I Read a Book.

I read a book this week.

Given that I'm a teacher, that's not terribly surprising, although it was nice to read a book that wasn't about Wayside School.

The best thing about the book I read this week was the author.

Megan Abner has Down syndrome.  I learned of her book through the fantastic world of social networking, when someone posted something like this:

"My friend Megan just wrote a book about having Down syndrome.  Anyone want a copy?"

Um, YES.

I devoured the book.

(You can get a copy here.  I don't get a kick back or anything.  All I got was a free book.)

(Cover photo via Amazon.)

Megan writes in her own words, and the book isn't highly edited.  She writes in little vignettes, sharing stories centered around a theme, so the story isn't in chronological order.  The writing is honest, which provided this mama joy (Megan is articulate and happy, she works, she has a great vocabulary), fear (Megan's middle school stories broke my heart) and laughter (wine tasting, injuries, normal life stuff).

I recently sat in a meeting with some colleagues and discussed a writer's voice - that hard to define skill of writing as though you were speaking.  Megan has voice.  Her writing isn't perfect, but even my special education teacher self was impressed.  Time to raise the bar for my own kid.

Megan uses her voice, and I'm grateful.

When I was pregnant with Ellie, I found a lot of books and blogs by parents of children with Down syndrome.  I felt less alone, but resources by individuals with Down syndrome weren't something I even thought to seek out.

Megan, thank you for providing a resource for new parents.  Thank you for sharing your family photos.  Thank you for giving me a smile.

Ellie's WDSD photo from last year is here.

Happy World UP Syndrome Day!