19 Steps Up the Mountain: The Story of the DeBolt Family

by Joseph P. Blank

Vintage TV tie-in paperback

Genres: Nonfiction, Adoption, Memoir, Biography, Adult

234 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library)]

What an inspiring story...and all the more because it's true!

[Ann]

I read this book a long time ago. I love/loved the story. This couple is wonderful and courageous! "Unadoptable" children find a home with others children who also have disabilities. Triumphs, challenges and love. I would recommend this book to anyone

[Mariana]

I LOVED this book! It makes me want to adopt 27 kids! But, this family really shows how to love your kids and to take care of them, even if you didn't give birth to them. These parents also show how to love them and help these kids deal with their handicaps. They know when to help, and when to tell their kids that they should do things on their own. They are not perfect but, they are a great example!

[Lydia E Winters]

My mom told me about this book many years ago. By the time I found a copy, I was unsure if I could even finish.

This book was written about 50 years ago I believe, Andy there was so little known about adoption, disability, and international adoption back then. I tried to read it with that in mind, remembering the time period it was written in.

The DeBolts seem like good people, and unlike most big families I’ve read about, I couldn’t find any disparaging reports of them online. It seems like their children lived happy lives.

That being said, it was very hard to read about. Many of the children were brought to the US “for their own good” and while they definitely got medical care it was uncomfortable for me. Some still had families back in their country. (I do know through articles that several have made many trips to their home countries)

The fact that they made ZERO effort to make their home accessible to their disabled children, in fact insisting that each one learn to climb the stairs to the second floor, was disturbing. Same with insisting their wheelchair bound son to use crutches.

This is due to the amount I’ve read over the years about disability and adoption. I’m so glad we know better now. I’m thankful improvements have been made. Things are far from perfect, but I’m thankful for the resources that exist now.

So, I liked the book, but also didn’t like it. But it definitely made me think.

[Debbie]

This is the second time I have read this book. I really enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time. This is the story of a loving couple who wanted kids and decided that no child was unwanted in their eyes or heart. This couple adopted a lot of children from all over the world, kids with all kinds of disabilities and hardships in life that they had. The Debolt's not only bought them into their home but their hearts and taught them how to overcome their disabilities. The children learn to love and do for themselves no matter how hard it was. This book made me cry more then a few times but worth the read.

[manatee]

I learned that it used to be possible to raise a large family in San Francisco on an insurance saleman's salary. I learned about courage and dtermination.

[Michaell Baumler]

There should be more people like the Debolts

[Eric Anderson]

Wrote in 2009: "A beautiful and interesting story. The family adopts many handicapped and troubled kids. What they sacrificed is sincere and moving." Hopefully this didn't later turn out to be molestation.

[T-Roy]

What an incredible story. I don't know where the DeBolt family got their energy!

Update: searching for recent news about the family, I found a TV special from 1977 on YouTube. I recommend watching it after reading the book.

[Autumn]

This book is also one of my favorites. (I love stories about families. I can't wait till the Duggars write a book!) However, this book was actually not very well written. But the story is true and it is so amazaing that I didn't care about the style of writing because I was so inspired. This is a family that truly gave their lives to serve God's children and didn't care what the rest of the world thought. This family raised several handicap children, including several children with prosthetic legs, one girl with prosthetic legs AND arms, and a couple children with severe visual disabilities. This mom is cool.

[Diane Dunham]

Very well written. The Debolts are a very special couple. Kept me reading. The children were definitely blessed to be in that family. More people should read this book so they can learn that even though children have physical or other handicaps they are still children and can do more than some people think they can do.

[Dawn Michelle]

This is truly an amazing book. Its the story of one family and all the special needs children that they adopt and how they adapt to today's society. It was an amazing story..not always happy, but the love always shone through. I LOVED this book!

[Cindy]

This inspirational story is of dedication and love as one family strives to help children with severe physical dissabilities overcome their challenges. This is also a story of unconditional love and adoption.

[Sharon]

Read this years ago, but it was fun to reread. The DeBolts were amazing people. The author told both sides of the story and it was nice to see that while they seemed to wear halos because of their caring and giving natures, they weren't immune to conflicts and everyday problems.

[Hannah Grace Gamis]

Another book that helped mould me as a person. Little did I know that when I grew up I'd have my own child with special needs. Inspires me to want to adopt a few kids.

[Lee]

Almost too good to be true. The true story of a couple who adopted 13 children to add to their own 7 children. Inspirational.

[Autumn Nelson]

Not very well written, but this true story is inspiring inspire the poorly written book.

[Mellanie C]

This was a cool story about a family that adopted many children with disabilities and taught them to lead independent lives long before that concept was mainstream.