The Inspirational Tale of a Boy and His Guide Dog
Even though I’ve always been more of a cat person, I couldn’t help but be moved by Running With Roselle: How a Blind Boy and a Puppy Grew Up, Became Best Friends, and Together Survived One of America’s Darkest Days. This is the true story of the remarkable relationship between Michael Hingson and his guide dog.
Hingson has been blind since birth. However, his parents raised him to believe that he did not need to be limited by his disability. He excelled in public school, even though neighbors were shocked that his parents let him ride a bike around the streets of Palmdale, CA. He attended college, started a fulfilling career, and got married - proving that he was capable of doing everything a sighted person could do.
On September 11, 2001, Hingson inspired the nation with his escape from the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Hingson walked down 78 smoke-filled flights of stairs with his guide dog Roselle, calming his frightened coworkers by assuring them that he was an expert in being able to navigate without the use of his eyes and that they’d get to safety with Roselle’s help.
When rescue workers offered him special assistance, he stated that he would be fine and that the workers should focus on looking for anyone who might be injured.
Running With Roselle is recommended for readers ages eight and up. Although I loved the book, I’m still on the fence about letting my nine-year-old son read it. What little he’s heard about the attack on the World Trade Center has always upset him, so I’m not sure he’d be able to look past that aspect of the book to focus on the overall message that confidence and the support of devoted friends can help you overcome any challenge.
The attack is not depicted in a graphic manner, but if your child is under 12 and tends to worry a lot, I would suggest reading the book yourself before you decide if it’s something you want to share.
Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher.
Photo credit: Amazon
