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Just My Luck
Fourth grade is not going at all how Benny Barrows hoped. He hasn’t found a new best friend. He’s still not a great bike rider—even though his brother George, who’s autistic, can do tricks. And worst of all, he worries his dad’s recent accident might be all his fault. Benny tries to take his mom’s advice and focus on helping others, and to take things one step at a time. But when his dad ends up in the hospital again, Benny doesn’t know how he and his family will overcome all the bad luck that life has thrown their way.
Just My Luck is a deeply moving and rewarding novel about a down-on-his-luck boy whose caring heart ultimately helps him find the strength to cope with tragedy and realize how much he truly has to offer his friends and family.
Just My Luck is a deeply moving and rewarding novel about a down-on-his-luck boy whose caring heart ultimately helps him find the strength to cope with tragedy and realize how much he truly has to offer his friends and family.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 2016
86 people are currently reading
1665 people want to read
About the author
Cammie McGovern
13 books656 followersCammie McGovern was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford and received the Nelson Algren Award in short fiction. Her work has been published in Redbook, Seventeen, Glimmer Train, TriQuarterly, and other publications.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
January 12, 2016
When it feels like everything is falling apart, Benny keeps going. Even when he doesn't want to he just has to keep going. This family is going through tons and it's really nice and refreshing to read a book about a kid who isn't really smart, or talented, or even special. He's just a kid. Except McGovern does a wonderful job of showing what this average kid has inside of him that makes him special after all - and I think that will have great value for many children.
October 23, 2016
"My mom has a theory that when bad things happen [to you], you should think about someone else's problems and try to help them." That's how Benny, our narrator, opens up this book, Just My Luck. This is a story about the struggles that Benny's family has while he is in 4th grade. Benny has an autistic brother, George, and just before Benny starts the 4th grade with who he knows is going to be his very favorite teacher, Benny's dad suffers a medical trauma that will change him and the family dynamics forever.
"You don't think you could ever, in a million years, handle it, and then it happens and you do. You just go one day at a time and suddenly you realize, here I am. I'm handling it." This is a heart-warming story of problem solving, accepting change in yourself and others, dealing with conflict, and how leaning on others in our community can benefit us all. The family must pull together, finding their inner strength to overcome financial and emotional conflict, but they learn that community and friendships are really important too.
Throughout the book Benny feels like his father's accident is his fault because his father was helping him learn how to ride a bike. "Who doesn't know how to ride a bike in 4th grade?" His brother offers great advice on how things like that just don't matter as you grow older. "Get good at other things," he says. "No one's standing there with a checklist at middle school." (And for my middle school students, no one is standing there with a checklist at high school either. Be yourself and you'll find your people.)
If you liked Lost in the Sun , Umbrella Summer , or The Truth About Twinkie Pie then you will enjoy Just My Luck.
"You don't think you could ever, in a million years, handle it, and then it happens and you do. You just go one day at a time and suddenly you realize, here I am. I'm handling it." This is a heart-warming story of problem solving, accepting change in yourself and others, dealing with conflict, and how leaning on others in our community can benefit us all. The family must pull together, finding their inner strength to overcome financial and emotional conflict, but they learn that community and friendships are really important too.
Throughout the book Benny feels like his father's accident is his fault because his father was helping him learn how to ride a bike. "Who doesn't know how to ride a bike in 4th grade?" His brother offers great advice on how things like that just don't matter as you grow older. "Get good at other things," he says. "No one's standing there with a checklist at middle school." (And for my middle school students, no one is standing there with a checklist at high school either. Be yourself and you'll find your people.)
If you liked Lost in the Sun , Umbrella Summer , or The Truth About Twinkie Pie then you will enjoy Just My Luck.
December 19, 2015
This book is the perfect example of why I love middlegrade novels so much. I feel like they're tackling all these really hard issues but doing it in a way where they're accessible to children. (Because it's not just teenagers and adults that horrible things happen to.) I can't even imagine the skillset that takes, where you explain these things in a way where it's not too overwhelming for kids. Anyway, Cammie McGovern does it and makes it seem effortless.
I love Benny and his incredibly kind heart. (He's realistic though, and he loses his temper and he's very hard on himself.) But he's sweet and wise for his age and I wanted to give him about 50,000 hugs.
I haven't read Cammie McGovern's YA novels yet and I need to change that. If they're even half this good (and I've only heard amazing things), she's going to be one of my favorites.
Highly recommended.
I love Benny and his incredibly kind heart. (He's realistic though, and he loses his temper and he's very hard on himself.) But he's sweet and wise for his age and I wanted to give him about 50,000 hugs.
