Customer Reviews:
 The Broken Cord, A MUST READ August 31, 2007
I first read this book about 15 years ago. The whole story touched me deeply and I never forgot it. It was tucked in the back of my mind all these years. This book is about a 26 year old Native American, single college professor who desires to be a family man and decides to adopt a son. He is a nuturing sort, into his roots and waiting for the "right woman" to come along. (And she eventually does come into the picture) Meanwhile, he is a good father, doing everything he can to help his son have a better start in life and he tries with all his heart and mind to aid his son with health issues and soon to be apparent behavioral issues. He really is naive and doesn't know what he is getting into. But he perseveres and devotes his life to try to figure out his sons problems and discovers he is struggling with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. There are many compelling things to this story. The fact that it is a true story, where you follow his very personal journey from adopting at age 3, to his sons 20th birthday. (This is at the beginning stages of our understanding of FAS/FASE in the U.S.) Later, you see the introduction of alcohol to the American Indians, from the beginning and how it affects Reservation Life today. From there he branches into how alcohol abuse and FAS/FASE is a world wide phenomena affecting every level of society from the poor to the rich. There is a lot of science exposing the danger of alcohol consumption on the developing fetus. This book was utterly facinating. It is complete with loads of documentation and recorded conversations that shed light on the problems that are helpful for today.
(Even though my copy was published in 1979, I think) It is written in a totally readable style.
This book has become dearer to me, as we have adopted a boy at age 4 and who is now 10. I remembered this book and reread it recently, and was blown away! It helped me realize that we too, are on a very similar journey with our youngest son. I found many comman behaviors and have become convinced as I research, that we too are living with
Fetal Alcohol Effects. Our son case is not as severe as Adam's but there are many, many similarities. I would highly recommend this book for every person to read.
If you or someone you love is dealing with these problems, you will find this book encouraging, even though sad at times. It is helpful for broadening your horizons about the needs of people in general, maybe that person you see shabbily dressed, asking for money in front of the store. It is a book that will hopefully not only educate but challenge us all to deeper levels of compassion, especially towards those less fortunate. PLEASE READ! It is a real eye-opener.
Facts, plus much more July 3, 2005
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The Broken Cord" is the heart-wrenching story of a young man, single and in graduate school, who adopts a developmentally disabled boy who, like himself, has Native American ancestry. The man learns gradually that his son suffers from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, just as the medical community is starting to figure out what Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is. As a child psychologist, I have found the information in this book invaluable. You can read research papers, journal articles, and textbooks to learn all of the facts of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (a complex set of deficits caused by in utero exposure to alcohol), but "The Broken Cord" goes well beyond that and lets you know what it's like to live with, raise, and love a child with this disorder. This book is full of love, pain, and limited triumphs. It is also very well-written. Have a box of tissues handy.
the broken cord April 27, 2004
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I highly recommend this book for people who want to know a personal experience with fetal alcohol syndrome. This book will want to make you cry. And make you very angry at mothers who risk their babies lives with their selfish use of alcohol while pregant.
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