Boy in the moon blog

Independent reading blog

Sam Caldarone

When Ian Brown first visits the L’arche community in Montreal, he immediately realizes what a beneficial and special place it was. He was a little daunted by the severity of some of the disabilities when he first arrived (‘I had no idea where we were going, what to expect and what was expected of me’ p. 190.) But those feelings of intimidation soon disappeared, and he realized what a wonderful place L’arche is. It is at these communities that he realizes how beautiful and fulfilling having a disabled child is (‘the purpose of intellectually disabled people like Walker might be to free us from the stark emptiness of the survival of the fittest’ p. 234). This shows just how valuable Walker is to Ian, even if Ian sometimes forgets that lesson.

Reading The Boy in the Moon has taught me about the hardships of having a disabled relative, and the daily battles you must endure. The severity of Walker’s condition is beyond belief; it is a task I hope I never have to withstand. Seeing the tribulations Ian Brown has to go through to keep his son alive and healthy is astounding, and it has given me some perspective on life. On top of the realization of the difficulties of raising a disabled child, I’ve also realized how ignorant our society is towards families like the Brown’s. Walker’s story has also taught me that disabilities are nothing to make fun of and that using offensive terms are never okay, regardless of the circumstance. Society needs to donate to communities like L’arche, and to the doctors who are working on ways to prevent CFC.

QUESTIONS:

1. If you could have one conversation with Walker, what would you want to talk about?

2. Has there been a major increase in researching CFC since the release of this book?

3. What is your favorite trait of Walker’s?