I haven't read Cammie McGovern's YA novels yet and I need to change that. If they're even half this good (and I've only heard amazing things), she's going to be one of my favorites.
Highly recommended.
September 9, 2015
Highly reminiscent of Lisa Graff's outstanding Absolutely Almost, Just My Luck is the story of a young for his age fourth grade boy wrestling with the guilt and worry he feels surrounding his father's aneurysm. Benny struggles in just about every area of his life; he is not academically gifted, has no significant friendships, and, most of all, is terrified of riding his bike. But Benny possess a tender heart and a remarkable gift for communicating with his older autistic brother. Told with both humor and warmth, Benny's story touched my heart.
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October 10, 2016Review by Nancy, intended for young readers:
Fourth grade can be tough. For Benny Barrows, the main character of Just My Luck by Cammie McGovern, fourth grade seems like the most unlucky year ever. Benny doesn’t have an alien invasion or time-traveling pirate ninjas or ancient Greek prophecies to worry about. He has real life.
Things that weigh on Benny’s mind:
- His father, who is recovering from a brain aneurism.
- That despite everyone telling Benny the aneurism wasn’t his fault, that it was actually his fault.
- Math, spelling, and sports — especially riding a bike.
- Making new friends, and holding onto his one friend.
- His teacher, Mr. Norris, looks tired every day, and doesn’t notice Benny.
- The medical bills that his family faces.
- And lots, lots, more…
One person Benny doesn’t worry about — but does help look after — is his older brother George, who is autistic. The book’s depiction of George’s medium-level autism and how others react to it is well-written. Even though many parts of Just My Luck are sad, I really enjoyed reading it because Benny is such a wonderfully kind, thoughtful character. Even when he’s frustrated or sad, he keeps going and never takes out his unhappiness on others.
One of my favorite parts of the book is finding out how Benny feels about his classmates. Even though classmates might think he’s odd because he’s quiet and doesn’t enjoy sports like other boys in his class, he’s never unkind to anyone. Benny, like many real kids, just takes a little longer to come out of his shell and discover what kind of friendships are important to him.
Just My Luck is not a fake-happy-ending book. Spoiler alert: There isn’t a magical cure that fixes Benny’s father. The Barrows family doesn’t win the lottery. Benny doesn’t become the most popular kid in school. But I still found the book to be a page-turner because I was rooting for Benny, and I think you will, too!
Recommended for fans of:
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
The Nest by Kenneth Oppel
Firegirl by Tony Abbott
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
Rules by Cynthia Lord
So B. It by Sarah Weeks
This review also appears on Kidsmomo.com.
Fourth grade can be tough. For Benny Barrows, the main character of Just My Luck by Cammie McGovern, fourth grade seems like the most unlucky year ever. Benny doesn’t have an alien invasion or time-traveling pirate ninjas or ancient Greek prophecies to worry about. He has real life.
Things that weigh on Benny’s mind:
- His father, who is recovering from a brain aneurism.
- That despite everyone telling Benny the aneurism wasn’t his fault, that it was actually his fault.
- Math, spelling, and sports — especially riding a bike.
- Making new friends, and holding onto his one friend.
- His teacher, Mr. Norris, looks tired every day, and doesn’t notice Benny.
- The medical bills that his family faces.
- And lots, lots, more…
One person Benny doesn’t worry about — but does help look after — is his older brother George, who is autistic. The book’s depiction of George’s medium-level autism and how others react to it is well-written. Even though many parts of Just My Luck are sad, I really enjoyed reading it because Benny is such a wonderfully kind, thoughtful character. Even when he’s frustrated or sad, he keeps going and never takes out his unhappiness on others.
One of my favorite parts of the book is finding out how Benny feels about his classmates. Even though classmates might think he’s odd because he’s quiet and doesn’t enjoy sports like other boys in his class, he’s never unkind to anyone. Benny, like many real kids, just takes a little longer to come out of his shell and discover what kind of friendships are important to him.
Just My Luck is not a fake-happy-ending book. Spoiler alert: There isn’t a magical cure that fixes Benny’s father. The Barrows family doesn’t win the lottery. Benny doesn’t become the most popular kid in school. But I still found the book to be a page-turner because I was rooting for Benny, and I think you will, too!
Recommended for fans of:
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
The Nest by Kenneth Oppel
Firegirl by Tony Abbott
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
Rules by Cynthia Lord
So B. It by Sarah Weeks
This review also appears on Kidsmomo.com.
February 23, 2016
Of the many trends in middle grade and YA fiction right now, autism and stories about family struggles are leading the way. Just My Luck is one of the better ones that covers these trends, and deserves a lot of attention.
