May 2006    

No End In Sight Author: Rachael Scdoris Publisher: St. Martin's Press $22.95 Cloth (278 p.) ISBN: 0312352735 B&T         YBP Reviewed by Donna Cole, Profiling I have been owned by some wonderful dogs during my life. Also, my youngest son was a special needs child who beat the odds against him to graduate from college cum laude, hold a job, marry and have children. I greatly admire him for his determination and courage. For these and many other reasons, this book held a powerful attraction for me. The heroine of this story was born with a rare genetic disease that decreases her eyesight into the visually challenged range of 20/300 to 20/600. She is in all practicality blind, with an ability to see on a very limited basis. Rachael begins her story in childhood: the victim of school yard bullies during the week, followed by the freedom of weekends spent with her Dad and his sled dogs. She grew up hearing the tales of his friend who had run the Iditarod. These tales fired up the imagination of the young child who began to dream of putting herself in the wilds of Alaska. As she mastered the trails and the dog teams, her self-confidence grew and she learned the self-discipline needed to become a winner. Faced with too-helpful people, prejudiced people, and physical challenges, Rachael allowed nothing to deter her from her goals. This is the tale of her courage and desire. The book touches on the challenges and rewards of stretching beyond the comfortable range of the known. The jest tucked into the title gives a hint of the spirit required to overcome and to succeed. I found myself wishing I were reading this during the hot months of summer, as my mind's eye took me to the top of snow-covered mountains with stars filling the night sky. In the heat of August the mental moments of a lung full of that winter arctic air would have been more welcome. Did Rachael place, scratch or win the Iditarod? I will leave you to find that out for yourself. This is not the polished writing of a seasoned author, but if you enjoy the solitude found in nature, or dogs who give their all for their owner, if the competitive spirit makes your heart beat a little faster, then I believe you will enjoy this book. Published by YBP Library Services 999 Maple St., Contoocook, NH 03229 USA v: 800.258.3774   f: 603.746.5628 w: www.ybp.com   e: academia@ybp.com All rights reserved.