Through the Eyes of Friendship

ISBN: 0759675163

Author: Peters, Elizabeth T.

Condition: New

In the fall of 1990, fifteen-year-old Ellie Jorgensen, blind since early childhood and driven by a strong desire for independence, enters a regular high school among sighted peers against the desires of her protective and controlling mother. Far from Ellie's home on the Gulf Coast, another fifteen-year-old, Laraby Davis and her family participate in the puppy raising program of Guiding Eyes for the Blind. The girls become pen pals and exchange letters throughout the book. Ellie, however, chooses not to disclose her blindness to Laraby, not wanting to be seen as different.Ellie strongly believes a guide dog will enable her to live independently but must overcome the strong objections of her mother. During the summer of 1991, Ellie is accepted as a candidate to receive a guide dog. She enters a twenty-six day training program and is paired with Tyler, the dog Laraby's family raised as a puppy. Ellie and Tyler return home for Ellie's senior year of high school.From the start Ellie faces many challenges, physical and emotional. She cannot let Laraby know Tyler is now her guide dog, for her pen pal doesn't know she is blind. After Ellie's graduation from high school and being accepted for enrollment for the fall term by an out of state university, her mother suffers a debilitating illness. Ellie must choose between giving in to what may be a final controlling measure by her mother to keep her at home and moving forward down the long sought road to freedom, with Tyler by her side.