Three Things I Know Are True
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- Create Date：2021-04-06 11:51:56
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Betty Culley
- ISBN：0062908030
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Summary
Fans of Jandy Nelson and Marieke Nijkamp will love this deeply moving novel in verse about the aftermath of a gun accident。
Life changes forever for Liv when her older brother， Jonah， accidentally shoots himself with his best friend Clay’s father’s gun。 Now Jonah needs round-the-clock care just to stay alive， and Liv feels like she’s the only person who can see that her brother is still there inside his broken body。
With Liv’s mom suing Clay’s family， there are divisions in the community that Liv knows she’s not supposed to cross。 But Clay is her friend， too， and she refuses to turn away from him—just like she refuses to give up on Jonah。
This powerful novel is a stunning exploration of tragedy， grief， compassion， and forgiveness。
Life changes forever for Liv when her older brother， Jonah， accidentally shoots himself with his best friend Clay’s father’s gun。 Now Jonah needs round-the-clock care just to stay alive， and Liv feels like she’s the only person who can see that her brother is still there inside his broken body。
With Liv’s mom suing Clay’s family， there are divisions in the community that Liv knows she’s not supposed to cross。 But Clay is her friend， too， and she refuses to turn away from him—just like she refuses to give up on Jonah。
This powerful novel is a stunning exploration of tragedy， grief， compassion， and forgiveness。
Reviews
Ann Carboneau
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Liv & Jonah's stories will grab your heart and not let go。 Liv & Jonah's stories will grab your heart and not let go。 。。。more
Dawn Taylor
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3。5 stars rounded up。 A devastating and relevant read。 I did have one nagging issue though。 The story is told through the eyes of a soon to be 16 year old but the character reads like a 10 year old。 I’m not sure why she aged the character the way she did。 My only thought is that she wanted to add in a romance element。 🤷♀️
Sarah
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just read the book， you dork :））I read this in 2 hours and it was the second book I’ve ever cried over in my life。 so if you want to get your heart ripped out in the best way possible， read this book ！！
Ashlee
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Culley did an amazing job writing this book。 The topic is so heavy and yet through Liv’s quirky perspective you were able to see the sorrow as well as some of the sweet relationships that are built around her and Jonah。 My only complaint would be the ending。 I’m not sure what I was expecting but it was a bit of a let down when it kind of just ended。 I guess that’s what makes it more realistic instead of the typical happily ever after。 I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick but Culley did an amazing job writing this book。 The topic is so heavy and yet through Liv’s quirky perspective you were able to see the sorrow as well as some of the sweet relationships that are built around her and Jonah。 My only complaint would be the ending。 I’m not sure what I was expecting but it was a bit of a let down when it kind of just ended。 I guess that’s what makes it more realistic instead of the typical happily ever after。 I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick but thoughtful story。 。。。more
Calypso
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The only problem I had with this book is why the freakin’ romance at the end。 YA doesn’t mean you have to have a boyfriend especially when you are 15。
Shari
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Wrought with emotions， this book will pull you in， pull you down， and not let you up again。 It sends an important message about gun safety， but it's not preachy or political sounding， instead focusing on the tragic consequences of an impulsive teenager's carelessness and feeling of invincibility。 Heartbreaking from start to finish。 Wrought with emotions， this book will pull you in， pull you down， and not let you up again。 It sends an important message about gun safety， but it's not preachy or political sounding， instead focusing on the tragic consequences of an impulsive teenager's carelessness and feeling of invincibility。 Heartbreaking from start to finish。 。。。more
Brenda Kahn
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Swallowed this one whole。 Intense， evocative， tragic。
Faviola
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This was sad but honestly I thought it was gonna be worse， sadness wise。 Personally I think this doable considering the subject
Hesper
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This novel-in-verse is an emotional experience that follows a tragedy that transforms everything in Liv's life。 It deals with the complex gun rights problem at an infinitesimal stage。 This novel-in-verse is an emotional experience that follows a tragedy that transforms everything in Liv's life。 It deals with the complex gun rights problem at an infinitesimal stage。 。。。more
Alex Baugh
