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Poster Child: A Memoir

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Rapp, Emily. Poster Child: A Memoir. New York: Bloomsbury, 2007.


Poster Child takes an unflinching look at the author's congenital impairment, Proximal Focal Femoral Deficiency, an abnormality involving maldeveloment of her left femur and related complications. This required an amputation of the affected foot in order to fit a prosthesis, then a series of 10 or so revisions, many involving major surgery. The author is as focused as a laser and devoid of self-pity in recounting the surgical traumata, the pain and indignity of the procedures, and the requirement that as a young child she had to lie prone in a body cast for weeks on end.
Inevitably, this included fears of unworthiness in a society that sets a high premium on feminine pulchritude; adolescent angst concerning self-image increased by an order of magnitude due to the presence of the artificial limb.
The limb itself, a complex device, was capable of embarrassing malfunction, noisiness, the sudden eversion of the foot as well as difficulties wioth proper fit.
She dealt with her problem by being "perfect," a high achiever which included being the chirpy poster child for The March of Dimes, the student manager of the girls volleyball, basketball, and track teams in junior high, studies at St. Olaf's College, a Fulbright Scholarship, Harvard Divinitiy School, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Texas-Austin.
The language of Poster Child coupled with a profound perceptiveness and often lyrically beautiful: "...sooner or later, the pain ends up in your heart, and that's where it stays...Words spoken aloud in your own moonlit bed--crippled, deformed, unlovable--find their own darkness then come back for you (127)."
Emily Rapp's Poster Child is more than a disability memoir. It could serve as a text book case for how to write an autobiography. It is a coming of age story told with gritty frankness, but more so, a deeply human story of loss, renewal and redemption.
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Poster Child tells a delightful and deep story that touches on universal truths and yet takes the reader into a world that is uniquely Emily Rapp's. The writing is exquisite--not a word in the book that seems unnecessary or out of place. I couldn't put this book down...stayed home and read it cover to cover. When I was finished, I felt that it was one of those few books that has the power to really change how one looks at the world.

Rapp's beautiful description takes you through the crowded streets of Korea, the romantic cafes of Dublin, the dingy offices of doctor after doctor as she tries to get a leg that fits, all the way to the brutally honest mirror in her bathroom. Or is it yours? Her story is frank and engaging. Her struggle one that each one of us can identify with at some point in our lives: the struggle to be "normal."
Poster Child is one of those books that makes you question your own values and assumptions. Poster Child is one of those books that will stay with you forever.

This book will be an emotional journey for most readers, but also one of the most rewarding. I find it ironic and unsual that an average American who has gone through so much to obtain mobility, flourishes and soars like an eagle. If this story wasn't true, I wouldn't believe it possible, that's how envious I am of this Author. Feeling sorry, excuses, and following the dark just wasn't in her nature, until she found her kryptonite while living abroad for her Higher education. The book clearly shows how mental handicaps are in fact much more common and on average more devastating but can be easily hidden compared to the physical type. Two other comments, the book ends abruptly, sort of fizzles out and after you finish the book imagine if her parnets could NOT have afforded all those operations and prosthetic legs and now imagine all the families today who have similar situations, who are not lucky enough to have a proper support group, dogma's foul odor.

There were parts of this memoir which were totally compelling---especially the parts about Rapp's earlier childhood. I think her telling of how a single bully in elementary school caused such devastating hurt to her should be required reading for all elementary school teachers and principals, to remind them how important it is to prevent bullying. I also was very taken with her descriptions of the workshops where her prosthesis were made, and her kinship with the war veterans there.

However, I felt a bit lost in places. It seemed like chunks of her life were left out or glossed over, and I didn't totally understand the roots behind the breakdown she suffered in South Korea. I also didn't really see what led her to go to divinity school, and then wondered why she didn't continue with a religious life. Perhaps some of the theological parts of the book were over my head.

I imagine this book would be a very important one for other girls and women in Emily Rapp's position, and I am glad she wrote about her life.

A beautifully written account of a young woman's life. Although her leg is amputated due to a birth defect, she struggles, survives, and thrives. I was most struck by her honesty in the telling of her story and of her own and her parents' courage. Deeply moving, very worthwhile.

I read this book on a flight from Orlando to LA in one sitting and loved every minute of it! I first heard Emily on Terry Gross on NPR and as soon as I heard her talking I knew I would love her book. I was not disappointed at all. Wonderful!

Every time I look at the photo on the cover of Emily Rapp's memoir I fall in love with her sweetness all over again. I read lots of memoirs, probably because they always tell me something about myself, and this book is extra special in that regard.

I must have bought the book based to a large extent on the cover, because I have had it for some time and have glanced at it frequently on my shelves, but only recently noticed that it is called POSTER Child; I thought the title was FOSTER Child. Did I not have my glasses on? Did I buy it too quickly? Did I judge the book by it's cover? Probably yes, yes, and yes. But I'm glad I bought it and am happy to have read it.

For a child to be born with a disability such as hers, and to lose a leg so young, and then to be celebrated for that, would be confusing for any of us. Emily Rapp had the best sort of parents and medical care, but still she suffered through her teen years and early adulthood in ways most of us don't, although most girls do experience some sort of angst around issues of popularity and acceptance into "the crowd". I would hope that Emily's emotional pain has been somewhat mitigated by being able to put her experiences into words so perceptively and so beautifully. Her spiritual road was difficult and it took her a while to find her way and to accept herself, but her journey is inspirational and I am so glad I read it.

This is an incredible book and one that should be mandatory reading especially in high schools. I will never again look at a handicapped person without appreciating the difficulties they encounter every day. Emily Rapp has given such an insightful account of her life - one can only admire that she had the courage to be so honest. Thank you Emily - your book has enriched my life.

I especially appreciated the authors in depth reflexions on disability and body image, both as a child and an adult, especially for women (in her case) but for all of us.