Colleen Faulkner
Pages: 289
Size: 5.67 x 8.22 in
Pages: 288
Alicia Richards loved her daughter from her very first breath. Days later, when tests confirmed what Alicia already knew—that Chloe had Down syndrome—she didn’t falter. Her ex-husband wanted a child who would grow to be a scholar. For Alicia, it’s enough that Chloe just is.
Now twenty-five, Chloe is sweet, funny, and content. Alicia brings her to adult daycare while she teaches at a local college. One day Chloe arrives home thrumming with excitement, and says the words Alicia never anticipated. She has met someone—a young man named Thomas. Within days, Chloe and Thomas, also mentally challenged, declare themselves in love.
Alicia strives to see past her misgivings to the new possibilities opening up for her daughter. Shouldn’t Chloe have the same right to love as anyone else? But there is no way to prepare for the relationship unfolding, or for the moments of heartbreak and joy ahead...
Terri K on Amazon wrote:I picked up this book because I really enjoy the show Born This Way. I figured since I liked that, I'd enjoy the book. And I was right!
The book is about Alicia, who is the mother to Chloe. Chloe has Down Syndrome. Chloe might be in her twenties, but she has the mind of a child. So it's a surprise to Alicia when Chloe announces that she's in love and is going to get married to Thomas, who also has Down Syndrome. How will it work?
Alicia struggles, because she loves her daughter and wants her happy, but also has to think realistically. How can the marriage possibly work out?
I thought the book was fantastic--sad at times, but really well written and thought out. I can understand Alicia wanting the best for her daughter because my son has autism. I worry about him constantly. But sometimes we have to let go.
This is an excellent book that I think everyone will enjoy. If you don't have a child with Down syndrome, this is a pretty accurate look at the day-to-day experiences of some adults with Ds. I have a daughter with Down syndrome who is 21, so I could relate to this book probably more than others. I laughed a lot because I could "hear" my daughter saying some of the same sentences and I could relate to so many things from the mom's point of view. Because the writing is so realistic, I found myself sobbing in parts. It was difficult for me to read. I don't want to give anything away, so that's all I'll say. I'd recommend the book for everyone, but if you happen to be a parent of a child with a disability (especially Ds), be prepared for a roller coaster ride!
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