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Author: Andrew Solomon
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Title: Far From the
Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity
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Publication Date: November
13, 2012
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Number of Pages: 976
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Geographic Setting: None
specified
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Time Period: None
specified
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Subject Headings: Social
Studies; Family Studies; Transgender; Disabilities; Diversity
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Type: Non-Fiction
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Series Notes: Stand-Alone
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Reading Elements:
·
Narrative Content – Far from The Tree reads
like several short stories. Each
chapter of the book tells the story of a different family.
·
Story Line - The author presents the reader
with stories of numerous different families and the challenges they are
presented related to what society would consider a disability.
·
Detail – The reader is provided with immense
details regarding the family situation, disability, challenges dealt with,
and difficulties faced.
·
Pacing - The pace of the novel is slow, but
not boring. The author takes time to
describe each situation in great detail giving the reader full insight to
each family’s situation.
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Book Summary: Far From
the Tree is an honest, thought provoking insight into the lives of families
dealing with special needs children. The
author discusses families coping with deafness, dwarfism, Down syndrome,
autism, schizophrenia, multiple severe disabilities, children who are
prodigies, who are conceived in rape, who become criminals, who are
transgender. The author shows how ordinary people are able to face these
extreme parenting challenges by learning to accept their children for who
they are and how they can help their child and entire family live the best
life possible.
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1-3 Annotation: In Far
from the Tree, the author discusses stories of parents who have learned how
to deal with their exceptional children, but also have found profound meaning
in doing so. The book not only
explores the fears and concerns of parents dealing with these difficult
situations, but also discusses generosity, acceptance, tolerance, and the
fact that love can overcome any prejudice.
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Similar Works: NurtureShock:
New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson
A
Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold
Shattered:
From Grief to Joy After My Son’s Suicide by Rebecca Tervo
Raising
a Child with Autism by Timothy Fountain
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Name of Annotator: Melanie
Berry
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Works Cited:
Wyatt, Neal. (2007). The Readers’ Advisory Guide to
Nonfiction. Chicago, American Library Association. File found on Canvas.
Hi Melanie!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on this post! You mention that the pace of the book is slow but not boring, do you think having the chapters be like short stories of the individual families help move the story along? Did you enjoy the book?
Holly, I did enjoy it. I think because of the nature of the book it absolutely had to be in the short story format that it was. It is a very long book, and I cannot imagine it having been written another way.
ReplyDeleteThis book made me laugh, cry, think, and examine my own ideas on disabilities. I cannot recommend it enough!
Wonderful matrix! This book sounds fascinating! Full points!
ReplyDelete