The meeting of Pamela Laskin and Ellen Paige was one of fate. They met at Lido Beach Townhouses, two years ago, in a water aerobics class. After talking, they both realized they had something in common – people in their lives who have disabilities.
So, what do they do? They decided to collaborate and write a book, called, What I Forgot to Tell You. The book tells the story of two individuals with disabilities as they navigate high school. That’s all I will say, as to not give anything away. The book was published last year, and Laskin and Paige wrote the book over the span of one year.
Laskin thought it would be great to write a story that is different from stories about people with disabilities who are high-functioning—as she says that is typical of TV shows, nowadays, showing those with disabilities as super-achievers.
“The world needs to know there are other kinds of achievements,” Laskin said. “There are different types of communication, there are different types of people and the world needs to know about them.”
The book writing process for Laskin and Paige was very collaborative from the start.
It was an effortless process to write the book,” Laskin said. “After each chapter, I went back to Ellen for changes, particularly when it came to the authenticity of the voice.”
Laskin is a retired professor from the City College of New York (CCNY) where she directed the Poetry Outreach Center and is the author of five books of poetry. Paige is a clinical social worker and adjunct professor in psychology at a local community college. She is a longtime member of the Board of Directors of FREE (Family Residences and Essential Enterprises).
When I finished reading the novel, I was tearful and immensely glad at the care and thoughtfulness that was put towards writing this book. To me, one of the best parts about this book is that the authors decided to write the book in the two main characters’ voices.
I got the opportunity to attend the December launch of What I Forgot to Tell You in New York City. I saw first-hand how many parents were very pleased with the book and attended the reception brimming with questions. As a journalist and as someone with a disability, I appreciated seeing people having conversations together about difficult, and at times, personal topics. I believe more of these types of conversations need to happen. Not just in small bars in New York, but all across the country.
This book is for kids, adults and everyone in between. Those with disabilities may see themselves in the story, whereas people on the outside looking in may learn a thing or two about how to be an ally to the disability community. There is strength in numbers and it pays to have the knowledge surrounding different communities.
Knowledge is power. Both Laskin and Paige have big dreams for the future they want to build, with this book as their backdrop. They want to take What I Forgot to Tell You on the road—bringing it to schools, medical professionals, hospitals, nonprofits, you name it.
“I’m interested in going to bookstores, I’m interested in going to special education PTA meetings, where parents and staff of different districts go,” Paige said. “I’m interested in this because it is such an important topic.”
Paige believes that What I Forgot to Tell You hits on “so many things that touch us all.”
Some themes of the book include bullying, feelings of being different, family dynamics, and social relationships. What I Forgot to Tell You is not only well written, but very honest and real. I believe this book will help lead to a kinder world. One where compassion prevails and being different is embraced and respected.
Those interested in purchasing What I Forgot to Tell You, can go to the publisher, Leapfrog Press or Amazon.
Anyone who is interested in having the authors do a presentation of the book, please contact Ellen Paige at ephcsw@aol.com and Pamela Laskin at pam.laskin@gmail.com.