To Stand On My Own

To Stand On My Own: The Polio Epidemic Diary of Noreen Robertson is a fictional diary written by Barbara Haworth-Attard. It was the twenty-seventh book published in the Dear Canada series. The book was released in October 2010. It was also Haworth-Attard's second book for the series.

Dedication

"For Margie Eaton, my sister-in-law, who has stood with me for thirty-seven years"

Book description

"Friday, July 30, 1937
In the hospital
It has been a long time since I wrote in here. I am in the isolation ward. It's to keep our germs from spreading around.
Saturday, July 31, 1937
All the nurses and doctors wear masks so only their eyes show. I thought they were ghosts and screamed because I thought I was dead.
Sunday, August 1, 1937
I have polio. I'm really scared. Mother and Aunt Ella have a school friend who had polio and she is crippled and has to lie in bed all day because she can't walk. Others who've had it have to use crutches. People can die from polio! Maybe if I say the word polio enough times, it won't be so scary."

Plot

Characters

Main article: List of To Stand On My Own characters

• Noreen Robertson

Author

Main article: Barbara Haworth-Attard

Acknowledgements

"Many thanks go out to a lot of people who helped with the creation of this book: To Dr. Lou Horlick, Dr. Stuart Houston and Dr. Bryan Young for their medical direction; Blenda Ramsay for sharing her polio journey with me; Saskatoon and Regina reference librarians; City of Saskatoon Archivist Jeff O'Brien; Sandy Bogart Johnston for her wonderful editing; Scott Treimel, my agent, for always looking out for me; and last but not least, love to my husband, Joe."

"The publisher wishes to thank Dr. Stuart Houston, M.D., professor emeritus at the University of Saskatchewan, and author of Steps on the Road to Medicare and (with Dr. Bill Waiser) Tommy's Team: The People Behind the Douglas Years, for his detailed vetting of the text and his memories of the polio years in Saskaetchewan. Also our thanks to Barbara Hehner for her careful checking of the factual details."

References

See also

External links

• To Stand On My Own at Scholastic Canada
• To Stand On My Own Discussion Guide at Scholastic Canada