| What others are saying: "Rich with honesty, wisdom, and a deep appreciation for every day miracles, Road Map to Holland is a thoughtful, moving meditation on the struggles and joys Jennifer Graf Groneberg and her family experienced during her son Avery’s first two years. Groneberg offers a wealth of insight, information, and even practical resources for families whose children have Down syndrome. Yet this book is first and foremost a story about the constant discovery of love, and it will resonate with every reader who has traveled the always unpredictable, often overwhelming, wonder-filled journey into parenthood." -Kim Edwards, author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter and The Secrets of a Fire King: Stories ~~~ "I have been 'to Holland' for 18 years now, and this book brought back so many thoughts and feelings I had saved up that I felt an immediate sisterhood with Jennifer. I watched her deal with that same fear of the unknown that singed my heart, and I wept when she reached that crucial moment when she found that same place of self-forgiveness. No matter who or where you are in relation to a child with Down syndrome, these pages will be like signposts along your road, to give hope and a new way of seeing things. It's good to be able to see the potholes coming and be ready for them, and it's good to know when to pull over and take the time to enjoy the breathtaking views that only happen on this road. Thank goodness for road maps!" -Martha Sears, co-author, The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby From Birth to Age Two, and author, 25 Things Every New Mother Should Know ~~~ "What a remarkable book! With excruciating candor and exquisite generosity, Jennifer Graf Groneberg invites us into the deepest privacy of her innermost thoughts, feelings, fears, challenges and triumphs. Nothing is left out in this amazingly intimate and profound journal. She allows us into every nook and cranny of her life and we find ourselves firmly ensconced in her heart." -Emily Perl Kingsley, national spokesperson and advocate for people with disabilities and author of "Welcome to Holland" ~~~ "This is the story of Avery--a child with Down syndrome who transformed his mother's broken heart into one filled with cheer, awe, and pride. He offers all new and expectant parents a powerful perspective on life's greatest lessons." -Brian Skotko, M.D., M.P.P., Children's Hospital Boston & Boston Medical Center ~~~ "Bursting with hope, Groneberg's account of mothering Avery highlights the triumph of love over fear. Its candid, vivid prose and poignant emotion make the story difficult to put down and impossible to forget. Herein lies truth to be pondered and savored by every mother, every woman, every human being." -Kathryn Lynard Soper, editor of Gifts: Mothers Reflect on How Children with Down Syndrome Enrich Their Lives Reviews "...a tenderly moving account...Groneberg affectingly delineates these gradual, hardwon stages during Avery's first year toward love and acceptance." -1/28/08 Publishers Weekly, read more ~~~ "A beautiful book full of insight into life with Down syndrome, this recounts a trip that did not go according to plan but turned out to be perfect after all. Highly recommended." -2/15/08 Library Journal, read more ~~~ "What makes Groneberg's book so invaluable...is just how effectively she mirrors any mother's experience of giving birth to a child who is, in society's view, imperfect, and how she then in turn demonstrates how universal the acts of mothering and love to be...It takes a mother, and one who has been there, to tell the real story of raising a child with disabilities, just as it takes a mother to show the universal nature of mother love." Literary Mama, read more ~~~ "A beautifully written memoir about how life's challenges can morph into life's greatest joys...I'd rate this a must-read..." ParentDish, read more ~~~ "While this book is surely a must-read for any parent of a DS child, there's a deeper story here that every parent can relate to..." mamazine, read more ~~~ "This book is a gorgeous read..." MotherTalk, read more |
| From the publisher, NAL/Penguin: It's like planning a trip to Italy, only to get off the plane and discover you're actually in Holland. You need a new road map, and fast... When Jennifer Groneberg and her husband learned they'd be having twin boys, their main concern was whether they'd need an addition on their house. Then, five days after Avery and Bennett were born, Avery was diagnosed with Down syndrome. Here, Jennifer shares the story of what follows. She deals with doctors--some helpful, others disrespectful, even dangerous. Her definition of the word "family" expands. New relationships flourish, but an old friendship ends. Throughout, she comes to understand the contours of her life's new landscape, which is both harsh and stunningly beautiful. This book is a resource, a companion for parents, and above all, a story of the love between a mother and her son--the child she didn't know she wanted, the child she always needed. |
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