that she happened to be the editor of), and I can't thank her enough! While at times I felt this book was a bit redundant, I think that is just a stylistic choice; it is Oliva's way of reiterating the profound impact these specific events had on her life. Personally, I agreed to read this book because I felt as a future teacher it is crucial for me to be aware of current issues and debates in education. I really feel all of the points addressed by Alone in the Mainstream are very real concerns that need to be considered by everyone involved. As a result, I would highly recommend this book to any educator; past, present, and especially future. The future of these highly capable students is dependent on the educational opportunities, and it is the responsibility of educators to be as informed and knowledgeable as we possibly can. While we can't turn back the hands of time and erase the painful experiences expressed by Oliva and others throughout the book, it is my hope that we can take actively work to create the possibility of a brighter future for d/Deaf and hard of hearing students. They have a lot to say about this issue, and it is time to stop and "listen."



4. In the question of mainstreaming children with handicaps, parents, educators and legislators all want to make the wisest choice possible. They would be well advised to read this compassionate, illuminating book by a woman who knows firsthand the experience of being isolated by the good intentions of her family and her schools. Gina Oliva compiles personal anecdotes, research and information as well as the voices of many others with similar experiences to provide a clear delineation of the problems and issues confronted by deaf students in a hearing environment. Ms. Oliva could have chosen to be bitter about her early experiences, but instead her courage and her intelligence in the face of daunting difficulties shine through on every page. This is an important book about a subject which is very much in the forefront of the debate about public education.

5 comments about Needles: A Memoir Of Growing Up With Diabetes.

1. Reviews of this book - particularly from sufferers of diabetes - tend to be favourable. However, for me, this book was unreadable.
   
   Her style is that of a diary, with sentences comprised of just a few words. You encounter a period/full stop on nearly every line. There is hardly a chance to get going with this book.
   
   I skipped chapters hoping that the style would settle down. It does not and I gave up reading this book depositing it in the trash bin. I very much doubt I could sell it on ebay for anything apart from the cost of postage.
   
   Perhaps the content may be of interest to diabetics, but otherwise it's a depressing mournful series of short sentences.



2. This book was a great book!! It may not be the most hopeful book, but it is the most true. Being a diabetic, I could relate to many of the things she said. I constantly found myself thinking "Oh my gosh!!! THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME SO MANY TIMES!" or "THATS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL!!!" Some reviews have stated that she was very pessimistic when it comes to the disease, I don't think so. Diabetes made a major impact on her life I am sure that some good things did come from it, but it is a disease and who honestly really wants to praise a disease? She was very hard on the medical industry, but I think that was fair. Even when I was in the hospitle in 2003, the nurses still did things that were very ignorant. She also didn't just lash out at them for no reason, she always validates her reasons for being so firm and even combative with them. I think the book was very inspirational. I've never had a book stir so much emotion in me!



3. The book was good, no doubt. The writing was compelling, but as I sit back having just finished the book, I don't really understand how it made me feel.
   
   I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes almost a year ago now, and have learned a lot about dealing with the disease since then.
   
   This books scares me in a way because of the pessimism Andie and Denise seem to have toward the disease in the book.
   
   But I must remind myself, this was a different time. The past 25 years or so have improved things tramatically. They had hard-to-work with insulins they took two shots of a day. I have a pump the delivers precise doses tailored to my needs.
   
   Two things I found difficult with the book, besides the heavy subject material, was how hard it was to follow the time frame- dates are rarely mentioned, but it pulls together at the end. Also, toward the second half of the book it deals a lot with complications, but mentions little about what she is doing to control the disease at that point.
   
   All in all, a good read, but if you have diabetes, don't be discouraged by it.



4. I have a 12 yr. old child with diabetes and had been looking for information to do a research project on; diabetes seemed to be what I was heading toward when I accidently came across this book. Looking at someone's point of view who has dealt with type 1 diabetes for most of her life and how she handled her care, monitoring of blood sugars, medical personnel, emotions, and relationships has put a whole new look on how I should or shouldn't teach and help my own child with this disease. The author made me understand completely what she had dealt with and how, making living with diabetes more understandable.



5. In all, Needles was a good memoir of living life with Type 1 diabetes. If you're looking for a happy, positive story about living with a chronic condition, this probably isn't for you, but the other 99% of books on diabetes are usually full of advice (though not necessarily practical) on that subject. What this book does, however, is shows one person's real experience with living with diabetes, which isn't always as great as the medical professionals would have everyone believe. Andie Dominick is a good author and helps provide a perspective that is noticably absent from the field of publishing on diabetes.

