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Follow My Leader
A heartwarming story about a boy and his guide dog, for fans of Where the Red Fern Grows and Because of Winn-Dixie .
After Jimmy is blinded in an accident with a firecracker, he has to relearn all the things he used to know - how to get dressed, how to find his way around the house, even how to eat. With the help of a determined therapist, he learns to read Braille and use a cane. Then he's given the chance to have a guide dog. Learning to work with Leader is not easy, but Jimmy tries harder than he ever has before. Can Leader really give him the ability and the confidence he needs?
After Jimmy is blinded in an accident with a firecracker, he has to relearn all the things he used to know - how to get dressed, how to find his way around the house, even how to eat. With the help of a determined therapist, he learns to read Braille and use a cane. Then he's given the chance to have a guide dog. Learning to work with Leader is not easy, but Jimmy tries harder than he ever has before. Can Leader really give him the ability and the confidence he needs?
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
48 people are currently reading
1696 people want to read
About the author
James B. Garfield
4 books14 followersJames B. Garfield was an American writer and radio show host, best known for his book "Follow My Leader," about a young boy who goes blind. Like his protagonist, Garfield lost his eyesight in his late fifties and was forced to adapt. At sixty, he acquired the first of his guide dogs and worked in an aircraft plant and was instrumental in the creation of the State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Garfield was born on September 19, 1881, the same day that James Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, was assassinated. Garfield was named in his honor. He was born with tunnel vision, and doctors predicted that he would lose his sight in childhood.
However, he retained his vision for many decades. He loved theater as a teenager and dropped out of high school to accept a Broadway role.
Though his eyesight was poor, he served as a sergeant-major in the Air Force during World War I.
After his service, he branched into radio and moved with his wife and 4 year old daughter Carolyn to Hollywood in 1930. As a freelance radio artist, James wrote dramas and would eventually act in over 2,000 soap operas.
In 1937, Garfield's wife Edith passed away, and by 1940, he was completely blind.
But the 60 year old Garfield did not let this deter him, and got the first of his guide dogs. He worked at an aircraft plant and helped and communicated with other blind people.
He attended a meeting of the LA County Club of the Adult Blind – and was offered its presidency that very night. His acceptance, in
his mid-sixties, marked the beginning of the second half of his life. It was a post he would hold for 12 years as he zealously pursued rights for the blind. His efforts would include thwarting the 1947 attempt to amend the constitution that would have threatened the Welfare and Institutions Code of California. He was also instrumental in the creation of the State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind that year.
He began teaching classes on radio performance, and also learned to horseback ride, and became an avid equestrian all while blind.
James began his own program in 1947, “A Blind Man Looks at You," which raised awareness about the needs and goals of the blind – the most important, of course, being understanding. The show would run for twenty years, and James would receive many awards and honors for his role in raising awareness about the blind.
James lived to be 104 and was still sharp and witty into his old age. He passed away in March 1986.
Garfield was born on September 19, 1881, the same day that James Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, was assassinated. Garfield was named in his honor. He was born with tunnel vision, and doctors predicted that he would lose his sight in childhood.
However, he retained his vision for many decades. He loved theater as a teenager and dropped out of high school to accept a Broadway role.
Though his eyesight was poor, he served as a sergeant-major in the Air Force during World War I.
After his service, he branched into radio and moved with his wife and 4 year old daughter Carolyn to Hollywood in 1930. As a freelance radio artist, James wrote dramas and would eventually act in over 2,000 soap operas.
In 1937, Garfield's wife Edith passed away, and by 1940, he was completely blind.
But the 60 year old Garfield did not let this deter him, and got the first of his guide dogs. He worked at an aircraft plant and helped and communicated with other blind people.
He attended a meeting of the LA County Club of the Adult Blind – and was offered its presidency that very night. His acceptance, in
his mid-sixties, marked the beginning of the second half of his life. It was a post he would hold for 12 years as he zealously pursued rights for the blind. His efforts would include thwarting the 1947 attempt to amend the constitution that would have threatened the Welfare and Institutions Code of California. He was also instrumental in the creation of the State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind that year.
He began teaching classes on radio performance, and also learned to horseback ride, and became an avid equestrian all while blind.
James began his own program in 1947, “A Blind Man Looks at You," which raised awareness about the needs and goals of the blind – the most important, of course, being understanding. The show would run for twenty years, and James would receive many awards and honors for his role in raising awareness about the blind.
James lived to be 104 and was still sharp and witty into his old age. He passed away in March 1986.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
February 21, 2024
This book made a huge impression on me as a kid - in 4th or 5th grade, so much so, that I remember the plot quite clearly, but couldn't remember the title (nor the author, of course), but the Great God Google was able to divine it. I might have to get a copy of it to read with my son. I wonder if it will hold up?
