Die Wahrheit über Ivy

by Kathy Stinson

In Davids Familie dreht sich alles nur um seine kleine Schwester Ivy. Sie ist zwar 11 Jahre alt, aber in gewisser Hinsicht hilflos wie ein Baby, denn sie wurde mit multiplen Behinderungen geboren und muss rund um die Uhr betreut werden. David liebt seine Schwester, aber oft blamiert sie ihn auch in der Öffentlichkeit. Und für seine Eltern scheint er hauptsächlich ein Betreuungshelfer zu sein. Als Ivy eines Tages beim Schwimmen tödlich verunglückt und der Vater von der Polizei verhaftet wird, gerät alles aus den Fugen ...

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Canada, Fiction

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

Kathy Stinson, author of internationally acclaimed Canadian children's classic, Red is Best and the TD Award Winner, The Man with the Violin, also writes novels, short stories, and nonfiction for young people of all ages.

Reviews

[Kade Gulluscio · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Happened To Ivy was quite.. the interesting read.
Keep in mind that this is a young adult read, and it's definitely geared towards that younger age group. Nonetheless, I found the storyline interesting and easy to read.
It's shorter in length, around 146 pages. But the author did a great job packing in a lot of storyline and plot in those pages. I really enjoyed the characters and their development in the book.
I think a lot of tough topics in this book will be relatable for other young adults; specifically the parents fighting; the jealousy of the attention a sibling gets from parents and so forth.
The book is quite .. emotional in places, so be warned there.
Overall, great, easy read. Would definitely read others by the author.

[Elisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 Sterne.
Mich hat das Buch so enttäuscht :( Ich fand es wirklich nicht gut. Hinten steht drauf "Ein beeindruckendes Buch über den Umgang mit Behinderung", aber das finde ich leider überhaupt nicht.. Besonders was David, der Protagonist, teilweise gemacht hat.. wtf? Naja, aber es hat sich immerhin schnell lesen lassen :D

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really pulls on the heart strings.

14 year old David Burke’s life has always been a challenge with his younger sister Ivy, 11 years old who has Cerebral Palsy. David feels he’s non-existent to his parents, because they are always attending to Ivy’s needs. Ivy suffers from seizures that are caused from the Cerebal Palsy. some times wishes Ivy wasn’t there.

David’s parents are under a lot of stress being there for Ivy. His mom, Anne quit her job as a nurse to stay home and take care of Ivy. Steven though he loves his daughter dearly, he doesn’t know how to handle her needs without getting over whelmed and frustrated, which then starts arguments with Anne and Steven. David feels invisible because they are always so focussed on Ivy’s needs. That one day David has had enough and makes Ivy, eat worms. David really resented Ivy even though she couldn’t help it, but he felt she took all of their parents attention.

One day though everything changes all their lives forever. While David’s at their family cottage with his friend and neighbor Hannah, (who he really likes but doesn’t feel comfortable telling) Ivy’s life tragically is ended. Ivy and her father went out for a swim, but Ivy doesn’t come out of the water alive. Steven drowned her, but neither Anne or David could come out and admit it to themselves, so they all put it as an “accident”. Deep down though David knew what his father had did, and as the days went on his anger built up. He finally had to confront Steven once and for all. When he did the guilt was just eating away at Steven and he admitted to it. Anne couldn’t accept what Steven had said he’d done so she just blew it off as his grief was making him say this. He couldn’t possibly. As time went on the family was struggling with what happened to Ivy, that it was tearing them apart.

David would go and visit Ivy’s grave often, he soon found out that his friend Hannah who had been with them during the time of Ivy’s death would also go and visit Ivy at her grave. Though she wasn’t part of the family, she felt a connection with Ivy. She was always wanting to get to know her, and didn’t judge her for what she had.

This family was just holding on by strings while this secret was eating them alive. David’s anger boils over one day when he finds his father taking down Ivy’s wheelchair ramp. He ends up punching his dad in the face. David feels like his parents are trying to erase that Ivy was even there.

David feels like he can trust Hannah with his secret that he has to hold inside. Hannah at first doesn’t believe David, because she has seen how Steven was with Ivy, he couldn’t possibly do something like taking her life, but after she cools down she apologizes to David for saying he’d lie about such a thing.

One day though David and his family soon realize that secrets like that don’t stay secrets for long. The police show up at their home to take Steven.

