This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Gisela Dixon for Readers' Favorite
Fixing Boo Boo: A Story of Traumatic Brain Injury by Pat Stanford is a memoir written by Pat about her sister and her life with her. Barb was born in Pennsylvania in the 1950s with a mild form of cerebral palsy, which resulted in learning and social challenges. While her family and siblings were adjusting to this fact, Barb was further involved in an accident that compounded the brain damage she was born with, resulting in moderately severe symptoms for the rest of her life. Although she married, the marriage was not ideal by any means and perhaps not done for the right reasons. Her husband Bill took care of things and also took care of her, but also mistreated and disrespected her. After her husband passed away, Barb was cared for by Pat and her husband for a while, and this book details her experiences of living with someone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury, and the challenges it poses for both the patient as well as the family members.
Fixing Boo Boo provides a realistic glimpse into the life of a person with cerebral palsy, or any brain injury for that matter. Pat writes in the first person and details the challenges and help that people like Barb need, even for doing daily chores or basic social functioning. Although the writing is quite fluid and engaging, I felt that at times Barb was misunderstood and perhaps the situation with her could have been handled differently. Although this is easier said than done, I couldn’t help but feel that excluding Barb from activities, even when she lived in the same house with them, and keeping a clear barrier between her and them, cannot have been productive and, in fact, could have been hurtful. A bit more compassion could have gone a long way, but again this is easier said than done. It is also true that living with a family member with this condition can be extremely difficult. Overall, this is a great book to try to understand what life is like for people with mental or emotional impairment and their families as well. Pat’s experience and words put life into this story and make it a worthwhile read.
