What do you think?
Rate this book
Lovey: A Very Special Child
mass market paperback
189 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1976
63 people are currently reading
1539 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
February 28, 2013
As a teacher of Special Needs children, I especially enjoyed the interaction Mary MacCracken shared with dialogue and her teaching techniques. Her warmth and caring for Hannah was so evident as she tried to draw Hannah into the secure and loving world of her classroom. I really loved this book and cried for Lovey's hurt and disillusionment.
September 11, 2010
Read this back in High School. Probably one of the books that led me into teaching, particularly Special Education. Wow! Seeing this on someone's "to-read" list was like a memory rush.
March 17, 2018
As a person who works with children who have special needs this book was easy for me to relate to. It was interesting to read some of the strategies that the teacher used with her students. It was lovely to read about such a dedicated teacher one who always puts the students first and desires them to be contributing people both in the classroom and the world as adults. I believe this story took place in the past rather than recent times due to some of the terminology used. Some of the language used to describe the students or their classes would be demeaning in today's society; however if you can work past the old terms it is really a wonderful story. It also makes you appreciate all the good change that has happened in society. I would recommend this story to anyone who wants to know what it's like teaching children with special needs; but most importantly recommended to someone who teaches children or to parents who have children with special needs. I think it will be extremely eye-opening for some!
January 7, 2015
As a veteran 6:1:1 middle school teacher of students at a residential treatment center (think: "at-risk", emotionally disturbed, mental health diagnosis, behavior issues, juvenile delinquent, etc etc... give me an acronym or diagnosis, I've probably experienced it), this book was put into my hands. I found it in our library as books for staff and upon cracking the spine, I realized why. That first moment where Mary realizes her class is changing?- yea, that happened to me the week prior. This book hits home for me. I have been immersed in this field for so long that sometimes I lose perspective and find myself drained of all hope. Winter break seemed like the best time to recharge my batteries and read this book to remind myself why it is that I teach the kids I do.
Lovey is a heartbreaking and heartwarming story of a woman dedicated not to her job, but to her students. Mary is a first class teacher. I've read some backlash and hard judgment she has gotten and I can tell you that until you've been in shoes like hers, you have no clue. It is a whole other world. Maty does a superb job!
While reading, I kept finding bits of my kids in her students... I found ideas to modify and put into practice... I found drive, love, and hope. Lovey is a perfect representation of why I do what I do. It changes lives and it changes you.
Highly recommended.
Lovey is a heartbreaking and heartwarming story of a woman dedicated not to her job, but to her students. Mary is a first class teacher. I've read some backlash and hard judgment she has gotten and I can tell you that until you've been in shoes like hers, you have no clue. It is a whole other world. Maty does a superb job!
While reading, I kept finding bits of my kids in her students... I found ideas to modify and put into practice... I found drive, love, and hope. Lovey is a perfect representation of why I do what I do. It changes lives and it changes you.
Highly recommended.
May 17, 2019
In this sequel to THE LOST CHILDREN set several years later, Mary MacCracken, a teacher for emotionally disturbed children in the early 1970s, is still with Brian, who will age out of the school this year. Along with two other boys comes Hannah, a nonverbal, severely disturbed girl thought of as unreachable. MacCracken slowly increases her expectations for the eight-year-old, who begins to blossom.
I enjoyed LOVEY even more than THE LOST CHILDREN as the children are mostly higher functioning and Hannah’s story inspired me. I first read LOVEY around forty years ago, and it holds up to the rereading. MacCracken never takes a victory lap for her successes, she cheers on her students for their hard fought gains.
If you enjoy books similar to LOVEY, this will be one of your favorites.
I enjoyed LOVEY even more than THE LOST CHILDREN as the children are mostly higher functioning and Hannah’s story inspired me. I first read LOVEY around forty years ago, and it holds up to the rereading. MacCracken never takes a victory lap for her successes, she cheers on her students for their hard fought gains.
If you enjoy books similar to LOVEY, this will be one of your favorites.