This is mostly about Benny, who finds a new best friend but also has to deal with his autistic brother and his father's sickness. It's a balancing act, and one that might not always be working in Benny's favor.
It's a simple book that excels because of the simplicity and humor in play. As someone who has a parent who slowly became nonverbal, a lot of the coping I saw in this book felt real, and that includes the humor that goes along with it. On a whole, a great read and one that should really be on a lot of middle grade bookshelves, and perfect for those kids who are dealing with these issues. Just one of the more pleasurable reads I've had of late.
This is mostly about Benny, who finds a new best friend but also has to deal with his autistic brother and his father's sickness. It's a balancing act, and one that might not always be working in Benny's favor.
It's a simple book that excels because of the simplicity and humor in play. As someone who has a parent who slowly became nonverbal, a lot of the coping I saw in this book felt real, and that includes the humor that goes along with it. On a whole, a great read and one that should really be on a lot of middle grade bookshelves, and perfect for those kids who are dealing with these issues. Just one of the more pleasurable reads I've had of late.
October 4, 2015
It was brilliant! Cammie writes beautifully about what it is like to have a child on the Autism Spectrum.
October 14, 2015
Cammie McGovern has done it again with this book. This time she aims at a younger audience than her previous YA novels, and accordingly she uses a simpler structure, using only one narrator. Nevertheless there is a wide variety of characters and a poignant exploration of living with people with disabilities. Unusually for this genre, the narrator is a boy, and the other main disabled characters are male as well. The narrator does a good bit of growing up in the book and has memorable interactions with much older children; these come off as true to life and touching. Highly recommended!
November 17, 2021
This book has a lot going on. Autistic siblings, parent with serious health issues, cliques beginning in school, and a little bit of "who am I?"
From the blurb I read, I was expecting a little more focus on the program for doing good things, but the explanation of why some people are more often rewarded for good was outstanding
From the blurb I read, I was expecting a little more focus on the program for doing good things, but the explanation of why some people are more often rewarded for good was outstanding
May 22, 2016
I loved this book. I also loved the members of the family as individuals but as a whole more. This book made me laugh and made me cry. A must read if you like Wonder.
January 8, 2019
To end 2018, I wanted to read as many contemporary books as possible. I've been in the mood to read a lot of contemporary lately. I think it's because they are usually standalones that I can rad in less than a day. Also, every now and then I just need some cuteness in my life. While it wasn't exactly what I expected, I really enjoyed Just My Luck.
Just My Luck isn't one of those books that I would normally go out of my way to pick up, but I'm so glad I did. I thought it was a powerful, and yet sometimes heartbreaking middle grade book. I didn't expect it to be as hard hitting as it was. It definitely gave me the feels, several times when reading, especially when Benny had moments of heavy guilt for what happened to his father. It was hard to read that from a child's perspective because he didn't have the reasoning skills yet to realize it wasn't his fault. Sometimes bad things just happen. I was impressed with the way the author wrote from such a young point of view, and pulled it off very well. I also enjoyed the autism rep in Just My Luck. I thought it was very accurate compared to what I have seen in real life.
Even though Just My Luck didn't end in a perfect happy ending, when I finished the book, it made me feel hopeful. I love it when books can do that, even if everything isn't 100% fine in the end (trying to be vague because I don't want to spoil anything for those that haven't read the book yet). After reading this book, I am excited to read more Cammie McGovern books that I own. I'm sure the other books will also be thought provoking, hard hitting reads. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a beautiful, yet sometimes sad story to read.
Just My Luck isn't one of those books that I would normally go out of my way to pick up, but I'm so glad I did. I thought it was a powerful, and yet sometimes heartbreaking middle grade book. I didn't expect it to be as hard hitting as it was. It definitely gave me the feels, several times when reading, especially when Benny had moments of heavy guilt for what happened to his father. It was hard to read that from a child's perspective because he didn't have the reasoning skills yet to realize it wasn't his fault. Sometimes bad things just happen. I was impressed with the way the author wrote from such a young point of view, and pulled it off very well. I also enjoyed the autism rep in Just My Luck. I thought it was very accurate compared to what I have seen in real life.
Even though Just My Luck didn't end in a perfect happy ending, when I finished the book, it made me feel hopeful. I love it when books can do that, even if everything isn't 100% fine in the end (trying to be vague because I don't want to spoil anything for those that haven't read the book yet). After reading this book, I am excited to read more Cammie McGovern books that I own. I'm sure the other books will also be thought provoking, hard hitting reads. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a beautiful, yet sometimes sad story to read.
