Confuse the Wind

by Rachel Stolzman Gullo

★★★★★ “A deeply humane story that lingers long after the last page is turned.” Gayle Forman, New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay

As a skyscraper engineer, Jonathan Brooks, has always believed that a skyscraper is either made correctly or incorrectly, and all problems have solutions. He has yet to learn that people are made differently.

When his son Theo fell ill with encephalitis at fourteen months old, he and his wife Carly were devastated to learn that Theo’s setbacks would be long-lasting, possibly permanent. Theo is now seven years old and not yet walking or fully verbal, and Jonathan and Carly are living apart. The broken family’s world is upturned by the arrival of Aimee, a complicated young Irish woman who begins working as Theo's nanny in ways Jonathan does not trust. But as Aimee brings about new advancements for Theo their bond grows, until Aimee’s own personal crisis rocks the family and shows them all a new way forward.

Confuse the Wind is a book about our human interdependence and how we desperately need one another to survive and hopefully thrive.

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 2024

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a moving and thought provoking book. Reflecting on self-growth, brokenness, identity, and parenthood, Confuse the Wind challenges readers to consider what it means for life to take an unexpected turn. The book takes readers on an emotional journey as a father comes to terms with his broken marriage and how to parent a recently disabled child. Eliciting empathy for the struggles of not only Jonathan, but also Theo, Carly and Aimee, the author did a wonderful job of humanizing everyone involved. Despite the third person perspective, I felt like I could truly connect to each character as an individual. I appreciated that the author did not leave Theo out of that aspect as well. I have read books that have failed to give a voice to their disabled characters and I was grateful that this was not one of them! This is a book I would definitely recommend to my friends.

My rating system is as follows for reference:
1 star: would have DNF’d
2 stars: not for me but some redeeming qualities
3 stars: an average book that I would recommend to the right person
4 stars: a good book that I would recommend to most people, overall very enjoyable
5 stars: top tier, recommend to everyone, might even re-read at some point

**Disclaimer: I received an advanced review copy of this book for free and this review reflects my honest opinion.

[Catherine Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Stolzman Gullo’s "Confuse the Wind" is a thought-provoking, emotionally charged, and beautifully crafted story that delves into the profound complexities of a family dealing with the far-reaching consequences of encephalitis, a devastating illness that has affected a couple’s young son. As a parent of a child with a disability, I found myself moved by the author's authentic portrayal of the challenges and triumphs that define such a journey. In a world where literature often shies away from the complexities of real-life challenges, "Confuse the Wind" is a work of art that dares to illuminate the shadows, bringing to light the struggles and resilience of families who navigate the uncharted waters of disability.

[Randi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confuse the Wind is a wonderful and thought-provoking read. The sense of intimacy grows with each turn of the page, driven by the authenticity and depth of the four main characters—Jonathan, Carly, Aimee, and Theo. I felt their struggles as if they were my own. I found myself rooting for each of them as they faced some huge life challenges. Along the way, there are valuable lessons to be learned. I highly recommend Confuse the Wind.

[Colin Broderick]

“Confuse the Wind is a heart-wrenching, deftly told, story, that reminds us that sometimes you have to break a thing before you fully understand how it works. Rachel Stolzman hands us the broken pieces of a family, and the glue to put it back it back together again, shard by jagged shard. Bring your hankies. You're going to need them." Colin Broderick, author, Church End.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read in great gulps, wanting to see just how Jonathan and Carly and Theo and Aimee would withstand the gusty headwinds brought by Theo’s devastating childhood encephalitis and its aftermath. Gullo has written a love song to love itself, as sturdy and astounding a thing, it turns out, as a well-designed skyscraper, built to confuse the wind.

[Sudi Karatas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written moving story

I've never read a story quite like this one and was drawn in from the beginning. The characters are all interesting. I'm blown away by the author's imagination and how she tackles some complicated topics, including parenting, a special needs child, and forgiveness. I'm very busy and don't have a lot of time to read these days, but I found myself turning on Kindle every spare moment I had to finish it.

[Danielle Lacampagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend gave me this book as a gift and I loved it. The author brings relationships and the complexities that lie between us to life. Whether you have been witnessed or experienced caring for a child with special needs or not- this book will grab you. To me it is about love, regret and patience and persistence within all of us.

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person with complex disabilities (Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus and visual impairments), I know that living with disabilities is a real challenge that those without them don't always understand.

I knew about encephalitis but I am always willing to learn more bout different medical conditions.

Confuse the Wind is told in an open way that really let me in on the family's life, struggles, hopes and fears. It's very honest and is a beautiful memoir I am happy to have found.

Rachel Stolzman Gullo has a great writing style that is informative and gripping. I liked Confuse the Wind so much that I'd love to review more books by her.

5 stars, but it deserves more.