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***Spoiler Alert***Jonah Carrier， 17， had always been a daredevil， unlike his best friend Clay LeBlanc。 It was Jonah who climbed the cell tower barefoot just because it was there to do， while Clay refused。 So when Jonah found a gun belonging to Clay's dad in the LaBlanc attic， he couldn't resist putting it to his head and pulling the trigger， despite Clay's warning that it might be loaded。It was。One daredevil act and the lives of two families are suddenly changed in ways that they never could h ***Spoiler Alert***Jonah Carrier， 17， had always been a daredevil， unlike his best friend Clay LeBlanc。 It was Jonah who climbed the cell tower barefoot just because it was there to do， while Clay refused。 So when Jonah found a gun belonging to Clay's dad in the LaBlanc attic， he couldn't resist putting it to his head and pulling the trigger， despite Clay's warning that it might be loaded。It was。One daredevil act and the lives of two families are suddenly changed in ways that they never could have imagined。 For 15-year-old Liv Carrier， her brother's act means a heartbreaking journey from denial to acceptance。 At first， and understandably， Liv might seen rather immature， losing interest in and acting out at school， trivializing Jonah's life support machines by giving them silly names - even referring to his gunshot would as his boo-boo。 These defense mechanisms help Liv keep her anger and disappointment at bay and protect her from the pain caused by Jonah's act。 But Liv， who knows her brother better than anyone， is asked to help with Jonah on a particularly difficult day。 Liv is convinced that he is still there inside and begins to care for him more and even begins to advocate for him。 She constantly touches and talks to him， finding ways to entertain him that elicit responses from him。 But even as Liv finds purpose in caring for Jonah， she finds herself shouldering some of the responsibilities that should have been taken up by their mother。 Nikki Carrier refuses to get involved with Jonah， focusing on the machines keeping him alive and escaping by going to work everyday。 But as word of the shooting gets out， so do gun rights advocates， who go after the Carriers， blaming them for Jonah's behavior， and Liv finds herself feeling the need to protect her mother from them。Meanwhile， Clay is no longer welcomed at the Carrier home because his family is being sued by Jonah's mother in the hope of getting a settlement to help pay for his medical costs。 But Liv and Clay begin meeting at the Kennebec River where all used to play a game they called Three Things I Know Are Truth with one rule only - the answers have to be truthful。Fortunately， Liv has a lot of support。 The nurses who care for Jonah， Clay， and even Jonah's fight for life helps her。 Gradually， though， as Jonah's condition worsens， and after he dies of pneumonia， Liv plays a final game of Three Things I Know Are True with herself， finally facing her pain and anger at Jonah for what he did。 This allows her to let go of feeling responsible for her mother forcing her to become responsible for herself。This book doesn't really have a neat ending， instead Liv comes to realize that life doesn't run smoothly， but is like the eddies in the nearby Kennebec River that go in all directions， but that even if you can't control it， you can at least take responsibility for your own life。 Three Things I Know Are True is a heartbreaking coming of age story about a side of a tragic gun accident we don't often see - the impact it has on family members， and how it extends to friends and neighbors。 And while they may feel distant or not developed， it's because they are indeed fading out of Liv's life， with only two exceptions。 But this is Liv's story and it is told entirely in the first person by her， in carefully arranged lyrically expressive free verse poems。 One of the things that I really liked was the way she ran the Kennebec River through the story and the big role it played in Liv's life。Three Things I Know Are True is an emotional story about a problem that is all too common in our society today and Betty Culley has put a face on it you won't soon forget。This book is recommended for readers age 13+ 。。。more
Marge S
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Listening to the audiobook， I was not aware the book was written in verse。 The narration reads like prose。 Will pick up the printed version to see what I missed。Hesitated to read because of the issue of gun violence， however， the book for me was more about how to face life after tragedy。 Through the character of Liv， you confront each person， each situation， with an approach that goes beyond bitterness and hostility。 She invites you to approach in a way to see each person individually， all hurt Listening to the audiobook， I was not aware the book was written in verse。 The narration reads like prose。 Will pick up the printed version to see what I missed。Hesitated to read because of the issue of gun violence， however， the book for me was more about how to face life after tragedy。 Through the character of Liv， you confront each person， each situation， with an approach that goes beyond bitterness and hostility。 She invites you to approach in a way to see each person individually， all hurt by the tragedy。 I found myself asking myself， could I respond like Liv。 。。。more
Janice
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I loved this book。 It was definitely my kind of book—grief relief。 Amazing characters and a great story kept me reading。 I’m going to keep an eye out for this author。
Keira
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I really liked this book。 I wanted to keep on reading。 The plot was pretty good， along with the characters & details。 I was slightly disappointed when I opened the first page; I thought the format was weird， but I ended loving the book & the format。 It was a great book！ I recommend this book to anyone who wants a quickish read on a book that they'll get lost in。 I really liked this book。 I wanted to keep on reading。 The plot was pretty good， along with the characters & details。 I was slightly disappointed when I opened the first page; I thought the format was weird， but I ended loving the book & the format。 It was a great book！ I recommend this book to anyone who wants a quickish read on a book that they'll get lost in。 。。。more
