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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I have tremendous respect for families with an autistic child after listening to just two of the CDs. I was exhausted by how Ginny relates her story. The repetition of her explanations for why she does things and how she does things ground me down. I could imagine how parents feel in that situation. Her inability to express what her needs are (despite telling everyone over and over how she needs to get back to get her baby doll) was frustrating.
I admire parents with an autistic child for their patience, resilience, fortitude and love.
It reminded me a bit of Still Alice in the way that Ginny relates her thoughts, although reading SA was like reading a horror novel that I couldn't put down.
***Looked for a review with spoilers to confirm how I suspected the book would end. Bingo! I was right on the money. For that alone, I'm happy that I didn't finish the book.
I admire parents with an autistic child for their patience, resilience, fortitude and love.
It reminded me a bit of Still Alice in the way that Ginny relates her thoughts, although reading SA was like reading a horror novel that I couldn't put down.
***Looked for a review with spoilers to confirm how I suspected the book would end. Bingo! I was right on the money. For that alone, I'm happy that I didn't finish the book.
4.5/5 Ginny Moon stole my heart. She's one of those characters that really came alive on the page. Her viewpoint felt believable and brought on all the feels that come with the complexity of being a human. I really appreciated her journey toward self-advocacy and finding a place where she felt accepted and loved - the last chapter was particularly powerful. Her relationship with Patrice felt particularly authentic, and I hope all girls like Ginny have a trusted professional in their life who helps them deal with challenges and navigate relationships in such a kind and compassionate way. The other characters fell flat to me and on the verge of being stereotypes. The female characters (moms and teachers) were written in a way that made them aloof and uncaring while the dads were written to be fun and good-natured. It makes some sense since this was written from the perspective of an adoptive dad. Ginny will be in my heart for awhile, and reading Ginny Moon increased my empathy for children who have autism and parents who choose to foster.
3.5 stars
I liked The Original Ginny Moon, but the book would have benefitted from more editing. The base story is good, but the story line is fairly repetitive and should have wrapped up long before it did. Benjamin Ludwig and his wife adopted a teenager with autism, and his insight into an autistic child’s behavior is insightful. The main character, Ginny Moon, is autistic and cannot come to terms with the idea that she will never live with her birth mother again. She has lived in numerous foster homes and tries to leave each one in search of her birth mother, not understanding that her birth mother cannot raise her. While Ginny tries to communicate her anger and hopelessness , she struggles to find the right way to explain her distress. I found that part of the book very informative and was fascinated with his insight into Ginny’s mind. I did enjoy the book and was glad I read it, but I wished numerous times that it was shorter. Thanks to Park Row Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I liked The Original Ginny Moon, but the book would have benefitted from more editing. The base story is good, but the story line is fairly repetitive and should have wrapped up long before it did. Benjamin Ludwig and his wife adopted a teenager with autism, and his insight into an autistic child’s behavior is insightful. The main character, Ginny Moon, is autistic and cannot come to terms with the idea that she will never live with her birth mother again. She has lived in numerous foster homes and tries to leave each one in search of her birth mother, not understanding that her birth mother cannot raise her. While Ginny tries to communicate her anger and hopelessness , she struggles to find the right way to explain her distress. I found that part of the book very informative and was fascinated with his insight into Ginny’s mind. I did enjoy the book and was glad I read it, but I wished numerous times that it was shorter. Thanks to Park Row Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oh, Ginny. I had heard that this character was both heart-warming and anxiety-inducing, and that perfectly sums her up. This book had the perfect plot pace. I was never bored and was hooked from page one. The chapters were short, and because it was told from Ginny’s point of view, it kept descriptions fun and lively, even when I wanted to correct her for some of her misinterpretations.
Ginny is 14 years old and living with her Forever Parents. When she was nine she was taken from her abusive birth mother by police and placed in foster care, and she is now in her third Forever Home where her therapist is hopeful she will stay. Something keeps drawing her back to her birth mother, Gloria, though, and she tirelessly pursues a reunion with her. The story explores the intricacies of fostering and adopting a child, with a special focus on the experience of taking care of a child with special needs (Ginny has autism).
Another great pick by the Diverse Books Club and one I would not have known about otherwise, and from a debut author no less. Seriously underrated (hurry, while there are still no hold waits for it at the library).
Ginny is 14 years old and living with her Forever Parents. When she was nine she was taken from her abusive birth mother by police and placed in foster care, and she is now in her third Forever Home where her therapist is hopeful she will stay. Something keeps drawing her back to her birth mother, Gloria, though, and she tirelessly pursues a reunion with her. The story explores the intricacies of fostering and adopting a child, with a special focus on the experience of taking care of a child with special needs (Ginny has autism).
