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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Middle grade memoir. This is the story of Nathaniel Newman, a boy born with Treacher Collins syndrome. The story is told by him and his Mother. Treacher Collins means the bones of the face don't fully develop, which affects not only appearance but also eating and breathing. Nathaniel had to be fed through a tube directly to his stomach for many years and had to breathe out of a trach tube in his neck for even longer.
Nathaniel ended up crossing paths with the author RJ Palacio, whose book [b:Wonder|11387515|Wonder|R.J. Palacio|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545695751l/11387515._SY75_.jpg|16319487] featured a protagonist with Treacher Collins. He actually auditioned for the role of Auggie in the film, but as he so honestly stated-- kids with TC don't have a lot of time to work on acting. He spent a lot of time in the hospital. Not because he himself cared about his facial appearance but because he wanted his body to function better, specifically in regards to eating and breathing. Nathaniel went through over 60 surgeries to get his body to do things that other people can do from birth.
This story is clearly released on the coattails of Wonder, but that timing doesn't take away from the power of the story. I enjoyed the alternating viewpoints of Nathaniel and his mother. This book really shows the everyday of living with craniofacial differences and asks the reader to reconsider what it is to be "normal."
I read an advanced reading copy provided by the publisher.
Nathaniel ended up crossing paths with the author RJ Palacio, whose book [b:Wonder|11387515|Wonder|R.J. Palacio|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545695751l/11387515._SY75_.jpg|16319487] featured a protagonist with Treacher Collins. He actually auditioned for the role of Auggie in the film, but as he so honestly stated-- kids with TC don't have a lot of time to work on acting. He spent a lot of time in the hospital. Not because he himself cared about his facial appearance but because he wanted his body to function better, specifically in regards to eating and breathing. Nathaniel went through over 60 surgeries to get his body to do things that other people can do from birth.
This story is clearly released on the coattails of Wonder, but that timing doesn't take away from the power of the story. I enjoyed the alternating viewpoints of Nathaniel and his mother. This book really shows the everyday of living with craniofacial differences and asks the reader to reconsider what it is to be "normal."
I read an advanced reading copy provided by the publisher.