Degree of Difficulty - Simplified

Julie Justicz, born and raised in England, spent her adolescence in the United States and earned a law degree from the University of Chicago before completing an MFA in creative writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She currently works on civil rights issues in Chicago while living in Oak Park, Illinois with her spouse and children. In "Degrees of Difficulty," love remains the foundation of family amidst the heartache and heartbreak of caring for a developmentally disabled child. Ben Novotny's rare chromosomal disorder requires constant attention and brings tremendous pressure on his parents and siblings as they struggle to maintain their own individual lives while supporting Ben throughout his life. The novel takes readers on a journey through the perspectives of each family member, Perry and Caroline, Hugo and Ivy, as their lives diverge and love finds a way after loss. The story is one of grace amidst heartache, and the pain and ultimate redemption of love and responsibility. "Degrees of Difficulty" captivates readers and delivers an authentic narrative with believable characters and a full, vivid world. "What an astonishing debut," exclaims Alex Kotlowitz, author of "There Are No Children Here: A Story of Two Boys Growing Up" and "An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago". "Haunting and visceral," prays Emily Saliers, singer-songwriter with Indigo Girls. "Moved and captivated," writes Abby Frucht, author of several novels. The tenderness and honesty in Julie Justicz's writing will make readers yearn to rejoin the journey of Ben's family.

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