Steph_d
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Sooo as my first book in verse I really enjoyed it yay！。 The format for me was great as everyrhjng was straight to the point so messing around。 I do however completely get why some people do not like it。 After reading some reviews a lot of people were complaining about the "gun violence" not being a main issue。 But I never got the feeling that was the point at all。 I was completely hooked on learning about how such a thing could drastically change an entirely normal family and what pressure some Sooo as my first book in verse I really enjoyed it yay！。 The format for me was great as everyrhjng was straight to the point so messing around。 I do however completely get why some people do not like it。 After reading some reviews a lot of people were complaining about the "gun violence" not being a main issue。 But I never got the feeling that was the point at all。 I was completely hooked on learning about how such a thing could drastically change an entirely normal family and what pressure something like that could do to a family unit and each person affected。 Which I got perfectly and so well written。 The main characters were shown to be dealing with things in their own way， which is what basically grief will do to someone and a family as a whole。 The main Girl Liv was rather self centred and immature at times but its completely understandable why。 Something likes this is all about how you as a reader read it。 。。。more
Angela Thomson
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Heart breaking （Written in prose/verse）
Madison
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This book is so sad and heartbreaking。 I zoomed through reading this and the writing style totally fits the story。 If someone needs a quick story to fall into， this is definitely it。 I ended up finishing this book in 90 minutes！
I Crochet Things
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If I were to characterize this book， I think I would mark it as slice of life。 Each chapter went through the main character's day-to-day life in a manner very tame when compared to other young adult novels。 In fact， I wouldn't even say that there were any particularly climactic scenes; of course， this book primarily dealt with the aftermath of a gun accident， so there were definitely intense moments sprinkled in throughout， but overall the scenes/chapters never led up to a 'big reveal' of sorts。 If I were to characterize this book， I think I would mark it as slice of life。 Each chapter went through the main character's day-to-day life in a manner very tame when compared to other young adult novels。 In fact， I wouldn't even say that there were any particularly climactic scenes; of course， this book primarily dealt with the aftermath of a gun accident， so there were definitely intense moments sprinkled in throughout， but overall the scenes/chapters never led up to a 'big reveal' of sorts。I enjoyed what this book offered。 It never got overly preachy and I think it depicted particular certain things very well such as Jonah's condition and the environment inside a courtroom。 My main critique is that the main character， Liv， sounded a lot younger in tone than her supposed 15-16 years。 I envisioned her being a couple years younger than that， and had a hard time believing that some of her actions accurately depicted the maturity level of a highschooler。 。。。more
Brenda Love
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This book was hard to read！ It is a well written book about a tough subject。 Very emotional read about a tragic event。
Terrie
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Beautiful YA novel in verse about the tragedy that can occur with guns and how many are affected by such a tragedy。
kiers
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i appreciate the message of this story and i liked how heartbreaking yet hopeful this was， but i felt that it dragged on and was a lot longer than it should have been
M。N。 literary_rebel
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Was it Jonah’s fault？ This is a tough question。
Samantha
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Liv's older brother was a daredevil。 He was always living on the edge。 When he sees a loaded gun on his best friend's attic shelf， he plays with it and it goes off。 Who is responsible？ The 17 year old who should have known better or the adult that left a loaded gun on a random shelf？ Liv just wants her brother to be cared for and her mother to have some stress relief。 She also still cares about the best friend's family， and they live right across the street。 I think it definitely describes rural Liv's older brother was a daredevil。 He was always living on the edge。 When he sees a loaded gun on his best friend's attic shelf， he plays with it and it goes off。 Who is responsible？ The 17 year old who should have known better or the adult that left a loaded gun on a random shelf？ Liv just wants her brother to be cared for and her mother to have some stress relief。 She also still cares about the best friend's family， and they live right across the street。 I think it definitely describes rural Maine really well。 It's a made-up town on the Kennebec， I pictured Madison， Maine because it sounds the closest to Maddigan to me， but could have been any number of towns。 The gun safety discussion definitely feels realistic for the area too。 I'm still thinking about Liv， who is working so hard to support everyone else at the expense of herself。 。。。more
