Bound To Stay Bound

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School Library Journal - 07/01/2016 Gr 3–6—This memoir, set in Australia, is a heartbreaking account of being born and living with severe physical deformities. As a child, Hoge was in general healthy, but his mother initially did not want to keep him because of his appearance—he was born with mangled legs and a large tumor in the middle of his face. Doctors predicted that surgery might kill him. Nevertheless, they proceeded with several operations to "fix" Hoge in the hopes they would help improve his life. As the years passed, Hoge experienced many ups and downs; he was able to make some loyal friends but was also teased by other children. Readers follow as he tries playing sports, attends summer camp, unsuccessfully auditions for a junior choir, and performs in a talent show. In the midst of all these efforts at having a more traditional childhood, Hoge underwent multiple surgeries to "improve" his face, as he understandably wished to belong. And despite wanting to look more "normal," Hoge later made a conscious decision not to have any more operations. The text is enormously accessible; Hoge draws readers in with creative language and analogies to help clarify and set the tone of his complex story. For instance, the book begins with the direction "Imagine you're in art class," with Hoge going on to detail the process of sculpting a face as a way to describe his own appearance. Pencil illustrations sprinkled throughout help set the scene for readers. VERDICT This empowering story will reach even the hardest of hearts. Recommended for its message of tolerance and acceptance.—Jess Gafkowitz, New York Public Library - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2016 In this memoir of his Australian youth, Hoge describes a childhood of being ugly: “Mine wasn’t any sort of cheap, home-brand ugly-it was an A-grade, top-of-the-range ugly.” That’s because he was born with severe facial disfigurement (eyes on the sides of his head and a “squashed” nose) and deformations of both his legs that eventually required amputation. After his family’s initial shock, they became his fierce defenders and encouragers, supporting him through a childhood of multiple surgeries, uncomfortable prosthetics, and longing to be a part of team sports. All this is seasoned with breezy Australian bluntness, a sunny contrast to the angsty tone of many disability narratives. Hoge writes with honesty about pain and distress (Hoge’s mother originally refused to see the baby) but plenty of comedy, too (since his prostheses didn’t bend at the knee, when wandering young Robert got stuck in deep mud he couldn’t pull himself out again), and the episodic narrative is eminently readable as it zips from Robert’s surgical recovery to his mischief-making to his discovery of the sport of lawn bowls. The story of a normally adventurous kid getting into scrapes with his friends combines naturally with details about his experience, and readers won’t have to share Robert’s physical challenges to appreciate the clever yet poignant encyclopedia of the top ten taunts he received (complete with ratings for originality, hurt factor, and laugh factor). This is an obvious complement to Palacio’s Wonder (BCCB 3/12), and it will be a gripping readaloud, readalone, and discussion point all on its own, too. Occasional black and white illustrations are included, as is a contemporary photo of Hoge; internet searches will quickly find his TED talk about appearance. DS - Copyright 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 07/01/2016 From the first sentence (“I’m the ugliest person you’ve never met”), this memoir is guaranteed to grab attention. Native Australian Hoge, now 44, writes of his struggles and triumphs after being born with misshapen legs and a tennis-ball-sized tumor on his face. Though surgery shortly after his birth removed the tumor, he still had abnormally wide-set eyes and no nose at all, only nostrils. Before Hoge was five, he’d had both legs amputated and endured life-threatening surgery to make his face “more acceptable for others to see.” His most-hated nickname in middle school was “toe nose”—cartilage from his amputated right foot was used to build a new nose. Despite all this, his family’s unconditional support helped him cope with the surgeries, stares, and teasing he endured, and he reflects humorously on his attempts to ride a bike or woo his dream girl in fourth grade. In this honest, painful, and often funny memoir, readers will identify with Hoge’s realization that everyone is different, and his are just “different differences.” - Copyright 2016 Booklist.

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