I finally decided to get a copy and it just arrived yesterday (June 2023). I Will be reading it soon, with any luck. It’s not long, so it should be a quick read once I do get started.
I finally decided to get a copy and it just arrived yesterday (June 2023). I Will be reading it soon, with any luck. It’s not long, so it should be a quick read once I do get started.
May 23, 2008
I LOVED this book when I was a kid. Like many others, I'm sure, I imagined and even pretended what it was like to be blind. I learned more about Braille and guide dogs. It was a real opener for a young child about the world of the vision-impaired, and just an involving and inspiring story of what it takes to succeed despite terrible things in your (or in this case, Jimmy's) life. I think kids should read more books that make them think what it's like to be in someone else's shoes. I will definitely read this book to my kids someday.
(I did find it funny, even then, that the main character's name was Jimmy Carter. guess it dates the book a little. doesn't detract from the story, though.)
(I did find it funny, even then, that the main character's name was Jimmy Carter. guess it dates the book a little. doesn't detract from the story, though.)
March 13, 2019
For a novel originally penned in 1957, James B. Garfield's Follow My Leader remains surprisingly current and fresh, especially with regard to the presented information and details on how guide dogs (how seeing eye dogs) are trained and the important truth that there generally is a steep learning curve not only for the guide dog, but also for its potential handler (in this novel, young Jimmy Carter who has been blinded in an accident with a firecracker).
Now the presented information on blindness and what during the course of Follow My Leader Jimmy needs to struggle through and learn in order to become self-reliant and able to function on his own without too much (without constant) exterior support is as relevant now as it was in 1957, and especially the minute analysis of how Jimmy and his guide dog Leader become a proverbial well-oiled team are both interesting and surprisingly similar to today (although it should also be noted that some of Jimmy's trials and tribulations are indeed a bit dated, such as the fact that Leader was not originally allowed to enter Jimmy's school, something that would NOT even be considered now, something that would in fact be considered as totally unacceptable in today's world, but especially in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, in other words, the so-called First World).
However and all that being said and while I generally both enjoy and much appreciate James B. Garfield's text (both with regard to content, themes, general narrative flow and it having the ability to retain the reader's interest throughout), I do personally find the comparative ease with which Jimmy, his family and his friends both accept his blindness and then so speedily learn Braille more than a trifle hard to fully believe (in other words, it feels a bit unrealistic to me). For in Follow My Leader, Jimmy (who also appears to learn how to expertly maneuver himself with and by his new white cane within just a few days) seemingly learns Braille as a reading method, as a reading strategy almost instantaneously and then in an equally and almost miraculously speedy fashion teaches Braille to his sister, his mother and then his school friends. And frankly, I would consider learning Braille as potentially having the same or at least a similar type of learning curve as trying to train and get used to a guide dog (or learning a new language) and the fact that there seems (at least to and for me) to be a bit of a disconnection from reality and almost a sense of the miraculous with regard to Jimmy et al so quickly and seemingly without much required effort not only learning but actually totally mastering Braille, that does at least somewhat affect my reading pleasure (enough to consider a high three star but not quite yet a four star rating for Follow My Leader, with the necessary caveat that Follow My Leader is still an in most ways a generally excellent and informative novel and remains very highly recommended, especially for and to readers interested in children's literature about challenges and special needs).
Now finally but importantly, Follow My Leader has content-wise (and actually rather naturally for its time of publication) some perhaps rather blatant social and gender stratification present (which can certainly be seen and noticed with regard to Jimmy's relationship to and dealings with his younger sister Midget, and how Jimmy is automatically labeled the man of the house, and even the head of the household after his father's death, simply because he is the son, simply because he is male). And furthermore, the fact that Jimmy's mother is a so-called working mother is depicted not only as extraordinary and new, it is also made abundantly clear that the only reason Mrs. Carter has to have a job outside of the home is due to the fact that she is now a widow, that she needs to work in order to financially provide for her family. But indeed, realistically and historically, in 1950s America, a mother with a job outside of the home was indeed still rather a novelty (and I for one am more than happy that Follow My Leader has not ever been "updated" to change this fact, to have the novel appear more modern, more akin to, say 1994 when my paperback edition was published, as what makes or rather what might make Follow My Leader feel a bit dated also gives a truthful and realistic portrait of the 1950s, of what the USA was then like, culturally, sociologically and perhaps even religiously).
