CHAMPION Book urges acceptance of different people

After losing her job, the author started the book about a quadriplegic teen.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CHAMPION -- Author Patricia Huston-Holm wants students to learn to accept others despite their differences.
Huston-Holm's first book, "Shattered: True Story of an American Teenager," tells the story of a popular high school student whose life changed dramatically when she was thrown through a rear car window in an accident after a college party.
The 1997 accident left Holly Slack a quadriplegic. It also changed her attitude.
"For most teen-agers, popularity is the most important thing in life," Holly, now 22 and a student at Wright State University, Dayton, wrote in the book. "I was no different until I got hurt."
Using in class: Huston-Holm talked to students Monday at Trumbull County Career and Technical Center who are reading the book in their English class.
"I love the book," senior Aime Campbell said.
Her class is starting Chapter 6. The book hits home because it's about someone to whom the students can relate.
"Everybody drives fast," she said. "I drive fast. This is about someone our age. It shows it could happen to anyone."
Aime handed a note to Huston-Holm, asking her to deliver it to Holly.
"I'd like to talk to her," she said.
Huston-Holm, who works as a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Education, started the book after losing a job. She was almost finished with her master's degree.
"One day I said to my husband, 'Maybe this is an opportunity to write a book,'" Huston-Holm said.
Connection: She knew Holly's story because they both graduated from the same high school in Hebron, in southeast Ohio. Holly's aunt was one of Huston-Holm's best friends from high school.
It took 32 interviews and three years to complete the book. She initially worked with publishers, but they wanted her to change some of the elements to make it a happier story.
"I didn't want to compromise it," she said.
Huston-Holm opted for Web publishing instead and has sold about 1,000 copies. The book is available in hard copy at Amazon.com. She left a few copies at the Book Nook in Warren.
"I came to the conclusion that it's not about selling books," Huston-Holm said.
Spiritual awakening: She discovered religion through researching and writing the book. Initially angry about the loss of her job, she became grateful for the opportunity to know Holly and the other young people she met during the research process.
"I realized that God was talking to me through these people," Huston-Holm said. "He was saying, 'Slow down your life.'"
She hopes students who read her book learn to accept other people even if they're different. That's Holly's hope as well, the author said.
Holly and Huston-Holm have talked to movie-production companies interested in bringing Holly's story to film. No plans have been finalized.
Author and subject still talk occasionally.
"I don't think I did much for her, but she sure did a lot for me," Huston-Holm said.
dick@vindy.com