Thestoryoftwobrothers,onewithDownsyndrome,andtheirextraordinaryjourneyofresilienceandrepair.“Profoundlymovingandhugelyuplifting.“--MarkHaddon,authorofTheCuriousIncidentoftheDogintheNight-TimeReuben,aged38,waslivinginahomeforadultswithlearningdisabilities.Hehadn’testablishedanindependentlifeinthecaresystemandwasstillstrugglingtoacceptthathehadDownsyndrome.Depressedandinafogofantidepressants,hehadn’tspokenforoverayear.Theonlywayheexpressedhimselfwasbywritingpoemsordrawingfelt-tipscenesfromhisfavoritemusicalsandfilms.Increasinglyisolated,cutofffromeveryoneandeverythingheloved,Reubensentatextmessage:brother.do.you.love.me.WhenMannireceivedthisdesperatemessagefromhisyoungestbrother,hekneweverythinghadtochange.HeimmediatelylefthislifeinSpainandreturnedtoEngland,movingReubenoutofthecarehomeandintoanoldfarmcottageinthecountryside.Inthestillnessofwinter,theybegananextraordinaryjourneyofrepair,rediscoveringthedepthsoftheirbrotherhood,onegradualstepatatime.CombiningManni’stenderwordswithReuben’spowerfulillustrations,theirstoryofhopeandresiliencequestionshowwecareforthosewelove,anddemandsthat,throughtroubledtimes,welearnhowtotakebettercareofeachother.
