Having lived in a variety of cities and having frequented even more libraries, Mason City Public Library is by far the most user-friendly I have experienced.  Additional accolades go to whoever purchased the heart-breaking, yet uplifting novel, Eye Contact, a quiet book which will be overlooked by many looking for more sensational reading.

Written by Cammie McGovern, the parent of an autistic child, Eye Contact explores the world of autism, special needs students, and bullies—large and small.  Set against the tragic murder of a young child and the ignorance of prejudice, ordinary people struggle to protect those they love and to make sense of their own lives at the same time.

The characters depicted are real people:  our families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers who are forced to confront where truth ends and hypocrisy and lies begin.  Whether we live in an inner city or rural America, we have met all of them in our daily wanderings.  Consequently, we also care about them and wish them well.

Ms. McGovern offers us a modern-day odyssey.  The book is a brilliantly colored snapshot of the early 21^st century with its fears and its potential.  The author has tackled some of society’s most egregious and common issues and has given us much to ponder.

         Carol Durbala is a former English and special education teacher who currently substitutes in area schools.