This book follows the story of Elijah Miller, a painfully shy young man, and Bonnie Yoder, a young woman with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Bonnie wants to dray Elijah out of his shell and makes accommodations so he feels more comfortable. Elijah and Bonnie’s relationship moves slowly due to internal struggles around their differing abilities. Elijah needs the comfort of his dog, Slowpoke, to carry on conversations, and Bonnie thinks that her disability means she has been given a different lot in life. They spend most of their time trying to help the other overcome their confused sense of self but not working on their own issues. This is a sweet story that not only deals with a variety of disabilities with ease but also encompasses themes of childhood friends to romance, swearing off relationships, and second chances.
