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Loving Lindsey: Raising a Daughter with Special Needs Paperback – September 26, 2017

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 153 ratings

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Winner - 6th Annual Beverly Hills Book Award for Relationships and Parenting & Families
Award Finalist in the "Parenting & Family" category of the 2017 Best Book Awards
Finalist, 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the category of Memoirs—Overcoming Adversity/Tragedy

Linda Atwell and her strong-willed daughter, Lindsey—a high-functioning young adult with intellectual disabilities—have always had a complicated relationship. But when Lindsey graduates from Silverton High School at nineteen and gets a job at Goodwill, she also moves into a newly remodeled cottage in her parents’ backyard—and Linda believes that all their difficult times may finally be behind them.
Life, however, proves not to be so simple. As Lindsey plunges into adulthood, she experiments with sex, considers a tubal ligation, and at twenty quits Goodwill and runs away with Emmett, a man more than twice her age. As Lindsey grows closer to Emmett, she slips further away from her family—but Linda, determined to save her daughter, refuses to give up. A touching memoir with unexpected moments of joy and humor,
Loving Lindsey is a story about independence, rescue, resilience, and, most of all, love.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

2017 Beverly Hills Book Award Winner in Parenting & Family 2017 Beverly Hills Book Award Winner in Relationships 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in Memoirs (Overcoming Adversity/Tragedy) 2018 International Book Awards Finalist in the Parenting & Family category "Atwell’s evocative descriptions provide added depth to the characters, particularly Lindsey, whose voice emanates from the pages. A brutally honest, affecting memoir of family resilience."
—Kirkus Reviews

“Linda Atwell is a beacon of light in her book about the richness of raising a daughter with special needs. Lindsey stories are woven into the midst of Atwell’s own very full life, and she truly tells it like it is. She shares her experiences through the lenses of love, humor, and the human condition.”
—Diana Dolan Mattick, Special Education Teacher and Learning Specialist

"I LOVE this book! Loving Lindsey is a brave and big-hearted story every parent should read. Linda Atwell writes with generosity and depth about what it means to fiercely love and accept each other."
—Ariel Gore, author of
The End of Eve and Atlas of the Human Heart

"Atwell's strong relationship with Lindsey, her special needs adult daughter, carries her (and us) through heartbreaking times that include fear, frustration, and disappointment that are always tempered by unwavering love and a determination to equip her daughter with skills for an independent life. A riveting narrative of mother-daughter struggles and rewards."
—Matilda Butler, memoir coach and award-winning author of
Rosie's Daughters: The "First Woman To" Generation Tells Its Story

"
Loving Lindsey is provocative and it will leave you changed, which is the highest praise I can give a book."
—Debby Dodds, Author of
Amish Guys Don't Call

"Atwell shines a light on the complicated issues involved in loving and living with someone with special needs. Whether you are a family member of someone with intellectual disabilities or just looking in from the outside, you will be moved."
—Teresa Sullivan, Author of
Mikey and Me: Life with My Exceptional Sister

"Told with astonishing honesty and candor, this is a story about the courage and bravery of daily life in a family bringing a 'forever child' into adulthood. It's a story about real love in real life."
—Corinne Tippett, Author of
Just a Couple of Chickens and When No One Else Would Fly

“As the older sister of a brother with special needs, I despair over those stories that portray people with disabilities as carefree candidates for sainthood. Linda Atwell's Loving Lindsey provides a candid look at what it means to be the parent of an adult child with special needs. She captures the complexity of her relationship with her daughter in prose rich with compassion and wit. Lindsey emerges from these pages as a real person--complicated, challenging, and absolutely delightful."
—Melissa Hart, author of
Wild Within: How Rescuing Owls Inspired a Family and Gringa: A Contradictory Girlhood

“As the parent of a child with disabilities, I often wonder and worry about what the future holds for my son. Atwell's tender, funny, real, and at times heart-wrenching memoir about her daughter—who as an adult woman still sleeps with a Cabbage Patch doll yet holds a job, gets a place of her own and falls in love, as doomed as it may be—portrays the self-sufficiency and experiences that I want my son to someday enjoy.
Loving Lindsey shows that it is entirely possible to have intellectual disability and also have a good life.”
—Ellen Seidman, author of the award-winning blog Love That Max