David decides to stay back while his dad is going off to jail.

David has big regrets and overwhelming guilt on how he treated Ivy. He wishes that he could take it all back. He realizes just how much he really loved her. He goes to her grave to tell her that his life is not better without her, and he misses her.

David thinks his father will be charged, and wonders if the judge or jury will really know how to process what has happened, and how to proceed.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of this title will want to read Terry Trueman's Cruise Control since it explores similar territory. Teen David Burke loves his sister Ivy, 11, but he is also embarrassed by her behavior and her disabilities. When a new neighbor, Hannah, that he's trying to impress seems to enjoy spending time with Ivy, David is delighted. But Ivy dies while the family is at its lake cottage, and David wonders about how the accident happened. When his father essentially confesses at least to not having acted in time to save Ivy, David is torn with his love for his father and for Ivy and his own guilt about the way he has treated his sister in the past. The novel raises several difficult questions and doesn't provide easy answers, especially since the ending is left open for readers' interpretation.

[Gabriele Goldstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a page-turner. Anyone who lives, or has lived, with the challenges of disability will connect with the nuanced emotions that define these relationships. The author does an incredible job of showing, not telling. Life isn't black and white, full of happy-ever-afters. But through it all, it's the power of love that makes our grey world a brighter place. What a difficult topic. Bravo to the author for tackling it and showing the vulnerabilities of being human. A short, intense read.

[Mellisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mellisa NARINE
Mr.Douglas
ENG2D1
May 30,2017

Rights of Disabled People

The book that I am reading is What Happened To Ivy by Kathy Stinson , it is about a girl named Ivy and she is eleven years old. She has multiple disabilities like dangerous seizures, behavior and general care issues,she also embarrasses her brother David which he does not like but everything changes when she has an accident during the summer.

The style and quality of the novel writing is easy and not very challenging, the age range for this book is 12-16 so it is not a hard book to read.The book is very short because it has small chapters, this book took me 3 day to read, there are some flashbacks but it won't confuse you when you are reading it.

The main conflict in my story is Ivy has to be constantly watched and constantly taken to the doctors for so many operations to get rid of her disability but no matter how many operations she get it does not work,so her father decided that he knew what was best for Ivy and he made a life changing decision for her. Her father is not supposed to make any decision for Ivy without consulting her or her mother even though he is her father and Ivy is only eleven years old he is not supposed to do anything without her or her mother's permission it is Ivy’s right to decide what happens in her life.

My personal opinion on this book is, it is so sad because the events that happened to Ivy and David in the summer like Ivy has to live with her disabilities her whole life and David feels unwanted in his family because of Ivy’s disabilities. I loved this book because it shows how Ivy lives with her disabilities throughout the day and it shows how Davis feels when his sister embarrass him i also hated this book is it is so short and i wished it was longer so i could enjoy it more.

I would recommend this book to 12-16 year old because that is what the book is rated at and i would recommend this book for anybody who is interested in reading about Ivy’s live and how she is disabled and the life that David has and how he feels about his family.

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent, easy YA novella that digs into the dynamics of life with a sibling with a severe disability when tragedy strikes. The main character, a teenage boy, confronts many, often conflicting, emotions throughout the story line, and that is the main reason I'd suggest reading it. The complicated questions and themes would be great for discussion in a middle school or high school English class.

I'd recommend it to anyone who needs light reading, a summer-y story, or Canada-centric stories.

[Mar · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an okay book. Teen tries to process living with a disabled younger sister

[Demetra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another short story that hurt my soul

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

very heartbreaking

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at http://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogs...

What Happened to Ivy is just as easily a question as it is a statement about the narrative within the covers of Kathy Stinson's newest book, selected as one of two Honour Books for the 2013 Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book of the Year.

Ivy is the eleven-year-old sister of David, and the center of their family's world. Ivy has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair-bound, and her needs for costly meds, equipment, physio and other therapy, as well as for constant attention to dangerous seizures, behaviour and general care infuses every moment of their lives. David, fifteen, doesn't resent Ivy or the effects her needs have on his life; but he doesn't appreciate his parents' treatment of him as a lackey rather than a son.

