Twink

by John Neufeld

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Author of Lisa, Bright and Dark & Edgar Allan
An unforgettable, deeply felt novel of a courageous handicapped girl and the world of love she created... "Beautiful!" - Des Moines Register
Twink (formerly Touching)

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Twink
A tender, haunting novel about a brave and wonderful girl who taught others the meaning of begin human and the joy of being alive

Doctors told Twink's mother how hopeless her daughter's case was. Her family had been warned of the awesome responsibility they were all accepting. Her "preppie" step-brother Harry felt sick the first time he saw her.

But how could any of them give up on Twink or stop loving her - when she refused to give up [on] either them or herself...?

"John Neufeld's ability as an author seems to grow with each novel. This would seem almost impossible since from the first his books have been excellent." - Cleveland Press

"A novel so moving that the reader abandons all pretense of composure... brilliant!" - English Journal

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

127 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1971

About the author

"I always wanted to be a writer. I started writing early, and badly, sending off short stories to national magazines when I was ten or eleven. They were all returned.

"But I kept at it. All through high school and college. Everything I sent out came back. Thanks but no thanks.

"I moved to New York and worked in a publishing house. I kept writing. In fact, I was fired from my first job for spending more time on my own projects than on the publishing house's.

"I wrote on.

"In 1968, an editor from a small California publishing house and I had lunch. She gave me an outline for a story she thought I could write well. I knew immediately I had to try.

"But what I wanted to do was write a short book, full of emotion and detail and excitement, for readers of all ages. I didn't know that Edgar Allan would be regarded as a children's book.

"It was.

"And when it was, everything fell into place. The minute Edgar Allan was launched successfully, I sat down to write Lisa, Bright and Dark. It, too, was a success so there was no turning back. Although I do write books for adults, the ideas that stimulate me always seem to come to me in the form of a story for young readers. I get ideas from everywhere: from the newspapers, from radio, from lunches and talks I have with friends.

"Right now, if I never get another idea, I have more story lines to work on than my lifetime probably permits."

Both Edgar Allan and Lisa, Bright and Dark, were selected as among the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times. Lisa, Bright and Dark was filmed for television, and aired as a Hallmark Hall of Fame on NBC-TV. Mr. Neufeld's other books have as recently as spring 2000 been cited as among the best of last year's Young Adult titles by the New York Public Library and YASLA.

(From: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/au...)

Reviews

[Lydia E Winters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad. Written more than fifty years ago (1970) there was plenty to make you feel uncomfortable, although the parents likely did the best they could at the time. Truly heartbreaking how little was known about CP at the time.

The hospital had a "tobacco shop". This shouldn't have surprised me, but somehow it did.

All in all, very dated, but not a bad book.

[Perfumegirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, small, easy to read

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book off of Mrs.Freemans shelfs and it really helps your understanding of cerebal palsy.

[Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

honestly, a very good insight into the impact of cerebral palsy, procedures and lifestyle during this time of the 50s-60s. it was very respectful and insightful, i enjoyed the short read quite a bit.

[Honey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twink was a great short read . My partner gifted it to me, blindly, based off the name. Turned out to be such a beautiful escape.