“Ms. Atwell writes with clarity and contemplation through the triumphs and tragedies of raising someone with special needs. Her memoir is a moving exploration of a mother’s resolve to keep her daughter safe, despite Lindsey’s determination to dance to her own off-beat drum, and how the love that bonds this mother and daughter will prevail against the odds. At times funny and always candid, Loving Lindsey is a book every woman should enjoy reading, no matter where they fall on its relationship spectrum.”
—Kathleen Cremonesi, author of
Love in the Elephant Tent: How Running Away with the Circus Brought Me Home and 2016 Gold Medal Independent Publisher Awards for Coming of Age/Family Legacy

“The reader gets to see this family in a world we don’t usually get to share—raising a teenage daughter compounded by the difficulties of developmental disability. Told with clear-eyed empathy for her daughter and the other members of her family, Atwell’s memoir is unflinchingly honest, allowing us to drop midstream into this remarkable family’s life.”
—Diana Y. Paul, author of
Things Unsaid

“A suspenseful heart-wrenching tale of broken dreams and incredible burdens,
Loving Lindsey is a first-hand account of raising a child with a diminished emotional and intellectual capacity. This harrowing journey—a page-turner that’s every parent’s nightmare—will stay with you long after you have put down the book. Highly recommended."
—Barbara Donsky, award-winning author of
Veronica’s Grave: A Daughter’s Memoir

“Linda Atwell is a master storyteller, and does a phenomenal job of sharing the love and grievances that come with raising her daughter. The moments and years of joy and frustration every family feels are especially touching as she navigates life with her sweet, defiant girl.
Loving Lindsey is an exquisitely told account of a mother’s protection, pride, frustration, and is, ultimately, a story about never giving up. I highly recommend Loving Lindsey to every parent.”
—Kristi Rieger Campbell, speaker, author, advocate, and Finding Ninee creator

"
Loving Lindsey is a mom's heartbreakingly honest account of letting go of her daughter, Lindsey. The heroes of this book are Atwell’s fierce and imperfect love for her daughter and Lindsey’s determination to be as independent as possible. Loving Lindsey offers parents of children with special needs a glimpse of the challenges their children will face in adulthood and food for thought about how to prepare and navigate them.”
—Jolene Philo, author of
A Different Dream for My Child and Does My Child Have PTSD?

"Raising a child with an intellectual disability is tough. When that child becomes an adult, the challenges can be insurmountable. Linda Atwell puts the spotlight on her daughter Lindsey—and herself—and never wavers, not in parenting her child or in telling her story. I couldn't put the book down."
—Amy Silverman, author of
My Heart Can't Even Believe It: A Story of Science, Love, and Down Syndrome

"
Loving Lindsey is an unwavering and valuable motherhood memoir about the way intellectual disabilities manifest in daily life and affect relationships."
—Foreward Clarion Review

About the Author

Linda Atwell lives in Silverton, Oregon with her husband, John. They have two incredible adult children. Linda earned her BA from George Fox College, but it is her entrepreneurial and adventuresome spirits that have inspired her career goals. She owned a successful home décor business for ten years before switching to adjusting catastrophe insurance claims and climbing roofs for a living. Now she writes. Her award-winning work has appeared in print and online magazines. She irregularly writes a blog about her daughter with special needs. Atwell is happiest traveling the world, and hopes to get fifty stamps in her passport before it expires.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ She Writes Press (September 26, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1631522809
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1631522802
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 153 ratings

About the author

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Linda Atwell
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Linda Atwell lives in Silverton, Oregon with her husband, John. They have two incredible adult children. Linda earned her BA from George Fox College, but it is her entrepreneurial and adventuresome spirits that have inspired her career goals. She owned a successful home décor business for ten years before switching to adjusting catastrophe insurance claims and climbing roofs for a living. Now she writes. Her award-winning work has appeared in print and online magazines. She irregularly writes a blog about her daughter with special needs. Atwell is happiest traveling the world, and hopes to get fifty stamps in her passport before it expires.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
153 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story compelling, beautiful, and amazing. They describe it as an engaging read that is hard to put down. Readers find the book inspiring and enlightening, with humor and real-life drama. The writing quality is praised as excellent, well-written, and honest. The emotional depth and authenticity are appreciated by customers.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

32 customers mention "Story quality"32 positive0 negative

Customers find the story compelling and beautifully told. They describe it as an amazing tale of love and how a family faced challenges. Readers appreciate the author's raw account of her experiences, humor, and real-life drama. The book gives them courage as mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters.

