Customer Reviews

Grief Dancers: A Journey Into the Depths of the Soul

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"I have spent most of the day reading Grief Dancers, and am awed by its honesty and beauty. It's a wonderful book, and I wish it could be required reading." Madeleine L'Engle, Newbery Award winning author. "Susan Zimmermann portrays, with honesty, passion and wisdom, a chapter of her life that is both deeply terrifying and wholly inspiring. It is a story of loss and gain, pain and joy, and -- above all -- profound truth. It is a story with the power to change your life." T.A. Barron, author of Heartlight, The Ancient One, and The Merlin Effect. "Susan Zimmermann has written a book about her daughter, but also a book about each of us -- the fragile, damaged, but insistently precious part deep inside, that refuses to be cast off. To read these pages is to be reminded of the value of life itself. I have rarely been so moved." Swanee Hunt, former U.S. Ambassador to Austria.

This book touched me deeply because I can relate so closely to how Susan was feeling while raising a daughter with Rett syndrome. Her book takes you not only through her daughter's struggles and challenges but it alsotouches your heart as you begin to see how Susan grows with her own realization of how wonderful life can be with a child with special needs.

Susan Zimmermann's story about Katharine is NOT for readers with special needs kids only! It is for all people who have an interest in raising children who will appreciate the different gifts that "different"people have to offer. It is about cultivating in our children an appreciation for, rather than disdain or despair for, people who are "disabled". This is a quick read,very compelling true story that deserves widespread attention! I look forward to Susan's next work!!!!!

This is a beautifully written, yet brutally honest story of raising a daughter with Rett Syndrome. Susan captures so many different aspects of the experience that I often found myself nodding in agreement. I strongly recommend it to other parents, and to those who wonder what it's really like

This is a wonderful story, a tribute to the human spirit. It's a tribute to Zimmermann's determination, too. I read in Zimmermann's later book that Grief Dancers was turned down by 30 publishers. Then she published it herself. There is much to learn from this story. Just one tidbit to whet your appetite: Zimmermann is concerned as to the effect of the disabled child on the other children. Her young daughter says: "Don't you get it, Mom? She keeps us from just living on the surface." (Despite my name, I am not the author or any of her relatives!)

I just re-read this book. It is one of the most valuable books for parents, teachers and those who deal with crisis in their life-- which probably means all of us. The author writes poetically of one of the greatest challenges anyone can have --coming to terms with what life gives you. A lawyer, lecturer, teacher and parent, Zimmerman's book goes well beyond talking about the challenges of raising a handicapped daughter and its impact on her family, friends and others. She bares her soul to reveal how you can create a valuable life day by day. Her vitality, her wisdom and her sensitivity are a gift to the world. She writes cinematically and this deserves to be shared with the world. I had the good fortune to meet Zimmerman and she touches everyone she meets with her kindness and warmth. How to go on in the darkest of hours, how to live life to the fullest despite obstacles, hurdles and no guarantees.