Blog Post #1

        
        The book that I am doing for my independent study unit is “ The Monkeyface Chronicles” and it is about a young boy named Philip who was born with a facial deformity, called cleft lip and palate. He is discriminated by everyone because of his condition. Throughout the novel, he wishes he could have something done to minimize the effects of his deformity, but there are not too many options where he lives. According to an article on The Guardian called “Cleft lip and palate: a brighter future for babies,” now children born with cleft lip and palate have more treatment options than ever before. Nowadays, babies are get diagnosed appropriately and are living happy, normal lives. This relates to the novel because Philip is cleft lip and palate and he is put down because of his appearance. If he looked like what the society calls “normal,” then he would not be treated the way he is throughout the novel.  This relates to the social issue, which is discrimination because he is discriminated because of his appearance. If doctors can treat this deformity more effectively, it could help thousands of people around the world, including Philip. If you did not know, about 1 in every 300 children is born cleft lip and palate. Moreover, this novel is very near and dear to my heart and it is very relatable because I was also born cleft lip and palate. If you would like to see the article, you can click this link and read through it, http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/aug/31/cleft-lip-palate-brighter-future-babies.  If you want to get more information on cleft lip and palate, you can visit kidshealth or the Ontario Cleft Lip and Palate website and it would be amazing if you joined the cleft lip and palate organization to aware people about cleft lip and palate around the world have help cure it.