Hallman, Tom, Jr. Sam; the boy behind the mask.

Penguin Putnam, Berkley. 240p. illus. c2002. 0-425-19174-5. $14,00. JSA 

In September 1985 Debbie and David Lightner were faced with a terrible choice. An ultrasound had just revealed that the baby Debbie would deliver in two months was deformed. Did they want to terminate? They chose to let Sam be born and to deal with his disfigurement later. Sam had a bulging growth on the left side of his face and under his neck, a cystic hygroma that would make strangers turn away in disgust. He grew up with his vascular anomaly too invasive to be removed.

Hallman's book is really Sam's book, a story of a boy's courage, intelligence, patience, and grace, ending when he is 14 and entering high school, a member of the class of 2004. Photos help the reader see Sam from the outside, and Hallman's incisive prose helps us see Sam on the inside, a normal boy who wants to play and learn and go to college. Sam's story is inspirational and Hallman makes us cry but also makes us stop looking away from superficial oddities. Recommended for its power Janet Julian, Grafton, MA

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.