"...If you like a heartfelt story of challenges and triumph over them, this book is for you...." Read more

"...I found it at times suspenseful, heart wrenching, and heartwarming...." Read more

"...I was touched by the loving, supportive relationship Atwell had with her husband...." Read more

"Very brave account. Very well written. A sobering yet hopeful true story." Read more

20 customers mention "Readability"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and hard to put down. They appreciate the author's honesty in addressing various topics. Overall, readers describe it as an excellent read with touching content.

"...I found it at times suspenseful, heart wrenching, and heartwarming. Great read for those who care for loved ones with special needs or just those..." Read more

"...I highly recommend this book for anyone it's just a great book." Read more

"I loved this book, I am "Marty's" sister and Linday was so accurate and wrote so well about Lindsey's biological father's absence...." Read more

"What a great read!..." Read more

16 customers mention "Inspiration"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring and enlightening. It shares the author's journey of raising her special-needs daughter candidly, without sugarcoating the challenges. Readers appreciate the candor and educational value of the book.

"...job of describing my sister's mannerisms and unique vocabulary/expressions throughout the stories...." Read more

"...challenges and rewards of raising a daughter with special needs is insightful and inspirational...." Read more

"...of a child with special needs I found her book to be honest and educational. G. A. Cockerham Author of The O'Toole/Starker murder mysteries" Read more

"...Atwell is candid about the challenges and doesn’t throw any silliness at us about how-this-was-really-a-blessing. I have *no* patience with that...." Read more

14 customers mention "Humor"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous and honest. They say it provokes a range of emotions, from laughter to tears, with parts that make them chuckle out loud. The story is described as poignant, heart-breaking, hilarious, suspenseful, and interesting.

"...There were parts where I chuckled out loud and parts where I had to stop reading for a few minutes cause it makes you want to tear up a bit...." Read more

"...I found it at times suspenseful, heart wrenching, and heartwarming...." Read more

"Very brave account. Very well written. A sobering yet hopeful true story." Read more

"...that I learned so much about how to take that breath, enjoy every moment as best as possible, take breaks when you need to, and face each day as..." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing quality"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality good. They say it's a brave account of a sobering yet hopeful true story. The author shares the ups and downs, joys and challenges, of raising her special daughter.

"...It's extremely well written, flowing smoothly from present day to past moments...." Read more

"Very brave account. Very well written. A sobering yet hopeful true story." Read more

"...As a fellow author, I found Atwell's book to be genuine and very well written...." Read more

"...have difficult , trying relationships in our lives. It is well written, and flows seamlessly from present to past, catching us up on Lindsey..." Read more

11 customers mention "Emotional depth"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging. They appreciate the author's honest portrayal of her relationship with Lindsey and the raw, truthful details that draw them in. The book depicts Lindsey as a whole person, not a cardboard cutout defined by her disability. Readers appreciate the author's descriptions of her mannerisms and unique vocabulary. Overall, they find the book insightful and relatable, providing a vivid picture of the family.

"...She does a great job of describing my sister's mannerisms and unique vocabulary/expressions throughout the stories...." Read more

"...seasons of Lindsey's life, show the level of grit, tenacity and love needed to raise, train, guide and encourage those with disabilities to reach..." Read more

"...I was touched by the loving, supportive relationship Atwell had with her husband...." Read more

"...The author is honest about feelings we often feel we must hide. This alone is a great gift. Loving Lindsey is a beautiful story beautifully told." Read more

10 customers mention "Authenticity"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's authenticity. They find it genuine, honest, and well-written. The story is told in raw, truthful detail that is emotionally gripping.

"...the grandparent of a child with special needs I found her book to be honest and educational. G. A. Cockerham..." Read more

"...Linda's journey with her daughter is honest and heartfelt, and she faces very difficult decisions and conflicts being the parent of her young adult..." Read more

"...and frustration. The author tells her story in such raw truthful detail it's emotionally gripping and had me feeling like I was there..." Read more

"...The book is honest, real, and without pretense as Atwell shares the difficulties she faces in coming to terms with her child's limitations, and..." Read more

I felt like the author was sitting at my kitchen table, drinking tea, and sharing her heart.
5 out of 5 stars
I felt like the author was sitting at my kitchen table, drinking tea, and sharing her heart.
I was so touched by this story... I could relate to the struggles of the author and her family. The candid honesty of the author looking inward is refreshing. I simply couldn’t put it down! Now that I’m finished, I miss it like one misses a cherished neighbor. I felt like the author was sitting at my kitchen table, drinking tea, and sharing her heart. It is an honor to know her story.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2017
    I may be a little biased as I'm the son of the author, who makes brief appearances throughout the book.

