When Janice Flood Nichols and her twin brother Frankie were just 6 years old, they contracted polio. She survived, but he did not. This traumatic event shaped the rest of Nichols' life and is the heart of "Twin Voices: A Memoir of Polio, the Forgotten Killer" (ISBN 9780595433162, iUniverse, 2007).
Even though the death of her twin brother was one of the most significant events of Nichols' life, she was not inspired to write about it until nearly 50 years later, when she realized that innocent children in third-world countries are still dying from the disease. The United States was declared free of the wild poliovirus in 1979, and for most U.S. citizens today, it's just a distant memory. Nichols says that for many years she lived under the false impression that polio had been essentially eradicated throughout the world. A 2003 Rotarian article changed that misconception, pushing Nichols to decide it was time to spread the word about the forgotten killer by telling her story.
"Twin Voices" is narrated by several different "voices," including the doctor who signed Frankie's death certificate, various members of Nichols' family, Nichols herself and even her twin Frankie, who speaks his part from heaven. Through this creative and reader-friendly format, Nichols smoothly balances the warm narrative about her childhood memories with hard facts about polio and the dangers it currently presents worldwide.
Polio still has no cure, and vaccination remains the only way to prevent it, but many people in third-world countries are unvaccinated and continue to suffer from the disease. "Twin Voices" educates readers about the power and devastation of polio with up-to-date medical information, backed by a 40-page bibliography. However, this memoir is anything but dry. Through her heartbreaking true story, Nichols explores the grief process, twin relationships and the power of friends, family and caregivers. Ultimately, "Twin Voices" is about faith, strength and the resilience of the human spirit, an uplifting book that will raise readers' social awareness and inspire them to make a difference.
About the Author:
Janice Flood Nichols resides in Lockport, NY, with her family. She survived polio as a child and was one of the polio pioneers who were given the Salk vaccine in 1954. She is committed to the eradication of the disease and since the book's publication, has devoted her time to spreading the word about polio, and the importance of vaccination for all children, via presentations to students, civic groups and service organizations.
"Twin Voices: A Memoir of Polio, the Forgotten Killer" (ISBN 9780595433162, iUniverse, 2007) can be purchased through local and online bookstores. For more information, visit www.twinvoices.com. Publicity contact: www.readerviews.com. Review copies available upon request.