About the Book:
Watching their children move out and live independently is a difficult task for many parents -- but for George and Mary Ann McCray, it's nearly impossible. Even though Todd, their disabled son, is in his twenties, George and Mary Ann fear that he cannot thrive without their support and supervision. But Todd is determined to be his own person -- and he has a dog named Christmas and an entire community ready to help him find his way.
My Comments:
As the mother of a young adult with a disability I could relate to Todd's parents--both to his father who tried very hard to respect Todd as an adult who could manage his own affairs and to his mother who wanted to make sure her son was ok. It is hard for any parent to watch their children leave the nest, even though you know they should and you want them to; it is even harder when you know there are so many things they can't do. I liked Todd. He realized he had a disability (not sure whether it is a reading problem or an intellectual problem--his parents' level of care suggests something more disabling than dyslexia, but he manages life pretty well on his own) but he tried to make his own way in the world.
The story itself is a sweet and short one, the kind of story that would make a great Hallmark Christmas special. However I found the writing to be weak.
I'd like the thank the publisher for making a review copy available via Edelweiss. Grade: B-
Thanks for sharing a bit of yourself in review of this story. I share with you the difficulty of letting go and letting kids grow up.
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