Half Child

I first read this book when I was a young girl, around 12 I think. I grew up in a rural area, and had an active imagination. I loved the wonderful story so beautifully written by Kathleen Hersom. I loved it so much I chose to read it to my younger sister who wasn't much of a reader herself, after we lost our father to Cancer. She loved the book, and read it over and over. She told me when we finished reading it, that she loved that it was about sisters, two special sisters, just like us. Unfortunately my hardcover edition was lost in a house fire the next year, and my sister grew up. She died this last september at 18, and I have been wracking my brain to remember the title to this book. I finally realized it yesterday, and I can't tell you how happy I was. I wanted to have this book again, because it was something special, so special... between two sisters, about two sisters, and their story. I think all people should read this book. It is a beautiful creation about family and understand differances. We all need that kind of book in our lives..

As mother of a young girl with Down syndrome, I understand the reality of Sarah's life as told by her sister Lucy. We have "lost" our daughter several times when she has taken to following her own path far away from home. Truly, it seems she hears the song of the wind and just sets off to find its source. As she grows older, her desire to be with people is increasing, and we are less fearful of her spontaneous wanderings; however, we can never let down our guard and are ever watchful. When she was a toddler and non-verbal, still our daughter "spoke" with the invisible spirits of nature. Crouching beside a hollow tree, or almost crawling under the gnarled roots of an old oak, she would whisper in a slightly sing-song voice "words" of her own making. We continue to marvel at her inherent love and peaceful, though very rambunctious and sometimes riotous, spirit. Perhaps we all should just let go the day's work and follow her as she responds to music only she can hear....I strongly recommend this book to anyone working with active, busy children born with Down syndrome.

Everybody thought Sarah was a changeling, but Lucy the older sister of Sarah, knew better. Lucy,the older sister of Sarah. Sarah loved going to the church and playing with the "little stone dollies", and only Lucy understood what Sarah said. Sarah goes missing, can't be found, momma's having another baby, and papa is going to name her Sarah, for the one that he was supposed to be the father of. When Momma dies,papa finds another girl to marry, so Lucy runs away. She went off to her sister's house and starts working, and there she meets a girl, Marion. Marion's very talkative and knows about the missing, believed dead, Sarah. Henry, Marion's brother,tells Lucy about it in an intriguing story. Lucy finds what happened to Sarah,but she basically is still missing. When Lucy turns old and moves to her old house, she meets her sixth grandchild-exactly like Sarah.When Lucy asks her where she was the whole time, Sarah says "Not telling," a thing she always used to say in childhood. A truly unique story.