3 comments about See Sam Run: A Mother's Story of Autism (Mayborn Literary Nonfiction).

1. How do you raise a child diagnosed with autism? "See Sam Run: A Mother's Story of Autism" is Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe's story of dealing with it. Look at the growing number of autism spectrum diagnoses, she wonders - is the diagnosis system improving, or is there something wrong with modern health? The numbers, while important, speak of nothing of the daily troubles parents must face. As she began to come to terms with her autistic son, she wrote her story down in "See Sam Run: A Mother's Story of Autism", highly recommended for community library collections.



2. I preordered See Sam Run, and started reading it the day it arrived in my mailbox. The next morning, when I woke up with a stomach upset, I was thankful that I could call in sick and finish reading it.
   
   This book took me on a familiar journey thorough the haze of denial, the thick fog of despair that descends when denial is no longer possible, then through the maze of discovery trying to find a professional who would listen without condescension or judgment, and provide the help we needed. What a relief to learn that I am not the only mother who has harbored those thoughts and feelings, faced the cold, bare truth, and fought and clawed her way through that maze.
   
   The picture this narrative paints of Sam's day to day life helped me clarify and map our own journey. I cried traveling back through those painful memories. I cried for my son and Sam, for Peggy and Mark and me. Taking the journey with and through another helped heal the scars.
   
   I laughed too. I laughed at the quirky, funny boy that is Sam. I laughed at the captions he wrote for the pictures. I laughed in relief that we have found, after all that running, an easier pace.
   
   My son is not autistic. He has Sensory Integration Dysfunction. I'm not sure if he has something else because we gave up trying to find out. We decided to just deal with it. He now compensates beautifully.
   
   There are many resources in the back of this book to help ease the journey other parents and children face. This book provides a map through the maze.
   
   When a parent admits something is wrong and that they need help, why is it so torturous to find that help? That's the question I was left with after reading this book; and that is the question that needs an answer. You see, I'm not the only mother and Sam is not the only son!



3. Very touching book. I couldn't put it down once I started reading. This is one book I will let people know about.

3 comments about Miles from the Sideline: A Mother's Journey With Her Special Needs Daughter.

1. Before the age of two, little Hannah Weis was just like any other toddler. Bright, happy, resilient, and full of laughter. "Miles from the Sideline: A Mother's Journey with her Special Needs Daughter" is the story of what happened in the following decade where her development suddenly slowed, and how her mother, author Maura Weis, has had to deal with all the turmoil and triumph that comes from raising a daughter who just isn't like everyone else in the world, a daughter with special needs. "Miles from the Sideline: A Mother's Journey with her Special Needs Daughter" is a deftly written memoir that is highly recommended for other parents of special needs children and for community library memoir collections.



2. In the last 5 years I've read as many books as possible on autism and cerebral palsey... as one of my boys is autistic, and the other has CP. Some books lay claims to "curing" these disorders, others walk you through how to deal with schools and therapists... Maura Weis' book walks you through her families journey so incredibly honest and real, that I felt by the end of the book that I, too, had the ability to deal with my son's disabilities - that I am not alone - and that I can find peace in God's plan for these boys. Many of my friends who do not have special needs children, found it inspirational in their own journeys with different crosses they bear in their lives. Thank you, Maura, for sharing your story to help others.



3. It is rare that I start and finish a book in one sitting. I could not put this one down! Maura Weis shared her experiences as the mother of a special needs child with intense honesty and humility. As she exposed her journey from denial to acceptance, I found myself awed by her transformation from the challenges presented in dealing with her daugher's situation to a spiritual awareness and healing. This metamorphosis allowed Maura to tell her readers why she finds it a privilege to be Hannah's mother. Her accounts transform the reader as well. In the beginning, I could completely understand and relate to the questions she had as a mother. Who to trust? What to do? When to do it? Where to go? Why me or why my child? And as Maura unfolded her story, I also completely understood how she was driven to find the answers to those questions. By the book's end, I was no longer reading Maura's mind, knowing how a mother agonizes for her child and will do anything to make things better. I was peering into her soul, understanding how a mother's love is, indeed, orchestrated by God. It is a symphony of faith, hope, and love. And, as demonstrated by Maura Weis, a mother's love is untiring and indestructible. If you are the parent of a special needs child, this book will no doubt validate all of your utmost concerns and give you incredible hope. And if you are not the parent of a special needs child, this book will give you a new awareness and keen compassion for both the child and the parent. The glimpses of Maura's "black-haired, blue-eyed beauty" will make you long to know Hannah, for you will believe that to know her is to love her. Consider this book a retreat, and a spiritual awakening. It is truly a fabulous read!