Down the Memory Hole [Kindle Edition]

Bonnie Turner (Author)

Book Description

His summer vacation is ruined when twelve-year-old Buzz Collins is forced to share his room and emotional space with his grandfather, who has Alzheimer's disease, and his parents forbid him to associate with his best friend, Mitch. The thought of giving up his friendship is heartbreaking enough. But how can he relate to someone who forgets his grandson's name, wears adult diapers, and thinks dog biscuits are people cookies someone who could die in the night and scare Buzz right out of puberty.

Buzz thinks Alzheimer's is caused by a traumatic event, such as the train accident that killed Grandpa's brother Barkley. When Grandpa's mind wanders and he mistakes Buzz for Barkley, Buzz assumes the role of his great uncle, and in the process he develops compassion and appreciation for his grandfather.

The situation turns deadly when Buzz and Mitch - whose friendship Buzz refuses to end - attempt to cure Grandpa of Alzheimer's disease by recreating the train accident on a hot summer day. (Ages 9-12+)

Readers who enjoyed the movie "Stand By Me" will enjoy this coming-of-age novel.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a story beautifully told and without false sentimentality which would ruin it. Excellent! -- Ian Ruxton, Kitakyushu, Japan; English instructor, co-author & translator of Japanese Students at Cambridge University in the Meiji Era, 1868-1912: Pioneers for the Modernization of Japan; Lulu Press, 2/4/05

Using believable characters, the author leads us through a variety of emotions and insights about the human condition. -- Matthew Blevins; poet, author of Celebrations of Being; Lulu Press, 2/16/05

About the Author

Appreciating the written word from childhood, Bonnie Turner began her career while in high school, writing poetry that helped bridge and soothe her confusing teens years. With no formal writing lessons, teaching herself to think on paper has been a long but satisfying struggle for this author.

From Turner's early interest in huskies, dogsleds, and the Inuit culture came her first book for children, The Haunted Igloo (Houghton Mifflin, 1991). After the book was published, she visited classrooms with a life-size Inuit doll, lecturing students on the importance of reading and writing, and passing out 'polar bear' hugs along with her autograph.

Born and raised in Independence, Missouri, Bonnie Turner was transplanted to Wisconsin in 1984, where she continues work on two other novels.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 314 KB
• Print Length: 148 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1411623169
• Publisher: Aurorawolf Books (Bonnie Turner); 1 edition (July 23, 2009)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002IYFFHY
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,692 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #52 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Parenting & Relationships > Aging Parents > Eldercare

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Who says grandpa sitting is easy? July 13, 2006

By John Albrecht Jr.

Twelve year old Buzz Collins thought so, but he was wrong.

Everything started when Buzz's grandpa, Baxter Collins moved in. Grandpa Collins, recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease was going to be sharing a room with Buzz for the summer. Buzz really didn't like the idea of this at first. He found grandpa quite annoying. Grandpa seemed to go off into his own little world at times, or as Buzz would say, "Driving away in the Alzheimer". Every night, grandpa would count aimlessly until he fell asleep "4...7...2...". Buzz wanted to cure his grandpa's Alzheimer's... he had an idea.

I read this book in one sitting. It seemed as if the pages were turning themselves.

-John Albrecht Jr.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Down The Memory Hole April 27, 2005

A Kid's Review

This was a wonderful book, I really enjoyed it, I read the first 70 pages all at once!! I didn't want to stop reading. This story was both sad and funny. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a truly wonderful tale of life and families and the changes they sometimes have to go through.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the most heart-warming book I have read April 21, 2005

By Sherry Chaudoir

This one is a tear-jerker, as I found myself emotionally engrossed, staying up all night long to read the book in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down.

This book realistically exemplifies what happens to many people as they age, and the life and love and letting go that families go through together.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good heart-warming family story.

More About the Author

Bonnie Turner -- one of the few remaining members of the Greatest Generation -- was born on Halloween in Independence, Missouri, at the height of the Great Depression.

Currently residing in Wisconsin, she is a mother, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother. Her interests are many and varied, including astronomy, geography, history, yoga, philosophy, psychology, metaphysics and parapsychology. She's a self-educated jack-of-all-trades, a Mensa *almost*, a classical music and jazz fusion aficionado.

Turner's favorite authors include: Mark Twain, James A. Michener, poets Robert Service and Edgar A. Guest. Some favorite books: Giants in the Earth (O.E. Rolvaag), Steamboat Gothic (Frances Parkinson Keyes), Chesapeake (Michener), the epic poem, The Odyssey of Homer, and Harvest Home (Thomas Tryon). Favorite genres: historical fiction, young-adult fiction, literary fiction, humor, Americana, mainstream, commercial -- almost anything except violent, gory tales.

Turner learned to read in first grade from the famed "Dick and Jane" readers. Many years later, her first novel for children (The Haunted Igloo) was published by Houghton Mifflin in 1991. After that book was published, she visited grade schools with a life-sized, handmade Inuit doll, encouraging students to keep reading and writing -- and offering polar bear hugs along with her autograph.

Among her favorite fan letters are these gems: "Mrs. Turner, I'll give you a million dollars for this book!"; "Dear Mrs. Turner, Thank you for getting me out of sixth hour!!!"; "Dear Mrs. Turner, Thank you from all the lead in my pencil!"

What great kids, those middle-grade students!

Please check out the author's other titles:

*Spirit Lights, sequel to The Haunted Igloo (children's fiction)

*Down the Memory Hole (children's fiction)

*Footprints in Time: A Walk in Sacajawea's Moccasins (children's nonfiction; biography)

*Face the Winter Naked, adult historical fiction set in the Great Depression,

Face the Winter Naked Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zce8e6jV8R4

*Drum Dance, a young-adult novel set in the Arctic (historical fiction)

All books are available at Amazon.com in e-book and soft-cover formats.

Current writing projects:

* SUPER MENTAL MAGIC, nonfiction.
* THE GHOST OF CALICO ACRES, set in southwestern Wisconsin.
* JAZZBABY: historical novel set in the flapper era--on the horizon and perhaps a long way over the rainbow.

Please visit Bonnie Turner's web page: http://my.athenet.net/~aurorawolf