Doug Wilhelm

{my thoughts} – This book is about a thirteen year-old boy named Casey. Casey’s mom and dad split up. Mom took his sister and he was left with dad. This book helps to show the journey that Casey had went on when he was left as the main caregiver to his drunk father. His father took up drinking more and more even so before his mother had left him there to learn to fend for himself. His mother use to make things seem alright and make sure that his father’s issue only affected her and it show more hadn’t reached beyond the walls of the house. When she left it was up to Casey to keep things right, to make it seem like nothing was wrong, like everything was well and his dad was either asleep or sick in a sense. That was how he’d explain his condition to others.

Casey tried to do everything for his father, he tried to make everything just right. He was scared. Scared that if he didn’t things would be bad for him. His dad never hit him thankfully, but he was extremely verbal. The abuse caused from his drinking was horribly verbal and a lot for a child to handle. Eventually his Aunt starts getting involved and together they come up with a solution is to what they can do to try and help his dad. You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens.

I enjoyed this book, because it showed the more realistic terms as to what can happen when someone drinks so much they allow it to take over their life. It made me sad to read about some of the things that Casey had went through though. It also made me happy to see that even though he had so much bad going on in his life he was still trying to live his live the best he knew how and honestly that is all anyone person can expect after living through so much bad for so long.

This book is honest, remarkably well written and to the point when it comes to what can and cannot happen in such situations. show less

Catalysts for Change: How Nonprofits and a Foundation Are Helping Shape Vermont’s Future / Doug Wilhelm

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As a former Librarian, I would often scour the community for hidden talents that I could use in Library programs. So when I saw this book, the concept of a community-oriented foundation, I wanted to read it to see what ideas that I could gather. It was very interesting and hard to fit into one category. Although it show more stands as written documentation of what the Lintilhac Foundation was able to do fo,r and with, their community – it also serves as a biography of people that were affected by the Foundation’s passion and generosity. The book is full of projects taken on by the Lintilhac family – which includes detailed research, taking on political challenges, delving into scientific facts, encouraging new laws, and providing continual support and guidance for the projects they start. Even though the focus is Vermont, the book serves as a guide for any long-term philanthropic projects. The book is 275 pages written in very easy to understand language that pulls the reader into the story. Also includes many black and white photographs which make the book more personal in nature. Might be a good recommendation for non-fiction readers interested in local event/local history. show less

The story is about three seventh-graders Russell, Elliot, and Catalina attending Parkland, nicknamed Darkland by the student who attend there. Russell who seem to always be tongue tied. Elliot is obsessed with dinosaurs and Catalina is half-Filipina. The three are tired of being bullied. A rumor is going round the school about Catalina. They find out how to send school wide messages to the student body. The three post a letter to squelch rumors the popular girls are spreading. The post is show more known as "The Darkland Revealer." Many of the student can relate to being bullied or bulling. Other students start to send in their stories. It rises the awareness of bulling. show less

{my thoughts} – This book is about a thirteen year-old boy named Casey. Casey’s mom and dad split up. Mom took his sister and he was left with dad. This book helps to show the journey that Casey had went on when he was left as the main caregiver to his drunk father. His father took up drinking more and more even so before his mother had left him there to learn to fend for himself. His mother use to make things seem alright and make sure that his father’s issue only affected her and it show more hadn’t reached beyond the walls of the house. When she left it was up to Casey to keep things right, to make it seem like nothing was wrong, like everything was well and his dad was either asleep or sick in a sense. That was how he’d explain his condition to others.

Casey tried to do everything for his father, he tried to make everything just right. He was scared. Scared that if he didn’t things would be bad for him. His dad never hit him thankfully, but he was extremely verbal. The abuse caused from his drinking was horribly verbal and a lot for a child to handle. Eventually his Aunt starts getting involved and together they come up with a solution is to what they can do to try and help his dad. You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens.

I enjoyed this book, because it showed the more realistic terms as to what can happen when someone drinks so much they allow it to take over their life. It made me sad to read about some of the things that Casey had went through though. It also made me happy to see that even though he had so much bad going on in his life he was still trying to live his live the best he knew how and honestly that is all anyone person can expect after living through so much bad for so long.

This book is honest, remarkably well written and to the point when it comes to what can and cannot happen in such situations. show less