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claudiamccarron's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this one up at a Little Free Library near a friend's when I realized I hadn't brought anything to read on the metro during a trip to D.C. I used to be a Dear America fanatic and remembered that I'd read this one in elementary school, but none of the plot or details. That's probably because this is a very quiet book, more slice-of-life than plot focused. There's a moving scene towards the end with Bess's twin sister that I especially liked.
dancinkare's review against another edition
4.0
These are a great series of books for young readers interested in history.
jeneca's review against another edition
5.0
I do not remember the exact details of this book, but I do remember throughly enjoying it. An interesting story idea,for sure!!
huncamuncamouse's review against another edition
3.0
Barry Denenberg's contributions are some of the most challenging to rate, and this is no exception.
The book begins with twins Bess and Elin, who are used to being "mirror images" of one another in every way. However, after a freak sledding accident, Bess is blinded. In the beginning, Elin transcribes Bess's thoughts as well as her own. However, soon a teacher begins helping Bess and Elin drops from the narrative. I didn't care much for this narrative device, and it was annoying that suddenly Elin's feelings and thoughts stopped being recorded. What had been the point in the first place, then? Indeed, Bess kind of calls out the issue herself when she wonders how she can truly be free to share her thoughts if others are listening. But it was at least creative on Deneberg's part, I guess.
Bess begins attending a special school for the blind and makes two best friends, Eva and Amanda. I struggled with these characters a lot. Amanda keeps reiterating that she wants one of the teachers "dead," and while I certainly know how it feels to hate a teacher, this was repeated so frequently that if it was ever meant to sound funny, it stopped reading like a joke. Eva steals a teacher's fake teeth in a prank that seems especially mean spirited. A man who makes ignorant comments at a family dinner later drops dead, and Bess calls it a "miracle." Then there's an extended bad joke told in the "broken" English of a Chinese man. I just don't know what to do with all this weirdness. Basically that's how I wind up feeling every time I read one of Denenberg's contributions to the series. I have no problem with black humor, but it just didn't read as funny!
The premise of having this book take place at the school was fascinating, and I just wanted more content about what life was like, and how specifically Bess adapted. I wanted more resolution to how she negotiated relationships with people she knew before her accident. I wanted to know more about what happens to the twin bond when suddenly you're living completely different experiences and are forced to carve out your own independent identity. This is one of the shortest Dear America books--only about 110 pages before the historical note and photos, and it felt underbaked.
As usual, the epilogue disappointed. Denenberg delights in giving at least one character a miserable fate. Here, it's Amanda who is swept out to sea. But troublingly, he makes a note that Bess never marries or has children. I found this frustrating precisely because she goes out of her way to say that she wants both of these things for herself in the book. So what changed? Was this by choice? Did her disability somehow play a role?
While Denenberg couldn't be bothered to explore important questions like that, he did make sure he had time to namedrop his own first Dear America book--this time in the form of a play that the school NEVER EVEN PERFORMS. But of course he makes sure to mention that the play is wonderful. Like really? You wasted pages on this plot that led nowhere but couldn't be bothered to deepen your main character's personal life? SMH as usual, Barry.
The book begins with twins Bess and Elin, who are used to being "mirror images" of one another in every way. However, after a freak sledding accident, Bess is blinded. In the beginning, Elin transcribes Bess's thoughts as well as her own. However, soon a teacher begins helping Bess and Elin drops from the narrative. I didn't care much for this narrative device, and it was annoying that suddenly Elin's feelings and thoughts stopped being recorded. What had been the point in the first place, then? Indeed, Bess kind of calls out the issue herself when she wonders how she can truly be free to share her thoughts if others are listening. But it was at least creative on Deneberg's part, I guess.
Bess begins attending a special school for the blind and makes two best friends, Eva and Amanda. I struggled with these characters a lot. Amanda keeps reiterating that she wants one of the teachers "dead," and while I certainly know how it feels to hate a teacher, this was repeated so frequently that if it was ever meant to sound funny, it stopped reading like a joke. Eva steals a teacher's fake teeth in a prank that seems especially mean spirited. A man who makes ignorant comments at a family dinner later drops dead, and Bess calls it a "miracle." Then there's an extended bad joke told in the "broken" English of a Chinese man. I just don't know what to do with all this weirdness. Basically that's how I wind up feeling every time I read one of Denenberg's contributions to the series. I have no problem with black humor, but it just didn't read as funny!
The premise of having this book take place at the school was fascinating, and I just wanted more content about what life was like, and how specifically Bess adapted. I wanted more resolution to how she negotiated relationships with people she knew before her accident. I wanted to know more about what happens to the twin bond when suddenly you're living completely different experiences and are forced to carve out your own independent identity. This is one of the shortest Dear America books--only about 110 pages before the historical note and photos, and it felt underbaked.
As usual, the epilogue disappointed. Denenberg delights in giving at least one character a miserable fate. Here, it's Amanda who is swept out to sea. But troublingly, he makes a note that Bess never marries or has children. I found this frustrating precisely because she goes out of her way to say that she wants both of these things for herself in the book. So what changed? Was this by choice? Did her disability somehow play a role?
While Denenberg couldn't be bothered to explore important questions like that, he did make sure he had time to namedrop his own first Dear America book--this time in the form of a play that the school NEVER EVEN PERFORMS. But of course he makes sure to mention that the play is wonderful. Like really? You wasted pages on this plot that led nowhere but couldn't be bothered to deepen your main character's personal life? SMH as usual, Barry.
littleseal's review
While I did not like this author's other book about the Southern girl during the Civil War, I did find it pretty funny when the book was mentioned as a play in this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Classism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
jerrica's review against another edition
5.0
This book made me really afraid to go sledding because the girl went blind from a sledding accident. Thanks a lot, Dear America.
hunkydory's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Ableism, and Grief
caitiep92's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
rachelriley's review against another edition
my favorite of the dear america book of all.