December 24, 2025
From my great grandma, Martha’s, collection!
February 23, 2016
This is another one of those instances where a special education teacher chronicles her work over the course of a year. MacCracken teaches in a school for emotionally disturbed children. The centerpiece of this one is Hannah, an extremely disruptive student whom no one has been able to reach ... until now.
I don't know exactly why I enjoy these books as much as I do. They hold me spellbound. I will say that this doesn't quite come up to the level of a Torey Hayden masterpiece, but it's very much worth reading. Several Goodreads reviewers mentioned that this was the book that caused them to pursue careers in special education. I can easily see why.
If you enjoy this sort of thing, this one is definitely worth your time.
I don't know exactly why I enjoy these books as much as I do. They hold me spellbound. I will say that this doesn't quite come up to the level of a Torey Hayden masterpiece, but it's very much worth reading. Several Goodreads reviewers mentioned that this was the book that caused them to pursue careers in special education. I can easily see why.
If you enjoy this sort of thing, this one is definitely worth your time.
March 7, 2008
This simple book actually spurred my desire to work with disabled/abused/disadvantaged kids. Here I am 14 years later and still thinking about that little girl in the book and calling my girls 'lovey'.
August 24, 2014
This is the book that led to me becoming a special ed teacher. I had read it in jr high or high school and liked it. But, I re-read it when I was a freshman in college and said, "This is what I want to do!"
February 19, 2018
I would give this book a 3.75 if I could. It was such sweet story and it not only showed the amazing impact a good teacher can have even with the most difficult of students, but it also gives you a peek into the workings of a child's mind and how incredible they are.
August 25, 2022
Heartwarming, touching and full of hope.
March 12, 2015
Confesso: sou fã deste género de livros, tanto pela curiosidade inata ao ser humano, como por trabalhar na área da Educação. A princípio, apenas o título me deixou um pouco de pé atrás (soa um pouco lamechas), mas o porquê de ser assim é explicado no decurso da obra. Além de se ajustar perfeitamente, o que o origina mexe com o nosso lado mais sensível.
Narrado na perspectiva da professora, Mary, esta é a história de Hannah que, desde cedo, é maltratada pelo Pai e pelo Irmão e rejeitada pelo Avô. Para terem uma ideia, com oito anos, apenas se exprimia por grunhidos.
Com particular ênfase no trajecto trilhado com a professora, a autora aborda pormenores da sua infância na era "pré Mary", que possibilitam um enquadramento mais abrangente da vivência de Hannah. Ficamos a par de todo o seu percurso até ao momento em que é mudada de escola por razões familiares. Por outro lado, é-nos dada a conhecer, porém de forma mais ténue, da história dos seus três coleguinhas de turma.
Uma escrita fluída que se lê com renovado interesse, mas acredito que, infelizmente, irá passar ao lado de muita gente. É pena! Uma obra super inspiradora e que deveria ser lida, tanto por Pais como Professores, principalmente.
Narrado na perspectiva da professora, Mary, esta é a história de Hannah que, desde cedo, é maltratada pelo Pai e pelo Irmão e rejeitada pelo Avô. Para terem uma ideia, com oito anos, apenas se exprimia por grunhidos.
Com particular ênfase no trajecto trilhado com a professora, a autora aborda pormenores da sua infância na era "pré Mary", que possibilitam um enquadramento mais abrangente da vivência de Hannah. Ficamos a par de todo o seu percurso até ao momento em que é mudada de escola por razões familiares. Por outro lado, é-nos dada a conhecer, porém de forma mais ténue, da história dos seus três coleguinhas de turma.
Uma escrita fluída que se lê com renovado interesse, mas acredito que, infelizmente, irá passar ao lado de muita gente. É pena! Uma obra super inspiradora e que deveria ser lida, tanto por Pais como Professores, principalmente.
July 26, 2014
A teacher writes about the very children I work with now! Because of her books, I wanted to do exactly this!!! What's fascinating when I read this now is the change in the teaching process and the lack of flexibility the teachers have. There are so many more 'rules and mandates' now that make me think it is no wonder kids don't ,make the progress we hope for.