Now the presented information on blindness and what during the course of Follow My Leader Jimmy needs to struggle through and learn in order to become self-reliant and able to function on his own without too much (without constant) exterior support is as relevant now as it was in 1957, and especially the minute analysis of how Jimmy and his guide dog Leader become a proverbial well-oiled team are both interesting and surprisingly similar to today (although it should also be noted that some of Jimmy's trials and tribulations are indeed a bit dated, such as the fact that Leader was not originally allowed to enter Jimmy's school, something that would NOT even be considered now, something that would in fact be considered as totally unacceptable in today's world, but especially in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, in other words, the so-called First World).
However and all that being said and while I generally both enjoy and much appreciate James B. Garfield's text (both with regard to content, themes, general narrative flow and it having the ability to retain the reader's interest throughout), I do personally find the comparative ease with which Jimmy, his family and his friends both accept his blindness and then so speedily learn Braille more than a trifle hard to fully believe (in other words, it feels a bit unrealistic to me). For in Follow My Leader, Jimmy (who also appears to learn how to expertly maneuver himself with and by his new white cane within just a few days) seemingly learns Braille as a reading method, as a reading strategy almost instantaneously and then in an equally and almost miraculously speedy fashion teaches Braille to his sister, his mother and then his school friends. And frankly, I would consider learning Braille as potentially having the same or at least a similar type of learning curve as trying to train and get used to a guide dog (or learning a new language) and the fact that there seems (at least to and for me) to be a bit of a disconnection from reality and almost a sense of the miraculous with regard to Jimmy et al so quickly and seemingly without much required effort not only learning but actually totally mastering Braille, that does at least somewhat affect my reading pleasure (enough to consider a high three star but not quite yet a four star rating for Follow My Leader, with the necessary caveat that Follow My Leader is still an in most ways a generally excellent and informative novel and remains very highly recommended, especially for and to readers interested in children's literature about challenges and special needs).
Now finally but importantly, Follow My Leader has content-wise (and actually rather naturally for its time of publication) some perhaps rather blatant social and gender stratification present (which can certainly be seen and noticed with regard to Jimmy's relationship to and dealings with his younger sister Midget, and how Jimmy is automatically labeled the man of the house, and even the head of the household after his father's death, simply because he is the son, simply because he is male). And furthermore, the fact that Jimmy's mother is a so-called working mother is depicted not only as extraordinary and new, it is also made abundantly clear that the only reason Mrs. Carter has to have a job outside of the home is due to the fact that she is now a widow, that she needs to work in order to financially provide for her family. But indeed, realistically and historically, in 1950s America, a mother with a job outside of the home was indeed still rather a novelty (and I for one am more than happy that Follow My Leader has not ever been "updated" to change this fact, to have the novel appear more modern, more akin to, say 1994 when my paperback edition was published, as what makes or rather what might make Follow My Leader feel a bit dated also gives a truthful and realistic portrait of the 1950s, of what the USA was then like, culturally, sociologically and perhaps even religiously).
October 3, 2024
I remembered everything about it. Like getting in touch with my 8 year old self, to read it again.
November 16, 2015
This was one of those books I read as a kid that really stuck with me. I thought it would be fun to re-read it and see if it was just a "kid thing" or if it could stand the test of time...and it REALLY did! What a wonderful heartwarming story of how a young boy who faces tragedy works hard to re-learn how to live life to its fullest. You can't help falling in love with Jimmy and his faithful dog, Leader. I wanted to find out a little more about the author of this inspiring book and in my search found another great story. Be patient...the link takes a little bit of time to load but it is worth the wait!
James B. Garfield Story
James B. Garfield Story
January 14, 2011
I remember checking this book out at the library time and time again, until the day it went missing and I couldn't check it out again, then began my search for it for my own collection. Went to my local book shop and placed my order, but at that point in time it wasn't in publication and no word for when it would be. A year or so later the book shop managed to track down a copy it was in close to mint condition as I could hope for.
I don't know how many times I've read the book, but I do know that it is responsible for me getting into working with the handicap and my interest in working with the blind and why I learned to read brail and learned sign language because this book lead to other books of a similar nature that just sparked something within me.
The book is a tail of a young man (a boy) who louses his sight though the misadventures of youth (one I've seen a few time in the area of town I live in around the victoria day long weekend) playing with items which are meant for adults and not children and waking up alive with with ones life changed for life. The child goes though a lot of ups and downs within the book, from learning to cope with his lack of sight to finding Sirius (who he later names Leader) who becomes his eyes.