Kristy
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An amazing verse novel about guns， families and friends。The voice rings true and is not heavy handed but weighs both sides and as always shows how nothing is black and white。 Wonderful insight that's keeps you reading。A must have An amazing verse novel about guns， families and friends。The voice rings true and is not heavy handed but weighs both sides and as always shows how nothing is black and white。 Wonderful insight that's keeps you reading。A must have 。。。more
Sally Kruger
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Three things I know are true about THREE THINGS I KNOW ARE TRUE by Betty Culley， 1） it is written in verse， 2） it is about love and loss， and 3） it made me cry。Liv's older brother's survival has been deemed a miracle。 Clay warned him when he picked up the gun that it could be loaded， but Jonah still pressed it against his temple and pulled the trigger。 Now he is being fed through a tube and cared for day and night by visiting nurses。 He makes sounds that Liv has learned to interpret in a way tha Three things I know are true about THREE THINGS I KNOW ARE TRUE by Betty Culley， 1） it is written in verse， 2） it is about love and loss， and 3） it made me cry。Liv's older brother's survival has been deemed a miracle。 Clay warned him when he picked up the gun that it could be loaded， but Jonah still pressed it against his temple and pulled the trigger。 Now he is being fed through a tube and cared for day and night by visiting nurses。 He makes sounds that Liv has learned to interpret in a way that helps her comfort him when no one else can。 She's about to turn sixteen and he'll be turning eighteen。 Life will never be the same again。Life is now about going through the motions。 Liv goes to school but doesn't accomplish much so she may be repeating her sophomore year。 Her mom goes to work at Tractor Barn， but her paycheck isn't going to be enough to pay for Jonah's care and keep a roof over their heads。 Their small town in Maine is filled with people willing to drop off casseroles while at the same time criticize the lawsuit Liv's mom has filed in an attempt to pay Jonah's medical bills。One bright spot for Liv is her continued friendship with Clay。 Even though it was his father's gun that created the tragedy， they still meet along the river and find ways to carry on。 As a way to honor Jonah， they play the "three things I know are true" game。 It helps them each express the things that are too difficult to directly communicate in life's new version。Author Betty Culley gives Liv a clear and direct voice that speaks to the stark reality that she is experiencing in daily life。 Giving comfort and finding comfort aren't easy when what's familiar is crumbling around her。 Readers won't regret the time spent reading this one。 。。。more
Susan McGilvray
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Beautiful and moving novel in verse。 Liv’s love for her injured brother Jonah is brave and true。 Heartbreaking and uplifting - written exquisitely。
Hannah
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Liv’s big brother， Jonah， shot himself with the neighbors gun when he was supposed to be getting decorations from the attic with his friend Clay。 It was Clay’s father’s gun。 Jonah survived， but he is unable to do anything by himself。 He can’t speak like he used， he can’t move， he has machines that help him stay alive。 But this isn’t Clay’s Story。 It’s Liv’s。 Liv is two years younger than her brother。 She hung out at the river with Jonah and Clay for years。 They were all friends。 This is what hap Liv’s big brother， Jonah， shot himself with the neighbors gun when he was supposed to be getting decorations from the attic with his friend Clay。 It was Clay’s father’s gun。 Jonah survived， but he is unable to do anything by himself。 He can’t speak like he used， he can’t move， he has machines that help him stay alive。 But this isn’t Clay’s Story。 It’s Liv’s。 Liv is two years younger than her brother。 She hung out at the river with Jonah and Clay for years。 They were all friends。 This is what happened after the accident and how it changed Liv and all the other lives that Jonah has touched。 Told in verse this is another story that makes an impact。 At one point， I actually started tearing up in my car， while driving to work。 Gun accidents happen and cause untold ripples in the lives of everyone connected to the one who ended up hurt or dead。 Going through something like this at any age is hard， but Liv didn't shut down and she didn’t turn away from anyone。 She is someone who knows what is most important in life and strives to help her family and her neighbors through the hardship。 I kind of developed my own crush on Clay and I was incredibly happy with the way the author pulled off Clay and Liv’s relationship。 I also adored the way Liv stuck by her brother through it all。 Her friend the klepto didn't make sense in the story for me until much later in the story， but the game behind the title with Liv and Clay was very cute and educational too。 3 things I know are true is an excellent choice for a story about the dangers of playing with guns， but be warned tissue will be required at one point while reading。 。。。more
Areesha
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i wrote， "i just know this book is going to break me。" in my instagram story， and i was proven correct。 i wrote， "i just know this book is going to break me。" in my instagram story， and i was proven correct。 。。。more
Mrs Platt
