Memoir's 2

Positive

This is a story about a girl Paige Rawl who has been HIV positive since birth. The story starts with her talking about how she has always taken medication and always had doctor checkups often, but never really knew what it was for. She eventually learns its because she is HIV positive. Growing up she never let the illness define her. When she felt close enough to her good friend she confided in her and told her about this. Two weeks later the whole school knew and Paige was mortified. Paige said everyday at school was like walking through a minefield. The kids in her school would leave nasty notes on her locker and gave her the nickname "Paids". She fights through the battles of being bullied and the depression. Later on Paige goes to a camp with other HIV infected kids. At first she was very skeptical of this because Paige is. now, a closed person, and doesn't open up easily. However she became very close with the people she meet. 

She wanted to be a role model for people with HIV and to show people it's just something they have to accept and they can have the life they want regardless. 

A Long Way Gone the memories of a Boy Soldier

This book is memories from a boy who first hand dealt with being a child soldier in Sierra Leone written by Ishmael Beah. Beah ran away from his village at age 12 after it was attacked by rebels. He wandered the country and was forced into the army who brainwashed him into guns and drugs.He refers to the drugs he was given "brown pills" and " white pills". By the age of 13 he already participated in and witnessed many violent crimes. However at age 16 he was removed from the group by UNICEF, and was put into a rehab center. He suffered terrible drug withdrawals and post traumatic stress from the war . He travels the United States telling his story. 

Memoir's 1

Running with Scissors 
Augusten Burroughs memoir "Running with Scissors" covers his chaotic adolescent years, starting at age 12 when he moves in with his mothers psychologist, Dr.Finch . Augusten shares the house with other children too, some of who were adopted and others who are the Dr.Finch's patients. The household has hardly any rules and Dr.Finch believes that children are capable of being in charge of their own lives at age 13. At one point the have a mentally unstable patient, Cesar, live with them who attempts to rape Augusten, and pays one of the girls in the house for sex. Augusten was forced to perform oral sex on a 33 year old adopted man. Which he later tells the man that he is gay. They had a very open sexual relationship and Burroughs loves the power he has over this man knowing he can charge him with statutory rape. Later the man moves to New York city, and they were never in contact after that. Burroughs forms a friendship with Dr.Finch's daughter, Natalie, and they begin to do everything together. As the book is coming to and end Burroughs is forced to chose between his mother and Dr.Finch knowing that the Doctor raped his mother. He still considers Dr. Finch family because of the previous years together, and can't chose sides. Augusten decides to leave for New York, not knowing what he plans to do there but he is determined to make it.


Two Kisses for Maddy
This is a beautiful story a man wrote about his love and loss. Matt and Liz Logelin were high school sweethearts and had a long distance relationship for quite some time, until they finally settled down together in Los Angeles.  They become pregnant and welcome their little girl Maddy into the world on March 24, 2008. Just 27 hours later Liz suffered a pulmonary embolism and died instantly, without ever being able to hold her daughter. Devastated and grieving the loss of his wife, Matt knows he needs to move forward and make a life for Maddy. He tries to keep his wife's spirit in the life he is providing for Maddy; when buying clothes for Maddy he buys things he knows Liz would like, and always gives Maddy two kisses one for him and one for Liz. Matt creates a beautiful and heartfelt story in two kisses for Maddy.