I loved the fact that the book has printed brail within it, might not be the raised style but just being able to see the stuff caught my attention at such a young age to actually seek out the Canadian National Institute For the Blind (CNIB) and get all the material I could on learning to read brail. The tail of how he goes about getting "Leader" lead me to working with guide dogs myself at a younger age (and as an adult being willing to be a foster parent to future service dogs).
Mr. Garfield weaves a good tail that to me was enough to excite a young mind into the wonders of reading and to another world outside of the sighted that I already knew about. He opens up a world that others might know nothing about, which makes me think that he himself is either blind or has experience with the blind because he captures the world very well.
I would recommend this book to all school age children to read, and to many adults as well. It might not be much or long, but the base story within is well worth taking to heart and reflecting upon.
I don't know how many times I've read the book, but I do know that it is responsible for me getting into working with the handicap and my interest in working with the blind and why I learned to read brail and learned sign language because this book lead to other books of a similar nature that just sparked something within me.
The book is a tail of a young man (a boy) who louses his sight though the misadventures of youth (one I've seen a few time in the area of town I live in around the victoria day long weekend) playing with items which are meant for adults and not children and waking up alive with with ones life changed for life. The child goes though a lot of ups and downs within the book, from learning to cope with his lack of sight to finding Sirius (who he later names Leader) who becomes his eyes.
I loved the fact that the book has printed brail within it, might not be the raised style but just being able to see the stuff caught my attention at such a young age to actually seek out the Canadian National Institute For the Blind (CNIB) and get all the material I could on learning to read brail. The tail of how he goes about getting "Leader" lead me to working with guide dogs myself at a younger age (and as an adult being willing to be a foster parent to future service dogs).
Mr. Garfield weaves a good tail that to me was enough to excite a young mind into the wonders of reading and to another world outside of the sighted that I already knew about. He opens up a world that others might know nothing about, which makes me think that he himself is either blind or has experience with the blind because he captures the world very well.
I would recommend this book to all school age children to read, and to many adults as well. It might not be much or long, but the base story within is well worth taking to heart and reflecting upon.
April 1, 2014
I read this book over and over in elementary school! What kid who read it didn't? Not only did it terrify you into never going near firecrackers, but it made you realize how hard it would be to get around if you couldn't see. I spent hours stumbling around my house, trying to figure out how to dress myself, cut up my own food, comb my hair, without opening my eyes. Not only does this book go into great detail about the everyday things that Jimmy must relearn, but then it presents the awesome challenge of a seeing eye dog! Who wouldn't love to have a seeing eye dog, right? But it never occurred to me that it would take weeks of training in order to learn how to work with one. The only flaw in this book is that Leader is a lame name. I mean, I know why the kid did it, sure. And it makes a great title. But the dog's original name is Sirius, which even as a kid, pre-Harry Potter, I knew was an awesome dog name. But Leader? Meh. Also I remember having to ask my mom about a couple of things that were dated when I read it in the mid-eighties. The book was written in the 1960's, and there are things like his roommate's shaving cream being in a tube like toothpaste, and using a metal dishpan that hangs by the sink to wash the dishes that did not compute with me. But I hope it's still in print, because I think it's an excellent book to help kids understand the challenges faced by the blind, and to learn about seeing eye dogs!
July 22, 2022
Aw, gee, this book was swell. Well, if swell means it was ok. First published in 1957 and definitely felt like it. I believe it was written by a blind person and the book goes through what it is like to deal with going blind, leaning to navigate the world, and getting a guide dog. There also is some drama dealing with the friend who accidently threw the firecracker in his face that blinded him that ends the way you would expect. I always hope an average book has at least some spark of excellence in some of the text, or some moment that shines enough, but didn't really find it in this book. I did find a fair amount of 'aw' and 'gee' and several 'swells'.
It would be a good book if you wanted to teach a youth about blindness. Might be fun to discuss writing style with a youth. Like I said it was ok.
It would be a good book if you wanted to teach a youth about blindness. Might be fun to discuss writing style with a youth. Like I said it was ok.
April 28, 2025
In this vintage middle grade novel originally published in 1957, Jimmy Carter (no relation to the man who would later become president) is a Boy Scout and a baseball player. All of that changes, however, when one of his friends sets off a firework and Jimmy is blinded. Determined to resume his old activities, Jimmy works hard to learn new ways of reading, writing, and navigating the world without his sense of sight. His efforts ultimately lead to his being matched with a guide dog to act as his eyes.
My five-year-old is very interested in understanding how people who are blind live their lives, and this book, despite its very "after school special" style really engaged that interest. Though some of the information about disability laws and such has change in 60 years, the details about Braille, using a cane, and interacting with a guide dog were mostly still relevant. She loved having me read the book to her, and she continues to speak of Jimmy and his dog, Leader, in a way that suggests they felt very real to her.
