Susan Nussbaum has chosen a topic for her debut novel that most people seldom even think about: juveniles with disabilities, ranging from psychiatric disorders to severe physical limitations. Caring for these youth is probably one of the greatest needs and challenges that we face as a society, yet the lack of awareness is pervasive. GOOD KINGS BAD KINGS will certainly increase awareness and perhaps inspire solutions.

There are amazing characters and awful stories throughout the pages of this book, but astonishingly it is filled with hope and humor rather than gloom and doom. The interaction among the residents of the Illinois Learning and Life Skills Center is engaging and, at times, heartwarming. Their interactions with the good kings and the bad kings are more surprising and vexing.

"Susan Nussbaum has provided a much needed look into the often neglected area of caregiving for disabled adolescents. Having worked in residential treatment facilities myself, I can attest to her observations and to the fact that more care needs to provided..."

Each chapter is written from the perspective of one of the seven main characters: three are residents, four are adults. We learn about the background of each as they observe the day-to-day activities at ILLC. The author's skill and insight make each of these people real and understandable.

The good kings are all interesting in their own way, and each plays an integral part in the lives of the residents. Joanne Madsen is independently wealthy due to a settlement after being crippled by a city bus. She tires of being home alone and takes a job as a data entry clerk at ILLC. There she becomes familiar with the residents as a result of reading their files and inputting their information. The residents recognize her as a good king because she, too, is in a wheelchair.

Ricky Hernandez drives the kids to and from school and is called upon by the house parents to help with managing those who act out. He is kind and sympathetic, and willing to risk his job if he sees anyone being abusive toward the residents. He should be cloned for future caregivers.

Yessenia Lopez, Mia Oviedo and Teddy Dobbs are the residents through whose eyes we see what happens in the halls and rooms of the nursing home. We learn that Yessenia cannot get over losing her tia Nene and makes the best of her wheelchair-bound life by being open and sometimes brutally honest in her relationships. Mia and Teddy are disarming youngsters who dream of someday getting married and having an apartment of their own, despite their disabilities. Several tragic incidents destroy those dreams but may inspire some readers to get involved in the caregiving sector.

Susan Nussbaum has provided a much needed look into the often neglected area of caregiving for disabled adolescents. Having worked in residential treatment facilities myself, I can attest to her observations and to the fact that more care needs to be provided, not by disinterested bureaucrats but by churches and synagogues that are charged with caring for the less fortunate.