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Down the Memory Hole
HIS SUMMER VACATION IS RUINED when twelve-year-old Buzz Collins is forced to share his room and emotional space with his grandfather, who has Alzheimer's disease, and his parents forbid him to associate with his best friend, Mitch. The thought of giving up his friendship is heartbreaking enough. But how can he relate to someone who forgets his grandson's name, wears adult diapers, and thinks dog biscuits are people cookies, someone who could die in the night and scare Buzz right out of puberty?
Buzz thinks Alzheimer's is caused by a traumatic event, such as the train accident that killed Grandpa's brother Barkley in childhood. When Grandpa's mind wanders and he mistakes Buzz for Barkley, Buzz assumes the role of his great uncle, and in the process develops compassion and appreciation for his grandfather.
The Collins' family copes with Grandpa the best they can. But the situation turns deadly when Buzz and Mitch - whose friendship Buzz refuses to end - attempt to cure Grandpa of Alzheimer's disease by recreating the train accident on a hot summer day.
Despite the sad subject matter, Down the Memory Hole is a laugh-out-loud, coming-of-age story about Alzheimer's Disease as viewed through the mind of a frustrated 12-year-old who dearly loves his grandfather but wishes they weren't roommates. (Young Adult)
Buzz thinks Alzheimer's is caused by a traumatic event, such as the train accident that killed Grandpa's brother Barkley in childhood. When Grandpa's mind wanders and he mistakes Buzz for Barkley, Buzz assumes the role of his great uncle, and in the process develops compassion and appreciation for his grandfather.
The Collins' family copes with Grandpa the best they can. But the situation turns deadly when Buzz and Mitch - whose friendship Buzz refuses to end - attempt to cure Grandpa of Alzheimer's disease by recreating the train accident on a hot summer day.
Despite the sad subject matter, Down the Memory Hole is a laugh-out-loud, coming-of-age story about Alzheimer's Disease as viewed through the mind of a frustrated 12-year-old who dearly loves his grandfather but wishes they weren't roommates. (Young Adult)
- GenresYoung AdultFictionEbooks
169 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2005
21 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 22, 2018
I knew this book was going to be hard, particularly being just months out of losing my beloved father to ALS after having cared for him since his decline.
I bought this book because Bonnie Turner’s Face the Winter Naked was amazing. Of all the books I have read, mainstream and otherwise, that is still on my top 20 favorite books.
I’ve never been a 12-year old boy, so I may be wrong about this, but when a kid says that someone is their “favorite grandpa,” I would think that he would be more excited about having said grandpa come to live with him. Again, I’ve never been a 12-year old boy with a geriatric coming to live in my room, Depends and all. In addition, I feel like this would not come out of a 12-year old’s mouth: “How long will he be here, Dad? I don’t know what to expect. What am I going to do?”
The way the book started, it felt like the author was feeling her way around writing. Regardless, I was hooked when I read this: “I think somewhere in the back of his mind, Grandpa still saw the freight train crushing the life out of his little brother. Somewhere in his mind, he was screaming his brains out. I wondered if Alzheimer’s disease could be a mind running from a bad memory. If so, no wonder they couldn’t cure it.” Boom. I was already crying on page 5.
This book is an excellent reminder that a 12-year old boy’s mind is a scary and unknown thing.
However, the book was incredibly short, and I felt cheated. I thought it was 111 pages, but it was actually 70 and the remaining pages were excerpts from Bonnie Turner’s other books. It felt like the story had just started, and then it ended. If it had been longer, I could see it being a five-star book. But the ending was fast and abrupt after a scary climax. It should not be sold as a book, but rather a very short story. I was disappointed.
I bought this book because Bonnie Turner’s Face the Winter Naked was amazing. Of all the books I have read, mainstream and otherwise, that is still on my top 20 favorite books.
I’ve never been a 12-year old boy, so I may be wrong about this, but when a kid says that someone is their “favorite grandpa,” I would think that he would be more excited about having said grandpa come to live with him. Again, I’ve never been a 12-year old boy with a geriatric coming to live in my room, Depends and all. In addition, I feel like this would not come out of a 12-year old’s mouth: “How long will he be here, Dad? I don’t know what to expect. What am I going to do?”
The way the book started, it felt like the author was feeling her way around writing. Regardless, I was hooked when I read this: “I think somewhere in the back of his mind, Grandpa still saw the freight train crushing the life out of his little brother. Somewhere in his mind, he was screaming his brains out. I wondered if Alzheimer’s disease could be a mind running from a bad memory. If so, no wonder they couldn’t cure it.” Boom. I was already crying on page 5.
This book is an excellent reminder that a 12-year old boy’s mind is a scary and unknown thing.
