Show and Tell

Karen Vanderlaan
Publish American (2004)
ISBN 1413746373
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/06)

“Show and Tell” is a story that will leave you quiet and contemplative.  It is about the life of Karen Vanderlaan.  She spent her early years on a family farm called “The Milky Way.”  She and her siblings enjoyed the freedom that comes from having land to roam on, and they enjoyed their horses.  Her true childhood ended the day that her mother left her father and took the children away from their farm. 

Karen had to grow up quickly.  She and her siblings were both physically and mentally abused by their mother and the mother’s friend named “Bunny.”  They also had to live in poverty.  Karen’s relationship with her horses was one way that she could escape from the pain.  She didn’t always have them available and had to endure those hard times on her own. 

Karen was always seeking what most abused children seek: love, affection and a sense of belonging.  She could not get this from her parents.  She also test drove several religions and could not find what she was looking for from the people involved in them.  They were not practicing what they preached.  This caused more disappointing experiences for her.  She didn’t have too many people to turn to.  Having to see her brother and sister abused was also a torment in itself.  Nobody stepped in to help them.

Karen raised three children without the involvement of their fathers.  Again, she was alone in doing so.  Many times they lived in poverty.  Pulling from the strength that she had within her, she raised them and got an education for herself.  She learned that to be in control of her life, the only person that she needed to answer to was herself.  She started teaching children with disabilities.  There were a lot of children in this group that had been horribly abused.  She felt a connection with them and would tell them, “You have options and choices that you can make for yourselves…There is more to life than just putting one foot in front of the other.  Make it a good thing that you exist.  You are the author of your own stories.  Live with a purpose.”  She also believes that if we are responsible for someone else, than we should help them make their stories good ones.

Karen also got involved with rescuing horses that were to be sent to slaughter.  She helped heal them, train them and send them off to better places.  Her experiences with her horses showed me that this was the place where she was able to truly be unconditionally loved and accepted.  These animals touched her heart in a way that others did not.

Between raising her children, teaching those with disabilities and rescuing horses, Karen has built a life for herself that has meaning and that makes a difference for others.  She didn’t hole up within herself to dwell in the pain.  She is helping others to have better lives.  I truly admire her and am glad that she shared her story.  “Show and Tell” is a book that should be read and shared.   Karen’s story will make you want to do something to help make this world a better place.

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