September 2014 Debut of the Month When Jo takes on helping Chris, a teenager with cerebral palsy, she has no idea how life changing it will be for her. Jo has always been good a getting on with things and she finds she loves caring for Chris and begins to think of imaginative ways of making his life better. But when Jo tries to take Chris somewhere really special she finds she’s taken on a lot more than she can manage. Jo needs help and it turns out that Chris is just the person to give it. A touching story about how help can come from unexpected places.
Jo could never have guessed that the friendship she so desperately craves would come in the shape of a severely disabled boy. He can't even speak. Maybe it is because he can't speak that she finds herself telling him how difficult it is living with her eccentric, mentally fragile mother.
Behind Chris' lopsided grin and gigantic blue wheelchair is a real person - with a sense of humour, a tremendous stubborn streak and a secret he has kept from everyone. For a while it seems life may actually get better. But as Jo finds out just how terrible life is for Chris, and as her own life spirals out of control, she becomes desperate to change things for both of them.
In a dramatic turn of events, Jo makes a decision that could end in tragedy. This is the story of how an unusual friendship unlocks the words that neither knew they had.
KIM HOOD grew up in British Columbia, Canada. After earning degrees in psychology, history and education, she wandered through a few countries before making the west coast of Ireland home. Her eclectic work experience in education, therapy and community services has presented endless opportunity to observe a world of interesting characters. She has always had a passion for trying to understand life from the perspective of those on the fringes of society.
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