Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: The Boy in the Moon

The Boy in the Moon by Ian Brown 2008

The Boy in the Moon is an intense memoir by Globe and Mail writer, Ian Brown. Brown first introduced readers to his son Walker in a series of articles published in The Globe and Mail and his writings elicited such a response that a book soon followed. In vivid detail, Brown describes what life is like for himself, his wife, his daughter, and his son Walker, who was born with an extremely rare genetic condition rendering him profoundly disabled. The exhaustion, frustration, humour, and love Brown has experienced caring for his son are brought to life here, but this book is far more than a parent’s reminiscences. Brown explores the ethics surrounding how society handles those living with disabilities; he confronts his own guilt as a parent who is unable to provide all the care his son requires, all the while searching for the meaning and value of his son’s life. The Boy in the Moon has won several awards, including the 2010 Trilliam Book Award. It was also a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-fiction. Brown pulls you into his world and it is likely one you’ll never forget.