Quellebooks

Even today, with a wealth of information available and advancements in treatment, HIV/AIDS still holds a stigma among many. People who have the disease are judged negatively by other who do not have it. This is mostly out of fear. HIV/AIDS is something that can be avoided but is still very acquirable. It's effects are devastating.

Quicksand is both a personal story as well as a reference guide. The author, who kept herself anonymous because of the stigma that still holds strong today, recounts the story of her brother-in-law Jay who was diagnosed with AIDS in the mid-1990s. The text is interwoven with Jay's struggle with AIDS and information about the disease. This book covers a lot of information in an approachable Q&A format. It addresses the stigmas that still persist today and it even answers questions that to someone informed about HIV/AIDS might seem ridiculous but to someone who isn't as informed, it may be a question they were too afraid to ask.

In my opinion, this book needs to be shared with as many people as possible. The age group is listed as 10 and up but I think this book is so encompassing that it would be good for adults too. It could be a staple at hospitals or doctor's offices. If you are looking for a book on this subject that both informs and enlightens, then look no further than Quicksand.