There is snow—beautiful, swirling, snow. Snow will be a theme throughout this
story—even when it is really bits of burning ash, turning black when rubbed
between fingers in the middle of July.
A young married couple, with a lifetime of dreams ahead are expecting their first
child. It is 1964. Everything is idyllic. And then things go wrong as the birth
process begins. The obstetrician has driven off the road because of the snow. The
young father, a doctor, will deliver his child, a perfect boy, and then, another
child, a twin, a daughter, is delivered. Not perfect, afflicted with Down Syndrome,
and in a split second, a decision is made for the daughter to be taken away by the
nurse to an institution. To save the beloved wife from grief? You will learn more
as to why the decision is made—I can’t share it here. But that decision, will
begin the building of walls, between husband and wife, father and son, daughter and
birth family.
In the context of today, you may condemn the decision immediately as inherently
unfair to the mother, but you must read this in the context of the time. It begins
in 1964, when there wasn’t much support for children that were born mentally
“retarded”.
I have to tell you that there were times during the story that I put the book down
and wept. I am not sure it was about the story, but about the own “walls”
within my family. I have only one picture of my brother as baby New Year. He would
die a few weeks later pf pneumonia. It was 1955.
There would be other walls created in my family. There still are. Maybe most
families have them. Perhaps that is why this book so resonated in my psyche. I have
done my best to break the walls down, but they still exist.
I am not sure I would recommend this to a high school book club. I don’t think
young people would have the life experience to go beyond the initial decision to
give up the daughter, but I would highly recommend this book to an adult group. But
be prepared to have tissues handy. This isn’t an easy read nor will it be an easy
discussion.
Adam
Adam Janowski
Library Media Specialist
Naples High School
1100 Golden Eagle Circle
Naples, FL 34102
E-mail: NHSWebmaster@collier.k12.fl.us
Phone: 239-377-2210
Fax: 239-377-2370
Library web site: http://collier.k12.fl.us/nhs/lmc/
School web site: http://collier.k12.fl.us/nhs/
Pursuant to School Board policy and administrative procedures, this e-mail system
is the property of the School District of Collier County and to be used for
official business only. In addition, all users are cautioned that messages sent
through this system are subject to the Public Records Law of the State of Florida
and also to review by the school system. There should be no expectation of privacy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
* LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home