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jezziebelle 's review for:
All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook
by Leslie Connor
I'm so glad I stuck with this book. Early on, I almost dropped it, but something made me keep going. While it took me a little past the first thirty pages to get into, this was a wonderful book. I don't know what it was about those first few pages, but the book just kept getting better and better in my opinion. It contains a few key lessons not usually taught to kids, either because their parents don't know how to teach them, or they just aren't aware they should be. I'll list them off.
1: While you should try to be polite to everyone you meet, if you feel you need to say something in order to protect yourself but won't because it would cause others to be uncomfortable, say it anyway. Your concerns about protecting yourself are also valid, not just the feelings of the person you feel you need to speak with.
2: Adults do not know everything, and they don't always behave the way they are supposed to. Ask questions, tell the people you trust your concerns, bring it to others' attention. You may find out it'll turn out for the better.
3: You are allowed to say 'no'. You are allowed to tell someone, even an adult, that what they are doing or saying to you or others is not right and you don't want to be around them anymore.
4: It's okay to put your needs above others. If you feel someone is doing you wrong and you try bringing it to their attention only for them to continue doing it or ignore your feelings, then you are more than allowed to take the steps necessary to do what you believe is best for you.
5: There will be points in time where adults will not know what's best for you, you will know what's best for you, and if an adult or adults are trying to push you into doing something you don't want to do, make your feelings and needs known. If those are ignored or brushed off, be vocal. Tell the other adults around you about what is going on. Someone will listen, no matter how long it takes to find the person who does.
So yes, I liked this book. My only real complaint is how long the book is. I imagine myself as a kid, and even though I was a voracious reader from the first moment I learned how to read, I think the thickness of the book would have turned me away. Of course, there are kids where this won't bother them at all, and the chapters are short and easy to read, but this thing is almost 400 pages! It's a minor nitpick, I know. It was still well written and had a fabulous story. Like I said, I'm really happy I stuck with it. This was well worth it.
1: While you should try to be polite to everyone you meet, if you feel you need to say something in order to protect yourself but won't because it would cause others to be uncomfortable, say it anyway. Your concerns about protecting yourself are also valid, not just the feelings of the person you feel you need to speak with.
2: Adults do not know everything, and they don't always behave the way they are supposed to. Ask questions, tell the people you trust your concerns, bring it to others' attention. You may find out it'll turn out for the better.
3: You are allowed to say 'no'. You are allowed to tell someone, even an adult, that what they are doing or saying to you or others is not right and you don't want to be around them anymore.
4: It's okay to put your needs above others. If you feel someone is doing you wrong and you try bringing it to their attention only for them to continue doing it or ignore your feelings, then you are more than allowed to take the steps necessary to do what you believe is best for you.
5: There will be points in time where adults will not know what's best for you, you will know what's best for you, and if an adult or adults are trying to push you into doing something you don't want to do, make your feelings and needs known. If those are ignored or brushed off, be vocal. Tell the other adults around you about what is going on. Someone will listen, no matter how long it takes to find the person who does.
So yes, I liked this book. My only real complaint is how long the book is. I imagine myself as a kid, and even though I was a voracious reader from the first moment I learned how to read, I think the thickness of the book would have turned me away. Of course, there are kids where this won't bother them at all, and the chapters are short and easy to read, but this thing is almost 400 pages! It's a minor nitpick, I know. It was still well written and had a fabulous story. Like I said, I'm really happy I stuck with it. This was well worth it.