Saying It Out Loud Author:Joan Abelove Mindy has always relied upon her mother -- to listen to her, to ease the tension between Mindy and her withdrawn father, to love her. Then her mother is diagnosed with a brain tumor. After her surgery, she is no longer a laughing, lively presence. She has lost the power of speech, and her memory -- and Mindy has lost her mother forever. — Based u... more »pon Joan Abelove's own life, here is the wrenching story of a girl losing her mother early, a girl with a father who will not acknowledge what is going on -- a girl who could have been you, or someone you know.« less