Synopsis:Shawn McDaniel is an enigma and a miracle—except no one knows it, least of all his father. His life is not what it may seem to anyone looking at him. Not even those who love him best have any idea what he is truly like. In this extraordinary and powerful first novel, the reader learns to look beyond the obvious and finds a character whose spirit is rich beyond imagining and whose story is unforgettable
Review:
I'm not sure exactly what to say about this one. It's a super short, little book that is filled with some heavy material. I read it in less than an hour, but I will be thinking about it for a long time to come.
It's written from the perspective of a smart, funny boy...that happens to have cerebral palsy. The author gives you a glimpse into the 'what if'. What if those we see as 'retarded' are fully developed people, trapped in a body that won't cooperate? What if they are misunderstood by everyone they know? Invisible and forgotten, just wanting to be loved and express their own love.
Although this boy had plenty of reasons to complain and to even hate his life, he doesn't. He loves his family, takes pleasure in the small things, accepts the way he lives his life, and forgives people for treating him different.
A small glimpse into the confusion and conflict that parents of special needs children face daily. The boundless love that a parent has for their child, no matter the outer packaging.
Publication Date: October 1, 2001
Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction
Source: My own tower of books
2 comments:
I used to really enjoy these kinds of books because they can be so thought provoking. But lately I've been going for the lighter YA choices. Great review!
This sounds really interesting, a perspective that I haven't seen!! Definitely need to add this one.... My list is getting bigger.
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