Unless they need me to do something, it's like I'm not even here. (pg. 27)

David is delighted when an old friend of his mother's moves in, with her daughter Hannah, to the house across the street from them. He's even more encouraged when Hannah seems to want to spend time with him, especially since he begins thinking about her in terms beyond just friendship. When Hannah is invited to accompany the family to the cottage, David is hopeful that she will add some lightness to the sombre atmosphere of his family's anticipation of Ivy's next operation. And if he gets a bit of alone time with her, all the better.

Similarly, Hannah seems to enjoy being around the Burkes, particularly since she has no siblings and her dad who left when she was 7 gives the impression that he is oblivious to her. In fact, Hannah notes how impressed she is by the familiar affection and concern they all have for Ivy, specifically remarking what a wonderful father Mr. Burke is to his daughter.

But the visit to the cottage changes everything. Ivy has a severe seizure while in the water in her father's arms (her way of swimming) and all attempts to revive her are unsuccessful. Then the questions begin.

Kathy Stinson depicts the tragedy of Ivy's death in the context of speculation as to its nature. Shockingly, even Ivy's dad begins to question what happened to her and his role in her death. Could he have done something to change the results? Was he negligent? Was he consciously thinking about Ivy's life? When he gives voice to his questions, sharing them with his wife, and David overhears, an additional layer of emotion washes over their grief. Each begins to question their feelings for Ivy.

At 146 pages, What Happened to Ivy is relatively short for a young adult novel and I suspect that it's because Kathy Stinson does not feel the need to wrap the story in layers upon layers of descriptive text and subplots to enhance the primary storyline. Its bare bones are strong enough to support a complex examination of humanity and the connections that are strained when a much-loved child with physical challenges dies. Without criticizing or defending any attitudes, Kathy Stinson allows compassion to steer the questions and the telling of What Happened to Ivy.

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

David is your average teenage boy. He has a crush on the new girl, Hannah, who has recently moved in across the street. As it turns out, their mothers are old friends. But, David is finding out how hard it will be to really get to know her because of his sister Ivy. You see, Ivy has special needs. She is severely handicap with cerebral palsy and often has seizures and has had multiple surgeries to help her. To help his parents David must spend all of his extra time looking after her. He runs errands for her medicine, takes her for walks in her wheelchair, spends time with her in the family garden, holds her when she has seizures and wipes her drool. This makes David very resentful towards Ivy, but at the same time he does love his sister. The family plans a week long getaway to their cabin by the lake, Hannah is invited to join them. David feels this would be a good time to really get to know Hannah and let her know how he feels about her. The stay at the cabin proves to be a devastating experience for everyone. Ivy has a bad seizure that dampens the mood of everyone. Her constant need for attention and care puts the family on the edge and the parents argue about her. David hears his parents talking about putting Ivy in a home and how much her next surgery is going to cost them. To soften the mood, Dad takes Ivy out to the lake to splash around. She loves playing in the water. David and Hannah go to the local store to pick up some requested items from Mom. When they return an ambulance is in the driveway and on a gurney is Ivy's lifeless body. Dad later admits that he let Ivy go. David doesn't understand exactly what that means. The family is slowly falling apart since Ivy's death. The parents have put away her crib and Dad has removed her wheelchair ramp. Signs of Ivy's presence are slowly fading away. Can David forgive himself and his father for the resentment they held towards Ivy and each other? He'll have to find a way. Stinson draws readers into this soul stirring tale with her vivid imagery. Readers will connect with the characters with anger and sympathy. There is lots of suspense and proves to be a roller coaster ride of emotion. Although the content is sensitive this is a middle grade friendly read.

[Pat Bourke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This finely drawn novel by Kathy Stinson paints an honest, compelling picture of the complicated relationships in a family with a severely disabled child--and searingly highlights how hard this is for that child's sibling.

David's younger sister Ivy has many disabilities that make her the focus of the family's energy, activities, money and time. David struggles with everything that comes with that -- the constant attention, the public embarrassment, his feelings of being overlooked and under-appreciated by his parents -- but Stinson skillfully shows us that, despite all of this, David loves Ivy.

David's summer is thrown off-balance by Hannah, the new girl across the street, who seems to be as interested in David as he is in her.

When Ivy has an accident at their cottage while being looked after by her dad, Stinson helps us understand the enormous guilt and anger David feels. The strength of her simple, wonderful writing lies in revealing a very human teenager, with complicated feelings, struggling with big and difficult questions about love and forgiveness. She's put a vulnerable, human face on a problem we all hope we will never have to face. A wonderful book that is sure to spark meaningful discussions in families and classrooms.

[Heather Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the type of fiction that should be read and talked about in every home and classroom. While this story is fiction, the events are ones that could impact most every family, not just those with disabled children, but also those with terminally ill family members.

Fifteen year old David has had to live most of his life in the shadow of his younger sister Ivy. She was born with a severe form of cerebral palsy and takes up most of her parents' attention. He loves his little sister, but he at the same time, he wants some time with his parents.

This novel explores the range of emotions that David goes through when he considers how Ivy has changed his life. This is a very non-judgemental approach. There is no right and wrong to David's feelings, just acknowledgement of their existence.

During the course of the story, David had to confront some of the same questions I did when my father was facing terminal illness.

What Happened to Ivy is directed at a teenage audience, though I feel it would be most effective if it is also read by parents prior to a family discussion.

[Kathie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t let the size of this book fool you: this slim volume is a quick read, but the story, characters, and emotional content are powerful. David is a 15-year-old who alternately is annoyed by, and fiercely loves and defends, his profoundly disabled sister Ivy. While he resents that Ivy’s needs have completely dominated family life for as long as he can remember, he also lovingly cares for her. His life gets a little easier when beautiful Hannah moves in across the street and becomes David’s fast friend and fits right in with the rest of his family. Soon a tragic event at a family vacation presents David and Hannah with a stark moral dilemma that threatens to tear apart David’s family and his friendship with Hannah. Heartbreaking and realistic, this novel pulls no punches. While I highly recommend this book, I warn my younger readers that it is sad and disturbing. This book would be an excellent choice for secondary level literature discussion groups.

[Niall Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, for a young adult novel, this book was short, which might be good for a struggling reader and the topic was quite intense, which, again, might grab the attention of the student who might not normally read. Would this book interest boys? Being mindful of generalizations, I sense the book might not interest boys given that the male protagonist's hobby is gardening and he is quite timid around the female character, Hannah. Indeed, a number of times, the reader is privy to his burgeoning feelings for Hannah, but perhaps this gets repetitive. If a reader can get past those elements, I found the story about Ivy to be quite engaging through the protagonist's eyes, and then quite intense after Ivy's accident.

[HPL Teen Advisory Group · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 as I thought it was a very good life lesson book because it has a bunch of real life stuff that happens to a sibling with a disability as David (who is one of the characters in the book) does and it's not easy for him. I also like the book and very short chapters in it so you would not have to wait so long to know what happens next or if it was a bad chapter it would be over soon. I also thought it was a good reading level for me as I don't read a lot. So all in all I would recommend this book to anyone who likes some real life drama and a little bit of sadness.
- Review by Megan

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I were Kathy, I would feel okay if I never wrote another book. With What Happened to Ivy out in the world, raising questions and allowing us to glimpse the heartache of a young lad, tortured by the possibility that his father made a wrong, and life-altering, decision, Kathy can feel like she's made her mark. Of course, she's done it before and she'll likely do it again (thank goodness), but wow. She is courageous and it has paid off for her readers.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well written--Stinson sure can tell a story! Short, but very thought-provoking, does a good job of hooking the reader, and the issue is very real. Timely & timeless: currently a few cases of euthanasia-wanna bes in the news, and her dedication 'To Robert & Tracy, whose stories haunt me still', is indeed haunting.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very glad I read this book, although the ending wasn't exactly how I would have liked it to be, the book was well written and I really felt for the characters.

I even almost cried, which I don't normally do. Well, not for books at least.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping, realistic, thought-provoking, and powerful book.

[Amy Mathers · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://amysmarathonofbooks.ca/what-ha...

[Nini · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story's interesting but the way it's written didn't really touch me at all

[Just · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written story about the realities of living with a sibling with a major disability and the value of human life and euthanasia.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK for YA, but had so much more to offer.

[Michele at A Belle's Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Measuring only 5x7 and at 146 pages, What Happened to Ivy is a small book; but it has a big story with an even bigger message. Full mother-daughter review here.

[Kami · Rating 1 out of 5]

"No thank you", and "never again". That's about all I have to say about this one.

[Amina]

lit
ending a little dry
love story had a lot of potential, so did family and father story but not fully exploited so giving off a "i want more" feeling at the end just because it ends on a strange note