Reviews

Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio by Peg Kehret

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happylilkt's review

5.0

chelsfoust's review

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5.0

Loved this book, I was surprised and shocked to find out things about this terrible disease! I suggest everybody read this book. My grandma who had polio the same time as this girl did was who found this book and told me about it. Anybody that had polio, has to be so strong and courageous, because it would have been so difficult to have to live with this!

allicatca's review

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5.0

I listened to this as an audiobook and liked it so much, I listened to it twice.

Peg tells her story very well. It's full of feelings, information, and humor. What an amazing triumph to work her way out of paralysis! And Peg's story helps everyone who hears it to be grateful for every breath, every swallow, every step.

(Parents: beware the discussion of Santa.)

Wonderful book, best for age 11+ depending on sensitivity or fear of illness.

protoman21's review

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5.0

A great book that really shows the tragic effect that polio had on many lives during the epidemic in the mid twentieth century. Kehret tells her very personal story of triumph over this incredibly destructive disease in a frank manner that perfectly recaptures her young voice. Every child reading this book could immediately relate to her struggle and pain and celebrate along with her during her small steps towards recovery. Though Peg was one of the fortunate people to be diagnosed early and after the Sister Kenny treatments were widespread and thus had a relatively smooth recovery, there were several cases presented in the book which demonstrated patients with far worse cases and outcomes. Kehret's story is powerful and approachable for people of all ages.

timna_wyckoff's review

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3.0

Read for 5th grade book club. Honest and moving story. The writing is really simplistic, but works for the age of the character and readership, I suppose.

misspippireads's review

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5.0

Peg was looking forward to 7th grade and the Homecoming celebration at school. Before the Homecoming festivities, her muscles began to jump and spasm during school. As Peg walked to class, she collapsed. She was taken home and only grew sicker. Her parents took her to the doctor. The doctor informed Peg and her parent that she had polio.

Peg Kehret revisits her journey from health to sickness and back again. She writes her history as a story with fictional dialogue between friends, family, and acquaintances. Though the dialogue is fictional, her experiences are true. She opens up and shares her struggles and successes of fighting polio. Peg shares the pain of illness and the aches of recovery. It's a beautiful story of courage, determination, family, friendship, and growing up. It's a story that children and adults will enjoy.

Susan Boyce is the narrator for Small Steps. Her gentle narration will delight listeners. Her voice is reminiscent of a beloved teacher reading a story aloud during school. This narrator and non-fiction piece will delight (and not bore) its listeners.

Reviewed from an Audiobook Jukebox copy. Thank you, AudioGo!

cburgbennett's review

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3.0

I'll have to reread this. I remember really liking it when I read it in the fifth grade.

heyitsylan's review

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hopeful informative sad fast-paced

5.0

the_enobee's review

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4.0

This is the perfect example of why I love the Oregon Battle of the Books program. Prior to this year's selections, I'd never heard of Peg Kehret. In flipping through her extensive bibliography, I wouldn't be surprised if I had read at least one of her books when I was a kid. However, she was a new name to me this year, and she has two books on the list. I read [b:Escaping The Giant Wave|1307073|Escaping the Giant Wave|Peg Kehret|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1182648213l/1307073._SX50_.jpg|82630] first, and it was a fantastic adventure story set in Oregon, so that was great. Then I read Small Steps, and I was completely blown away.

This is an autobiographical rendition of the year she had polio as a 12-13 year-old. While this is a shorter book, the story is a riveting, thought-provoking, and emotional powerhouse. Everyone should read this book to be exposed to life pre-vaccine and the horrors the different types of polio have visited on previous generations.

She is also a young person in love with reading and writing, so that adds a lot to the story for fellow bookworms. Peg Kehret is a treasure of the Pacific Northwest, an amazing writer, and both my son and I look forward to reading more of her work.

palmington_'s review

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

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