October 4, 2017
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,This book made me cry and laugh. It is really an enjoyable read. I really like how the author writes about autism in such a bright and positive way. It is a beautiful story of a family getting their life back to normal after a tragic accident. And it is so heart-breaking to see Benny blaming himself for the cause of his dad's accident. He is such a lovable character. Well, actually I like all the characters here. It has a lot of good messages in it, totally recommended to everyone.
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore.
-- Naomi Shihab Nye
December 17, 2015
Huge thank you to Harper Collins Canada for this ARC!
Cammie McGovern seems to have become an auto-read author for me as of late. There's something about her novels where I find myself really connecting to her characters and their personal situations. Being that this was her first middle grade novel, I was a bit worried about how this was going to shake up. Turns out, it was fantastic ride that made me shed a few tears!
Benny is a delightful main character, and his voice is so delightful and genuine. He's one of those kids who has a hard time making friends, mostly because he's scared of being made fun of or hurt. He also has a brother with a disability, whom he shows great compassion towards, even if others do not. He confides in his Lego collection by making little movies as a means to share his love and passions.
Benny reminded me of myself when I was his age, although change Lego to Littlest Pet Shops. Like Benny, I'd spend hours of my day making elaborate stories with my Littlest Pet Shops, weaving new tales and seeing what kinds of antics the characters could get themselves into. Benny is also a kid who desires to be recognized, and when his school implements a Footprints Program (essentially, a good deed gets you a footprint with your name on it), Benny tries to put himself out there in ways, and I could totally sympathize with a lot of his feelings within the story.
I also loved Benny's relationship with his family. His family is so supportive and strong, and yet they know they are also kind of a mess too. Benny's family goes through so much in this tiny little book, and it's amazing how much stronger they become in terms of dealing with their family problems. I thought the relationships between everyone were spectacularly writing, and easy to root for.
This book is just so genuine in every way. It leaves you thinking about how you were when you were a child, especially if you weren't the most extroverted kid. This is my favourite book of Cammie McGovern's to date, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!
Cammie McGovern seems to have become an auto-read author for me as of late. There's something about her novels where I find myself really connecting to her characters and their personal situations. Being that this was her first middle grade novel, I was a bit worried about how this was going to shake up. Turns out, it was fantastic ride that made me shed a few tears!
Benny is a delightful main character, and his voice is so delightful and genuine. He's one of those kids who has a hard time making friends, mostly because he's scared of being made fun of or hurt. He also has a brother with a disability, whom he shows great compassion towards, even if others do not. He confides in his Lego collection by making little movies as a means to share his love and passions.
Benny reminded me of myself when I was his age, although change Lego to Littlest Pet Shops. Like Benny, I'd spend hours of my day making elaborate stories with my Littlest Pet Shops, weaving new tales and seeing what kinds of antics the characters could get themselves into. Benny is also a kid who desires to be recognized, and when his school implements a Footprints Program (essentially, a good deed gets you a footprint with your name on it), Benny tries to put himself out there in ways, and I could totally sympathize with a lot of his feelings within the story.
I also loved Benny's relationship with his family. His family is so supportive and strong, and yet they know they are also kind of a mess too. Benny's family goes through so much in this tiny little book, and it's amazing how much stronger they become in terms of dealing with their family problems. I thought the relationships between everyone were spectacularly writing, and easy to root for.
This book is just so genuine in every way. It leaves you thinking about how you were when you were a child, especially if you weren't the most extroverted kid. This is my favourite book of Cammie McGovern's to date, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!
April 10, 2016
My favorite book of the year so far! I loved this book from cover to cover and read chunks of it out loud to Robbie.
Nine year old Benny, the youngest member of his family narrates a deceptively complex story. He is a decent kid- he has been raised to think of others by lesson and example. Loosely quoted his mom counsels- If you are struggling with a problem look around for some who could use a hand.
The story starts with the beginning of the school year, clearly Benny is processing guilt over a mysterious ailment of his dad’s but also all kinds of thoughts about finding a friend, coming to grips with his reading and math struggles, his clumsiness, he sorts through all this with his generally good, thoughtful world view.
Reading Benny’s observations can be laugh out loud funny; he is unsparing in his perceptions of what is going on around him. He has two older brothers, George is 12 who the family thinks of as medium-functioning autistic and Martin who is 14 and has gone from klutz, like all the Barrows, to tall enough for the basketball team and dating A-list Lisa. Benny has unvarnished thoughts about all of this, tempered with love and acceptance that resonate as an authentic nine year old world view.
Themes of ability, disability, perceptions, subtle bullying, understanding, misunderstanding, applying perspective to little as well as huge problems, along with the supportive love of family and friends make this a must read.
Nine year old Benny, the youngest member of his family narrates a deceptively complex story. He is a decent kid- he has been raised to think of others by lesson and example. Loosely quoted his mom counsels- If you are struggling with a problem look around for some who could use a hand.
The story starts with the beginning of the school year, clearly Benny is processing guilt over a mysterious ailment of his dad’s but also all kinds of thoughts about finding a friend, coming to grips with his reading and math struggles, his clumsiness, he sorts through all this with his generally good, thoughtful world view.
Reading Benny’s observations can be laugh out loud funny; he is unsparing in his perceptions of what is going on around him. He has two older brothers, George is 12 who the family thinks of as medium-functioning autistic and Martin who is 14 and has gone from klutz, like all the Barrows, to tall enough for the basketball team and dating A-list Lisa. Benny has unvarnished thoughts about all of this, tempered with love and acceptance that resonate as an authentic nine year old world view.
Themes of ability, disability, perceptions, subtle bullying, understanding, misunderstanding, applying perspective to little as well as huge problems, along with the supportive love of family and friends make this a must read.
April 14, 2016
I loved this book! I was a little hesitant to read it because middle grade doesn't always work for me, but I couldn't pass up a Cammie McGovern book. I love her writing so much, and this book did not disappoint.
Benny is in 4th grade, and his best friend moved away at the end of last year. He is struggling to find new friends. He is also struggling at home. He feels responsible for his father's accident over the summer that has left his brain more than a bit muddled. His family is dealing fairly well. After all they have some experience given Benny's older brother, George, who is autistic.
Then Benny's school starts a program to catch kids doing good deeds. Benny is determined to be recognized, but he is continually ignored. His teacher tries to explain that he's so good already; he shouldn't need the extrinsic motivation. But Benny does.
This book is all about friendship and kindness. It has wonderful characters and terrific messages, but it never feels preachy. There were some many fun details as well: Benny's obsession with making Lego stop motion movies, his friend Olga and her hand drawn comic books, George's antics, and Benny's teacher.
This book would make a great read aloud for children ages 8-10, and it is of course a great read for middle grade and up. I highly recommend it!
http://www.momsradius.com/2016/04/boo...
Benny is in 4th grade, and his best friend moved away at the end of last year. He is struggling to find new friends. He is also struggling at home. He feels responsible for his father's accident over the summer that has left his brain more than a bit muddled. His family is dealing fairly well. After all they have some experience given Benny's older brother, George, who is autistic.
Then Benny's school starts a program to catch kids doing good deeds. Benny is determined to be recognized, but he is continually ignored. His teacher tries to explain that he's so good already; he shouldn't need the extrinsic motivation. But Benny does.
This book is all about friendship and kindness. It has wonderful characters and terrific messages, but it never feels preachy. There were some many fun details as well: Benny's obsession with making Lego stop motion movies, his friend Olga and her hand drawn comic books, George's antics, and Benny's teacher.
This book would make a great read aloud for children ages 8-10, and it is of course a great read for middle grade and up. I highly recommend it!
http://www.momsradius.com/2016/04/boo...
March 20, 2016
Grades 4-8. Benny has an accident while bike riding that causes his dad to fall and hit his head. Hours later he collapses from what doctors say is an unrelated aneurism. His dad recovers quickly but struggles socially. He reminds the family of George, their son with autism. How unlucky can one family be to have the misfortune of two dysfunctional family members? Sometimes the burden seems too much. But friends are found in unexpected places. And like the book says, you have to make your own happiness. Beautiful storytelling overflowing with kindness and empathy.
"Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore."
"Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore."
December 28, 2015
I really enjoyed Just My Luck! I had previously read Cammie McGovern's Say What You Will, and though the stories have a similar baseline, I don't think that they can be compared to each other. I am very glad I didn't form my opinion of Just My Luck based on Say What You Will, because I do not think I would have liked it as much as I did. Benny is a prime example of what it feels like to be the sibling of a child with a disability, especially being the sibling that knows best how to respond to their quirks. A household struck by chaos has never been depicted so truly- if you are struggling to understand how to prevail in a time of chaos, or if you are trying to understand what it's like to love someone with a disability- READ THIS
April 2, 2016
Loved the voice and characters in this novel. I also enjoyed the subtle messages about growth mindset, practice and intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation. Being a teacher who believes in PBIS, done with the right mindset, I enjoyed pausing to reflect about my feelings towards acknowledgement. I believe in we don't do ______ to get _____, and education should be a collaborative effort over competition. Both of these mindsets showed up for me, or at least really got me thinking about its power. I look forward to reading more from Cammie.
