#voluntary mutism

[lala-lambo-mambo]

realizing that I've been getting more verbally shutting down these past weeks so m making communication cards !! >w<

[seriouslythisisagoodname]

oki dokie!!

(for some reason the ask is being weird)

@alien-in-washington

[awetistic-things]

awetistic things {1}

the urge to never speak again

[joolireads]

It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, and have been left to languish, forgotten. Deeply in love, they escape, and find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone-Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl. When the authorities catch up to them that same night, Homan escapes into the darkness, and Lynnie is caught. But before she is forced back into the institution, she whispers two words to Martha: "Hide her." And so begins the 40-year epic journey of Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and baby Julia-lives divided by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, yet drawn together by a secret pact and extraordinary love. Summary amazon.ca

Challenging premise and tough characters to make real--Ms Simon succeeds on both counts. Told from various POVs, the storytelling voice remains true to each person. Ms Simon shows compassion for  all players in the tragic situation; she doesn't demonize the caregivers at the "School".  The Story of Beautiful Girl is not an expose of a criminally negligent system.  I think the author would like readers to revise their definition of "disability" and their understanding of "capability".  The ending might seem too neat for some but in the end, the reader will take with them a story of a "beautiful girl" that will hopefully change forever their attitude to those special people in our world.

7 out of 10 Recommended to readers who enjoy unusual characters and stories with meaning.

P. S. Another book on this theme from several years ago is In This Sign by Joanne Greenberg.  Wonderful characterization from an outstanding author.