The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon

From Goodreads.com:
   It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, and have been left to languish, forgotten. Deeply in love, they escape, and find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone-Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl. When the authorities catch up to them that same night, Homan escapes into the darkness, and Lynnie is caught. But before she is forced back into the institution, she whispers two words to Martha: "Hide her." And so begins the 40-year epic journey of Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and baby Julia-lives divided by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, yet drawn together by a secret pact and extraordinary love.

  It took a few chapters for me to become immersed but The Story of Beautiful Girl is marvelous. This is a pleasantly written novel exploring love and faith. The summary from Goodreads sums it up very well but there are a few things it doesn't tell you. Lynnie is not stupid just a little slow. She decided to quit talking when she realized that talking could get you into trouble at the School. Homan is only deaf, he has no way to communicate with others. He uses hand signs but no one cares enough to try to learn what he has to say, until Lynnie. They make a plan to run away and are successful for three days during which Lynnie gives birth.
   The story is told from a few different perspectives which is necessary given the many different paths characters follow over this 43-year journey. One of my favorite characters in this book is Kate, an attendant at the School who takes a special interest in Lynnie. She has private meetings with Lynnie encouraging her to draw pictures after noticing her mopping in swirls. She even has Homan join them sometimes after noticing their fondness for each other.
   I liked the uncommon characters created in this novel. I haven't discovered many books with main characters that are developmentally flawed. I thought that the perspectives presented were true enough to people who have similar disabilities. If you like to read something a little different I'd recommend this.