Jewel

Bret Lott is a remarkable story teller. I find it remarkable when a man can go so deep into a woman's soul and tell her story. Jewel is a kindly, interesting intelligent person with a tight marriage and satisfaction as a parent when she becomes pregnant late in life. Brenda Kay is born of long hard labor seemly oxygen starved at birth or having a genetic malformation (not quite sure).The family, but especially Jewel has to change to adapt to Brenda Kay's needs. I really enjoyed the book and recommend.

This was a great book. I loved the way the author showed the connections each family member had with Brenda Kay. It shows that people with disabilities really do have feelings and can love you just as much as anyone else can. I don't have any children of my own yet, but the book gave me the sense of being there and feeling the struggles that Jewel had with her children. I could really feel the love that she had for them and could tell it was unconditional. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially people who want to know what family life can be like with a disabled child.

As a father of a child with Down Syndrome, I can share my first-hand experience of what it is like to get the diagnosis within an hour of my son's birth. I can't imagine, however, receiving the diagnosis as it was given in 1943, that this girl is a "Mongoloid idiot, won't survive past two and should be institutionalized." We know today that children born with Down Syndrome are educable, have many very special gifts and talents, and can make a way for themselves in this world. And advances in medical technology and treatment have lengthened the life span for people with Down Syndrome to the 50s and 60s.This book elegantly depicts the relationship between Jewel and her daughter. I identified with her in so many ways, including the intense love I have for my 5-year-old with Down Syndrome and the pride I feel in his every accomplishment. This is an incredible view into the challenges a family can face when presented with a child with a disability, not just Down Syndrome. And Lott's accurate depiction of 'the way it was' demonstrates how far we have come, and how far we still need to go, to accept people with mental retardation in our society.Some reviewers have given this book low marks because it was depressing. Certainly, parts were. But there are hundreds of thousands of Americans who have an immediate family member with Down Syndrome, and who I'm sure can relate to many of the emotions Jewel displays and the love she has for her daughter.

As the mother of a developmentally disabled daughter I could totally relate to this book. What I find amazing is Bret Lott could produce a book so typical of a mother's thoughts and emotions..when dealing with a child of special needs...I suspect those who found this book boring are the same who turn away from these children...or feel uncomfortable with the segment of our society who is less than perfect....thank you Mr. Lott for putting into words all the complexity involved with the raising of these children and the effect that has on an entire family..