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Victoria Marin graduated from New York University in 1995 with a degree in Occupational Therapy. As an Occupational Therapist, she gained recognition for the innovative use of the Nintendo Wii with the elderly in a rehab setting. Marin held a position in the Metropolitan Occupational Therapy Education Council and was a member of the Dominican College Professional Advisory Council. As an adjunct professor at Rockland Community College, she instructed students in the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. Later in her career, she joined the faculty of Dominican College. Most recently, she presented on the benefits of a multi-sensory approach for the treatment of elderly patients with dementia. As a stay-at-home mom, she is an active member of her Church where she is a catechist and Eucharistic minister. Marin was raised by Italian immigrants in Orangeburg, New York and is now living in New Jersey with her five children--- her inspiration for writing.
Reviewed by Author Anna del C. Dye. for Readers' Favorite
This is a heartfelt, well-written story to teach children how to perceive other children with disabilities. It has a good pace, a strong theme, and beautiful black and white drawings on its pages. The protagonist is real and likable, and makes you care for his struggles in life. These are great tools to teach tolerance and acceptance for all those who may seem different but in truth are not. It is a positive and inspirational tale of struggles and success.
Aiden has autism. As with any kid with autism, going to a new school is devastating for him. All his old friends know what he can and can’t do. Not only do they know him, but they accept him that way too. In the new school he is distinguished by his disabilities and many times belittled for what he can or can’t do. Other children even think he isn’t capable of the things they can do, let alone have his own feelings. That is all he experiences until the day he finds a book that impacts his soul and he can see nothing but what the book could do for him. Aiden can’t play soccer as he would love to, but this book is going to help him be seen for more than his disabilities.
Many children will connect with this protagonist, no matter if they have a disability or not. This book treats a serious theme in a way that children and their parents will find useful in understanding others with similar disabilities. I recommend this book to all children aged 5 and up, their parents, and their teachers.
