On My Own

June 1, 2004
Gr 5 Up-Blinded in her twenties, Sally Hobart Alexander describes her challenges and triumphs when she seeks independence (Farrar, 1997). In addition to her unique concerns such as how to get on the right bus and fend off advances from unseen strangers, Alexander is also confronted with universal worries about meeting the right man and figuring out what career to pursue. She handles it all with determination, integrity, and a willingness to trust even in tough times. This autobiography, a sequel to Taking Hold: My Journey into Blindness (Macmillan, 1994), recounts her experiences as a teacher for the blind, a graduate student, and her work as a child therapist. Throughout the recording, she explores the ways her blindness affects relationships with new friends, dates, and coworkers. Despite increasing vision loss and problems with her hearing, Alexander is contentedly on her own when she meets her future husband. The author's emotions range from fear, to anger, to joy, and narrator Suzanne Toren expresses them all with honest feeling. Case, cassettes, and sound are all good quality. While this autobiography will be most resonant for those who live with disabilities, it will also ring true for anyone struggling with life's challenges. Though it's based on her life in the late 60's, it's well suited for teaching today's students about disabilities. A supplementary purchase for school and public libraries.-Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.