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He is my brother。He always took the leapover the abysswithout thinking，and always made it across --until now。I'm not even a little bit tired of YA fiction written in verse！ This book was heartbreaking and beautiful and honestly the ending left me pensive and sad， which is how realistic fiction should end， sometimes。 Because the world we live in simply doesn't wrap up our trauma with pretty little bows at the end。Liv has kind of taken an adult role at home as her brother， Clay， has suffered a tra He is my brother。He always took the leapover the abysswithout thinking，and always made it across --until now。I'm not even a little bit tired of YA fiction written in verse！ This book was heartbreaking and beautiful and honestly the ending left me pensive and sad， which is how realistic fiction should end， sometimes。 Because the world we live in simply doesn't wrap up our trauma with pretty little bows at the end。Liv has kind of taken an adult role at home as her brother， Clay， has suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of accidentally shooting himself in the head。 He's left only able to communicate in grunts and partial words。 The way she cares for him physically and bonds with the nurses in her house is beautiful。 The way it's affecting her academics and relationships at school， understandable。 The story follows Liv as she anticipates the court date with the neighbors across the street， who owned the gun that did the damage。 The other brushes with the issue of gun rights in a way that makes you consider what you personally believe （who's responsible？ under what conditions？）， but it's not so much that it distracts from the fact that this is simply a sad story for people who love sad stories。 The teen across the street who was present when the gun discharged was Clay's best friend。 And she can't shake that emotionally-charged family connection， sneaking off to sit quietly with him by the creek on a regular basis。 As the reader， I was interested in how the upcoming trial would turn out but moreso concerned with Liv's relationship with this friend and how the adults in the story would move forward with their own grief and anger as well。I was also left with the impression that this is really a book about mistakes。 Sometimes we make mistakes。 Big ones。 And as much as they impact our own lives， perhaps the impact is hardest on the people who love us most。 That doesn't make us bad people。 It just makes us flawed。 。。。more
Patricia Powell
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In Betty Culley’s novel in verse， “Three Things I Know Are True” （HarperTeen 2020） teenage Liv will not give up on her older brother Jonah， who accidentally shot himself in the head with a gun belonging to his best friend’s father。tNow Jonah requires round-the-clock care to stay alive， at home， in their Maine mill town。 Liv’s mother works a minimum wage job。 tLast year when her father was alive， he’d lost his job when the mill closed。 “He’d watch Clay’s father pull out of the driveway of Number In Betty Culley’s novel in verse， “Three Things I Know Are True” （HarperTeen 2020） teenage Liv will not give up on her older brother Jonah， who accidentally shot himself in the head with a gun belonging to his best friend’s father。tNow Jonah requires round-the-clock care to stay alive， at home， in their Maine mill town。 Liv’s mother works a minimum wage job。 tLast year when her father was alive， he’d lost his job when the mill closed。 “He’d watch Clay’s father pull out of the driveway of Number 24 in his “Bugz Away” van and say， Now there’s a smart man—he’s his own boss， and as long as there’s bugs around， he’s got himself a job。” Now her mom is suing Clay’s family because his dad left a loaded gun in their attic。 Liv isn’t supposed cross their street to Clay’s house， but she does。 And she might be falling in love with Clay。tClay has dropped out of high school and is working for his dad。 Liv worries about Clay inhaling all that insecticide。tLiv senses her brother inside his wracked body， but their mother cannot。 Liv understands that “Jonah has faces and sounds that mean different things。 If you’re watching and listening， he will tell you what he wants， what he doesn’t want。” Mom， on the other hand， is retreating， working more hours: “I think the Schedule is Mom’s way of caring for Jonah without watching or listening。”tWith the mill closed， the town depressed， townspeople are taking sides between Clay’s and Liv’s families。 Liv messes up in school and is punished with service at the soup kitchen where she meets Hunter who is homeschooled。 Hunter’s mom， a hippy who’s in touch with the earth and feelings tells Liv， “Trust your hands and they’ll lead you where you need to go。” Liv discovers she has good hands， hands that can massage Jonah such that he can stop thrashing， calm and fall sleep。 tThank heavens for the fabulous team of nurses who care for Jonah around the clock。 Liv feels jealous that the nurses and Jonah have an intimate rapport that doesn’t involve her。 She likens that jealousy to “the little animal inside me gets throw-something mad。” She says， “I know it’s wrong to feel this way about my brother， but the animal is hurt and won’t listen to reason。”tLiv’s friend Rainie is a compulsive shop-lifter—carrying that propensity inside people’s homes。 Liv sees Rainie’s stealing as her wild little animal—her big flaw。tAuthor Betty Culley lives in a small river town in central Maine。 She has worked as a pediatric home hospice nurse。 She surely has the authority， voice， and wisdom to tell this insightful well-written story。Patricia Hruby Powell is the author of the award-winning Josephine; Loving vs Virginia; and Struttin’ With Some Barbecue and the new Lift As You Climb。 She teaches community classes in writing at Parkland College。 talesforallages。com 。。。more
Frances
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