Book #1 - The Water Giver

As a part of my 30 before 30, I am reading 12 books that I own but haven't read yet.  The first one on my list was The Water Giver by Joan Ryan.  I think I picked it up at one of the Borders going out of business final sales sometime last year.  I remember being intrigued by it then.

 
The story is fascinating.  Initially, I thought it was going to be a story about the relationship between an mother and her adopted son with an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but it was much more than that.  It is the story of her son's battle and recovery from a traumatic brain injury and her journey through a second chance at motherhood along the way.  The book is written in three parts with short chapters in each section.

The first part gives you some background on the family.  The adoption.  The career minded parents.  The good and the bad, the highs and the lows of Ryan's youth.  It really details a struggle all of its own, but one that seems far less difficult to handle once part two begins.

Part two focuses on the accident and subsequent touch and go times for the family.  It is extremely well-written making it difficult to put the book down at this point.

Without giving too much away, part three details the struggles of recovery.  The setbacks.  The advances.  The setbacks.  It is a very touching story.  It is a quick read and if you like true stories then it is definitely the book for you. 

As you'll see, I prefer true stories.  My next book is an autobiography.  I will probably read two or three of those as a part of my 12.  Hopefully, I can get some reading done while I am homebound for Hurricane Sandy.

What good autobiography or true life tales have you read lately?

Andrea :)