Description
Description
About the Author
About the Author
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"Brain Trapp's Range of Motion is as rip-roaring in pace and humor as it is in its tenderness."
-- "Ninth Letter""As the twin of someone with severe cerebral palsy, Brian Trapp struggled to find representation of his brother Danny in literature. Too often, able-bodied authors wrote what they imagined was taking place within the minds of individuals with intellectual disabilities, erring toward too simple or objectifying. . . . In October, his debut novel Range of Motion was published by Acre Books, a narrative that authentically captures his brother's spirit, his family dynamic and the challenges of caring for a disabled sibling with inadequate social support. . . . He also hopes it allows people with disabilities to feel seen. The author has purposefully steered in the opposite direction of sentimentality, toward humor. In doing so, he's freed himself from the dehumanizing tropes that evoke pity and inspiration through characters with disabilities."
-- "Bend Bulletin" "Range of Motion is an emotional, yet never sentimental, story of a family learning when to cling to each other, and when to let go. Focused on the pivotal moment when two brothers, one with significant special needs, must launch their adult lives, it manages to be both tender and irreverent, lighthearted and sober. A poignant reminder that even a loving household is comprised of a group of individuals with different destinies coming together for a fleeting moment under one roof. Brian Trapp has delivered a truly impressive debut novel."-- "Mat Johnson, author of "Pym" and "Loving Day"" "Range of Motion is one of the best novels I've read in recent times. I don't know if I'll ever get over the achingly beautiful humor or the tender relationship between Michael and Sal. The arc of this novel is exquisite, and the ending is as artful as they come. I will be recommending it any chance I get."-- "Elizabeth McKenzie, author of "The Portable Veblen" and "The Dog of the North"""The bounds of brotherhood and familial love are tested as an ordinary Ohio family grapples with the day-to-day realities of raising a child with cerebral palsy in Trapp's novel. . . .The author balances the profundity of his story with a comic tone throughout. The family's pain--as well as their small triumphs--are palpable as the years pass, and the twins must face the possibility of separation as they approach their 18th birthday. This ultimately plays out in a riveting and dramatic series of events. . . A resonant and indelible family saga."
-- "Kirkus Reviews""At its core, Range of Motion is a novel about agency more than ability. Each member of the family is capable in their own way, including Sal. . . . The rotating perspectives of family members becomes a fabulous representation of a major issue in caretaking, of what it means to imprint your desires and beliefs onto someone simply because they cannot speak in the same way as others around them. . . . Here, there is a wonderful formal tapestry that celebrates the familial chaos inherent in disability care. . .Unique in its approach, craft in its scope, and important in its material, the book develops characters with intense emotion and organic sympathy while never leaving us out of the loop or confused about the pressure the Mitchell family is under."
-- "New Ohio Review""Growing up with a twin who had disabilities, Brian Trapp didn't see stories with characters like his brother Danny in books or on TV. He didn't see his own experience, or that of his family, reflected either. In his new novel
Range of Motion, [Trapp] delivers a fictional story heavily influenced by his own experiences. Tender, heartwarming, and at times quite funny."
Publishing Information
Publishing Information

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