The amazing young boy in Palacio's 2012 youth novel, Wonder, is named Auggie, and he's a hit across America in schools where books about tolerance and the impact of bullying are assigned and discussed. Recognizing this, the author and Random House just released a novella, but 88 pages, entitled The Julian Chapter: a Wonder Story. It rectifies a concern many readers had that Wonder didn't have a chapter from the main antagonist's point of view. They also released a companion volume to Wonder … [Read more...]
Cleft Heart’s portrayal of cleft lip experience touted.
Cleft Lip and Palate Love. Am pleased to announce several newspapers and magazines have taken note of Cleft Heart: Chasing Normal. In one magazine, the open secret of Cleft Heart's success was revealed along with some secrets of once hush-hush, hoary senior societies (the cover story of the July/August 2014 issue of YAM). In another magazine, writers note that "Schonborn['s] just-released memoir, Cleft Heart, has received great reviews from newspapers, review … [Read more...]
“Wonder:” about a kid with an anomaly, without facial symmetry.
R.J. Palacio’s youth novel, Wonder, burst upon the school book scene a couple of years ago, leaving middle grade kids to ponder such statements as— "You can't blend in when you were born to stand out." "Choose to be kind, not right." (a phrase the author borrowed from Wayne Dyer and altered a bit.) "Everyone deserves a standing ovation, at least once in their lives." (Channeling Warhol and :15 of fame?) Craniofacial anomalies, no facial … [Read more...]
Angelina’s only an 8. Take the beauty, symmetry test.
Do you distrust your cellphone 'cuz it takes endless selfies to get just the right shot? Do you wonder about your boyfriend or husband who say you're gorgeous? (What's he up to, anyway?) Does your mother say, "you're beautiful, but a little more effort or makeup might help?" No more questions about beauty, symmetry. Don't sweat the conflicting, subjective assessments any longer. This website will give you the straight scoop, and all it takes is downloading a picture of yourself. … [Read more...]
Oscar Pistorius——not mentally disabled, but a psychopath?
No mental disability when fired shots. It's been a month since various media shouted the news that Oscar Pistorius didn't have a mental disability when he killed his girlfriend. So technically, he has only one disability, his amputated legs. However, it's been over a year (Feb 2013) when I speculated that Pistorius might be a psychopath along the lines of fallen and disgraced sports heroes like Lance Armstrong and OJ. Simpson. I'd have to say the "jury is still out" regarding whether … [Read more...]
Bullied Leading Ladies?
Just finished a guest blog on bullying (at ) and thought following up Disney's Disabled Dishes with Disney's Bullied Babes might be appropriate. I apologize for letting humorous phrases trump seriousness here. However, humor is an occupational hazard for writers and professors, like me, who probe violence for a living. It's like the "gallows humor" which police and health professionals resort to in order to cope. Bullied and abused Cartoon Figures. To raise awareness and trigger … [Read more...]
Celeb praises the hero who overcame his cleft lip —II.
Cleft Lip Millionaire. Former UK game show star Carol Vorderman idolizes her millionaire big brother—not because he is a successful millionaire, but because he overcame the hardship of being born with a cleft lip and palate. In a story published in June the well-known game show host wrote that her brother had "a disfigurement so bad he was whisked away from my mother the moment he was born.... The midwife, who ran from the room with the baby … [Read more...]