For me, this was not a favorite read-aloud. The text is very dry, and the dialogue sounds like it might have been lifted from Leave it to Beaver. Jimmy is also a bit too perfect and generally takes all of his setbacks in stride, which is an admirable quality, but feels a bit false when there are no flaws to add depth to his character. I probably would have preferred to learn about the blind from a memoir or other nonfiction book, but my story-oriented daughter likes having a character to latch onto, and it was enjoyable to observe her reactions to the book. I also thought about my dad a lot when I was reading. He would have been 11 in 1957, the same as Jimmy, so in some ways, this felt like a little window into his childhood as well, even though I don't think he knew any child who was blind.
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
My five-year-old is very interested in understanding how people who are blind live their lives, and this book, despite its very "after school special" style really engaged that interest. Though some of the information about disability laws and such has change in 60 years, the details about Braille, using a cane, and interacting with a guide dog were mostly still relevant. She loved having me read the book to her, and she continues to speak of Jimmy and his dog, Leader, in a way that suggests they felt very real to her.
For me, this was not a favorite read-aloud. The text is very dry, and the dialogue sounds like it might have been lifted from Leave it to Beaver. Jimmy is also a bit too perfect and generally takes all of his setbacks in stride, which is an admirable quality, but feels a bit false when there are no flaws to add depth to his character. I probably would have preferred to learn about the blind from a memoir or other nonfiction book, but my story-oriented daughter likes having a character to latch onto, and it was enjoyable to observe her reactions to the book. I also thought about my dad a lot when I was reading. He would have been 11 in 1957, the same as Jimmy, so in some ways, this felt like a little window into his childhood as well, even though I don't think he knew any child who was blind.
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
October 1, 2019
So originally, my grandma had this book at her house. Every time I would visit, (which was probably 6-7 times a year), I would sit down and read the book. All the way through. Every time. I freaking loved it!
Eventually, my grandma basically said "screw it", and gave her copy to me one Christmas, along with the entire Harry Potter set. To this day, that goes down as the best Christmas ever.
The plot of the book: Jimmy is your average kid. Loves baseball, hates chores, etc. However, one day, a freak accident with a firecracker blinds him. With the support of his Mother and Sister, and the help of a kind therapist Ms. Thompson, Jimmy learns to read Braille, use a white cane, and basically live normally: eat, walk around, get dressed, the works. Finally, he is given the chance to have a guide dog. Can this guide dog provide the support and confidence Jimmy needs to get back onto his feet, and live a normal life?
I honestly don't know what I loved so much about this book. Maybe it was the fact that Jimmy got to have so much freedom during this whole process (including getting to fly in a plane all by himself!), or maybe it was the fact that it was somewhat similar to the Beverly Cleary books, obviously taking place in the 20th century (which I would much rather grow up in, instead of being surrounded by these screen-addicted robots people call "teens"). Whatever the reason was, I sure did love the book.
Oh wait, I think I know.
JIMMY GOT TO HAVE A DOG!!!
I have always loved dogs. Everything about them. However, my dad... not so much. so I have had to content myself with reading about them. some others include Where The Red Fern Grows, Henry and Beezus (or any of those books really... go Ribsy!), Wonder, and so many more.
Thank you, Jimmy and Leader, for allowing me to read your amazing story.
5 stars is the least I can give you.
Eventually, my grandma basically said "screw it", and gave her copy to me one Christmas, along with the entire Harry Potter set. To this day, that goes down as the best Christmas ever.
The plot of the book: Jimmy is your average kid. Loves baseball, hates chores, etc. However, one day, a freak accident with a firecracker blinds him. With the support of his Mother and Sister, and the help of a kind therapist Ms. Thompson, Jimmy learns to read Braille, use a white cane, and basically live normally: eat, walk around, get dressed, the works. Finally, he is given the chance to have a guide dog. Can this guide dog provide the support and confidence Jimmy needs to get back onto his feet, and live a normal life?
I honestly don't know what I loved so much about this book. Maybe it was the fact that Jimmy got to have so much freedom during this whole process (including getting to fly in a plane all by himself!), or maybe it was the fact that it was somewhat similar to the Beverly Cleary books, obviously taking place in the 20th century (which I would much rather grow up in, instead of being surrounded by these screen-addicted robots people call "teens"). Whatever the reason was, I sure did love the book.
Oh wait, I think I know.
JIMMY GOT TO HAVE A DOG!!!
