Customer Reviews

Tiny Titan (Mom's Choice Awards Recipient)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you are going to read only one book this year, this is the book to read! Tiny Titan chronicles the journey of the Yurcek family. It goes through Becca's medical struggles with Noonan syndrome and how that changes a family. It is an inspiring look into a regular family thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Instead of getting bogged down by the overwhelming issues they face, they triumph! This book makes you laugh, cry and best of all want to be a better person!

Almost unreal perseverance by the mother of this Tiny Titan! This book should be read by every social worker and Department of Health employee in every state. The failure of the "system," whether from lack of training, lack of funds or just plain lack of caring, is often devastating to families and disabled persons. Fortunately, our family also had the help of the Yurcek's "guardian angel," seemingly the only person who knew the what, when and especially how of getting help for our adult disabled son. Too often families don't have the perseverance of Ann Yurcek and lose hope while going through the endless loops of the health system, leaving the disabled person much less than what he or she could be.

Instead of reading the most recent fiction novel to fill your spare time with unbelievable characters, plot twists and outrageous emotions, read this novel that will provide you with the same feelings with one twist, it is true. I did not know what to expect from this book, but what I was given was amazing. I have never felt more attached to a story and the people that told it. With each turn of the page, I realized how inspirational it was. The obstacles that the Yurcek family faced are obstacles I could not begin to understand, and their ability to overcome made me realize how truly strong people can be. I would recommend this book to anyone, and in fact it has already been passed through my circle of friends. If you are facing hardship or would just like to be inspired by truth and strength of spirit, Tiny Titan is a wonderful choice.

Congratulations to an amazing family with an amazing story. A thank you to the Yurcek's on a life well lived and an award well earned. Let your light shine for others who need to believe in miracles and the strength of family.

This is an inspiring, humbling book. As a fellow adoptive mother of a special needs child, I can relate to many of the emotional ups and downs that are described here. However, the immensity of the challenges taken on by this family, the anguish they go through as systems fail them, and the dedication they show to their children inspire awe and deep respect. This book is hard to put down, and also is very informative on the topics of Noonan syndrome, which the sixth biological child in the family was diagnosed with, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and Reactive Attachment Disorder, all of which are, sadly, extremely common in adopted children (my daughter also has all three, as well as an alphabet soup of additional diagnoses!). This book will be extremely meaningful to anyone touched by adoption, and fascinating and informative to others.

As an adoptive mother of 4 children myself 3 of which have an emotional and/or mental illnesses I was moved to tears, feelings of joys, able to relate to her sense of accomplishments and feelings of failure. The emotions of raising these chidren is unbeliable and Ann puts it all in words that speak to my heart and to the very core of our family and life raising these children.

Ann has done an amazing job putting all of my thoughts into her book and allowing others in my support group to understand what it is like for us in our house and in our inner cores as they open up the pages of this book and relive her life with her.

Thank you Ann Yurcek for sharing such a sensitive story with the world. A story that needed to be told as adoptive parents across the United States fights to help their FAS, RAD, ODD, ADHD, brain injured children.

I would recommand this book / have recommanded this book to any one around me that wants to be able to understand an increasing number of children in today's world.

Ann Yurcek takes the reader on an inspiring family journey. As a fellow adoptive parent, the second half of the book closely chronicles our own family's journey of adopting siblings with FASD. Many of the challenges the Yurcek's experienced are what we live daily in our home.

This book is written so that it includes both the highs and lows of living with a different sort of family. I especially enjoyed the cathartic emphasis of the journey. This book is important for families of disabled children, social services and the FASD community.

Thank you Ann for allowing us into your family.

Ann Yurcek's "Tiny Titan" is a memorable story. The constant struggles of the family, Ann, Jim and the children were nearly exhausting to read. The tenaciousness of this family overwhelms me. Having their sixth child be so desperately ill might have fractured other families. Becca just made their's stronger. Way to go Yurcek's! While I admire the dedication, blood, sweat, and tears of raising up their adoptive children, I had to wonder how they thought they could ever do it. I felt badly for them that so much potentially important information was withheld from these loving, giving parents. While I'm glad those children now have a 'forever' family with the Yurcek's, I feel they might have been better served in a black home where they had more of a familiar cultural and extended community experience. I applaud the Yurcek's, every one of them for their abilities to share, care, and work hard to get there. My only criticism I have about the book is that it seemed to be authored (especially near the end) almost entirely by a voice recognition system. I can understand that as Ann is an extremely busy person. However, a good proof-read for grammar and incorrect word usage would have made this good book a terrific book. I'm surprised it was published at all without having been given a little spit and polish.

I purchased this book by Ann Yurcek as soon as it was published. It was the BEST and most inspiring moment for myself and family. I cannot express enough how grateful I am to Ann for writing this book, for the determination, the faith, hope and belief she needed to have for her Tiny Titan and the rest of her family. For standing by her husbands side and letting him find his way -- when the world was crashing down around her. As a mom to a daughter who has been diagnosed with Noonan Syndrome I read the Tiny Titan as my 8 month old underwent Open Heart Surgery. Thank you Ann Yurcek for helping me find my inner strength at a moment when my baby needed me to be strong for her!!!

In 1989 the author's sixth child Becca was born with a rare genetic disorder, driving her parents into poverty as they struggled with medical bills and despair. Their journey for financial and health answers would lead to the adoption of five siblings separated in foster care, and a newfound battle for resources in mental health. TINY TITAN: JOURNEY OF HOPE will find many audiences and its autobiographical account of a struggle is truly inspirational.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch