"Winter Stars is a gift — a modern classic of frontier literature documenting the uncertain journey into the country of caregiving. That Dave walked this path while himself living with neurological illness is remarkable, but his story will resonate with everyone who has grappled up close with a parent or loved one’s end of life. Adelaide Iverson comes through on the page as vividly as she must have in life — this is a portrait that would do any mother proud. I’m grateful to Dave for sharing his fresh and honest take on sickness and health, mothers and sons, and the deeply sustaining bonds of familial love. "

"This account of a loving son taking care of his mother in her final years is beautiful, moving, and so full of the spirit of the woman at its center that readers will feel they knew her. Dave Iverson has written the kind of memoir people will buy in quantity, to have on hand to give friends when they—and their parents—arrive at life’s most difficult juncture. Honest, comforting, and true, Winter Stars is a testament to the power of family love."

"My former PBS colleague Dave Iverson, whom I have known as a gifted broadcaster and filmmaker, decided at age 59 to move in with and care for his equally determined 95 year-old mother, whose dementia was eroding her quick wit and intelligence. Winter Stars recounts Dave’s care-giving odyssey, which, over ten years, broke open his heart. The resulting memoir is a love story you won't soon forget."

"A deeply moving account of a 10 year caregiving odyssey ... As Iverson depicts In heartrending scenes, those years were never without their difficulties ... but there are also glimmers of joy ... (that) cannily convey the nuances of living with and loving someone at the end of their life."

"Dave Iverson has written a wise and wonderful ode to one of the most memorable women ever to grace the pages of a memoir—his indomitable mother. It is a beautifully written, utterly unconventional love story that ultimately confirms the notion that a life worth living will eventually break your heart, but it will fill your heart before it breaks it. Anyone who has ever been a son or daughter—which, I believe, includes most of us—will love riding along with Dave and Adelaide. It's the trip of a lifetime."

"Winter Stars is the story of the indomitable Adelaide and her son Dave, who puts his own busy life on pause to become her fulltime caregiver. In so doing, Dave enters a world where he learns that loyalty and love are not always enough. A deeply moving memoir, Winter Stars is still more than that -- a guide to finding the help we all need, in one way or another, as life poses new and different challenges."

"Winter Stars is the elegant memoir of a relatable caregiver who spent a decade caring for his ailing mother … This monumental story is marked by complexity, love, and humor… embracing the full spectrum of Iverson’s emotions."

"Dave Iverson is like a friend who's been to a place you'd rather not go, but likely will: caring for an elderly parent. His caregiving memoir Winter Stars shows you around with honesty and humor. At age 59 he moved into his childhood home and took care of his mother for ten years, plenty of time for fearsome decision-making, happy and sad surprises and new depths of love. Iverson's gentle guidance is invaluable."

"Winter Stars provides an intimate firsthand account of living with someone with dementia, and author Dave Iverson has written a keenly observed and nuanced account of that experience. There is so much warmth and humility in this story about a mother and son treading a changing path, one that will be a tremendous source of support for those of us touched by loved ones who are themselves aging. "

"Dave Iverson’s Winter Stars is a must-read for anyone. His poetic, quiet honesty strikes at the heart of the experience of caregiving: at once heartbreaking and devastating, yet loving and joyful. Iverson depicts the little frustrations and anger as well as the delight and wonderment that simultaneously comes from caring for someone so intimately, so carefully and so lovingly. "

"Part enchanting memoir, part caregiving guidebook, part loving homage, Iverson’s Winter Stars glows with profound introspection, tenderness, and humor. As he recalls the challenges faced and lessons learned during his journey caring for his remarkable mother, Iverson asks hard questions about our nation’s attitudes about caregiving while offering insight, advice, and hope. Winter Stars serves as a valuable road map for anyone who is called to be there when they’re needed most, and an enlightening wake-up call for all of us."

"As the pandemic has made clear, the need for compassionate caregiving alternatives to nursing homes will only increase in the years ahead. Dave Iverson’s candid and compelling memoir describes in poignant detail the difficult choices that accompany anyone who takes on a caregiver's journey, but it also chronicles the opportunity we each have to make our communities, our country and ourselves more caring. It's a book that can both inspire us and guide us through the challenges that await."

"Winter Stars was placed in my hands right at the time that my father went into hospice care after decades of living with congestive heart failure. It was exactly the balm that I needed. I read it three times in a row as I flew back and forth to see my father. I wrote notes in all the margins. I wished I could mail my copy to anyone who had ever loved or served another person. The simplicity and complexity of family love and the native call to help one another resonated like a heartbeat and brought me the calm of spoken truth. This book will help them, and families everywhere."

"Winter Stars is, without doubt, the most beautiful, important book I have ever read on caregiving, and I read many while performing that role in my own mother's life. This is an eloquently moving book that needs to be gotten into the hands of myriads of caregivers, especially in a time when legions of people will be choosing to assume that role and responsibility. They will need the support, insights, and validation this book provides."

"Caring for aging parents is both a personal and a universal experience. I have lived through the tough stuff with both my parents and spoken about it extensively through my podcast, Satellite Sisters. The weekly questions from my audience about caregiving tell me that there is a huge need to address the topic with honesty, heart and humanity. Winter Stars captures both sides of this equation with compelling storytelling and life lessons for all."

"Winter Stars is a deeply moving journey of love and affection between a son and his mother. Dave Iverson cared for his aging mother for ten years as she slowly lost her cognitive abilities and Dave searched for new solutions to the ever evolving challenges he and his mother faced together. This is a book that has profound insights for all of us about caring and being human. It will entertain, inspire, and uplift the soul, especially at a time when we all feel a bit alone."

Winter Stars is a book for all of us ... It is a book of small details and large truths ... a read as compelling, thought-provoking, emotional and rewarding as it is a testament to Iverson's skills as a writer and a storyteller.