I have always loved dogs. Everything about them. However, my dad... not so much. so I have had to content myself with reading about them. some others include Where The Red Fern Grows, Henry and Beezus (or any of those books really... go Ribsy!), Wonder, and so many more.
Thank you, Jimmy and Leader, for allowing me to read your amazing story.
5 stars is the least I can give you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast and kind of easy read, but it was sweet. It is about a boy who goes blind and the struggles he has. He gets a guide-dog. I hav to say that I love dogs and I have studied them I lot. I've even considered training guide-dogs. This book helped me understand the blind more. I have a very good friend who was born blind. He is really cool, but when I first met him I was really nervous I was going to affend him. I can relate to Jimmy's friends. Guide-dogs are amazing!
February 28, 2026
For some reason this year, I’m finding myself re-reading books I adored as a kid. (Also purchasing hard-to-find editions of these on e-Bay)! I’m enjoying these books again as an adult, which is often a very different experience than reading them as a child; my “Mom eyes” have me seeing through a different lens.
“Follow My Leader” was a book I discovered at about age 8 or 9, on my older brother’s shelf. It being the 70’s, we both had a giggle about the main character being named “Jimmy Carter”!
My reaction to this beautiful novel was, and still is, one of awe and amazement. Eleven-year-old Jimmy, rendered totally blind in a freak accident, was brave enough to do things I wouldn’t think of doing sighted! The best parts, for me, were the chapters about Jimmy’s training for his Seeing-Eye dog at a special school. And of course, Sirius/Leader totally stole my heart as Jimmy’s amazing “new eyes”!
Sigh…such a wonderful story. Although written in 1957, the themes of family support, determination in the midst of life’s struggles, and the importance of forgiveness are timeless.
“Follow My Leader” was a book I discovered at about age 8 or 9, on my older brother’s shelf. It being the 70’s, we both had a giggle about the main character being named “Jimmy Carter”!
My reaction to this beautiful novel was, and still is, one of awe and amazement. Eleven-year-old Jimmy, rendered totally blind in a freak accident, was brave enough to do things I wouldn’t think of doing sighted! The best parts, for me, were the chapters about Jimmy’s training for his Seeing-Eye dog at a special school. And of course, Sirius/Leader totally stole my heart as Jimmy’s amazing “new eyes”!
Sigh…such a wonderful story. Although written in 1957, the themes of family support, determination in the midst of life’s struggles, and the importance of forgiveness are timeless.
July 20, 2011
A book from my childhood. It is one I still remember reading many years ago. It had the most impact on me as a child and although I couldn't remember most of the specifics, I DO remember it helped develop in me a sense of compassion, empathy and understanding of others which has served me well over the years. When I saw that it had been re-printed once again, I decided that I wanted to see what about the book had such an impact at that age so I re-read it. In retrospect, it is a book that is best read as a child preferably near the age of the brother (11 yrs) and sister (9 yrs) characters in the book (as I was). This is because it is easy to relate to the everyday incidents such as playing sandlot baseball with friends, finding firecrackers and daring each other to use them, antagonizing kid sisters, etc. These every day incidents give the tragic circumstances of the plot so much more impact because the reader is forced to imagine himself as the victim of the accident. Questions like: If it happened to you what would you do? Would you still have your friends? Would your family treat you differently? What is losing independence all about? Is there anything good about the situation? ---all such questions that could affect an impressionable child are addressed in the book in a positive manner. So, it definitely deserves five stars from a child's perspective but I now rate it two stars because, hopefully, I have learned those lessons well and can now consider the book strictly on its literary merits. Still a good book, like an old friend it reminds you of the important things in life but doesn't reveal new territory to an adult mind.
June 25, 2016
Novel received courtesy of Author's daughter
When Liz Lazarus sent me a copy of her novel to review, she thoughtfully sent a copy of her father's book, "Follow My Leader". The original copywrite date for this book was 1957. The speech, dress and customs in the book were very much from the 1950's. While reading, I felt like I was a little girl again because this book reminded me of things I read while growing up in the 70's.
Jimmy loses his eyesight when another boy accidentally throws a firecracker in his face. "Follow My Leader" is the story of Jimmy coming to terms with losing his sight and of him getting a guide dog.
I'm not sure that kids of the 2010's would appreciate this book. The language, dress and manners of the time would be foreign to today's kids. It would read almost like a historical novel to them.
When Liz Lazarus sent me a copy of her novel to review, she thoughtfully sent a copy of her father's book, "Follow My Leader". The original copywrite date for this book was 1957. The speech, dress and customs in the book were very much from the 1950's. While reading, I felt like I was a little girl again because this book reminded me of things I read while growing up in the 70's.
