Ellen's Case

Barry’s Sister #2

by Lois Metzger

Wanting to personally care for her brother rather than sue the doctor responsible for his cerebral palsy, Ellen is drawn into her family's civil suit and learns how the trial results can significantly help her brother's difficulties.

Genres: Young Adult

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Lois Metzger was born in Queens, New York City. Three of her five young-adult novels take place in Belle Heights, an invented Queens neighborhood that is boring on purpose to stand in stark contrast to the dramatic life of her characters. She has also written two nonfiction books about the Holocaust, and has edited five anthologies of original short stories. She lives near Washington Square Park in New York with her husband, son, and a tuxedo cat. Someone once told her that black-and-white cats were the best, which she thought made no sense. Now she's a believer.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Court cases are complicated enough for adults to understand, and even more complex to a teenager. In Ellen’s Case written by Lois Metzger, the story talks about a sixteen-year-old Ellen who is involved in a court case fighting to get justice for her little brother, Barry, against a doctor who caused Barry’s cerebral palsy. At first, Ellen wants nothing to do with the case, but then when she meets Barry’s lawyer she has a major change of heart. Jack Fraiser is decades older than Ellen, but she falls in love with him instantly. As the trial continues Ellen falls deeper and deeper in love with Jack and is forced to make some tough decisions about her future because of it. Lois Metzger does an amazing job describing the struggles of being in court as a teenager, and some of the consequences that come with it, and has a beautifully written book. The only thing that could be improved was the lead up to the winner of the case. In the book, I feel it is written in a way that gives away what is about to happen very obviously. Overall this a great book for high schoolers, especially those who are wanting to learn about the process of being in court.

[Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellen Gray’s brother Barry has Cerebral Palsy, and there is going to be a court trial to find out whether or not the doctor who delivered him was in some way responsible? Ellen wants to have no part of the trial at first—after all, she figures, what good will it do Barry to point the finger at someone and say ”it’s your fault”? Barry will still be Barry, and he will still have CP. But then Ellen meets Jack Frazier, the lawyer who will handle the case for the family, and she decides to take an interest in the trial. After all, the trial has been moved up suddenly, and her father is away leaving her mother to face it alone; and with her best friend and boyfriend both out of town for the summer, Ellen has not got much else to do. Ellen becomes very interested in the trial as she watches it, and she develops a crush on Jack Frazier as she sees how he handles the case. Also watching the case, and Ellen, is Sam-the son of Maribeth (Ellen’s employer, and her mother’s friend and employer). Sam also has CP. Because it was caused by an illness his mother suffered when she was pregnant with him, he cannot blame anyone for his condition, and he has grown into a silent and stand-offish person. But is he really? There are lots of questions for Ellen to answer this summer, and the trial—with its theory that you can find the truth by asking questions—is a good place to start.

Key Issues:
The legal system, Cerebral Palsy, friendship, love and crushes, family, courage

Major Characters:

Ellen Gray: a young woman who has all the problems of a teen growing up: family responsibilities, boyfriend issues, working. And Ellen has a brother whom she loves dearly, who needs to have some help because of his Cerebral Palsy. Ellen also feels that she must help her mother and support her while her father is away
Loretta Gray: Ellen and Barry’s mother. She has a good relationship with both of her children, and wants the best for them. Loretta is surprised that Ellen wants to go to Court with her everyday and even testify on Barry’s behalf, because Ellen had made it clear long ago that she wanted to have nothing to do with this trial.
Barry Gray: Ellen’s four-year-old brother. Barry is loving and funny and smart—and he has Cerebral Palsy.
Sam: The son of Ellen’s employer. Sam is a few years older than Ellen, and she always saw him as a bit of a loner and someone with a chip on his shoulder. So when Sam keeps coming to Court to support the Grays, Ellen can’t understand it. Even more, she can’t understand why she keeps looking for him every day.
Jack Frazier: The attorney for the Gray’s case. Jack Frazier is a great attorney, but not so much a fantastic human being. He realizes early on that Ellen is developing a major crush on him—and he uses that fact to further his case.
Charles Friss: The attorney for the doctor the Grays are suing for malpractice. Charles Friss is much quieter than Jack Frazier, but he is just as good an attorney. Ellen has a hard time remembering that he is “the enemy”.
Claire: Barry’s Physical Therapist. Claire knows Barry almost as well as Ellen and Loretta do, so she testifies at Barry’s trial. Claire has a genuine concern for the well-being of Barry, and wants to make the jury members understand the boy she knows and works with.
Dr. Niles: The doctor who delivered Barry. Even though the trial will assign fault or not, Dr. Niles cannot even begin to believe that he could have done anything wrong.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't realize that this book is a sequel until the very end. It was easy to follow on it's own though.
I feel like I would have liked the book better if I had been more interested in the subject material, or had any personal experience to relate to it. The writing is good, and the journey of the main character is inspiring! I loved the little details and subtle thought patterns that fill up and give importance to some portions of the book, and give a nice rounding out at the end.
It just didn't capture my interest or pull me into the story. I skimmed through some parts of it.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sixteen year old Ellen has a younger brother, Barry, who is the subject of a medical malpractice suit their mother has initiated. The story, sequel to "Barry's Sister" by the same author, is told from Ellen's point of view.

[Valeri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the free library kiosk on the corner. Part of it was silly YA, of course, (like the 2D romantic interest) but the language was not dumbed down and the plot was interesting. Made for good company during a couple of nights of insomnia.

[Michelle]

read first one (July 1994) and liked it enough to look for sequel