Keeping Keller

by Tracy Winegar

Keller is a force to be reckoned with! The year is 1955, and few people understand or tolerate mental handicaps. For Beverly and Warren Vance, the daily struggle to live with their handicapped son, Keller, is taking its toll. Keller is large for his age and often aggressive, prone to throwing tantrums and breaking everything in sight. Beverly and Warren have been encouraged to institutionalize him, or at least keep him out of public view. But they decided long ago that trying to teach and raise him was a better option - at least until now. When a shocking development and a disastrous incident complicate their decision, the lines between right and wrong become increasingly blurred. Yet in the end, through their own choices they come to understand that the most important thing in life is family.

Genres: Lds Fiction

218 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

About the author

Tracy Winegar enjoys cooking and gardening in her leisure time. She loves all things vintage and considers several family heirlooms to be her prized possessions. She's also always on the lookout to score pieces to add to her growing Jadeite collection.

Tracy lives with her husband Benjamin and their four beautiful children in the Treasure Valley area of Idaho. Born and raised in the Midwest, her philosophies of life, love, and family are deeply anchored in those small town Indiana roots.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, I love it, I loved it. I thought it was a wonderful book. I had it read in one sitting, I could not put it down. I was drawn into the characters and the struggles they had to go through with raising an mentally challenged child in the 50's. I thought it was very well written and thought out. Read it!!!!

[Kim Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shares the story of a couple in the 1950's who choose to keep and raise their Autistic son. This first time author pens a beautiful story that is to be shared with all.....

[Jonelle Tiffany Boulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read. I actually really enjoyed reading this book. I have a difficult child that struggles with impulsive behavior and gets into trouble ALL the time. As parents who have to constantly babysit him (even as a teen) it is extremely taxing on the family (and on my marriage). I am grateful that this author took the time to research and write about something like this. I think it's educational for other readers who may not struggle with a child like this, or who do struggle with a child like this.


Parental Guide: I think there was one use of the word "Damn". There are a couple scenes of violent outbursts from the child, (and one with the father). Good clean read.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to a very reliable avid reader suggestion, I picked the book up at the library and started it immediately. I love the book and thought through the entire story that it was actual fact not fiction, but it wasn't a true story, just a novel based on actual events. That goes to show you how well the author write and how she got down to the nitty-gritty in facts.

It is amazing how ignorent the knowledge of handicaps was back in the 1950's. I feel so blessed to be in this day in age where we have the intelligence and the knowledge to help these children out in the world.

I loved the book, it opens up the readers eyes to the world of a family raising an autistic child. The struggles of raising a child with such disabilites hasn't changed much. Read the book, it was a quick read and I loved it!

[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Muncie, Indiana during the 1950s, this novel depicts how few resources existed for parents raising a child who has a disability. The school-aged boy in the book has a diagnosis of being "retarded," but his behavior is consistent with autism. The young couple in the book work to understand how to respond to their son's atypical behavior. Most of their friends and relatives judge them harshly--behind their backs or to their face. At this time in history, many parents placed their disabled children in institutions.

The book helped me be more grateful for services that exist today and hopes that we can continue research and continue funding to help parents find appropriate education and care. It also encouraged me to be more compassionate to families working to support a family member with disability--physical, cognitive, or emotional.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was o.k. It was interesting to think that people put their kids in institutions for almost any disability from mental retardation, autism and even polio back in the 1950's. However, I thought this book really lacked with the husband - wife relationship and working through this difficulty together. The husband was quite oblivious and even after Keller is quite violent - they never discuss options for help his wife. It ends abruptly with Keller's parents picking him up after spending three days in an institution. This clearly is the wrong place for him to be, but they bring him home and there is absolutely no solutions. You get the impression that the husband is just going back to work the next day and life goes on. This book definitely needed a better editor.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned that through love, humor an d understanding, you can be a good parent to a special needs child, esp an autistic child who has no comprehension of right or wrong. Keller was a bright beacon of joy. Since I have good friends with 3 grandchildren with autism, I have a lot of empathy for Jeff, our former b ishop's second oldest son. This is m y 2nd novel about autism and I loved both books. I love boks like this that tug at the heartstrings.
Bravo Keller!!!

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having grown up in the fifties, I could feel a sense of nostalgia for the time...Of course I was unaware of the need for special education for these special children, and the shameful way they and their families were often treated. I felt the book was fairly well written, sometimes the language seemed stilted, but again, probably realistic for the time. How wonderful that autism is so much better understood and treated today!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book is by a small publisher and probably received very little editorial help, I was very impressed with the story. The author had a great voice, and while at times I was disliking the main character, I found myself admiring her at the end. There was quite a bit of head-hopping, but since it was consistent (for better or for worse) I didn't let it bother me.

The insights of the 1950's general reaction to a child with mental handicaps was wonderful and thought-provoking.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is well written, and I couldn't put it down. I played sick so that I could stay in bed and read it all day. I have spoken to several people dealing with autism in their families, and this book really touched them. It is like a support group that you can pick up and read. I think this book will make a difference in how we view and respond to those living with this every day. I hope it will make others develop more tolerance; it opened my eyes.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting novel. This book is based in the fifties, and their child suffers from autism, although because of the time period they are at, it doesn't go diagnosed. The story looks at how those with special needs were looked at, and how their families were shunned. The book reminds us that we have come a long way, but we could do a lot better.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book - beautifully written about a difficult subject - set in the 1950's, it's about a young couple's struggle with their mentally challenged son. Tracy Winegar did an amazing job, she captured everyone's challenges and emotions. I would definately recommend this!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very poignant and touching. I can identify with many of the emotions and situations in this book from personal experience. I would only recommend more humor in the story although I do know by experience that at the time a lot of the situations are not funny while happening.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and it was awesome that I was able to have her come to our bookclub for this book. Her story is definitly based on real life trials and I am happy to know her even more from this book. I would recommend it to all

[Tracysheffield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this was one down. It was such a touching portrayal of families dealing with childhood disabilities, in particular autism. Loved it!

[MaKayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and was very impressed that Tracy wrote it! I learned a lot from it and have even more admiration for the parents of special needs children.

[Gregg Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story about 1950's society, misunderstood handicaps, and a mother's determination of love unconditionally. I loved this story.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is written my my cousin's wife and it is a very touching story about a woman raising a little boy with autism in the 1950's.

[Stephanie Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book to read and it gave a very insightful look into raising a child with mental retardation in the 50's. This book dealt with the stresses on marriage, friendship, and family life.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good insight into raising an autistic child in the 1950's

[Karrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book about a difficult subject. It is amazing how much society has changed over the last 50 years. It is a quick, easy read.

[Stephanie Humphreys · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really opened my eyes to what it might have been like to live with a handicapped child when there wasn't the kind of social support there is now. I quite enjoyed the story.

[Chalese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Touching book. Would be a hard situation.