Schuyler's Monster: A Father's Journey with His Wordless Daughter - Softcover

Rummel-Hudson, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312538804 ISBN 13: 9780312538804

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, 2009

Synopsis

In this moving and often hilarious memoir, Robert Rummel-Hudson writes about his family's crusade to help Schuyler - a little girl born without the ability to speak. Their quest to find the monster that has stolen her voice takes them from doctor to doctor, despair to hope and back again. When the answer is found (a rare, neurological disorder called bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria) they take on educators and society to give her a voice so she can further express her engaging and charming personality. Any parent who has gone to battle for their child will find familiar sentiment as well as hope and inspiration in these pages. More than a memoir, "Schuyler's Monster" is the story of a little girl who teaches a man filled with self-doubt how to be the father she most needs him to be.

About this title

Review:

"A gripping explication, shot through with equal parts horror and hope, of how parenthood can turn ordinary people into passionate advocates." - Neal Pollack, author of "Alternadad"

"Robert Rummel-Hudson is brave enough to reveal the damage the discovery of his child's condition did to his marriage and to his own sense of self. He manages to repair some of the damage through close involvement with Schuyler and vigorous campaigning on her behalf. His memoir is honest, often painful and deeply personal." - Charlotte Moore, author of "George & Sam"

"The book is engaging and honest - I'm sure it will help many parents who are struggling to find the most loving way to help their children who have "issues." - Dana Buchman, designer, author of "A Special Education: One Family's Journey Through the Maze of Learning Disabilities"

"Rummel-Hudson's memoir offers a moving account of his and wife Julie's unrelenting efforts to give their buoyant little girl a way to communicate." - "People "magazine

"""Relating the battle for his exceptional daughter with nimble wit, ardor and considerable descriptive ability, Rummel-Hudson has evolved from blogger to author." - "Kirkus"

.,."A study not only in Schuyler's vivacious and resilient personality, but also in the redeeming power of understanding..." - "Publishers Weekly"

"This memoir, full of fear and rage and disappointment and acceptance and advocacy and ferocious love, offers plenty of touchstones for parents who have dealt with diagnoses that are infuriatingly wrong or frighteningly right...." - Terri Mauro, author of "The Everything Parent's Guide to Sensory Integration Disorder"

"Rummel-Hudson chronicles, with disarming frankness, the experience of parenting a child no one knows how to help." - "Brain, Child"

.,."This story will both compel and inspire readers on their own self-journey." - "Texas"" Family" magazine

"We all play the hand that we are dealt in life. Knowing that there are many people like Robert, Julie and Schuyler who play their difficult hand with grit, tenacity and love makes this world a much better place in which to live." - "The Citizen," Auburn, New York""

--Publishers Weekly

About the Author:

Robert Rummel-Hudson has been writing online since 1995. During that time, his work has been recognized by the Diarist Awards at diarist.net and has been featured in the Austin Chronicle, the Irish Times, the New Haven Register, the Dallas Morning News, Wondertime Magazine and Good Housekeeping, as well as on American Public Radio's "Weekend America." Robert and his family currently live in Plano, Texas, where Schuyler attends a special class for children who use Augmentative Alternative Communication devices. Much of her days are now spent in mainstream classes with neurotypical children her age.

About this edition

• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0312538804
• ISBN 13: 9780312538804
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288