Alex, By Proxy / Karen Myna Cantor / Book Review
ALEX, BY PROXY Sixteen-year-old Alex is used to being stared at. That's what being chronically ill as long as you can remember will get you. Seizures, hallucinations, lots of missed school, tons of neighborly sympathy: that's always been Alex's life. And Alex's life has always been a lie. One that his mother perpetuated. Alex is a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, made systematically ill by his mother all his childhood. And a recent hospitalization and coma brought the truth to life. With his mother behind bars, Alex is preparing his testimony now as he's awaiting the trial. And it's hard. Really hard, putting into words what was done to him. So when some classmates decide to start a true crime podcast about their own local true crime story (AKA Alex's own life history), he decides he has to help. No more excuses, and no more hiding: the truth has to come out. THOUGHTS ...