What do you think?
Rate this book
Mind's Eye
"One of those truly distinguished books that offers many rich layers for readers to reflect upon." -- School Library Journal, Starred
Sixteen-year-old Courtney was paralyzed in the accident. Never again will she walk, dance, run, or even leave the convalescent home where she lies in a bed, surrounded by the elderly and dying.
Or will she? When the elderly Elva asks her new roommate to read to her from the 1910 edition of Baedeker's Italy, Courtney reluctantly agrees. Each afternoon, for a short time, the two escape back in time from the darkness of winter in North Dakota. Where there seemed none, together they will find adventure, poetry, beauty, love, and most of all, hope.
Sixteen-year-old Courtney was paralyzed in the accident. Never again will she walk, dance, run, or even leave the convalescent home where she lies in a bed, surrounded by the elderly and dying.
Or will she? When the elderly Elva asks her new roommate to read to her from the 1910 edition of Baedeker's Italy, Courtney reluctantly agrees. Each afternoon, for a short time, the two escape back in time from the darkness of winter in North Dakota. Where there seemed none, together they will find adventure, poetry, beauty, love, and most of all, hope.
112 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
2 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Paul Fleischman
66 books197 followers Paul Fleischman grew up in Santa Monica, California. The son of well-known children's novelist Sid Fleischman, Paul was in the unique position of having his famous father's books read out loud to him by the author as they were being written. This experience continued throughout his childhood.
Paul followed in his father's footsteps as an author of books for young readers, and in 1982 he released the book "Graven Images", which was awarded a Newbery Honor citation.
In 1988, Paul Fleischman came out with "Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices", an unusually unique collection of poetry from the perspective of insects. This book was awarded the 1989 John Newbery Medal. Factoring in Sid Fleischman's win of the John Newbery Medal in 1987 for his book "The Whipping Boy", Paul and Sid Fleischman became to this day the only father and son authors to both win the John Newbery Medal.
Paul followed in his father's footsteps as an author of books for young readers, and in 1982 he released the book "Graven Images", which was awarded a Newbery Honor citation.
In 1988, Paul Fleischman came out with "Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices", an unusually unique collection of poetry from the perspective of insects. This book was awarded the 1989 John Newbery Medal. Factoring in Sid Fleischman's win of the John Newbery Medal in 1987 for his book "The Whipping Boy", Paul and Sid Fleischman became to this day the only father and son authors to both win the John Newbery Medal.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 15, 2008
one of the saddest and most beautiful books ever written for young people - or anyone else.
February 20, 2019
In Paul Fleischman's novel formatted like a play, Courtney has recently been involved in an accident that left her paralyzed. She now resides in a facility in North Dakota that specializes in severe debilitations. Her attitude is understandably poor. She is a 17-year-old girl who has nothing to look forward to, and her senile roommate won't stop asking Courtney to read to her. When she finally relents, Elva (the roommate) tells her to read a travel guide to Italy. She is initially hesitant, stumbling over the pronunciations and getting bored quickly. She comes to realize, though, that Elva is living a mental vacation to Italy through the reading of the manual. Through a few enlightening experiences, Elva's quotations of poetry, and their trip to Venice and Naples, Courtney realizes there is more to life than feeling sorry for herself.
The premise of the novel is heavy and inspiring, and it is executed well for the most part. The dialogue moves the story along, and the relationship between the two main characters progresses realistically. It's a quick read at just 110 pages, though, and I wonder if the length is sufficient to fully convey Courtney's transformation of character. I reached page 100 and wondered how a girl, still quite superficial and sarcastic, could evolve into an acceptable resolution to the story. The plot does end up satisfying from beginning to end, but only just. Each turn in the story is largely predictable.
An aspect of the story that will appeal to some but be off-putting to most is the frequent use of poetry. Half of Elva's lines are quotes from Walt Whitman or Emily Dickinson, and they are mostly met with sharp disapproval from Courtney. The cycle gets a bit tired.
Overall, the book has literary merit and has potential lessons for young adults throughout. The form is unique and the dialogue flows. However, the downfalls of the plot and lengthy quoted stanzas are hard to ignore. I enjoyed Courtney's journey, but was not as lost in it as Elva was in her travel guide.
Content Warnings: Infrequent cursing, one brief sexual advance that is rejected, a great deal of bitter sarcasm, and central themes of dementia and disability.