Jimmy loses his eyesight when another boy accidentally throws a firecracker in his face. "Follow My Leader" is the story of Jimmy coming to terms with losing his sight and of him getting a guide dog.
I'm not sure that kids of the 2010's would appreciate this book. The language, dress and manners of the time would be foreign to today's kids. It would read almost like a historical novel to them.
January 14, 2009
Jimmy learns Braille and how to work with a seeing eye dog. I was transfixed.
May 26, 2011
And another book about a blind kid that I loved as a child. Just to make a theme of it.
March 5, 2012
Such a sweet and adorable story that's great for all ages.
March 13, 2017
This book is really good for people who like dramatic stories and who are interested in what blind people's lives are like.
March 11, 2021
This was as Arrow book purchase when I was in 5th grade (1969/70) and it made such an impression on me!
September 10, 2024
Loved this one as a kid and read and reread it, so that when I read it aloud to my kids I remembered almost every scene so vividly. A good one for learning about forgiveness as well as learning how blind people navigate the world.
November 30, 2018
The summary: middle-school-aged boy is blinded when a faulty firecracker explodes in his face, and has to learn how to cope with his now-complete lack of sight. Braille, check. White cane, check. Eventual guide dog, check. Struggle to reconstruct his life, and establish independence, check.
I'm going to start my review with two points (because they're both important in context): a) this book is now 60 years old and b) it's intended for maybe 4-6th graders.
Point a: since this book was written, there have been decades of changes both in society and in regards service dogs' rights to accompany their people into all areas of life. These days, the protagonist would (I hope!) be permitted to bring his dog to school, just as he did to the Scout meetings. On a more global level, there are gender issues that might not appear in a modern book--the mother's working? the horror!....but my take is "Of course she's working! She's a widow with two school-aged children--how else is she going to support the family?" Given the age of the book, I appreciate the working mother, the smarty-pants little sister, the aunt living nearby, the woman from the State Agency for the Blind.....and so on.
Of course the protagonist appears to learn Braille at an enviable rate--the author had to compact all the issues facing the newly blind protagonist in a chapter or two. It's a book for middle-school readers.
With all its flaws, I'm still going to give it five stars because I appreciate the social context. Jimmy's anger at being blinded is even today realistic, and the advice given on how to deal with it apt (How would you like to go through life knowing you'd blinded someone?) And lo these decades later, the blind are still faced with questions to which the answers are self-evident if you pause to rub three brain cells together ("How does he travel if he's stone-blind?" (pause....beat....) "Same way the rest of us do...buys a ticket.")
I'm going to start my review with two points (because they're both important in context): a) this book is now 60 years old and b) it's intended for maybe 4-6th graders.
Point a: since this book was written, there have been decades of changes both in society and in regards service dogs' rights to accompany their people into all areas of life. These days, the protagonist would (I hope!) be permitted to bring his dog to school, just as he did to the Scout meetings. On a more global level, there are gender issues that might not appear in a modern book--the mother's working? the horror!....but my take is "Of course she's working! She's a widow with two school-aged children--how else is she going to support the family?" Given the age of the book, I appreciate the working mother, the smarty-pants little sister, the aunt living nearby, the woman from the State Agency for the Blind.....and so on.
Of course the protagonist appears to learn Braille at an enviable rate--the author had to compact all the issues facing the newly blind protagonist in a chapter or two. It's a book for middle-school readers.
With all its flaws, I'm still going to give it five stars because I appreciate the social context. Jimmy's anger at being blinded is even today realistic, and the advice given on how to deal with it apt (How would you like to go through life knowing you'd blinded someone?) And lo these decades later, the blind are still faced with questions to which the answers are self-evident if you pause to rub three brain cells together ("How does he travel if he's stone-blind?" (pause....beat....) "Same way the rest of us do...buys a ticket.")
November 24, 2014
"Let me alone," Jimmy protested. "You can see. You don't know what it's like. There's just nothing around me. I can't walk on nothing. Everything's empty. Take me back." Jimmy carter is an 11 year old boy who wanted to be a professional baseball player, but became blind after a kid who was his friend, Mike threw a firecracker at him during scouts. "Jimmy threw his arms up and tried to duck, but it was too late. The world exploded in a white flash. Deafening thunder smashed against his ears. Then the light was gone, and the sound was gone. Everything became very dark, very quiet. " Now Jimmy has to learn everything from the beginning. How to dress up, eat, find his way around the house, walk, and write with new letters called Braille. Jimmy gets a guide dog named Sirius.(he later changes it to leader) I first read this book in fourth grade. At my elementary school we had a project "Chessed" theme every year. In fourth grade it was "guide dogs of America." we donated money and helped with the dogs. We read this book before visiting the puppies. "Leader is more than just a loyal dog to Jimmy, he is his eyes..." Will jimmy ever go to the scouts again? Will he be friends with mike? And most importantly, will he live a normal life?