May 14, 2016
I would love to read this aloud to elementary students (4-6th grade). The theme of treating others with kindness, whether we are alike or very different, is woven beautifully throughout this book. A classroom could use this book as an introduction to school-wide behavior program similar to the C. A. R. E. program in the book. This is a great story with beautiful, real, characters.
September 28, 2017
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside, you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
A book on kindness, autism, family and friendship.
Even though it’s a middle grade book, I enjoyed it quite alot.
I cried a little reading that little poem Mr. Norris wrote to Benny.
And I really like how the author approaches the autism issue in such a bright and positive way.
I'm so in love with this book! 🐾🐾
A book on kindness, autism, family and friendship.
Even though it’s a middle grade book, I enjoyed it quite alot.
I cried a little reading that little poem Mr. Norris wrote to Benny.
And I really like how the author approaches the autism issue in such a bright and positive way.
I'm so in love with this book! 🐾🐾
January 23, 2024
This is another middle grade book I need to make note of not to listen to while driving. Sobbing on my way to work yesterday was not in my plans. This is sweet and sad and Benny's voice is perfectly captured. The audiobook took just a little to get into as the narrator is clearly not a fourth grader, but he does a really great job of narrating (once I let myself adapt to it). A good book with a good message.
March 27, 2017
McGoven could write a menu and I would read it and love it. She writes so well with heart about children with different abilities in her books and this book explodes with emotion. It reminded me of a combo of Courage For Beginners/Umbrella Summer/Rules....so touching, almost achingly so. Lovely.
April 16, 2017
This book is how a bad day can really turn into a good day Benny reminds me of me and that's why an enjoy this book an why others should read it to! This is a book for 8-11 years olds that shows true compassion and they will want to read more books like this my guarantee.
May 13, 2019
Not too proud to read a book for 4th graders! I think this author delivers a good message for YA. This is her first book for elementary age and I think she nailed it.
August 21, 2017
I feel like I have read better versions of this book.
February 24, 2017
GRL - S
DRA 40
Lexile - 810
AR 4.9
Listened to Audio: Very good audio with lots of different voices used. I've heard this speaker before in many other books I have listened to.
Topics/Themes: autism, brain damage, brothers, friendship and how to find it
I feel like I say this all the time, but this is ANOTHER heavy book. The main character is a 4th-grade boy wrestling with a lot of questions in his life. Ten year old Benny is incredibly thoughtful and introspective. He looks inside himself and questions the world around him.
Many of the scenes take place at the elementary school so students will be able to identify with many school events. Benny is very concerned with making and keeping friends. He talks a lot about friendships and analyzes them with deep sincerity.
An unfortunate accident leads to his father being hospitalized with severe brain trauma. The house is under great stress and the boys do their best to cope in a household where their father is more like a child. His father needs help to do small everyday tasks and even looses his speech at one point. Life is unpredictable and it has everyone on edge.
Benny has two brothers, both are older. The eldest is in high school and the other, George is in 6th grade. George is autistic and needs a lot of support from his family and teachers at school. Between meeting, George's needs and their father's Benny and his family are facing a lot.
Overall this story paints a very real portrait of a family living through great trauma. Readers should know that there are very dark moments. Overall, it is a fairly sad and stressful book as you experience life through Benny's eyes. The story is well told and the characters are endearing.
Benny's relationship with his family, while under strain, is very comforting. The brothers stick together and everyone is there to support the family unit as a whole. In times of trouble, they pull together along with their community.
Readers should know that at one point in the book Benny's thinks his father has died. His brain hemorrhages again and he is taken away in an ambulance. Benny spends the day waiting and thinking someone will tell him any minute now that his father is dead.
DRA 40
Lexile - 810
AR 4.9
Listened to Audio: Very good audio with lots of different voices used. I've heard this speaker before in many other books I have listened to.
Topics/Themes: autism, brain damage, brothers, friendship and how to find it
I feel like I say this all the time, but this is ANOTHER heavy book. The main character is a 4th-grade boy wrestling with a lot of questions in his life. Ten year old Benny is incredibly thoughtful and introspective. He looks inside himself and questions the world around him.
Many of the scenes take place at the elementary school so students will be able to identify with many school events. Benny is very concerned with making and keeping friends. He talks a lot about friendships and analyzes them with deep sincerity.
