Product Description
The controversial national bestseller that received unprecedented media attention, sparked the nation's interest in the plight of children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and touched a nerve in all of us. Winner of the 1989 National Book Critics Circle Award.

Amazon.com Review
When Michael Dorris, 26, single, working on his doctorate, and part Indian himself, applied to adopt an Indian child, his request was speedily granted. He knew that his new three-year-old son, Adam, was badly developmentally disabled; but he believed in the power of nurture and love. This is the heartrending story, full of compassion and rage, of how his son grew up mentally retarded, a victim of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome whom no amount of love could make whole. The volume includes a short account of his own life by the 20-year-old Adam, and a foreword by Dorris' wife, the writer Louise Erdrich. The Broken Cord won a National Book Critics Circle Award in 1989.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 18 reviews)

The Broken Cord, Michael Dorris

I ordered the book, The Broken Cord, sometime ago and it has never arrived. I have communicated with the seller and he is taking care of it-- he'll send me another copy ASAP.
November 10, 2008

Best book on FAS available

Thank goodness Michael Dorris wrote this book before we lost him. If you are raising or working with a child with FAS, buy it and read it and read it again. When I first read it, my daughter was 16. Her biological mother was profoundly alcoholic, and died as a result. My daughter has many of the FAS anomalies. Reading The Broken Cord gave me hope--and understanding. And it changed the way I interacted with her. From that point forward--and because she had the world's most patient and dedicated Special Education teacher--my daughter began (finally!) making forward progress. Today she lives in Hawaii and works for a major cruise line. Not bad for an FAS kid! This book still stands as the best book available on FAS children. I recommend it without reservation.
September 22, 2008

Broken Cord difficult to read

Although the author had lots of great information on his FAS child his history and experience as an anthropologist makes the reading difficult. He sometimes spends more time describing the wind or the surroundings than he does talking about his son's issues. Two other books I read on the same subject were riveting and sad in their own way. Michael Dorris' detours made me not want to read the book because paragraphs would go by describing the grass swaying in the wind rather than how he was coping or dealing with his son's terrible affliction. I wish the movie was available for viewing because in this case the summarized cinematic version might be better.
August 29, 2008

Broken Cord...Good Book!!!

Great account of a parent dealing with a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The read was light and interesting. Highly recommended for those who want a different perspective on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
April 10, 2008

Review of the Broken Cord

Michael Dorris is and advocate for the poor innocent victims of fetal alcohol effect and fetal alcohol syndrome. In "The Broken Cord", Michael sets out to inform his readers about this unfortunate condition. Fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effect happens to babies when they are still in the womb. Basically, if the biological mother of the child consumes excessive amounts of alcohol while still carrying the baby, it can cause severe disfigurations, as well as a lack of development of the brain. Alcohol affects these children in a different way than a grown person. The Broken Cord shows how great the effects of alcohol can be on these children.

Mr. Dorris is a college educator of Native American descent. He is an adoptive father to three children and a biological father to three children, that he has had with his wife, Louise. Michael has personally experienced fetal alcohol syndrome, through his child. One of his adopted children, Adam, has a more severe case of fetal alcohol syndrome. Mr. Dorris really knows how unfair it is for these kids to have to deal with this, when it wasn't even their fault or their choice.

Mr. Dorris really does an excellent job of communicating through his many personal stories and statistics, how important it is for people to be informed about fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effect. When Michael explains the hardships that he has had to face with his son Adam because of this situation, and when he talks about how Adam will never be able to function normally, it really makes you think about how lucky many of us are.

Throughout the book, Michael Dorris clearly explains and informs you about the conditions, while also holding your interest with his touching and accurate stories. These stories assist the understanding of the effects of FAS and FAE, for example, not learning from your mistakes. After reading this book and finding out how fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effect affect so many people's lives, it will make you want to learn more about FAS and FAE.
April 08, 2008

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