The premise of the novel is heavy and inspiring, and it is executed well for the most part. The dialogue moves the story along, and the relationship between the two main characters progresses realistically. It's a quick read at just 110 pages, though, and I wonder if the length is sufficient to fully convey Courtney's transformation of character. I reached page 100 and wondered how a girl, still quite superficial and sarcastic, could evolve into an acceptable resolution to the story. The plot does end up satisfying from beginning to end, but only just. Each turn in the story is largely predictable.
An aspect of the story that will appeal to some but be off-putting to most is the frequent use of poetry. Half of Elva's lines are quotes from Walt Whitman or Emily Dickinson, and they are mostly met with sharp disapproval from Courtney. The cycle gets a bit tired.
Overall, the book has literary merit and has potential lessons for young adults throughout. The form is unique and the dialogue flows. However, the downfalls of the plot and lengthy quoted stanzas are hard to ignore. I enjoyed Courtney's journey, but was not as lost in it as Elva was in her travel guide.
Content Warnings: Infrequent cursing, one brief sexual advance that is rejected, a great deal of bitter sarcasm, and central themes of dementia and disability.
January 1, 2025
"The Mind's Eye" concentrates on the importance of training the imagination, enriching the mind with all the best of humanity. "If only you'd build up your mind. You need to furnish it, floor to ceiling.
The story centers on two ladies from opposite sides of life: an elderly lady, Elva, who has lived a full life and a 17-year-old girl, Courtney. Both are in rehabilitation for physical therapy, the young one for being a paraplegic. Elva decides that the two of them, with the aid of their imagination and a travel book, travel throughout Italy, and Courtney complies, albeit begrudgingly. The elderly woman, exceptionally knowledgeable in the humanities, shares stories, poems, and art history with her companion, all in an attempt to supply and train her starved imagination. However, Courtney tries to sabotage most of the trip, full of bitterness and anger: she imagines an earthquake destroys the Pantheon, that a fire ruins an art museum, completely destroying Boticelli's works, etc. She is bent on destroying what is good and beautiful, envious and vindictive. Rather than appreciating and entering into the beauty, she longs to destroy and criticize.
I think Fleischman ended the story too soon--it's as if he were trying to go somewhere with Courtney, and then he rushes the story, showing that she's learned to love this imaginary traveling game and wants to share it with others. It is also concerning that Courtney takes the imagination too far: it's as if she reverts to living in an imaginary and false world, which can be exceptionally dangerous and unhealthy (think Williams' "Descent into Hell.") If she isn't careful, she will never go out and live her own life, encountering any travel, hardships, or real relationships, because she is too involved in her imaginary romance and borrowed life.
The story centers on two ladies from opposite sides of life: an elderly lady, Elva, who has lived a full life and a 17-year-old girl, Courtney. Both are in rehabilitation for physical therapy, the young one for being a paraplegic. Elva decides that the two of them, with the aid of their imagination and a travel book, travel throughout Italy, and Courtney complies, albeit begrudgingly. The elderly woman, exceptionally knowledgeable in the humanities, shares stories, poems, and art history with her companion, all in an attempt to supply and train her starved imagination. However, Courtney tries to sabotage most of the trip, full of bitterness and anger: she imagines an earthquake destroys the Pantheon, that a fire ruins an art museum, completely destroying Boticelli's works, etc. She is bent on destroying what is good and beautiful, envious and vindictive. Rather than appreciating and entering into the beauty, she longs to destroy and criticize.
I think Fleischman ended the story too soon--it's as if he were trying to go somewhere with Courtney, and then he rushes the story, showing that she's learned to love this imaginary traveling game and wants to share it with others. It is also concerning that Courtney takes the imagination too far: it's as if she reverts to living in an imaginary and false world, which can be exceptionally dangerous and unhealthy (think Williams' "Descent into Hell.") If she isn't careful, she will never go out and live her own life, encountering any travel, hardships, or real relationships, because she is too involved in her imaginary romance and borrowed life.
