Patoss Magazine Reviews A Hard Lesson a Thriller with a Dyslexic Fictional Character

I am thrilled to see a book review of my psychological thriller A Hard Lesson in the summer 2015 Edition of Patoss Magazine. They have reviewed my novel because one of the main characters has dyslexia. I have yet to encounter any fictional character with dyslexia, but am sure they exist. According to Dyslexia Action, 1 in 10 people have dyslexia. But this does not seem to be reflected in fiction or the entertainment industry in general. This is a shame, as people with dyslexia tend to be more creative and think outside of the box.

Buy from Amazon

The Patoss Bulletin is a magazine for teachers and students dealing with specific learning difficulties. A book review section can be found in the back, which rates all manner of books and resources connected with different learning styles, as this magazine recognizes lateral thinking.

Fictional Character with Dyslexia

Here is what Patoss Magazine has said about A Hard Lesson:

“A psychological thriller which, after a slow burn start, reels the reader in to care for Sarah, the fledgling teacher. Shy yet tenacious, she learns the hard way how to help her dyslexic pupil, Josh who lives on the edge of criminality and is the link to his dysfunctional family’s secrets. The tense ending packs a surprise.”

This review can be found in Volume 28 No. 1 Summer 2015.

Having taught art for a few years, have encountered dyslexic students who really struggled with written tasks. I do feel that this condition remains generally unrecognized in society and wondered why dyslexia is not featured more in culture i.e., films and books? Surely, this would bring dyslexia more into the public eye rather than remain in the shadows.

But this was not the reason why I wrote A Hard Lesson. I conceived the story when I was seventeen, not with the intention of raising awareness of dyslexia. I simply wanted to create a formidable character with a perceived flaw. Josh’s dyslexia could pose a risk of him submitting to the criminal world, as he sees his life choices as limited. But Sarah, fueled by guilt of her dead brother, refuses to give up on her most difficult challenge. Incidentally, Sarah's brother is special educational needs (SEN) due to a difficult birth, causing severe learning difficulties. This equips Sarah with some understanding of Josh.

Research into Dyslexia for Fiction

Read more about how I conceived the story for A Hard Lesson.

A Hard Lesson by Charles Jay Harwood

Research into Dyslexia for my fiction novel

The Butterfly Effect in A Hard Lesson
Patoss online magazine

A Hard Lesson can be found on Kindle, paperback, large print and audible.