About this item
Polio is back in the news. Almost forgotten for decades in the US, it has been brought back into the spotlight by the anti-vaxxer movement -- but for millions around the world, especially those who have residual or late effects of polio, this virus has never been old news.Francine Falk-Allen was only three years old when she contracted polio and temporarily lost the ability to stand and walk. Here, she tells the story of how a toddler learned grown-up lessons too soon; a schoolgirl tried her best to be a "normie," on into young adulthood; and a woman finally found her balance, physically and spiritually. In lucid, dryly humorous prose, she also explores how her disability has affected her choices in living a fulfilling (and amusing) life in every area -- relationships, career, religion (or not) , athleticism, artistic expression, and aging, to name a few.
About the Author
Francine Falk-Allen was born in Los Angeles and has lived nearly all of her life in northern California. As a former art major who got a BA in managerial accounting and ran her own business for thirty-three years, she has always craved creative outlets. Over the years, this has taken the form of singing and recording with various groups, painting, and writing songs, poetry and essays, some of which have been published. Falk-Allen facilitates a support group, Polio Survivors of Marin County, and a Meetup writing group, Just Write Marin County, and volunteers on the City of San Rafael ADA Accessibility Committee. She was the polio representative interviewed in a PBS/Nobel Prize Media film, "The War Against Microbes." Her first book, Not a Poster Child, won several awards, and was listed by Kirkus Reviews and Pop Sugar in Best Books of 2018. No Spring Chicken was starred by Kirkus Reviews as a book of exceptional merit, and one of their Best Books of August, 2021. Falk-Allen loves gardening, being in the outdoors, many forms of music, swimming, her silly old cat, Leila, British tea, long literary novels, a little champagne now and then, and her husband, Richard Falk. Falk-Allen is available for speaking engagements and book clubs. Motto: "If you don't have a sense of humor, it's just not funny." - Wavy Gravy
