Overview

Having a sister or brother with Down syndrome is an incredible experience. However, it can also be very confusing, with feelings that range from joy to frustration, from resentment to guilt. Now, Jennifer L. Young, the younger sister of a Down syndrome sibling named Stephanie, shares her personal journey as playmate, caretaker, rival, and dearest friend. Am I Special Too? is an easy-to-read rhyming tale that shares the many emotions that surface from living with a special-needs family member. Young's honest, heartfelt story is accompanied by beautiful watercolor illustrations by her lifelong best friend, Jodi Lee Villanella. As a child, the author treasured her older sister, playing dolls and childhood games. However, when she grew older and was asked to help with Stephanie's care, she became angrier and angrier with her sister, though she never shared this with her parents. A class project in college finally prompted her to look at her own confusing range of responses to her unique youth, which she now hopes will help others with a similar home life. Truthful, hopeful, and joyful, Am I Special Too? encourages the siblings of those with special needs to take heart and find their voice.

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Jennifer L. Young is a first-time author who lives and works in Wilmington, North Carolina. She was born and raised in a rural town in Pennsylvania. Her older sister, Stephanie, has Down syndrome. During her childhood, the author harbored conflicting and complex emotions about her family caretaking responsibilities. However, she did not express them until she was in college at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, where she was working toward her bachelor of science degree in social work. Am I Special Too? shares Young's feelings, good and bad, about growing up with a Down syndrome sibling, and the ultimate understanding she gained about the challenges her parents faced with a special-needs child. Beyond working, concentrating on her master's degree classes, and writing, Young enjoys spending time with her two dogs, and her parents and sister, who come to visit her during the winter months.

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