The Unfinished Child

Theresa Shea tells an important story of womanhood, motherhood, and friendship. I read The Unfinished Child in a weekend and was sad to say goodbye to the characters after I put the book down; they left a deep imprint on my soul. I love it when a book affects me that way. —Gail Williamson, Founder/Director of Down Syndrome in Arts & Media

The Unfinished Child is a heart wrenching and honest story. Shea's exploration of the lives of those affected by Down syndrome is unexpected, well-researched, and hopeful. —Canadian Down Syndrome Society

In The Unfinished Child, Theresa Shea trains her compassionate eye on the heartbreaking pressures and counter-pressures felt by the woman who has conceived a child with Down Syndrome. The novel is the debut of a gifted and sensitive writer, and one who has important things to say. —Merna Summers

The Unfinished Child is a compelling, unflinching portrayal of the complexities of motherhood and family. —Jacqueline Baker

Gripping. Heart-wrenching. Thought-provoking. Riveting. Haunting. Unputdownable . . . A must read for not only parents in the Down syndrome community, but for all parents, and for anyone who appreciates masterful story-telling. —Turn the Page, blog

An insightfully sensitive presentation of the difficult, impossible, heart breaking and sometimes rewarding challenges of what most soon-to-be parents never allow themselves to consider. —Behind the Hedge, blog

A sensitively drawn and well-researched first novel about the complexities of women’s lives . . . Shea doesn’t provide easy answers, but shows us what women faced and face, in fluid, beautiful language. —Alberta Views

A complex and sensitive debut . . . A gripping climax, raising compelling questions about moral responsibility in a 21st-century world. —Publishers Weekly

Quill & Quire includes The Unfinished Child on their Spring preview for 2013.

The Halifax Reader includes The Unfinished Child on their list of Canadian books to watch for in early 2013.

"This is not only a must read for parents of special needs children, but for anyone who has faced struggles in their lives and have fought to overcome them." —Book Mama Blog

"The Unfinished Child is a heartwrenching and heartbreaking read that also asks so many difficult questions. It makes an absolutely perfect discussion piece for any book club." —Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity

"The Unfinished Child is a book about the decisions women face, the ones they must live with, and how societal views of Down Syndrome have changed over time. More than that, it’s about the complexities of friendship and the realization that maybe not everything is forever." —The Book Wheel

"Theresa Shea has hit a home run with her debut novel." —Chronicles . . .

"I recommend this book to any woman, mom or not. It's such a fascinating story of womanhood, parenting, marriage, friendship and self doubt. So excellent." —Sara's Organized Chaos

"One powerful read." —Lovely Bookshelf

"The Unfinished Child is a powerful, sensitively-told tale." —Read Lately

"Well written and insightful ... The Unfinished Child gave me a lot to think about, which is another way to say I loved it. I really enjoyed how it gave different perspectives on Down Syndrome children, and I especially appreciated the story of Margaret, which gave an overview of how people suffering from Trisomy 21 were (mis)treated in the past, and how it changed through the years. A great novel about tolerance and acceptance." —Angelique, Maple Books