The Hidden Child

3/5

Rounded up to 3.5
Not a three star nor a four but in the middle. While I liked the story well enough I felt it dragged a bit. I also feel she left out a major player in the eugenics game.

The story takes place in England, and about a little girl with epilepsy. A severe case, in fact. The story was good and had very on point research. Which baffles me why she did not mention A. G. Bell. It's sad that people can not accept others with they're disabilities, which most have no rhyme or reason. They did not cause the disability.

I liked Mabel and pulled for her through out the entire story. Edward and Eleanor where infuriating at times. Edward with his my way is the only way, belittling people and Eleanor seems to clueless. They did show some growth, finally realizing need to be different. In the end they finally mature and do what need to be done.

The ending or twist in the story, I actually liked. The one you thought was and really gonna hurt Mabel turns out to be a good guy.

How can you leave out the inventor of the telephone ?? I know it was more about Epilepsy, but this was important too. A short course on deaf history and the inventor of of the phone Mr. A. G. Bell.

A. G. Bell was very huge with the eugenics, especially towards the deaf. He is the reason we almost lost our sign language and our culture. He published a booklet and issued a warning, He believed a "deaf race" was underway. He stated deaf people were forming clubs, socializing with one another and worst of all marry deaf. He believed that deaf should not marry for fear of reproducing more deaf. Deaf should not marry deaf, that was a huge. If they did marry he thought they should be sterilized.

Bell used his influence to change deaf schools. He thought deaf should be oral and not use sign language. He knew how to sign, if needed, but wanted deaf to read lips and voice. This almost worked. Sign language was not being taught and those using it was punished. What happened, during breaks and lunches, the kids still signed to one another. Oralism was not for everyone. Irony of it all ?? His mom and wife were deaf. I will also say I am impressed with his wife who was fluent orally in several languages.