Monday, May 31, 2010

THE BOY WHO LOVED TORNADOES: REVIEW AND COMMENT

GIVEAWAY ENDED
THE BOY WHO LOVED TORNADOES

BY RANDI DAVENPORT

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Randi Davenport’s story is a testament to human fortitude, to hope, and to a mother’s uncompromising love for her children.

She had always worked hard to provide her family with a sense of stability and strength, despite the challenges of having a son with autism and a husband whose erratic behavior sometimes puzzled and confused her.


But eventually, Randi’s husband slipped into his own world and permanently out of her family’s. And at fifteen, her son Chase entered an unremitting psychosis—pursued by terrifying images, unable to recognize his own mother, unwilling to eat or even talk—becoming ever more tortured and unreachable.

Beautifully written and profoundly moving, this is the heartbreaking yet triumphant story of how Randi Davenport navigated the byzantine and broken health care system and managed not just to save her son from the brink of suicide but to bring him back to her again, and make her family whole. In
The Boy Who Loved Tornadoes, she gives voice to the experiences of countless families whose struggles with mental illness are likewise invisible to the larger world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Randi Davenport received her MA in creative writing from Syracuse University as well as a PhD in literature. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in publications like the Washington Post, the Ontario Review, the Alaska Review, and Film/Literature Quarterly. She is the executive director of the James M. Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

REVIEW:

Randi Davenport poignantly shares her story as a mother fighting for what is best for her son, Chase, in THE BOY WHO LOVED TORNADOES. With a steadily growing sense of helplessness over the years, Davenport labors with her developmentally delayed son, trying to find the best possible doctors, setting, and care for Chase.

THE BOY WHO LOVED TORNADOES goes from his early years when Chase started showing signs that he was delayed to the more recent battle to find an appropriate service for him. The confusion involved in holding the state accountable for what they needed to provide for Chase was made even more difficult by the fact that doctors couldn’t agree on what was actually happening with him. Chase was labeled with an multitude of diagnoses over the years but none of them seemed to be defined well enough to explain everything that was going on with him. When his symptoms changed, getting better or worse, often as a result of different stimuli, his doctors couldn't explain it. Davenport had to fight insurance companies who refused to pay for treatments, as well as deal with treatments that actually made her boy's condition worse.

Randi Davenport also worries about her daughter and how she’ll endure all this unpredictable family chaos. Davenport tries to make it up to Chase’s younger sister, Haley, because she sees the toll Chase’s illness has taken on her but knows that she can only make a dent in it and never fully replace the normalcy Haley has lost. She is also concerned with a possible genetic inheritance as she tells of the mental health problems her ex-husband went through that are much like some of the issues Chase deals with.

This is a memoir of a mother and the caring, frustration, love, and despair she goes through to try and care for her children. Readers will become involved in the emotional memoir of Randi Davenport. Due to her determination and perseverance, it does give a glimmer of hope as you read of the chance Chase has to live a life as unrestrained as possible for him to live, not zoned out from drugs, not locked up like a criminal, but cared for and making progress at his own speed.
Align CenterTHE BOY WHO LOVED TORNADOES is a remarkable as well as terribly moving memoir I know mothers especially won’t want to miss.

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO BRITTANY AT MY
FRIENDS AT ALGONQUIN BOOKS, I
HAVE 5 COPIES OF THIS FASCINATING
BOOK TO GIVE AWAY


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84 comments:

debbie said...

I am a gfc follower.
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

It can be very difficult to get a absolute diagonsis with certain children. As a parent of a child with special needs I vasilate between wanting to know an exact diagnosis, and knowing it doesn't really matter, because sometimes the medicines just don't work. I would love to read this book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Margie said...

This looks like a revealing book about mental illness and a mother's love. I'd also be interested in how she works with the healthcare system.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I'd like to read Heart in the Right Place.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Facebook follower
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Margie said...

email follower
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Margie said...

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Colleen Turner said...

What a powerful story! I cannot imagine having to deal with an autistic child in the midst of serious psychosis and a husband who leaves to avoid the life he has been given! She is a role model for all moms who complain they cannot handle the lot they have been given. Thanks for sharing!
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

Breakfast with Buddha sounds interesting, so I would pick that one up. I have already read Water for Elephants and highly recommend it!
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am a GFC follower.
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Colleen Turner said...

I follower via Networked Blogs.
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traveler said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I would like to read The Frozen Rabbi from Algonquin books. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

What an experience to write about and live through. This book is emotional and unforgettable reading.saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in giveaway. I follow via email.

monagarg@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in the giveaway. I found the storyline of the book interesting. I am always interested in books about parent-child/marital relationships. Also the topic of mental illness fascinates me.

monagarg@yahoo.com

Renee said...

Everything about this book is interesting to me..... pediatric mental illness is still such an unknown field

reneesuz82(at)msn(dot)com

Renee said...

the Children in Room E4 sounds interesting

reneesuz82(at)msn(dot)com

Renee said...

I follow on google friends connect

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Reading said...

I follow on GFC

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Reading said...

I found it interesting that the husband and son both suffer from mental illness.

Hapy Memorial Day

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Linda Kish said...