The lack of funding is no different. I read this as a teen inspired to work with special needs kids. Now I read it as a sociological comparison of the special education process.
The lack of funding is no different. I read this as a teen inspired to work with special needs kids. Now I read it as a sociological comparison of the special education process.
February 10, 2012
I was probably too young when I read this. I remember reading it in the car during a road trip, mesmerized by the story. Just found the original copy at my mom's house.
May 10, 2016
The first and really the only time I have read this book was in sixth grade. I noticed in other reviews people have read it on Child Development college classes or even in a HS psych course. Me I read it on my own when I found it at the school's library. I was in special ed because they didn't know what to do with me. I picked up Lovey I think because I felt like I could identify with her though our situations were vastly different. I was a gifted reader (but bad at math) and had 'behavior problems' actually I have mild autism but that wasn't known then. Lovey was a book that started me on the road to reading other books like this of people working with special needs children. I don't work in the field, I shy away from dealing with a bunch of people, I'm almost 40 and work as a page in a library. Lovey was the book that took me back to analyzing my situation and trying to make peace with having been in special ed for awhile. Lovey can certainly tear your heart out. I still remember a lot of it, don't know if I can bring myself to reading it again though after all these years. It is touching and endearing and hopeful. Keep tissues on standby though.
December 31, 2018
I read a similar book way back when called One Child by Torey Hayden. In fact there is a quote by the author on the front of the Lovey book. I figured I enjoyed One Child and if the author enjoyed Lovey, so would I.
I did enjoy the book but there were a few things that bothered me. The first is the cover. I realize that the people on covers aren’t necessarily the people depicted in a memoir but the girl on the cover is small and blond and Hannah (Lovey is a nickname) is large and a red-head. It just bothers me because I had this idea of what Lovey looks like from the cover and so I had a hard time imagining her differently after that.
Second of all is the language that is used when referring to Lovey. I think this is because it was originally written in the 70s. Mary refers to Hannah/Lovey as fat. I know the word didn’t have quite as much as a negative connotation as it does now in our world where fat is a bigger insult than saying poor or dumb. Still, it bothered me.
Overall though, the story is wonderful. It’s so nice to hear how Mary helped Hannah to come out of her shell and be more independent. What she did for that family is amazing and I was sad when the story ended.
I did enjoy the book but there were a few things that bothered me. The first is the cover. I realize that the people on covers aren’t necessarily the people depicted in a memoir but the girl on the cover is small and blond and Hannah (Lovey is a nickname) is large and a red-head. It just bothers me because I had this idea of what Lovey looks like from the cover and so I had a hard time imagining her differently after that.
Second of all is the language that is used when referring to Lovey. I think this is because it was originally written in the 70s. Mary refers to Hannah/Lovey as fat. I know the word didn’t have quite as much as a negative connotation as it does now in our world where fat is a bigger insult than saying poor or dumb. Still, it bothered me.
Overall though, the story is wonderful. It’s so nice to hear how Mary helped Hannah to come out of her shell and be more independent. What she did for that family is amazing and I was sad when the story ended.
March 20, 2015
This book is the first adult novel I ever read. My aunt had it way back in 1978 and I was 7 years old. I picked it up because the book had a pretty little girl on the cover. I could not put it down. I was an advanced reader, and learned a lot from this book. I discovered empathy for young children ( missing the point that I was one) and decided that being a teacher of some kind would be important. I do not know now if I understood the words autism and schizophrenia but it was in this book that I first discovered them.
Reading this as an adult, I can empathize and rejoice with the huge undertaking of the school and program where Mary taught. I can identify with the fact that she faces job loss because she is not a state certified teacher, and as the school becomes state funded she will no longer fit there. I really appreciated the different difficulties the children suffered and how much courage it took for them to triumph.
an excellent read for anyone who loves children and teaching. I don't recommend it to other 7 year olds though !