However, the book was incredibly short, and I felt cheated. I thought it was 111 pages, but it was actually 70 and the remaining pages were excerpts from Bonnie Turner’s other books. It felt like the story had just started, and then it ended. If it had been longer, I could see it being a five-star book. But the ending was fast and abrupt after a scary climax. It should not be sold as a book, but rather a very short story. I was disappointed.
July 28, 2012
When my grandmother begin to do weird things, the family thought she was being deliberately difficult. She argued with the neighbor over a parking spot, when cleaning her house we found money squirreled around the house, and one Thanksgiving she put a damp towel in the oven to catch the turkey drippings.
Trying to explain this to the kids was difficult. There were some books about Alzheimer's disease, but nothing that captured the emotion that Bonnie Turner does in the book Down the Memory Hole.
When his grandfather can no longer care for himself, Buzz finds himself saddled with his grandfather as his new roommate. Buzz resists at first because when his grandfather slips into the "Alzheimer Car", he confuses Buzz for his dead brother Barkley. Buzz decides to use this to see if he can help his grandfather get better.
The book accurately shows the frustration caretakers have when dealing with a person who is slipping away before your eyes. The grandfather rebels by throwing his teeth away and refusing to wear a diaper. Reading this book was like spending a day with my own grandmother.
This short story is a great way to introduce middle school readers to this complex disease.
Trying to explain this to the kids was difficult. There were some books about Alzheimer's disease, but nothing that captured the emotion that Bonnie Turner does in the book Down the Memory Hole.
When his grandfather can no longer care for himself, Buzz finds himself saddled with his grandfather as his new roommate. Buzz resists at first because when his grandfather slips into the "Alzheimer Car", he confuses Buzz for his dead brother Barkley. Buzz decides to use this to see if he can help his grandfather get better.
The book accurately shows the frustration caretakers have when dealing with a person who is slipping away before your eyes. The grandfather rebels by throwing his teeth away and refusing to wear a diaper. Reading this book was like spending a day with my own grandmother.
This short story is a great way to introduce middle school readers to this complex disease.
July 29, 2012
A book for young adults that is worth reading at any age. Love the way the relationship between the boy and his grandfather is built up.
November 4, 2015
Down The Memory Hole is one I found hard to put down. The author hits the frustrations of dealing with Alzheimer's head on, from the lack of knowledge of the condition, the pain of being afflicted with it, to the lack of help from family members who are not in the household.
Buzz is a typical kid who ends up sharing his room with Grandpa who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the learning process, outlook, and adventures shared over the summer gives us a heartwarming family story that could happen to any of us, a very good book that I would recommend for anyone whether dealing with Alzheimer's or not, you will not be disappointed.
Buzz is a typical kid who ends up sharing his room with Grandpa who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the learning process, outlook, and adventures shared over the summer gives us a heartwarming family story that could happen to any of us, a very good book that I would recommend for anyone whether dealing with Alzheimer's or not, you will not be disappointed.
April 22, 2013
Buzz isn't happy because his grandfather is being moved into his bedroom to share it. His grandfather has Alzheimer's and thinks that Buzz is his dead brother Barclay.
I liked the story. It was short and easy to read.
I liked the story. It was short and easy to read.
July 6, 2012
Short and sweet story. I could totally see this as a Hallmark movie. Kind of predictable, but sweet and touching. The relationship that grows between Buzz and his grandfather is beautiful. I enjoyed this book.
July 30, 2012
I was really moved by the complicated relationship between the protagonist and his grandfather. Dementia is a terrible condition for one to endure, and this book portrays its effects on one's family.
A nice coming-of-age tale.
A nice coming-of-age tale.
February 1, 2013
This was really an enjoyable story and as the baby boomers get older and have to care for their parents, grandparents a good read for everyone! Grandpa with his memory loss sharing a bedroom in a small house with his grandson is wholesome, rewarding and happy!
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March 29, 2013Its was an ok book, I liked the characters and they were real with real situations. The thing I didnt like was in the description it says the boys find themselves in a deadly situation.., no one in this book died. Other than that it was a good quick read.
May 3, 2012
A well-written, lovely book. It is only 140 pages long but still creates this connection between the reader and the main character. I liked this story!
June 11, 2012
Pretty good very quick read!
June 30, 2012
Wasn't too fond of this in the beginning but grabbed my emotions in the middle and I was hooked. Short read, finished it in a day.
July 18, 2012
Great connection for me since I lost Mom to Alzheimer's. Short but good read:-)
July 26, 2012
LOVE IT!
August 3, 2012
Sweet little story.
September 22, 2012
Maybe a bit predictable, but it deals with the idea of coming-of-age against a backdrop of Alzheimers very well. It is a fast read.
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June 9, 2014$0.0
June 23, 2014
Loved this book. Well-written, engrossing.
January 23, 2016
It was good. I wish it was longer.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews