Juniper: The Girl Who Was Born Too Soon (Thorndike Press Large Print Popular and Narrative Nonfiction Series) - Hardcover

French, Kelley; French, Thomas

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1410493083 ISBN 13: 9781410493088

Publisher: Thorndike Press Large Print, 2016

Synopsis

Juniper French was born four months early, at 23 weeks gestation, weighing 1 pound, 4 ounces. Her parents chose to fight for Juniper's life, and this is their incredible tale. In an extraordinary and gorgeously told memoir, Kelley and Thomas French, both award winning journalists, explore the border between what is possible and what is right.

About this title

Review:

An Amazon Best Book of September 2016: I admit, I wept twice upon reading this memoir: once at the very beginning (yes, on page three) and once at the end. I challenge you not to grow teary-eyed over this true story of a couple who gave birth to a micro-preemie—a child born at twenty-three weeks with a body so fragile that on the day of her birth, the nurse has to caution the dad not to rub Juniper’s skin or her skin might fall off. But while Juniper’s skin might be delicate, when she’s given the opportunity, she tightly grips her father’s pinkie with her tiny hand. Alternating chapters told from the mother’s and father’s views (both Kelley and Tom French are journalists, and it shows in the clear, evocative writing) display the constant battle between Juniper’s will to live and her frail body’s determination to give up. But against very long odds—her doctor tells Kelley that there’s an 80 percent chance Juniper will die or be significantly disabled—Juniper prevails and even thrives. One of the NICU nurses advises the parents, “There’s a book out called Raising the Strong-Willed Child. You might want to pick one up.” After six months in the NICU while her father reads aloud almost all seven books of the Harry Potter series, Juniper finally comes home. This story of resilience and love will curl around your heart, reminding you that even the darkest moments can lead to light. And to some happy tears. —Adrian Liang, The Amazon Book Review

About the Author:

Kelley Benham French is a Professor of Practice in journalism at Indiana University. A former reporter and editor for the Tampa Bay Times, she was a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for "Never Let Go," a series about Juniper's survival.

Thomas French is a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and the Riley Endowed Chair in Journalism at Indiana University. He is the author of Unanswered Cries, South of Heaven, and the New York Times bestseller Zoo Story.

About this edition

• Publisher: Thorndike Press Large Print
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1410493083
• ISBN 13: 9781410493088
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 543