Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding
Review: I initially noticed this book, because I grew up in the same neighborhood as the Grealy family -- though I didn't know them personally -- and was curious to read Lucy's story. While it was interesting to read about old familiar locations and common acquaintances, I was totally unprepared for the honesty, the strength, and the depth of her emotional journey. I read this book several years ago, and I have thought of it often since ... and given it to many others to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of human emotions - both their own and the effects of their treatment of others. In addition to being an amazing story, it's well-written, thorough, and easy to read.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely, Courageous, Wise Woman Who Will Me Missed
Review: January 15, 2003
I was devastated to hear of Lucy's recent passing. I hope she knew about the many fans that she had out there in readingland. I was one of them, and I also live with a severe disfigurement and have gone through numerous plastic surgeries and grew up going to the hospital every year and being tortured by peers for being "ugly". I read the book in my mid twenties and not only did this book teach and entertain me with the tons of wisdom she passed on to the reader, Lucy enchanted me with her wonderful sense of humor and sincere sweetness that comes through in the book. Lucy's deep insight into her pain and isolation is expresesd without cold detachment or over indulgence. I think those of us who actually live with cosmetic deformities can know the enormous amount of courage it took to write her memoir. Also, the book draws the reader into her world of her pains, joys, and discoveries of life in an effortless way without pity, drama-queen tactics, or sugary sap. Lucy was a true talent: a real writer who sucessfully tackled a highly complex subject with grace in a time when so much self-serving, simple garbage is published. This book is a real life lesson about adversity written with humor and strength. It has become a regular on high school reading syllabi for obvious reasons. In a time when our culture is addicted to and obsessed with physical beauty, Lucy was the voice of reason. Physical beauty fades (Has anyone seen Farrah Fawcett lately? Need I say more?) BUT marvelous books are forever cherished and this book will endure for generations to come. The world is a dimmer place without Lucy. Rest in peace, Lucy. I never met you but I read your book and admired you so much. Actually, it was my dream to meet you one day just to tell you that I loved your book. You will be so missed and will NEVER be forgotton.
Rating:
Summary: The most beautiful prose and the most moving story
Review: This book did me in. I absolutely loved ever word. Lucy Grealy's prose is hauntingly beautiful. And her story is purely haunting, especially since her death, which sounds like it was a suicide. It is at once a deeply sad and profoundly hopeful book, full of wisdom and insight. As a reader who has dealt with a disabling chronic illness for the last 13 years, I felt "responance" with this book in a way that I have with no other book before or since.
Rating:
Summary: DISABLED IN ACTION
Review: Lucy has had to contend with cancer from a very early age. At 10, she undergoes surgery and follow-up treatments to remove a cancerous jaw. This unfortunately alters her appearance and Lucy has to live with the hostile stares, cruel comments and stupid remarks made by insensitive people.Although Lucy uses the word "disabled," it is the opinion of this reviewer that Lucy was disabled in ACTION. As unfortunate as her health and appearance altering condition is, Lucy remains true to her core self. Bright, witty and extremely verbal, Lucy reminds the world at large of how character all too often is eclipsed by appearance. Lucy also inadvertently reminds all who have read this book that "able" is the core part of "disable" and that "dis" is simply a prefix. Therefore, she is more ABLE that disabled. That is a very affirming thought. Lucy is truly an inspiration and gives a good reminder to ALL persons never to judge somebody based on physical appearance. In this book, Lucy is truly beautiful.
Rating: 
Summary: Self-recognition, not self-pity
Review: In "Autobiography of a Face", Lucy Grealy explores how her disfigurement from cancer surgery came to be the central theme of her life and that of her family. Even the title shows how Grealy has identified herself with her face above all else. The autobiography of Lucy Grealy has become the autobiography of her face because for a great part of her life Ms. Grealy was nothing more than a face, or at least it seemed so. Doctors, fellow students, family members, and complete strangers see not a woman with a disfigured face; they see a disfigured face. Grealy shows how she also falls under the spell of her disability, allowing it to control her life and dictate her future to a greater extent than it otherwise would. Yes, having a disability means that sometimes you have to say "I'm disabled, therefore I can't....", but as Grealy finally learns, it also means sometimes saying "I'm disabled, but I can!". All in all this is an inspiring book, one I'm glad I read and one I would highly recommend, especially to other disabled readers.
