Good Kings, Bad Kings

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Average customer rating 4.5 (2 comments)

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A wonderfully truthful look at the world of 'challenged' children in an institution set in Chicago. The chapters are written from the perspective of some of the children, some of the adults who work at the institution [one of whom is herself in a wheelchair], as well as a person who works for the company which runs the institution. Having met Susan Nussbaum many years ago when she was involved with Access Living in Chicago, I know she speaks the truth, writes from her heart, and what she depicts is a world that unfortunately exists for most children, adults, seniors who are institutionalized. Yes there is much sadness, anger and frustration, but there are glimmers of hope and joy which had made bits and pieces of each of the character's stories stay with me long after I finished this book. This is a book which I would gladly recommend to anyone who wants to learn more about life as a 'challenged' person, and to anyone who wants a good read.

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This book gives the reader insight into a world rarely visited; a world well known to the author. It is the world of the disabled. In particular, it is the world of the institutionalized where residents are young and have little to no say in their own lives. Everything is determined for them including when they rise, what they eat, when they shower, etc. They try to navigate this world with humor, friendships, and even romance but are often at the mercy of neglectful, even abusive caregivers. The author reveals the story through the eyes of several different characters, all of whom are complex and interesting. The characters are revealed to have strength, anger, frustration, and humor. Their is no self-pity here, but there are also no Pollyannas. These are real people with real emotions and real lives. This book affects the reader’s view of the ‘disabled’ and has the reader cheering when these residents take a stand. The author is unflinching in her writing. The language is coarse and some of the story, like the abuse, is very hard to read. However, this book needed to be written and it needs to be read. Social injustice like that portrayed here should never go unaddressed. What I liked most about this book was the fact that I often forgot that the characters were disabled because in their thoughts and actions they were not defined by their disabilities. Able-bodied people often neglect to see past disabilities to the person underneath. This book is an eye-opener. Quotes: “Dissatisfaction with my work makes me feel more employed” (p. 13). “Once you laugh with a person? That person is your friend. You can’t help it” (p. 34). “Not that invisibility is hard to achieve when you’re a crip. We’re minor characters in someone else’s story” (p. 104). In accordance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received a free copy of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.