I dealt with raising a special needs child as a single mom so I understand how difficult this can be.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs would be interesting.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

It is interesting, and troubling, to me that the doctors couldn't always agree on what was wrong with Chase. It is always awful that some of the treatments given to Chase made things worse. There is so much wrong with all aspects of our health care system.
Randi Davenport is an amazing, inspiring and strong woman. It's hard to contemplate all that she went through.

Thank you for a wonderful review and giveaway, Karen!

~ Amy
Aimala127@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I would love to read "The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green" by Joshua Braff published by Algonquin among many other Algonquin books!

Aimala127@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I am a GFC follower!


Aimala127@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I follow via Blogger dashboard


Aimala127@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I follow your blog via email
(My email for blogs is Aimala02@yahoo.com)

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bison61 said...

I found it interesting about the insurance companies who refused to pay for treatments,and the treatments that actually made her boy's condition worse.

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Betty: Reflections with Coffee said...

I've been reading books about children with autism/asperger's. This one sounds interesting -- the mother's perspective, along with the dad's mental illness and the mother's research into genetics.

bmcbroom at gmail dot com

Betty: Reflections with Coffee said...

Your blog comes in through my Google Reader subscription.
bmcbroom at gmail dot com

Betty: Reflections with Coffee said...

The Algonquin book I'd like to read is The Heart in the Right Place -- that's set very near where I live!

bmcbroom AT gmail DOT com

Misusedinnocence said...

The description is moving and a testament of a Mothers love, and I think all of us can relate to that. :) I'd love to read it.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

StephTheBookworm said...

I follow through Google.

stephaniet117 at yahoo dot com

StephTheBookworm said...

I would LOVE to read this book! It sounds like a touching and fascinating story. Mental illness can be a touchy subject, but one that needs to be read about, learned about and talked about.

StephTheBookworm said...

I checked out the Algonquin site and one of their books I've been dying to read is Water for Elephants.

stephaniet117 at yahoo dot com

Colleen Turner said...

+5 swagbucks entry.
candc320@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I thinjk having a son of my own I worry about and he's dtill only 3. I'd like to read this book. I think I can relate.
christina101092@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I think I need 14,000 Things to be Happy About. I've been overwhelmed with work and my son and leaving my husband it's much harder to do it on your own more than I ever expected.

christina101092@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I'm a email subscriber
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Anonymous said...

I'm a GFC follower
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Anonymous said...

I'm follow on network blogs
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Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

I follow your facebook page.
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Anonymous said...

I follow you on twitter
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Margie said...

+5 for swag bucks signup
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Jolee said...

gfc follower joleehamlin at comcast dot net

Jolee said...

Mental illness and mom's love--tough stuff. Sounds interesting. joleehamlin at comcast dot net

Jolee said...

Gossip of the Starlings sounds great. joleehamlin at comcast dot net

Anonymous said...

I have a nepwhew that was diagnosis with a mild form of Autism he seems to be coming around some. I'd like to win this book for my Sister-in-law.

chirth7@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I'd like to read Hold Me Tight and Tango Me Home.

chirth7@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I'm an email subscriber

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Anonymous said...

I follow you on facebook

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Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

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Shirley said...

I'd like this book because it talks about a family with Autism. My son and his wife have a son that was tested. I'd like to read it to learn more about it.

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I'd like to read: Ageless Memory
shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I'm a GFC follower
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Shirley said...

I follow on network blogs
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Shirley said...

I'm an email subscriber
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Shirley said...

I follow you on facebook
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Shirley said...

I follow you on twitter
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Anonymous said...

My brother is everly autistic. My parents took him to doctor after doctor to get a diagnosis and he had numerous tests. My mother had to fight the public education system to get schooling for my borther. I look forward to reading this book.

CarolNWong@aol.com

Anonymous said...

I would like to read Mudbound.

CarolNWong@aol.com

Anonymous said...

I am also a GFC follower.

Anonymous said...

I am an e-mail subscriber.

CarolNWong@aol.com

Anonymous said...

I would like to read Mudbound,

I can't remember if I wrote this before! Please delete this if it is a repeat!

CarolNWong@aol.com

Anonymous said...

I am also a GFC follower.

CarolNWong@aol.com

Anonymous said...

I am an e-mail subscriber.


CarolNWong@aol.com

catss99 said...

I like the psychological component that's talked about in the review since im a psych grad student
catss99@yahoo.com

catss99 said...

follow w blogger
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catss99 said...

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catss99 said...

breakfast with buddah sounds interesting!
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Anonymous said...

interesting that Butner could help and hope this help continues

Anonymous said...

I would love book about the writers houses

Anonymous said...

my grandson has been diagnosed with autism and is under the CAP program. I saw your UNC TV interview and can't wait to read your book. My library does not have it yet.

Christine H said...

+5 for swag bucks

chirth7@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

+5 for swag bucks

shundelt@yahoo.com

Nancye said...

As a former Special Education teacher, I have worked with children with many special needs that include Autism and Aspergers. I have seen so many families searching for help. The health care system is definitely broken and has delayed help these kids so desperately need.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I found 2 books that interest me. They are "Lucky Girl" and "Between Here and Now".

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I follow via GFC

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Nancye said...

I follow you on Twitter
@NancyeDavis

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Nancye said...

email subscriber

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Nancye said...

I follow you on both Facebook and Facebook Networked Blogs

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