Another great pick by the Diverse Books Club and one I would not have known about otherwise, and from a debut author no less. Seriously underrated (hurry, while there are still no hold waits for it at the library).
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ginny has a unique voice and this is a great read. Well dang, as Ginny likes to say, go and track it down and give it a try.
I was too annoyed with Ginny's parents (and most of the other adults) to give this book 4 stars, but I was engaged and felt invested in what happened to Ginny.
Bebelușul electronic din plastic nu se oprește din plâns.
Părinții mei Adoptivi au zis că seamănă foarte bine cu un copil adevărat, dar nu este. Nu pot să-l fac fericit. Nici măcar atunci când îl legăn. Sau când îi schimb scutecul ori îi dau biberonul cu lapte. Chiar și când îi spun Sst, sst, sst și îl las să-mi sugă degetul, el se uită la mine fără să înțeleagă nimic și urlă, urlă, urlă.
Îl strâng încă o dată în brațe și îmi repet în gând: „Gata, liniștește-te”, „Gata, liniștește-te”. Apoi încerc să fac și eu ce făcea Gloria ori de câte ori aveam o criză de furie: îi pun mâna pe ceafă și încep să mă legăn înainte și înapoi.
— Totul e bine. Totul e bine, rostesc eu.
Mai întâi mai tare, după aceea mai încet, ca și cum aș fredona un cântec, șoptindu-i: „Îmi pare atât de rău”.
Dar el tot nu se potolește.
Îl așez pe patul meu și atunci când începe să plângă și mai tare îmi caut Păpușa Bebeluș – cea adevărată –, chiar dacă știu că nu e aici. Am lăsat-o în apartamentul Gloriei, însă mă îngrijorează foarte tare tocmai pentru că e foarte plângăcioasă, așa că simt nevoia să o caut. E un fel de regulă întipărită în mintea mea. O caut prin sertare, în dulap, scotocesc prin toate locurile în care ar putea fi o Păpușă Bebeluș. Până și în valiza mare, neagră în formă de cutie. O scot de sub pat. O deschid, trăgând fermoarul dintr-un capăt în celălalt. Dar Păpușa mea Bebeluș nu e înăuntru.
Inspir adânc. Trebuie să fac bebelușul să se oprească din plâns. Dacă-l voi pune în valiză și voi așeza în jurul lui destule pături și jucării de pluș, apoi voi împinge valiza din nou sub pat, probabil că nu-l voi mai auzi. Va fi ca și cum aș izola zgomotul undeva departe în creierul meu.
Fiindcă mintea este în cap. Este un loc foarte, foarte întunecat, unde nimeni, în afară de mine, nu poate vedea nimic.
Părinții mei Adoptivi au zis că seamănă foarte bine cu un copil adevărat, dar nu este. Nu pot să-l fac fericit. Nici măcar atunci când îl legăn. Sau când îi schimb scutecul ori îi dau biberonul cu lapte. Chiar și când îi spun Sst, sst, sst și îl las să-mi sugă degetul, el se uită la mine fără să înțeleagă nimic și urlă, urlă, urlă.
Îl strâng încă o dată în brațe și îmi repet în gând: „Gata, liniștește-te”, „Gata, liniștește-te”. Apoi încerc să fac și eu ce făcea Gloria ori de câte ori aveam o criză de furie: îi pun mâna pe ceafă și încep să mă legăn înainte și înapoi.
— Totul e bine. Totul e bine, rostesc eu.
Mai întâi mai tare, după aceea mai încet, ca și cum aș fredona un cântec, șoptindu-i: „Îmi pare atât de rău”.
Dar el tot nu se potolește.
Îl așez pe patul meu și atunci când începe să plângă și mai tare îmi caut Păpușa Bebeluș – cea adevărată –, chiar dacă știu că nu e aici. Am lăsat-o în apartamentul Gloriei, însă mă îngrijorează foarte tare tocmai pentru că e foarte plângăcioasă, așa că simt nevoia să o caut. E un fel de regulă întipărită în mintea mea. O caut prin sertare, în dulap, scotocesc prin toate locurile în care ar putea fi o Păpușă Bebeluș. Până și în valiza mare, neagră în formă de cutie. O scot de sub pat. O deschid, trăgând fermoarul dintr-un capăt în celălalt. Dar Păpușa mea Bebeluș nu e înăuntru.
Inspir adânc. Trebuie să fac bebelușul să se oprească din plâns. Dacă-l voi pune în valiză și voi așeza în jurul lui destule pături și jucării de pluș, apoi voi împinge valiza din nou sub pat, probabil că nu-l voi mai auzi. Va fi ca și cum aș izola zgomotul undeva departe în creierul meu.
Fiindcă mintea este în cap. Este un loc foarte, foarte întunecat, unde nimeni, în afară de mine, nu poate vedea nimic.