Hole in the Heart: Bringing Up Beth

The title of this deeply affecting memoir by British artist Beaumont clearly refers both to the heart condition that her third daughter, Beth, is born with, and to Beaumont's struggles with loving the girl, who also has Down syndrome. Beaumont is revealing, even blunt, about the emotional turmoil she and husband Steve undergo during Beth's early years: the questioning; fears of the future; the many awkward moments around parents of typical kids; and the traumatic encounters with doctors and other professionals. Particularly difficult is their decision whether to continue dealing with the inclusion-without-engagement of Beth's mainstreamed early education, or to send her to a special school. Beaumont's artwork, in a black-and-white watercolorlike style with many shades of gray, can become starkly expressionistic at times of dread and more realistic at calmer moments, achieving some striking images and powerful visual metaphors.