An unfortunate accident leads to his father being hospitalized with severe brain trauma. The house is under great stress and the boys do their best to cope in a household where their father is more like a child. His father needs help to do small everyday tasks and even looses his speech at one point. Life is unpredictable and it has everyone on edge.
Benny has two brothers, both are older. The eldest is in high school and the other, George is in 6th grade. George is autistic and needs a lot of support from his family and teachers at school. Between meeting, George's needs and their father's Benny and his family are facing a lot.
Overall this story paints a very real portrait of a family living through great trauma. Readers should know that there are very dark moments. Overall, it is a fairly sad and stressful book as you experience life through Benny's eyes. The story is well told and the characters are endearing.
Benny's relationship with his family, while under strain, is very comforting. The brothers stick together and everyone is there to support the family unit as a whole. In times of trouble, they pull together along with their community.
Readers should know that at one point in the book Benny's thinks his father has died. His brain hemorrhages again and he is taken away in an ambulance. Benny spends the day waiting and thinking someone will tell him any minute now that his father is dead.
March 20, 2016
I really enjoyed this novel. It was a story with characters that you could relate to and a story which stole your heart. Benny is starting fourth grade and he’s was happy because he heard wonderful things about Mr. Norris, his teacher. Mr. Norris was fun and exciting and Benny needed that as he was starting the year off without a best friend. Kenneth had moved away and he needed to find a replacement. Benny situation at home was different than his peers. His brother was autistic and his father had just suffered a brain aneurysm for which Benny was blaming himself for. Benny found comfort at school and he was hoping Mr. Norris would help him forgot his issues at home. The school year started out fine but soon Mr. Norris started to change. He was not the person others projected him to be, nor was he the person the students knew from the beginning of the school year, something was different. Benny and Olga noticed this change immediately and wondered why. I liked Benny’s relationship with Olga. She was comfortable in her own shoes and she did her own thing. She wasn’t looking for anyone’s approval yet Benny wondered about his relationship with her.
I loved Benny relationship with his brother George. George is autistic, a high functioning autistic individual who is happy most of the time. Benny is very patient with George and there is definitely love between these two brothers. Benny knows George is special and he cares for him deeply, you can see that is his mannerism and in the language that he uses with him. There are times when Benny is frustrated with George but most sibling get this way with each other. It’s the stories with his family that touched me the most: the frustration, the love, the commitment, the embarrassment, there were many emotions that were tied to these stories. His father’s recent illness how this affected Benny and his family was moving and powerful and made for a wonderful read.
I loved Benny relationship with his brother George. George is autistic, a high functioning autistic individual who is happy most of the time. Benny is very patient with George and there is definitely love between these two brothers. Benny knows George is special and he cares for him deeply, you can see that is his mannerism and in the language that he uses with him. There are times when Benny is frustrated with George but most sibling get this way with each other. It’s the stories with his family that touched me the most: the frustration, the love, the commitment, the embarrassment, there were many emotions that were tied to these stories. His father’s recent illness how this affected Benny and his family was moving and powerful and made for a wonderful read.
February 25, 2016
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It pains me a bit to give this 4 stars instead of 5 because it really was a wonderful book. I wish Goodreads had half-stars, but don't we all. The issue was the ending and it was enough of an issue to knock down the rating, unfortunately. I am curious to see if the final version for publication may have ended up with any changes to it. The ending is very abrupt and feels unfinished, as if pages are missing from the ARC or something.
Beyond that, this was a great story about a fourth grade boy, Benny, and the challenges faced by his family when his father has a medical emergency. His family already has their hands full in ways with his autistic brother, George. Benny is such a great kid, kind, thoughtful, compassionate, and it's obvious that he has a wonderful loving family that made him into such a great kid. McGovern is perhaps the best author for teens and now middle grades out now who writes about special needs kids. I have been really impressed with her books and how she writes about these kids with differences with such heart and respect. I think her books can help kids better understand kids with special needs and have more compassion for them. Especially with somewhat invisible disabilities like autism, people aren't always understanding or as kind as they should be to the families of these great kids who are just wired a little differently. So I really love the impact that a book like this can have that helps with understanding better. I hope this books ends up in many school and public libraries so it will get into the hands of lots of kids who will benefit from reading it. I just wish it had a stronger, more finished ending. I highly recommend it regardless.
It pains me a bit to give this 4 stars instead of 5 because it really was a wonderful book. I wish Goodreads had half-stars, but don't we all. The issue was the ending and it was enough of an issue to knock down the rating, unfortunately. I am curious to see if the final version for publication may have ended up with any changes to it. The ending is very abrupt and feels unfinished, as if pages are missing from the ARC or something.
