Oh, Brother!: Growing up with a Special Needs Sibling

by Natalie Hale, Kate Sternberg (Illustrator)

Overview

Being the brother or sister of a child with special needs has special challenges. And Becca has some great ideas for dealing with them -- after she accepts that she can't send her brother Jonathan to another planet! In this helpful book based on the experiences of a real-life family, Becca discusses finding the right kind of friends, getting quality time with parents, caring about a special needs sibling without becoming another parent, and much more. Told with both humor and honesty, Becca's story -- and her kid-tested solutions -- are an inspiration to special families everywhere.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591470601
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	01/28/2004
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

Table of Contents

Chapter 1	Send Him to Mars	5
Chapter 2	Laughing	8
Chapter 3	Protecting My Space	13
Chapter 4	Is It Sad?	16
Chapter 5	Hey! What About Me?	18
Chapter 6	Before You Come to My House	21
Chapter 7	Will It Happen to Me?	23
Chapter 8	Take a Break	29
Chapter 9	Getting My Feelings Out	31
Chapter 10	Thinking Like a Genius	35
Chapter 11	I'm Not the Parent	38
Chapter 12	Nobody Knows What It's Like	41
Chapter 13	Maybe One Day	44

Editorial Reviews

This book is a first-person account by Becca, a girl whose older brother has an unnamed disability that leaves him unable to understand simple directions or even basic household rules, but is able to play, watch videos, and do puzzles with her. Thirteen chapters cover issues relevant to able-bodied siblings of disabled children, such as competing for parental attention, bringing friends home, dealing with frustration, participation in sibling care, and peer support groups. The upbeat focus is on her and her parents' ability to cope, her brother's gifts and abilities, and the life lessons one learns through living with disabled loved ones, such as patience and inner strength. While the first-person format is effective, it presents extensive details about Becca's privileged background (both parents cope well with their stress and provide a supportive, harmonious family life; their father is a music professor; and all family members' lives are culturally rich) that may not reflect the reality of many potential readers whose family situation may well be more challenged and challenging. The prose is well written and engaging, although the younger readers in the audience may need encouragement to pick up the book, given its text-heavy format and sophisticated black-and-white line drawing illustrations. 2004, Magination Press/American Psychological Association, and Ages 8 to 13.
—Deborah Dysart-Gale

Children's Literature