As toddlers, Ariel and Zan were diagnosed with Crouzon syndrome- a condition where the bones of the skull fuse permanently. They were the first known twins to survive it. Due to this, they had repetitive surgeries to enlarge their skulls, which largely alerted their appearance. The procedures were physically painful, but this suffering was nothing compared to the emotional pain of being ridiculed for disfigured faces.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. When I first requested this book, I didn't realize that this was a memoir (a genre that I enjoy). Before reading, I had a vague idea that this would be a sob story about all the struggles faced by the author, but the book exceeded my expectations. I got hooked on the first chapter, and I loved every bit of the book. The story starts from when they were diagnosed and the impact it had on their loved ones. One of my favorite lines from this book goes, "What hurts more than going through the surgeries yourself is seeing someone you love go through it." The family and friend aspect makes it more touching and oddly relatable. Unlike some other autobiographies, this one does not portray the writer as a perfect person. Ariel was not understanding and patient with the pain. She was angry, confused, fed up, and said things she didn't mean. This is what I loved about her writing. Her honesty when she wrote how messed up and at times lonely her life was, and how it could have been better with a little more acceptance and a little less judgment. The book is not inspiring because it's about trauma (and neither was it marketed that way). It is inspiring because it's relatable, fun, and nostalgic. Although the twins had their struggles, they tried to laugh at them, show others that it was okay to laugh with them, blend in with others. This read is one of the best and most impactful autobiographies ever. Parts of it can be disturbing for readers below 10, but most readers will love it. Even if you are not a fan of this genre, I think this is worth a read.
Note on Picasso- I wish I could give this a five-star rating, but this is where Ariel's writing drooped. The book is named so because of an incident in her childhood that impacted Ariel greatly, but it doesn't have a significant connection with him. There are references to him made throughout the book, which were educational regarding Picasso, but felt very out of place.
Rating- 4/5
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