November 28, 2019
YES! So much character in such a short amount of time - THAT is what I'm talking about. *Spoilers* when Courtney comes to the rehab center and Elva is just going off about everything in existence, you know that Courtney is going to have a change of heart and aren't we glad! She's not a likable person, but gradually she starts to get into the idea of their traveling through Italy game. And they also compromise! I really enjoyed the when Courtney is imagining setting everything on fire and Elva is upset about it, they actually talk it out instead of Elva being this dictator on Courtney's recovery and imagination. I also enjoyed that when Elva died it wasn't this long dramatic scene. It had a modern, realist flare to it that I appreciated. The only thing that had me concerned.. was when Courtney is indoctrinating Muriel on the ways of the center and how her and Elva did things.. she isn't super clear that it is all pretend.. She talks about her boyfriend Edward and how he had passed away but fails to mention that he was made up.. Ummm...? Did we go from a state of hard-nosed denial and obstinance to a state of hard-nosed, stubborn delusion? Problematic... but I like it problematic! It's like life.. sticky and not fully resolved and INTERESTING.
January 27, 2020
Believable progression of companionship between Elva and Courtney, as well as the journey of Courtney following her heart and imagination.
I wondered why it was written in play form.
Perhaps my first reading of an entire play. I enjoyed the acceptance that comes from gaining one's imagination when one has largely healed from the anger of one's condition.
This book encouraged the use of my imagination as my dream that night gave me an avenue to use it.
I wondered why it was written in play form.
Perhaps my first reading of an entire play. I enjoyed the acceptance that comes from gaining one's imagination when one has largely healed from the anger of one's condition.
This book encouraged the use of my imagination as my dream that night gave me an avenue to use it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2018
An interesting little gem. I wasn't sure about the style at first, but ended up liking that it was more like reading a stage play, with only conversations and no external action happening. The relationship that forms between the two main characters is realistic, and did a great job of carrying the story forward.
December 25, 2017
Bizarre but beautiful little read. How does one’s mind save you when all else is falling apart around you? Told in all dialogue with some interesting characters in a nursing home/rehab facility.
August 5, 2020
So this is a really creative story about a sixteen year old who tragically becomes a paraplegic from an accident. She finds a wonderful mentor and discovers the power of the imagination.
December 9, 2009
"But determination can make the miraculous possible."
—Mind's Eye, PP. 70-71
I'm really tempted to consider giving three and a half stars for this book.
In his always innovative style, Paul Fleischman has blown the cover off the traditional novel format, and created a new type of experience for us. I didn't know if a story told in play dialogue could be as powerful as it might be in normal prose, but in the skillful hands of Paul Fleischman this story became enchantingly evocative, powerfully taking us inside the tragic plight of Courtney as she lies in an out-of-the-way hospital room beside two aged ladies, her own mind awake and alert but her body paralyzed by a terrible accident.
The candle that suddenly lights her world is brought forth by her octogenarian roommate Elva's suggestion that the two of them take a trip to Italy, a trip in their own minds, where they can be young and have perfect vision and Courtney will no longer have to be handicapped by paralysis. The expedition is a catharsis for both Courtney and the reader, as Courtney begins to see that maybe she isn't totally trapped by the confines of her body; if she can train her mind and keep it active, there is still virtually no limit to what she can do.
Are these lessons permanently learned by Courtney, or not? That's hard to say. As a beautiful girl who always has had the advantages of personal attractiveness, completely relearning life is sure to be an almost impossible task. Courtney's story has no easy completion in the book; in fact, it is left rather uncompleted overall, showing the author's respect for the reader and his characters by not wrapping up the narrative in a tidy bow just for the sake of closure. Courtney's story really knows no closure, and Paul Fleischman does well by leaving that element of chaos intact through the end of Mind's Eye.
This book is surprisingly powerful, and beautifully captures the resonance of a tragic, lonely situation. In my view, Paul Fleischman has completely succeeded in the formation of this mold-breaking story.
—Mind's Eye, PP. 70-71
I'm really tempted to consider giving three and a half stars for this book.
In his always innovative style, Paul Fleischman has blown the cover off the traditional novel format, and created a new type of experience for us. I didn't know if a story told in play dialogue could be as powerful as it might be in normal prose, but in the skillful hands of Paul Fleischman this story became enchantingly evocative, powerfully taking us inside the tragic plight of Courtney as she lies in an out-of-the-way hospital room beside two aged ladies, her own mind awake and alert but her body paralyzed by a terrible accident.
The candle that suddenly lights her world is brought forth by her octogenarian roommate Elva's suggestion that the two of them take a trip to Italy, a trip in their own minds, where they can be young and have perfect vision and Courtney will no longer have to be handicapped by paralysis. The expedition is a catharsis for both Courtney and the reader, as Courtney begins to see that maybe she isn't totally trapped by the confines of her body; if she can train her mind and keep it active, there is still virtually no limit to what she can do.
