What an awesome story and a great way to look at a family tragedy. Claire is definitely a character full of middle school drama. It's hard to be the youngest with a perfect older sibling. Nothing seems to go Claire's way, school, dance, friends and family life. Nothing ever seems to go the right way for Claire, But her world is forever changed when her outgoing, creative dad the author has a stroke right in front of her. and she is alone. She can not contact her mother and she has to call 911 and help her dad. Due to her quick actions her father lives, but a stroke can be a debilitating health condition.
Now on top of all of the other middle school drama, Claire has lost her father, he is a shell of what he used to be. The emotions are overwhelming. Claire's father is unable to communicate in a normal fashion, and has other deficits. His road to recovery is going to be long and difficult. He does slowly begin to recuperate, but has a second health crisis when he contracts pneumonia from attempting to swallow his Thanksgiving "Feast". Of course Claire happens to be in her crazy Science class and they are in a lockdown when she gets the text message. This does not go over well with the teacher who takes Claire's phone away, among some straight up rebellion from her classmates. The teacher slaps Claire and the whole group has to meet with the principle the following day.
Eventually, Claire's father returns home from the hospital, a little bit healthier and Claire becomes his inspiration for rehabilitation. She is instrumental in motivating him to try to do his rehab exercises. The school year ends and Claire normally would be looking forward to her dance recital and her first participation in the father daughter dance, but how can she look forward to something that is not going to happen? How can she expect her father to dance, he can barely walk. Her brother volunteers for the duty and Claire is able to participate in the number, but not how she had envisioned this landmark event.
This book was a great read. I really resonated with me on multiple levels. As a realistic fiction story the characters and events were spot on. The author, did an incredible job describing feelings and circumstances in a careful and touching voice. As an individual that has had a loved one suffer a stroke, I was touched with how close the descriptions were to reality. I am giving this book a 5 out of 5 and feel that it is appropriate for anyone over 5th grade on. This is an incredible empathetic read and multifaceted in tone and nature, many teaching points.
Links
Author: Jordan Sonnenblick
Symptoms of a stroke
Stroke Rehab
What is a stroke?
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