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nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful book that shows how easy it is for people with a disability to be misunderstood and underestimated. The book takes place during World War II, and thankfully things have gotten much better for Deaf community, but misconceptions are still prevalent. This story highlights the tale of one boy who was believed to be unteachable just because he couldn't speak. It also shows what life was like during World War II and it will give kids a deeper understanding and appreciation of that time period.
jwinchell's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars because I found this book a little boring. I don’t know, maybe it’s the premise— a deaf boy and a conscientious objector at a school for the “feeble minded” during WWII. I think it’s important to have books about the Deaf and this is a spin on WWII that I haven’t read about before. It’s written in prose, which is well done. No real complaints, just nothing to gush over either.
sapphicaffair's review against another edition
3.0
The poems were nice, it was a clever story, incredibly heart felt. I deeply enjoyed the poetry form and the storytelling itself. Overall, it was a nice one and I liked it more than I originally thought I would.
chrissyz's review against another edition
5.0
"Is it really asking so much, to treat all people as we'd each want to be treated ourselves?"
Written using free verse and letter sonnets, All He Knew by Helen Frost is such a creatively crafted, historical fiction story about a young boy who is institutionalized when he loses his hearing after an illness and and a conscientious objector to World War II who tries to improve the lives of the children in his care.
It is a quick, heartbreaking and then heartwarming read and I am so glad I picked it up on a whim to read today.
Written using free verse and letter sonnets, All He Knew by Helen Frost is such a creatively crafted, historical fiction story about a young boy who is institutionalized when he loses his hearing after an illness and and a conscientious objector to World War II who tries to improve the lives of the children in his care.
It is a quick, heartbreaking and then heartwarming read and I am so glad I picked it up on a whim to read today.
sierranorgan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
5.0
VRC #6! This book was incredibly sad but beautiful!
kxc319's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.5
A beautiful story of a family told they had no choice but to institutionalize their dead son in the late 1930s. Very eye-opening to how life was back then and how far we’ve come in disability advocacy and inclusion - which is not to say we don’t have further room to grow.
shighley's review against another edition
5.0
This book reminded me quite a bit of one of my favorites, Petey by Ben Mikaelsen, which was also inspired by a true story. Young readers may rightfully be appalled at the treatment depicted in the book, perhaps even not believing it, but it was far too common. I admire Frost's craft in writing this story with the parameters she chose, and her explanations and inclusion of The Unteachable One at the end made it even more poignant.