Are these lessons permanently learned by Courtney, or not? That's hard to say. As a beautiful girl who always has had the advantages of personal attractiveness, completely relearning life is sure to be an almost impossible task. Courtney's story has no easy completion in the book; in fact, it is left rather uncompleted overall, showing the author's respect for the reader and his characters by not wrapping up the narrative in a tidy bow just for the sake of closure. Courtney's story really knows no closure, and Paul Fleischman does well by leaving that element of chaos intact through the end of Mind's Eye.
This book is surprisingly powerful, and beautifully captures the resonance of a tragic, lonely situation. In my view, Paul Fleischman has completely succeeded in the formation of this mold-breaking story.
October 31, 2012
Quick read as it's in a play format - without most of the set descriptions & stage directions. The main character, Courtney is not very likable, but neither was Pollyanna right after her accident, so I can cut her some slack. Overall, it was a good book about imagination & the value that literature can have for an inner, mental life that other forms of entertainment don't always provide enough substance for.
I would definitely recommend this book to teens who need to do a book report in a hurry. I'd also recommend it to young people who like the sort of tearjerker where the main character (probably) dies in the end because she had sex once & got HIV or fell in love with a boy who dies at the end, etc... because this book is sort of like the book that comes after that. There's a terrible accident & the girl gets paralyzed, but that's not what this book is about. This is about her first few months in the hospital doing physical therapy & slowly recovering a will to live. It's not a tearjerker, but it deals with a terrible calamity that's befallen a beautiful girl.
I would definitely recommend this book to teens who need to do a book report in a hurry. I'd also recommend it to young people who like the sort of tearjerker where the main character (probably) dies in the end because she had sex once & got HIV or fell in love with a boy who dies at the end, etc... because this book is sort of like the book that comes after that. There's a terrible accident & the girl gets paralyzed, but that's not what this book is about. This is about her first few months in the hospital doing physical therapy & slowly recovering a will to live. It's not a tearjerker, but it deals with a terrible calamity that's befallen a beautiful girl.
May 12, 2011
Courtney's a sixteen year old when her world is turned upside down after an accident leaves her paralyzed from the waist down. With her mother and father dead, she ends up in a nursing home resting beside 88 year old Elva. Elva, a previous school teacher, has the imagination of a child backed with the wisdom found in the poetry and books she's absorbed throughout her life. She convinces Courtney to accompany her on a trip to Italy- a place she promised her husband she would go. It's not your average leisure vacation as they travel via imagination. Anything is possible!
This book made me feel a little guilty for not reading enough, and not paying good enough attention to some of the things I read. It is a quick read written uniquely in dialogue form, and has a bittersweet ending that will leave lasting impressions.
Suggestion: It helps to have so art history background knowledge (especially the Renaissance period). It makes the book more meaningful and beautiful.
Warning: Ends too soon.
This book made me feel a little guilty for not reading enough, and not paying good enough attention to some of the things I read. It is a quick read written uniquely in dialogue form, and has a bittersweet ending that will leave lasting impressions.
Suggestion: It helps to have so art history background knowledge (especially the Renaissance period). It makes the book more meaningful and beautiful.
Warning: Ends too soon.
June 8, 2008
This story is about a sixteen year old girl, named Courtney who has been recently paralyzed in a terrible accident. The injuries no longer allow her to do many things such as walking, dancing, and running, and as a result, she is confined to her bed at a nursing home. Her parents are dead and she is alone with anger. An elderly woman, named Elva, tries to share with Courtney about her experiences with poetry and art, but that does not comfort Courtney at all. So Elva decides to read aloud a 1910 Baedaker guide for an imaginary trip to Italy to which Courtney reluctantly agrees. Courtney is at first very critical of the imaginary trip but she soon accepts it as part of her imagination.
I thought that this story was boring. I didn't take too much interest in the story. For me, it didn't catch my attention that much because it wasn't exciting. Though I do quite understand how meaningful the plot is.
I thought that this story was boring. I didn't take too much interest in the story. For me, it didn't catch my attention that much because it wasn't exciting. Though I do quite understand how meaningful the plot is.