Reading this as an adult, I can empathize and rejoice with the huge undertaking of the school and program where Mary taught. I can identify with the fact that she faces job loss because she is not a state certified teacher, and as the school becomes state funded she will no longer fit there. I really appreciated the different difficulties the children suffered and how much courage it took for them to triumph.
an excellent read for anyone who loves children and teaching. I don't recommend it to other 7 year olds though !
March 11, 2015
(...)
Mais uma vez um livro que me surpreendeu. Esta é uma daquelas autora que, para além de ter jeito para cuidar de crianças, tem imenso jeito para a escrita. Sabe escrever e projetar os seus sentimentos como ninguém e acaba por ser esse o ingrediente de todos os livros. Todos sabemos que hoje em dia existem vários livros dentro deste género, mas, na minha opinião, o facto de Mary ter começado a partir de voluntariado, num salto de fé e de ter iniciado o trabalho nesta área numa altura em que não existiam muitas pessoas a conhecê-la, acaba por ser muito importante, tornando esta autora uma das melhores dentro deste tipo de literatura.
A relação de Mary com Hannah foi muitíssimo bem explicada e, sendo o livro do ponto de vista de Mary (afinal estamos a falar praticamente de uma autobiografia), acabamos por entrar profundamente na verdadeira relação que estas têm, torcendo para que estas se dêem bem e para que Hannah se desenvolva emocionalmente.
Um livro que gostei e que aconselho!
Opinião completa em http://blocodedevaneios.blogspot.pt/2...
Mais uma vez um livro que me surpreendeu. Esta é uma daquelas autora que, para além de ter jeito para cuidar de crianças, tem imenso jeito para a escrita. Sabe escrever e projetar os seus sentimentos como ninguém e acaba por ser esse o ingrediente de todos os livros. Todos sabemos que hoje em dia existem vários livros dentro deste género, mas, na minha opinião, o facto de Mary ter começado a partir de voluntariado, num salto de fé e de ter iniciado o trabalho nesta área numa altura em que não existiam muitas pessoas a conhecê-la, acaba por ser muito importante, tornando esta autora uma das melhores dentro deste tipo de literatura.
A relação de Mary com Hannah foi muitíssimo bem explicada e, sendo o livro do ponto de vista de Mary (afinal estamos a falar praticamente de uma autobiografia), acabamos por entrar profundamente na verdadeira relação que estas têm, torcendo para que estas se dêem bem e para que Hannah se desenvolva emocionalmente.
Um livro que gostei e que aconselho!
Opinião completa em http://blocodedevaneios.blogspot.pt/2...
September 21, 2012
Book Description
Publication Date: August 1976 | ISBN-10: 0397011296 | ISBN-13: 978-0397011292 | Edition: 1st
"Mary MacCracken had reservations about having eight year old Hannah Rosnic in her class of three emotionally disturbed boys. They had made progress under Mary's care, and Hannah, who had a reputation for being withdrawn and possibly retarded, would only be a disruptive influence. But when Mary first encountered Hannah- wearing a woman's housedress, her red gold hair tangled with chewing gum, alternately screaming and sobbing and acting more like an animal than a little girl Mary knew that she had to help release Hannah from her prision of fear, loneliness, and rage. But how to do it? How could Mary help a child who had been shut up in closets, locked out of her home, beaten by both her brother and father? How could she reach Hannah?"
This excerpt is from inside the dust jacket. This book tells how Mary was able to reach and help Hannah.
Publication Date: August 1976 | ISBN-10: 0397011296 | ISBN-13: 978-0397011292 | Edition: 1st
"Mary MacCracken had reservations about having eight year old Hannah Rosnic in her class of three emotionally disturbed boys. They had made progress under Mary's care, and Hannah, who had a reputation for being withdrawn and possibly retarded, would only be a disruptive influence. But when Mary first encountered Hannah- wearing a woman's housedress, her red gold hair tangled with chewing gum, alternately screaming and sobbing and acting more like an animal than a little girl Mary knew that she had to help release Hannah from her prision of fear, loneliness, and rage. But how to do it? How could Mary help a child who had been shut up in closets, locked out of her home, beaten by both her brother and father? How could she reach Hannah?"