February 20, 2024
In the process of sorting thru boxes after the tornado, I found my hardcover copy of this book. It was a favorite of mine from grade school. It’s probably been 35-40 years since I read thru it and it was time to revisit an old friend.
Even tho’ I’ve read this story many times, I was still drawn in from the beginning: baseball, firecrackers, accident, friends, blindness; now what?
Lots of reviewers suggest this is a good book for boys but I’d posit it’s a good book, period. The writing is crisp, action oriented, shows growth in the characters with problem solving skills, kindness, forgiveness and excellent interaction between kids and adults. The story and writing take place in the late 1950’s but it remains viable in the present day, if a bit dated in language and setting.
A good introduction to friends with disabilities, forgiving others who hurt us, dealing with family stress, perseverance and life changing challenges. FOLLOW MY LEADER would be a good addition to family or school libraries and make a good title for family reading 📚
Even tho’ I’ve read this story many times, I was still drawn in from the beginning: baseball, firecrackers, accident, friends, blindness; now what?
Lots of reviewers suggest this is a good book for boys but I’d posit it’s a good book, period. The writing is crisp, action oriented, shows growth in the characters with problem solving skills, kindness, forgiveness and excellent interaction between kids and adults. The story and writing take place in the late 1950’s but it remains viable in the present day, if a bit dated in language and setting.
A good introduction to friends with disabilities, forgiving others who hurt us, dealing with family stress, perseverance and life changing challenges. FOLLOW MY LEADER would be a good addition to family or school libraries and make a good title for family reading 📚
December 18, 2017
This is the second time I have read this book. The first time I read it to my two older children and we all loved it. The second time I read this to my 8 year old son Camden who is in the 3rd grade. He gave this book 5 stars! It has been a few years since I have r as it, and it was as enjoyable the second time as it was the first! This book teaches students some great character principals. The most important one being forgiveness. My son and I had a great discussion about this after reading the book. This is both entertaining and thought provoking as well as a great character training! I highly recommend this book, especially for elementary aged children! Camden has declared this his favorite book! He is already asking me to read it to him again!
June 21, 2007
This book is about a boy who is blinded by a firecracker and then gets a seeing eye dog. As a kid, this book both fascinated and frightened me, because I loved to learn how blind people crossed the street, or picked out matching outfits. But I was also very afraid of becoming blind, especially after a short-lived attempt to teach myself braille. I will always love this book, though, because it was a gift from my mom, who read it herself as a girl.
July 8, 2018
I was out to dinner with friends on Friday night and we got to talking about early reading experiences that galvanized our present-day love of reading. I remembered reading this book at a very young age - probably about 7. (It was published the year I was born.) I loved it. Found it on my brother's bookshelf all those years ago and couldn't put it down.
Oh, and I forgot to mention - it also gave me a lifelong, healthy respect for firecrackers. Stay back!
Oh, and I forgot to mention - it also gave me a lifelong, healthy respect for firecrackers. Stay back!
February 27, 2026
This book hurt me!
I did read this in fifth grade, but I still remember it vividly. That was one of the first novels I was ever interested in. ( not sure if you could call it a novel lol)
Jimmy is a bit upsetting to me, just his personality. Leader is so good! I have a German shepherd so I was drawn to this book.
The end of this book is great!
Find out was happens to Jimmy Carter as his life gets flipped upside down, and as his life gets spun around by his sweet Sirius\Leader!
I did read this in fifth grade, but I still remember it vividly. That was one of the first novels I was ever interested in. ( not sure if you could call it a novel lol)
Jimmy is a bit upsetting to me, just his personality. Leader is so good! I have a German shepherd so I was drawn to this book.
The end of this book is great!
Find out was happens to Jimmy Carter as his life gets flipped upside down, and as his life gets spun around by his sweet Sirius\Leader!
December 15, 2008
This book is highly recommended! Thoughtfully and realistically written, it helps the reader understand the struggles and accomplishments of someone who is learning how to live with a handicap, personalizing the experience for us. The development of the relationship between the seeing-eye dog and his person is especially interesting and touching.
March 6, 2009
I loved this book as a child. I too pretended that I was blind. I found a copy of this book at a tag sale and then read it to my 4th grade classes. This is one of those books that you never forget and think about a lot.
April 6, 2009
YES YES YES
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