March 14, 2013
I thought this book was very good. I enjoyed that it was informative and gave me a chance to learn some really cool facts in a non-boring, "reading from the text book and forgetting what you read five minutes later" kind of way. It was a very quick read, and I enjoyed the layout of the book,personally I haven't read many books that are layed out in dialogue...like this one was. I think it is a good thing because you are allowed to hear both the character's thoughts. I learned some really neat stuff in Italy from this book. Overall, I would say that reading this book was a good experience, especially for a person who wants to learn about history in a different way. Although, I felt like the book just ended...like there was no proper road map leading up to the ending.
December 22, 2009
I picked this book up at a library book sale, mainly because of the name of one of the main characters, Elva. It is not a common name, but it is my mother's name - and that made me want to read it. I am really glad that I did - and I look forward to sharing it with her.
pg 105 "Elva taught me that. She compared a person's mind to a pantry. Every poem or book or painting you know is another jar on the shelf."
... and I heartily agree with this statement.
pg 105 "Elva taught me that. She compared a person's mind to a pantry. Every poem or book or painting you know is another jar on the shelf."
... and I heartily agree with this statement.
April 5, 2013
This was a lovely book, but it is really confusing unless you pay a lot of attention to it. When the chapters would change, it would change moods and the topic all the way around. The book was very depressing too because it deals with death and pain. She got severely hurt in a horse accident and was paralyzed for the waist down, I would recommend this book if you like to explore within words and traveling. If not, then I would not recommend this book.
March 30, 2016
Play form.
Courtney, age 16, paralyzed below her waist, finds herself in a nursing home with octogenarians. Elva is delighted for a roommate who can see to read. She found a 1910 travel guide to Italy and wants to travel there, in her mind, as she and her sister played years ago. Elva is an anomaly to Courtney for a while as she works through her trauma. The beautiful surprise comes when another old lady moves into the room.
Courtney, age 16, paralyzed below her waist, finds herself in a nursing home with octogenarians. Elva is delighted for a roommate who can see to read. She found a 1910 travel guide to Italy and wants to travel there, in her mind, as she and her sister played years ago. Elva is an anomaly to Courtney for a while as she works through her trauma. The beautiful surprise comes when another old lady moves into the room.
January 9, 2011
This is a lovely little book, written like a play. It's about a teenage girl who is paralyzed and has to live in a nursing home. Her roommate is a peppy older woman who wants to take an imaginative journey to Italy. The book is about their relationship and what the older woman teaches the teenage girl about life. Well worth it.
March 30, 2011
Paul Fleischman is good at not writing in a normal way. He won a Newbery Medal for a book of poems for two readers. This is written like a play (dialogue only) and so it takes just a minute to get used to, but once you do, it's great. A quick read, but strong words. Proof that books don't need to have a certain number of pages to tell a story.
June 9, 2012
Paul Fleishchman writes delicious little books that can be devoured in less than an hour. This one was not one of my favorites, but the premise is original: a paralyzed teen-age girl and an elderly almost-blind lady strike up a strange friendship in a nursing home and they take a virtual trip together, all in their minds' eyes. Even though it wasn't one of my favorites, I still adore Fleischman!
April 7, 2014
This is an excellent book! It has taken me a year or so to finally get the title. At first i was so disappointed because 16-year-old Courtney is not going anywhere and an imaginary trip to Italy didn't appeal to me either. But just as 88-year-old Elva wins over Courtney, so did Fleischman win me over. Excellent.
March 3, 2013
The concept of a paralyzed girl being mentored on a journey of the mind by a blind senior citizen caught my eye. This play held my attention as an adult, but I am not sure it would have held it as firmly as a teen.
November 4, 2014
It was short but worth reading. The setting was phenomenal and the voice was powerful. The format of the writing was effective because you were able to hear the characters' voices so clearly and powerfully. Great read!
October 1, 2008
paralyzed 16 year old girl goes on a "mind trip" to Italy with her elderly room mate. Riveting dialogue.
March 2, 2010
I read this ages ago, but it was so powerful... it's about a girl, paralyzed from the waist down, imagining the "outside" world and a place for her in it....
Read
December 27, 2010strange but rather interesting--paralyzed girl learns about life through taking imaginary tours to Italy with her blind, senior-citizen roommate
September 17, 2013
Just to be stuck in Convalescent home all day gets boring, imagination is the way to go.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews