Linda Walvoord Girard

This was a very excellent book, especially for children who are learning about being adopted and coping with the situation. On the other hand, I would not personally read this in my classroom. The book id filled with great detail, guiding the readers step by step through an adoption process. It describes the hardships of being adopted, as well as, the positives. Because the author uses such great detail, I feel the book may be inappropriate to read to a class. Some students may be extra show more sensitive to the situation, and I feel that some of the sentences would cause emotions for these students. For example the book states, “When I was about ten days old, she left me on the step of an orphanage there. That cold stone doorstep where I was found one chilly evening in October is where my story begins.” The book is powerful and addresses a difficult topic well, however, I think it would be best read to children by parents. The main messages of the book are family, acceptance, and adoption. show less

I really enjoyed reading this book and think it can be a very good read for all students especially those with non traditional family backgrounds. This story details how a young girl deals with her parents divorce and how she balances her emotions through out this tough times. I think it can be very help for students because they can be able to look at a situation, and the big picture and begin to balance their emotions. At the end of the story Katie recognizes that her parents divorce was a show more sad moment but she has a new faith that both parents will always be there for her and everything will be alright. The realism in this book allows readers to gain great moral lessons from the characters. show less

Katie’s parents are getting a divorce, and her dad is moving out. Katie is afraid she will not see her dad because her friend Mary's parents got a divorce and she never sees her dad. Katie’s dad calls her every day and promises they will see each other Saturday. When she goes over there they talk, and he promises her he will never leave her. I was in tears reading this, my parents got a divorce when I was only in kindergarten. I can relate to how Katie is feeling. She thought maybe if show more she cleaned her room more, her parents would still be together. I remember feeling the same way, you think well what if I had done this or that. I think this would be a great book to read to kids because divorce rate it high. I would have loved to have read a book like this when I was going through this hard time in my life. Kids can relate and then they don’t feel so alone. I think this was a very good book! show less

Told from the point of view of a boy who sits next to "Alex, the kid with AIDS". Through the young boys eyes, readers can see how Alex is a boy just like everyone else with the same interests and hobbies as the two form a friendship. Great for introducing the topic and teaching how to treat people with AIDS, although the title might be problematic by defining Alex as "the kid with AIDS". Aside from that, I thought the book was quite thoughtful.