Rating:
Summary: A truly inspiring story
Review: Autobiography Of A Face, by Lucy Grealy is a compelling story about a young girl faced with the fear of Ewing's Sarcoma, a cancer in her jaw. The book is an autobiography, told in the first person, which makes the story more sympathetic. Lucy's family, which lives in Spring Valley, New York, immigrated to American from Ireland five years before they found out about Lucy's cancer. At the age of nine Lucy was outside at recess playing dodge ball, when she and another girl forcefully collided into each other. The blow to her face caused Lucy to have continuing pain through the evening and into the morning. After a few visits to the doctor, some false diagnoses, and surgery, the doctors realized Lucy had cancer in her jaw. After undergoing a major surgery that ended up removing one third of her jaw, Lucy then had to undergo three years of radiation and chemotherapy. Throughout all the procedures thus far, Lucy had been very naïve and ignorant of her situation. She heard what people were telling her, but didn't really listen. Instead, all she thought about was how she would be missing school, and how her "two absolute, hands-down favorite television programs were Emergency! And Medical Canter," and the possibility of having a situation like those in the TV show dramas made her ecstatic. However, as the number of surgeries and treatments increase, Lucy is not so excited about going to the hospital, and her identity starts to shift. Lucy was once the unique girl who always strived to be different, whereas after the major surgery removing one third of her jaw, she became self-conscious of how others may portray her. Lucy returned to school to find few friends and much teasing and ridicule by her peers. At first she ignored the cruelty, but then she started to believe what they were saying and question herself. This led to her self-consciousness behavior. Lucy had to suffer through the horrors of rejection, but in the end it made her a better person. By being constantly harassed, Lucy developed empathy for others who were suffering. It also gave her a new outlook on life in general. After suffering through the effects of cancer and harassment, Lucy learns to love herself, and accepts who she is, not what she looks like. She really looks deep inside, and finds her identity. Identity is an important theme in the book, and is portrayed well with the way Lucy Grealy wrote the book. Her descriptions make the book very realistic, and they really help to connect you with the characters. In many parts of the book, imagery was used in a convincing way to make the story come to life. Grealy used rich language to further the reality that cancer can have on a family both emotionally and economically. A weakness I noticed was that Grealy never directly wrote about her family, and how they interacted with each other. There were bits and pieces of how she interacted with her mother and father, but it never really gave a clear image as to what their family was like. Lucy had two older brothers, an older sister, as well as a twin sister. However, they were rarely written about. I wanted to know what the siblings were like, and how they felt about Lucy's sickness. Also, did they ever tease her about "looking funny" or were they supportive? After finishing the book, I felt this was one of the only incomplete parts that left me with questions. Despite the book's few weaknesses, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a heart-touching story. This story really gives you an in-depth look at what it is like to be in someone else's shoes, and live their life through their ups and downs. It teaches many good lessons, and will certainly be enjoyable to most everyone!
Rating:
Summary: Cancer Book Review
Review: This book is one of a psycological outlook of how can cancer can affect one's mental stanblility and outlook on oneself. It describes the horrible treatment one can recieve when being seen as an outcast of society. this book allows one to see through the eyes of someone growing up and living with the effects of cancer and it scars both mental ones and physical ones. I believe this book can have a profound impact on those of use who have not personally had an experience with cancer. Those who have had cancer can relate toi this story as well. I hope that anyone who chooses to read this book will open thier eyes to the trajedies of cancer.
Rating:
Summary: Brave Young Girl
Review: The book "Autobiography of A Face", was an awesome book that took my attention. When I read this book I pictured what, it was like for her to have to walk down the hallway or when she went to the grocery store with her mother. She would get stared at or called names. It really hurt her when someone said something about her. As she got older she learned to ignore it. For only being nine when she was diagnosed, I think she is a role model for most women that have fought with cancer. It took alot of strength for her to deal with cancer, but she overcame it.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best books i have ever read.
Review: This book was one of the manditory books for my freshman class. We had just read Antigone and Othello, so this book came as a shock to many of my classmates, because it was a book that had just recently come out (in the past 100 years). I loved this book for its truthfulness and inspiration that it gave me. i heard that she dies last year, and it was sad to see such a beautiful soul end at such a young age. I am glad that she has produced this book and has and will touch many people around the world with her story.
Rating:
Summary: Sad story.........
Review: This is a very sad compelling story. It is unimaginable what this young girl went through for so many years and how she was treated by those around her. This would be a great book for high school reading - to raise empathy in everyone.
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