Beyond that, this was a great story about a fourth grade boy, Benny, and the challenges faced by his family when his father has a medical emergency. His family already has their hands full in ways with his autistic brother, George. Benny is such a great kid, kind, thoughtful, compassionate, and it's obvious that he has a wonderful loving family that made him into such a great kid. McGovern is perhaps the best author for teens and now middle grades out now who writes about special needs kids. I have been really impressed with her books and how she writes about these kids with differences with such heart and respect. I think her books can help kids better understand kids with special needs and have more compassion for them. Especially with somewhat invisible disabilities like autism, people aren't always understanding or as kind as they should be to the families of these great kids who are just wired a little differently. So I really love the impact that a book like this can have that helps with understanding better. I hope this books ends up in many school and public libraries so it will get into the hands of lots of kids who will benefit from reading it. I just wish it had a stronger, more finished ending. I highly recommend it regardless.
October 31, 2016
Synopsis- Benny still blames himself, even though everyone keeps saying that it isn’t his fault. His dad was jogging next to him while he was biking, and Benny’s helmet crashed into his father’s head. Now his father has internal bleeding in his brain, and may never be the same again. Pair that with the fact Benny’s best friend moved away, his autistic brother is a WAY better bike rider than him, fourth grade is not that great and Benny’s family is barely hanging in there. Somehow Benny keeps going through all this bad luck.
What I Thought- This is a great book about learning to see the positive things in life even when it all appears going terribly wrong. Benny is the youngest sibling, has some heavy weights on his shoulders to begin with his dad is recovering after a brain operation that Benny blames himself for. You really feel for Benny as he tries to make sense of his life. I think many kids will relate to Benny even if his problems are larger (or smaller) than the ones they face. The book has a great message of perseverance that will resonate with kids. The dialogue and relationships in the book are well thought out and ring true. The writing is perfect for the age it is written for. I like the way Ms. McGovern wrote a heartfelt story about some very big life issues that always has a slice of hope between the lines – maybe hope isn’t the right word. I think the reader can feel Benny’s fortitude. This is a thoughtful book about learning to live with the bad days in your life, and making them better.
*NOTE* I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
What I Thought- This is a great book about learning to see the positive things in life even when it all appears going terribly wrong. Benny is the youngest sibling, has some heavy weights on his shoulders to begin with his dad is recovering after a brain operation that Benny blames himself for. You really feel for Benny as he tries to make sense of his life. I think many kids will relate to Benny even if his problems are larger (or smaller) than the ones they face. The book has a great message of perseverance that will resonate with kids. The dialogue and relationships in the book are well thought out and ring true. The writing is perfect for the age it is written for. I like the way Ms. McGovern wrote a heartfelt story about some very big life issues that always has a slice of hope between the lines – maybe hope isn’t the right word. I think the reader can feel Benny’s fortitude. This is a thoughtful book about learning to live with the bad days in your life, and making them better.
*NOTE* I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
April 19, 2017
Benny's having a hard time in fourth grade. He's not that great at academics...or riding a bike...or making friends...or pretty much anything--well, except making movies with his Lego figurines. His family already had a lot on their plate, dealing with Benny's autistic older brother, George (who, despite not being able to tie his shoes, can do tricks on HIS bike...). But now, things have gotten worse: no one is noticing his good deeds for his school's C.A.R.E. (Cooperation Accountability Respect Empathy) program; the teacher he was so stoked to have for fourth grade is acting weird; and his father's had a serious, life-altering accident--an accident for which Benny feels responsible.
Benny's mother is a pretty wise chick; the book opens with some of her sage advice:
"My mom has a theory that when bad things happen, you should think about someone else's problems and try to help them." (p. 1)
Later on she talks about handling these stressful curve-balls life has thrown her family:
"'You don't think you could ever, in a million years, handle it, and then it happens and you do. You just go one day at a time and suddenly you realize, here I am. I'm handling it.'" (p. 159)
Benny is a very honest and relatable narrator; I think readers of practically any age will find something, or someone, in his story with which they can identify and connect. I know I did.
Benny's mother is a pretty wise chick; the book opens with some of her sage advice:
"My mom has a theory that when bad things happen, you should think about someone else's problems and try to help them." (p. 1)
Later on she talks about handling these stressful curve-balls life has thrown her family:
"'You don't think you could ever, in a million years, handle it, and then it happens and you do. You just go one day at a time and suddenly you realize, here I am. I'm handling it.'" (p. 159)
Benny is a very honest and relatable narrator; I think readers of practically any age will find something, or someone, in his story with which they can identify and connect. I know I did.
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