I absolutely LOVE when friends give me book reviews! I logged onto my facebook page one morning and my facebook friend, Rita Shutes, whom I also know personally, had posted a picture of her daughter Olivia with this book standing outside a nursing home where she reads to the residents. Rita has really instilled in her children the need to give back and make people's day a little brighter. I have been a recipient of many of these gifts to make people's days' brighter, when I worked as a receptionist at Olivia's daycare! When it came to this book, it also brightened my day!
UGLY by Robert Hoge is one marvelous book!! As I got to know Robert through this book, I was moved by his courage and his fortitude to live life to the fullest, despite how different his appearance is from those around him! He was able, at a young age, to go through a life changing surgery, yet understanding that the outcome would mean an easier way of living. Unbelievably brave! What was also brave to put in this book was the reaction of his mom after he was born. She told Robert later that the reason for her reaction was pride. She was worried about what people would think about the way he looked. After working things out inside herself, Robert's mom's love for him grew strong and fierce! What I really appreciated about this book is that it helps you to look outside your own comfort zone, coming to realize that you don't have to always go along with what society deems as "approved". We are individuals, made up of different feelings, reactions, desires, dreams and abilities and we are not robots. All human beings should be treated with dignity and respect!! Robert gives this magnificent advice: "
If you're different from other kids, don't worry about the jigsaw puzzle. Don't judge yourself by everyone else's seemingly beautiful picture. And don't worry if your final picture doesn't seem clear or if the edges around your story don't seem sharp. The solution is simple: Be unafraid of living. The puzzle pieces will take care of themselves"
The sentences above are just one of the many golden nuggets you can keep in your "positive thinking" memory bank when you need it!!
Robert: Thank you so much for telling your story through this book! It reinforces the adage that you can NEVER judge a book by its cover, but you can learn life changing lessons from it!
Michelle Fischer is host of A View from My Window, a podcast produced by The Arc of Indiana
Pick up Robert's book here:
www.amazon.com/Ugly-Robert-Hoge/dp/0425287777/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523929546&sr=8-1&keywords=ugly+by+robert+hoge