    My mom worked on writing this book for quite a few years, often trying to get me to read bits and pieces after she had written them. I literally read almost none of them, advocating I didn't have the time, but mostly just being ornery.

    I'm honestly glad I waited for the whole thing to be put together before reading. My mom sent me an advanced copy while I was on vacation in Mexico, and I had a hard time putting it down, finishing it in just two days. It's extremely well written, flowing smoothly from present day to past moments. There were parts where I chuckled out loud and parts where I had to stop reading for a few minutes cause it makes you want to tear up a bit. She does a great job of describing my sister's mannerisms and unique vocabulary/expressions throughout the stories.

    Memoirs aren't usually my thing, I'm usually more of an adventure/thriller/horror/suspense kind of reader, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Preston and Child, and such, but this one really hooks you from the beginning, where my parents are on a much needed vacation from the kids, call back to check in on Lindsey, and get some news most parents hate to hear from their child, disabled or not.

    If you like a heartfelt story of challenges and triumph over them, this book is for you. If you like a bit of a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat for a time, this book has some of that in it too actually. I doubt you'll regret giving this one a try.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2019
    Linda Atwell's recounting of the challenges and rewards of raising a daughter with special needs is insightful and inspirational. Her dedication to her daughter, through many painful seasons of Lindsey's life, show the level of grit, tenacity and love needed to raise, train, guide and encourage those with disabilities to reach their potential. Linda doesn't hold back and tells the good, the bad and the ugly. I found it at times suspenseful, heart wrenching, and heartwarming. Great read for those who care for loved ones with special needs or just those who want to get a glimpse inside what it takes to do it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2017
    I received an advance reader copy of Loving Lindsey for review. As the sibling of a sister with developmental disabilities, I am particularly interested in memoirs that allow me to see inside the lives of families that might be similar to mine. Atwell’s memoir focuses on Lindsey’s life from age nineteen to twenty-nine, with forays into childhood that informed the present. It didn’t take long for me to connect with Loving Lindsey. When Atwell described her as her “forever child,” I knew exactly what she meant.

    I celebrated—with Atwell and with Lindsey, each accomplishment and each step toward independence that Lindsey takes. Achievements, such as navigating to the school bus might be taken for granted by a typical family but they are cause to celebrate in the Atwell family. I felt for her as she coped with the seemingly impossible dilemma of enabling Lindsey’s independence while, at the same time, trying to protect her from those who would exploit her lack of judgment and insight. When an older man seduces Lindsey and isolates her from her family, the Atwell’s are powerless. Lindsey is an adult and legally able to make her own decisions yet, as mentioned above, a forever-child.

    Her description of how she, as a mother, responded to the challenges, victories, and defeats of raising a high-functioning daughter with special-needs is refreshing in its honesty. She is frank and vulnerable as she discloses her own self-doubt and perceived shortcomings. I particularly appreciated her concern about how her other child, Lindsey’s younger brother, was affected by the family circumstances. We siblings understand that the special-needs child requires more time and attention, making our time alone with parents particularly special. I was touched by the loving, supportive relationship Atwell had with her husband.

    Whether you are a family member of someone with intellectual disabilities or just looking in from the outside, you will be moved.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2018
    Very brave account. Very well written. A sobering yet hopeful true story.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2018
    I began to read Loving Lindsey at about 8:00 pm one night. I thought I would read it for just a couple of hours and then head to bed. But from the moment I began to read it, I was caught up in the story of a young girl and the thrills and challenges of raising her. I was on the edge of my seat as I read and felt the emotions that Linda felt as she fought to hold on to her daughter and guide her through life. I do not know how I would have been as a parent with those challenges, and yet, I feel that I learned so much about how to take that breath, enjoy every moment as best as possible, take breaks when you need to, and face each day as fresh as you can. As parents we all face those times when we do not know if we have been a good parent, or we question how we handled a situation. This book reminded me that it is okay to not be the perfect mom and wife, but also that having the support of family is key in life.
    Needless to say, that first night I was up until about 2:00 am reading, and I had finished the book within two to three days. Thank you Linda for keeping me awake and on the edge of my seat, but also for writing so openly about so much of your life. I did not read Loving Lindsey as soon as it came out, but I as it turned out, I read it at just the right time.
    One person found this helpful
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