Review
What you don't know won't hurt you is a lie. A big lie. Knowledge is still power, and the power found in these pages is undeniable. When Jodee Kulp began to explain to the insidiousness of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome I did not get it. I could not sympathize. It was too much like an out of control virus that was taking over the world. But when I began reading the life stories of the characters in this book I became educated vicariously, even without knowing it. The strength of story could not be better illustrated than within these pages. Full, rich, deep personalities walk through your imagination as close as your own family as this epic-like volume clings to your heart. You will want to pick up the phone and call each one to say, "I'm right here, and I understand, or watch out." The identity of these characters becomes so personal you just know you are reading their memoirs. Fiction, as C.S. Lewis would say, adds to reality, not just describes it. It enriches daily life and irrigates the deserts of our lives. I found "Whitest Wall" so compelling I wanted to jump to the end, but so glad I didn't. Life is complex and lives are intertwined to a greater degree than we think. We tend to be myopic, critical, judgmental, and basically self-absorbed, or is that just me? Jodee Kulp is so adept at casting the players in Whitest Wall and so passionate a story teller you will look at your neighbor through different eyes than ever before. I believe there are many books in the book, I trust at least there are many more books coming from Jodee. --Mac McConnell
The Whitest Wall by Jodee Kulp is a recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction and Adult Ficition. The Mom's Choice Awards honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of the Mom's Choice Awards. Parents and educators look for the Mom s Choice Awards seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book/product has been honored by this distinguished award. --Mom's Choice Awards
About the Author
Jodee Kulp is an international award winning speaker and advocate for families and persons with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. She has presented in United States, Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Germany. Ms Kulp is the author or co-author of o Journey To Life (Hazelden 1986), o Families at Risk a guide to understanding and protecting children and care providers in out-of-home or adoptive care (Better Endings, 1993, 1994), o The Best I Can Be Living with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Effects (co-author with Liz Kulp, Better Endings, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 Revised for 7th printing), o Our FAScinating Journey, Keys to Brain Potential Along the Path of Prenatal Brain Injury, (Better Endings, 2002, 2004 Revised) o The Long Way To Simple 50 years of ideas to live, love and laugh as a person with FASD (Co-author with Stephen Neafcy, Better Endings, 2008) She has helped many families find strategies to successfully parent young people with this often hidden disability. She served on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Organization of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders for ten years. She is currently working on two interdependence pilot projects Liberty Ridge New Communities for Living and Knarlwoods ¬ a Companion/Service Dog Pilot for adults with FASD. She currently lives in Minnesota with her husband and a camaraderie of canines, felines and avians.
