Booklist 2/15/06
Kirkus
PW
A typical preteen, Catherine likes hanging out with her best friend, Melissa, enjoys swimming at the pond, and she gets annoyed with her little brother, David. David, however, is not a typical younger brother: he has autism. In an effort to help David interact with the world around him, Catherine has made him a list of rules—things like “No toys in the fish tank” and “Always flush!” Eventually, Catherine gets weary of always looking out for her brother and wishes that he was normal. Accompanying David to an occupational therapy appointment one day, Catherine makes an unlikely friend, Jason, who is in a wheelchair. However, Catherine is hesitant to begin a friendship that would only promote more staring, just like when she is with her brother. Jason and Catherine’s friendship forces Catherine to face her own and other peoples’ misconceptions of people with disabilities. In the end, she must choose between looking the other way or standing up for her friend and brother. This book is a great read for any pre-teen. Lord gives the reader an inside look into the realities of someone who has a loved one with a disability. A book like this shows that it’s more important to speak up rather than just lay low to be “cool.” This novel will help any preteen coping with their own or a loved one’s disability through teaching that it does not matter what’s on the outside, but what’s inside that truly counts. Reviewer: Danielle Travis; Ages 8 to 12.
Children's Literature - Danielle Travis
