With a sister's candid view, Anderson chronicles the barriers that made life difficult for her brother Charlie and for others like him. In an era that only gradually came to accept people with intellectual disabilities, Charlie's life and journey, including the eight years he spent in institutions, were challenging for him and his family. Anderson movingly describes the growth involved for all family members and Charlie's success in developing a life distinctively his own. She also celebrates the mystery of the connection beyond language she felt with her non-verbal brother, honestly confronting the limits of her understanding as well.