Blind

Gr 7 Up—When Emma Sasha Silver was struck blind, it was devastating. It changed her life and the lives of her family members forever. As Emma slowly accepted her fate, her family's life suddenly revolved around her, as all pitched in to accommodate her needs. After a semester at a school for the blind, Emma returns to her local high school with much help from her best friend, Logan. Emma struggles with believing her own life is hopeless, until she considers what drove her classmate Claire to suicide. While she struggles with new attitudes and relationships, Emma gains strength and an outward focus. Annalie Gernert skillfully handles Emma's first-person narration, as well as develops distinctive voices for other key characters. In spite of the abundance of profanity, this story would be inspiring to all students, especially victims of life-changing accidents.—Ann Weber, Bellarmine College Preparatory, San Jose, CA.