Chapter 1-3 Summary and Analysis

Martha Beck has three degrees from Harvard. Ms. Beck has written several works of non-fiction. This book is a memoir that relates a highly personal story of the year in which Ms. Beck was expecting her second child, Adam, who was born with Down syndrome.

In Chapter 1, Ms. Beck relates a story that took place when Adam was three. Adam could not yet speak. However, a woman Ms. Beck was interviewing for her PhD. Dissertation happened to be a psychic. This woman told Ms. Beck that Adam wanted her to stop worrying so much. Adam wanted Ms. Beck to be more open, assuring her she would be hurt more by being closed than open. This advice is what led Ms. Beck to write this book.

In Chapter 2, Ms. Beck relates how her family returned from Tokyo in late summer...