This excerpt is from inside the dust jacket. This book tells how Mary was able to reach and help Hannah.
September 3, 2008
I read this book when I was a teenager for the first time and fell in love with the story and the characters! I recently found it in my stash and reread it again for the hundreth time. This book among others led me toward my career path in deaf education. It is a touching story about a special needs child and her teacher set in the 70's. It shows the trials special needs teachers faced with little recources and how one teacher can touch a child's life as well as how the child can touch a teacher's life!! Wonderful read!
March 31, 2015
Really enjoyed this book. It has been written by the teacher of an emotionally disturbed child and is easy to read and not bogged down in technical jargon. It is very sad at times when you realise how tough life is for some kids and it left me in awe of people like the author who dedicate their lives to helping others. She also touches on the frustrations of dealing with bureaucratic red tape which satisfies the system but can seriously disadvantage those that need help the most. The story of of Hannah will be in my thoughts for a long time to come.
December 19, 2017
This was an easy to read story about a little girl named Hannah who starts attending a school for 'emotionally disturbed' children, and also focuses on Mary's journey to becoming a fully qualified teacher. I thought that the story itself wasn't overly captivating, and it struggled to hold my interest. I thought the parts about Mary studying to become a qualified teacher weren't hugely relevant to the plot, and at times the story lacked depth and the plot seemed a little dull. Two and a half stars at most. Have read better
November 21, 2014
I loved this book and thought is was interesting. The book always kept me on my feet and I was always eager to see what was going to happen next. Lovey is a story about a teacher, Mary, who gets a new student in her class who has physical and emotional issues, Hanna. This story is all about the struggle that the teacher and the student go through, together. This was a very moving book because even though nobody believed that Hanna had hope is becoming normal, her teacher always did.
April 26, 2015
Finishing this book almost has me in tears. I knew I would enjoy it, but I never knew it would move me and touch my heart the way it did. I felt like I was right there, trying to help Hannah and the three boys through all of their problems. They grew so close and I was so sad Mary couldn't be their teacher anymore after that year, but the impact she made was a life long one. This story was beautiful and it shows that a little love and compassion, paired with patience, can go a long long way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2015
Coming from a student that was saved by her teacher... this book means so much to me and touched the deepest parts of my soul, because it is true nothing is like an amazing teacher that cares. I have been blessed with having her in my life and this book made me realize how even more lucky I am to have her in my life. it amazing how one teacher can change your life. I actually gave her my copy of this book so she could read it then just bought another copy for me.
February 7, 2017
This was a sweet story, and an easy read. It was enjoyable, though nothing special. I suppose this genre was very popular in the mid to late '70s, and once you've read one, you've basically read them all. (Books like P.S. Your Not Listening and One Child: The True Story of a Tormented Six-Year-Old and the Brilliant Teacher Who Reached Out.) And yet I keep on reading them...
June 3, 2015
Mary McCracken was my inspiration to become a special Ed teacher when I first read one of her books at the age of 12. Casey read this book for a class so I revisited it. I still think she is/was an amazing teacher and quite the storyteller. In this one she has a class of 4 emotionally disturbed students. I could never do it.
Read
July 5, 2023Hard to believe I read Lovey so long ago, but it provided a glimpse of emotionally disturbed children that most adolescents probably don't have. (Thanks, Mom!) I have heard some comments that the book is "outdated" in defining autism. Either way, it is a worthwhile portrait.
August 9, 2008
I read this book when I was 10 years old. Yeah. So easy a child could read it. It was recommended by my sister, who was 13 years old. And 25 years later I still remember the book, the titles and children in the story. This book touched my life and I hope it reaches other in the same way.
November 15, 2008
This is another tear jerker story of a kid with problems (can't remember what exactly the problems were now) that my mom had around the house that I ended up reading when I had exhausted everything else in print.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews