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Blindsided
In many ways, Natalie O’Reilly is a typical fourteen-year-old girl. But a routine visit to the eye doctor produces devastating news: Natalie will lose her sight within a few short months.
Suddenly her world is turned upside down. Natalie is sent to a school for the blind to learn skills such as Braille and how to use a cane. Outwardly, she does as she’s told; inwardly, she hopes for a miracle that will free her from a dreaded life of blindness.
But the miracle does not come, and Natalie ultimately must confront every blind person’s dilemma. Will she go home to live scared? Or will she embrace the skills she needs to make it in a world without sight?
Suddenly her world is turned upside down. Natalie is sent to a school for the blind to learn skills such as Braille and how to use a cane. Outwardly, she does as she’s told; inwardly, she hopes for a miracle that will free her from a dreaded life of blindness.
But the miracle does not come, and Natalie ultimately must confront every blind person’s dilemma. Will she go home to live scared? Or will she embrace the skills she needs to make it in a world without sight?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published July 8, 2010
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2332 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 388 reviews
June 23, 2011
I really liked the premise of Blindsided. I honestly can't even imagine how it is to be blind. It must be especially difficult for someone who is used to having vision and then slowly lose it. And then to completely lose it while you're a teenager must make it that much harder to adapt with everything else that goes on in your life. That being said, I think that Blindsided is one of those books where the overall plot doesn't reach the potential that it can.
Blindsided is a very educational book. It tells you sort of what it's like to lose your vision. It tells you...but it doesn't show you. There's very little that happens besides informing you of what blindness is like. In fact, the book just dragged on because very little actually happened after you remove the informative part. There was also very little development to the other characters besides Natalie. I understand that she was the main character, but the author should have given the supporting characters more to do.
Blindsided also seemed a bit too preachy for me as in telling "Look! This is what happens when you do these bad things!" and it came off condescending. It seemed like the author had a bit of an agenda. First, there was a minor detail about the students wanting guns to be illegal and adding "Oh, so and so, is blind because someone shot him in the head. With a GUN!". And then there was the issue of the choking game. "Oh!, so and so is blind because he wanted to get high off choking themselves!". But one quote that really got my blood boiling was the one that one student said about her cutting. "Anyway, I'm over it now. The cutting stuff. That was juvenile crap anyway. You know? My little cry for attention". I have friends who have been cutters and I can say that cutting is not "a little juvenile" phase. It's a serious problem. And if cutters are so desperate for attention than why do they HIDE their cuts with long sleeves and bracelets? Sorry. But I call B.S.
So, I found Blindsided to be extremely disappointing. I respect the author for wanting to raise awareness about blindness, but this was 95 percent informative and 5 percent actual novel. Those aren't good odds. And I really don't like being beaten over the head with these "moral" lessons and things that teens ALREADY know is bad for them.
Blindsided is a very educational book. It tells you sort of what it's like to lose your vision. It tells you...but it doesn't show you. There's very little that happens besides informing you of what blindness is like. In fact, the book just dragged on because very little actually happened after you remove the informative part. There was also very little development to the other characters besides Natalie. I understand that she was the main character, but the author should have given the supporting characters more to do.
Blindsided also seemed a bit too preachy for me as in telling "Look! This is what happens when you do these bad things!" and it came off condescending. It seemed like the author had a bit of an agenda. First, there was a minor detail about the students wanting guns to be illegal and adding "Oh, so and so, is blind because someone shot him in the head. With a GUN!". And then there was the issue of the choking game. "Oh!, so and so is blind because he wanted to get high off choking themselves!". But one quote that really got my blood boiling was the one that one student said about her cutting. "Anyway, I'm over it now. The cutting stuff. That was juvenile crap anyway. You know? My little cry for attention". I have friends who have been cutters and I can say that cutting is not "a little juvenile" phase. It's a serious problem. And if cutters are so desperate for attention than why do they HIDE their cuts with long sleeves and bracelets? Sorry. But I call B.S.
So, I found Blindsided to be extremely disappointing. I respect the author for wanting to raise awareness about blindness, but this was 95 percent informative and 5 percent actual novel. Those aren't good odds. And I really don't like being beaten over the head with these "moral" lessons and things that teens ALREADY know is bad for them.
May 21, 2015
Actual rating - 3.25
It took a while for Natalie to come to terms with what was going to happen to her sight, but I can understand completely why it would. I don't think I'd be able to cope very well at all knowing that I was preparing for being completely blind.
This could be a bit slow at times, but it was an interesting read.
It took a while for Natalie to come to terms with what was going to happen to her sight, but I can understand completely why it would. I don't think I'd be able to cope very well at all knowing that I was preparing for being completely blind.
This could be a bit slow at times, but it was an interesting read.
November 8, 2012
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Natalie is slowly losing her eyesight. When she was about eight, she started to stumble and walk into things. Born without irises, the part that controls the amount of light allowed into the eye, the pressure is continuing to grow. Having endured multiple surgeries and continuous eye drops, Natalie prays that she won't go totally blind.
But a few weeks before school is to start, she receives the worst possible news. There is nothing more they can do for Natalie, and now, it's best she be prepared. The doctor tells her that one day, she could wake up and be completely blind. So, with reluctance, she is sent off to the blind school in Baltimore.
Natalie considers herself different than everyone else. After all, she can still see. And some of the kids at the school require a lot more help. There's even a sign above her bed that says "Makes own bed." It angers Natalie.
Natalie is resistant to what the school wants to teach her. She refuses to use a cane. She can't tell the difference in the Braille dots. She finds the Brailler machine hard to use. It's all so pointless. That is, until the day Natalie has prayed would never happen occurs. She literally wakes up one morning and is unable to see. From that day forward, Natalie is determined to learn all she can.
BLINDSIDED follows Natalie as she comes to terms with her disability. It shares her father's denial of her vision loss, her mother's push for Natalie to succeed, and the wonderful teachers that force Natalie to do all that she can. When Natalie is placed in two different situations where her disability could harm her, the reader realizes that blindness doesn't stop someone from living; it just forces them to develop different priorities and strengths.
Natalie is slowly losing her eyesight. When she was about eight, she started to stumble and walk into things. Born without irises, the part that controls the amount of light allowed into the eye, the pressure is continuing to grow. Having endured multiple surgeries and continuous eye drops, Natalie prays that she won't go totally blind.
But a few weeks before school is to start, she receives the worst possible news. There is nothing more they can do for Natalie, and now, it's best she be prepared. The doctor tells her that one day, she could wake up and be completely blind. So, with reluctance, she is sent off to the blind school in Baltimore.
Natalie considers herself different than everyone else. After all, she can still see. And some of the kids at the school require a lot more help. There's even a sign above her bed that says "Makes own bed." It angers Natalie.
Natalie is resistant to what the school wants to teach her. She refuses to use a cane. She can't tell the difference in the Braille dots. She finds the Brailler machine hard to use. It's all so pointless. That is, until the day Natalie has prayed would never happen occurs. She literally wakes up one morning and is unable to see. From that day forward, Natalie is determined to learn all she can.
BLINDSIDED follows Natalie as she comes to terms with her disability. It shares her father's denial of her vision loss, her mother's push for Natalie to succeed, and the wonderful teachers that force Natalie to do all that she can. When Natalie is placed in two different situations where her disability could harm her, the reader realizes that blindness doesn't stop someone from living; it just forces them to develop different priorities and strengths.
March 24, 2013
This book is an Amazing book introducing you to the world of the blind. It really opens your eyes and shows you what its like to be blind and can't see your future [literary]! Natalie overcomes the fact that she is blind and won't be able to do the things that normal people do. She doesn't want to take the fact that she's gonna be blind. Since she is loosing her vision little by little she needs to learn the techniques of a blind person to go on with the rest of her life. This book is an amazing narrative it opens up your eyes to show you what the world is like when one day you wake up blind. if you haven't read it READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ![x100]
April 21, 2016
This book was amazing! I liked it because it taught me a lesson to never give up. It was pretty sad almost at the end.
August 21, 2010
The summer before my junior year of high school, I had the opportunity to go to Alaska. I got to see killer whales, glaciers and all kinds of fish up close. The following spring, I went to Paris with my French class. I got to see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Le Chateau de Chambord, World War II monuments and so many other things. I thought of these experiences while reading Blindsided by Priscilla Cummings.
What if I had not been able to see all of that? It would have been a totally different experience. More sensory than visual.
In Blindsided, Natalie O'Reilly is a 14-year-old girl, who has been losing her eyesight since she was 8. Her early memories memories are filled with colors, family and the animals on her family farm in Maryland.
From the outside, Natalie is the typical teen. She has friends, gets good grades and is on the student council. But inside, Natalie is crumbling. Born without an iris, Natalie's doctors have been preparing her for the inevitable. As long as she remains positive, Natalie thinks it's ok to ignore her mounting accidents, bumps and falls. She has so much going for her--why does she have to accept losing her eyesight.
"She was fourteen now, on the brink of so much, and maybe, from now on, she would have to get through it by doing what she had always done: tune out the naysayers, like turning off a radio station with too much static. And hope for the miracle."
Natalie wants to wallow in denial, but her parents want her to accept reality, and send her to a school for the blind. Natalie sees the school as a way to enhance her skills, rather than preparing her for life as a blind person. Her roommate Gabriella a.k.a Bree is a lot like Natalie--deep in denial. They eventually form a deep friendship. Another accident forces Natalie to face reality.
Walking with a cane, learning Braille, learning how to count steps and learning how to accept her fate is daunting but necessary.
"It is easier to be blind than to pretend you're not blind."
I found this little gem on my recent spy mission to the YA section of Borders. I wanted to see what was the appeal. I always thought you needed to be a teenager to relate to teenage problems. It's nice to know that isn't the case. I'm not a total YA convert, but Priscilla Cummings' writing swayed me in a big way. Her writing totally captures Natalie's teenage angst. I found myself wanting to cry for Natalie. Not many books make me want to cry, but Cummings came very close. How can you prepare to lose something as precious as your eyesight? In your teen years you feel invincible. Nothing is going to bring you down. Natalie holds on to that belief. The book is also very well-researched. Cummings spent a full academic year attending school with blind students. With such a perspective, Cummings fully captures the emotional roller coaster.
Rating: Superb
What if I had not been able to see all of that? It would have been a totally different experience. More sensory than visual.
In Blindsided, Natalie O'Reilly is a 14-year-old girl, who has been losing her eyesight since she was 8. Her early memories memories are filled with colors, family and the animals on her family farm in Maryland.
From the outside, Natalie is the typical teen. She has friends, gets good grades and is on the student council. But inside, Natalie is crumbling. Born without an iris, Natalie's doctors have been preparing her for the inevitable. As long as she remains positive, Natalie thinks it's ok to ignore her mounting accidents, bumps and falls. She has so much going for her--why does she have to accept losing her eyesight.
"She was fourteen now, on the brink of so much, and maybe, from now on, she would have to get through it by doing what she had always done: tune out the naysayers, like turning off a radio station with too much static. And hope for the miracle."
Natalie wants to wallow in denial, but her parents want her to accept reality, and send her to a school for the blind. Natalie sees the school as a way to enhance her skills, rather than preparing her for life as a blind person. Her roommate Gabriella a.k.a Bree is a lot like Natalie--deep in denial. They eventually form a deep friendship. Another accident forces Natalie to face reality.
Walking with a cane, learning Braille, learning how to count steps and learning how to accept her fate is daunting but necessary.
"It is easier to be blind than to pretend you're not blind."
I found this little gem on my recent spy mission to the YA section of Borders. I wanted to see what was the appeal. I always thought you needed to be a teenager to relate to teenage problems. It's nice to know that isn't the case. I'm not a total YA convert, but Priscilla Cummings' writing swayed me in a big way. Her writing totally captures Natalie's teenage angst. I found myself wanting to cry for Natalie. Not many books make me want to cry, but Cummings came very close. How can you prepare to lose something as precious as your eyesight? In your teen years you feel invincible. Nothing is going to bring you down. Natalie holds on to that belief. The book is also very well-researched. Cummings spent a full academic year attending school with blind students. With such a perspective, Cummings fully captures the emotional roller coaster.
Rating: Superb
May 4, 2013
Blindsided is about Natalie, who, at first, appears to be a perfectly normal 14yr old. But one of her regular visits to the doctor brings grave news: Natalie will lose her sight. She is sent to the school of the blind, where she has to choose between living scared or living life.
I decided to read this book because it was different from what I usually read. It completes the category of term 1's theme: social injustice. The book talks about Natalie's physical and mental struggles as she loses her sight, and how she was treated unjustly by some of her old friends and other members of the public. It was a really interesting theme.
My favourite quote from this book is when Anarb, a blind boy from the academy, and Natalie are sitting on a bench together by themselves. He asks for permission to touch her face so he knows what she looks like. Natalie lets him. When he's finished, he says, "I knew you were beautiful." I love this quote because people generally refer to as something seen with the eyes; but it's so much more than that.
I knew loss of sight is a very big disadvantage. What I didn't realize, until after reading this book, was how inconsiderate people are. Natalie's friends made inappropriate jokes, people on the street said nasty comments, and public places didn't provide appropriate services. I mean, how hard is it to make a few braille menus?
Natalie, the main character, is really interesting. She is so brave, especially in the end of the story. Her and her best friend Meredith were in the barn with a bear outside trying to get in. Natalie, now completely blind, loaded the gun and taught Meredith how to use it, Meredith was kind of panicking about the bear and preparing to shoot it while Natalie was helping her goat give birth.
I decided to read this book because it was different from what I usually read. It completes the category of term 1's theme: social injustice. The book talks about Natalie's physical and mental struggles as she loses her sight, and how she was treated unjustly by some of her old friends and other members of the public. It was a really interesting theme.
My favourite quote from this book is when Anarb, a blind boy from the academy, and Natalie are sitting on a bench together by themselves. He asks for permission to touch her face so he knows what she looks like. Natalie lets him. When he's finished, he says, "I knew you were beautiful." I love this quote because people generally refer to as something seen with the eyes; but it's so much more than that.
I knew loss of sight is a very big disadvantage. What I didn't realize, until after reading this book, was how inconsiderate people are. Natalie's friends made inappropriate jokes, people on the street said nasty comments, and public places didn't provide appropriate services. I mean, how hard is it to make a few braille menus?
Natalie, the main character, is really interesting. She is so brave, especially in the end of the story. Her and her best friend Meredith were in the barn with a bear outside trying to get in. Natalie, now completely blind, loaded the gun and taught Meredith how to use it, Meredith was kind of panicking about the bear and preparing to shoot it while Natalie was helping her goat give birth.
March 28, 2019
The book was decent, but it was very predictable, and it moved very slowly.
November 5, 2015
I picked this book up in 2012, I think it was a book swap. This was another one that got put onto my shelf and left. I piked it up several times to read and would put it back down again. I finally managed to tackle some of my TBR shelf, and Blindsided finally made it into my hands.
I didn't really know what to expect from Blindsided, this being my first book by the author, Patricia Cummings, but I found myself really getting stuck into this book. The idea behind the story is sad, and seeing the struggle that Natalie has to go through was heartbreaking, each new hurdle for her is a giant leap of faith and trust, trust that what she is being told is correct, having the faith and belief in others that they wont let her fall.
Blindsided was an somewhat emotional read, and I liked the little touches of having braille in the chapter headings, and an example of some letters at the end of the book. Blindsided really made me think of how much I take for granted, even my own bad eyesight, and I could not imagine the struggle that others go though when they have to experience this for themselves.
I didn't really know what to expect from Blindsided, this being my first book by the author, Patricia Cummings, but I found myself really getting stuck into this book. The idea behind the story is sad, and seeing the struggle that Natalie has to go through was heartbreaking, each new hurdle for her is a giant leap of faith and trust, trust that what she is being told is correct, having the faith and belief in others that they wont let her fall.
Blindsided was an somewhat emotional read, and I liked the little touches of having braille in the chapter headings, and an example of some letters at the end of the book. Blindsided really made me think of how much I take for granted, even my own bad eyesight, and I could not imagine the struggle that others go though when they have to experience this for themselves.
April 10, 2010
The author attempts to craft a narrative around intriguing concept, but fails to follow the rule of "show, don't tell." Instead of reading as a compelling novel, it comes across as a fictionalized account of how to be blind.
What the author does well: Capturing the technical and physiological aspects of being blind and describing the curriculum at a school for the blind.
What I missed: A less obvious climax. Throughout the novel, the author mentions a self defense class; of course, the protagonist encounters just such a situation but with tragic results. I also missed a complex narrative arc and complex characters. The potential romances (it is YA, afterall) between the protagonist and two different boys felt formulaic and unresolved on either account.
I commend the author for treating such an issue respectfully and knowledgeably; I just wish it didn't read so completely as an issue book.
What the author does well: Capturing the technical and physiological aspects of being blind and describing the curriculum at a school for the blind.
What I missed: A less obvious climax. Throughout the novel, the author mentions a self defense class; of course, the protagonist encounters just such a situation but with tragic results. I also missed a complex narrative arc and complex characters. The potential romances (it is YA, afterall) between the protagonist and two different boys felt formulaic and unresolved on either account.
I commend the author for treating such an issue respectfully and knowledgeably; I just wish it didn't read so completely as an issue book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2015
I loved this book sososososososososo much. It was sad but beautiful.
July 28, 2010
Natalie has been losing her sight since she was eight. She is still able to see in a tunneled form, but then receives the news that she will lose her sight completely in a short period of time. Natalie is sent to a school for the blind to learn the skills she will need to have when she is blind. She is taught Braille and how to walk with a cane. But she doesn’t consider herself in the same situation as the other teens at the school. They are blind and she is not. She does learn the skills, but inwardly refuses to accept the situation, hoping for a miracle to happen. Eventually her sight does leave completely and now Natalie has to choose between using the skills she learned and becoming independent or remaining scared and protected at home.
This book is a mix of positive and negative for me. Natalie was a fine character with intelligence, lots of doubts, and complex reactions to her situation. She was well drawn and interesting. The information on the school for the blind and her skills were also interesting, though they could have been woven more into the story itself so that they read more effortlessly.
Unfortunately, the book suffered from heavy-handed writing that was often didactic in tone. There was a sense that the author had a lot to say about overcoming obstacles and disabilities. Her need to inform others intruded on the story itself, which would have been much stronger without the tone. Additionally, there were often moments when Natalie grew to new understanding which the author underlined and pointed out, lessening their impact instead of strengthening it as intended.
I must also quibble with the foreshadowing of the action-filled ending, which would have been surprising except that it was built into the story too clearly with events leading directly to it. Again, a more even-handed writing style would have raised it to another level.
This book is a mix of positive and negative for me. Natalie was a fine character with intelligence, lots of doubts, and complex reactions to her situation. She was well drawn and interesting. The information on the school for the blind and her skills were also interesting, though they could have been woven more into the story itself so that they read more effortlessly.
Unfortunately, the book suffered from heavy-handed writing that was often didactic in tone. There was a sense that the author had a lot to say about overcoming obstacles and disabilities. Her need to inform others intruded on the story itself, which would have been much stronger without the tone. Additionally, there were often moments when Natalie grew to new understanding which the author underlined and pointed out, lessening their impact instead of strengthening it as intended.
I must also quibble with the foreshadowing of the action-filled ending, which would have been surprising except that it was built into the story too clearly with events leading directly to it. Again, a more even-handed writing style would have raised it to another level.
December 29, 2012
This book was very different than other books that I've read. For one, it's about a girl who loses her sight and now that I think about it I think it's really weird I haven't read a book about someone with a disability. Ever since I was little I've always thought about the perspectives of other people and wondered what it felt like to not have one of your senses.
Blindsided opened my eyes to so many things about the perspective of being blind that I had never even considered before. Aside from the obvious side effects of losing your sight; not being able to see color anymore, not being able to see other people's expressions, or not being able to see if it's dark or light out. But then there were things that had never occurred to me before like how people unable to see have trouble dealing with money here in the States because we're one of the only countries with discriminatory currency unlike other countries that have bills with braille or textured foil. Having to create a system to tell what color each article of clothing is so that they can match, even though they can't see them, but because of how society can be, and to avoid being made fun of. Blindsided was such an enlightening and inspiring book that opened my eyes to a lot of things and empowered me to want to be a stronger person like Natalie.
Cummings did an amazing job taking us along Natalie's journey from having her sight to losing it by the way she wrote. In the beginning we could see the things Natalie saw but as time progressed and her glaucoma got worse we started to see less and less of the surroundings and Cumming's focused more on imagery using the other senses. She began to mainly describe what was going on with sounds, smells, touch, and taste as Natalie started to transition to being completely blind. It was such an interesting and new way of looking at things, and I have greater and stronger respect for people who are born blind or lose their sight and start from scratch.
Blindsided opened my eyes to so many things about the perspective of being blind that I had never even considered before. Aside from the obvious side effects of losing your sight; not being able to see color anymore, not being able to see other people's expressions, or not being able to see if it's dark or light out. But then there were things that had never occurred to me before like how people unable to see have trouble dealing with money here in the States because we're one of the only countries with discriminatory currency unlike other countries that have bills with braille or textured foil. Having to create a system to tell what color each article of clothing is so that they can match, even though they can't see them, but because of how society can be, and to avoid being made fun of. Blindsided was such an enlightening and inspiring book that opened my eyes to a lot of things and empowered me to want to be a stronger person like Natalie.
Cummings did an amazing job taking us along Natalie's journey from having her sight to losing it by the way she wrote. In the beginning we could see the things Natalie saw but as time progressed and her glaucoma got worse we started to see less and less of the surroundings and Cumming's focused more on imagery using the other senses. She began to mainly describe what was going on with sounds, smells, touch, and taste as Natalie started to transition to being completely blind. It was such an interesting and new way of looking at things, and I have greater and stronger respect for people who are born blind or lose their sight and start from scratch.
July 1, 2016
This book was amazing, I have no words! One thing I have to say is that this book is unlike anything I have ever read! This book is in no way cliche (there's nothing like it, it's like an exquisite pearl) and for those who need a bit of a break from romance books (yeah, most YA books I have read have at least a smidgen), this book does not really have much of it! Blindsided focuses on a girl named Natalie O'Reilly, who was born without an iris in her eye and as her vision decreases, she finds out that all her remaining vision would eventually banish, so she is sent to a boarding school for the blind. Natalie, at first, was very reluctant to attend the school. She believed that she could deal with her failing vision on her own, and was determined that the doctors were wrong about her eyesight. But after she is sent and meets other visually impaired kids her age that she could relate to, she realizes that going there was only for the better, and that without going to the school, she wouldn't have known how to cope once the darkness of being completely blind crept up on her. I feel like Natalie was so strong during all her hard times, and really pulled through everything well! Even knowing that the doctors were certain that she would become blind, she was very optimistic and only hoped for the best! I know that I would be terrified if my doctor told me I would lose all my vision, and for this reason, Natalie is a great role model! I would HIGHLY recommend this book to any teens who are interested in becoming more aware about the struggles that blind people face, or anyone who is just looking for an interesting, unique contemporary read!
June 10, 2012
I'm giving this three stars because it has a good message for teens, but I didn't like it that much.
The first thing that really put me off was the description on the back of the book. It makes you think Natalie didn't have a clue she was about to go blind. Well, she'd been told for years she would lose her sight, she was just in denial. But she had a genetic condition that caused glaucoma, and even after seven surgeries she was hoping she wouldn't go blind.
So, false advertising. Not cool.
The next thing was that it was preachy. The bits that talked about how Natalie was feeling about her handicap were educating. And there were a couple of parts that were momentarily exciting. But for the most part, it felt like i was reading a summary of a story instead of experiencing the story.
I guess it was okay though.
The first thing that really put me off was the description on the back of the book. It makes you think Natalie didn't have a clue she was about to go blind. Well, she'd been told for years she would lose her sight, she was just in denial. But she had a genetic condition that caused glaucoma, and even after seven surgeries she was hoping she wouldn't go blind.
So, false advertising. Not cool.
The next thing was that it was preachy. The bits that talked about how Natalie was feeling about her handicap were educating. And there were a couple of parts that were momentarily exciting. But for the most part, it felt like i was reading a summary of a story instead of experiencing the story.
I guess it was okay though.
May 27, 2025
This was a really interesting story about a girl who was born with no irises, therefore knows that blindness is inevitable. She's in high school and her doctor has said its time for her to learn how to function as a blind person because the time is probably near. Her parents send her to a school for the blind where she's there all week and comes home on the weekend. Our main character is in denial and she doesn't want to be there. That becomes even more true when she gets a roommate who refuses to talk to anyone. This book hits some heavy things. It was very informative about things that you may never think about and challenges that blind people face. It also tackles assault, relationships and the impact blindness has on that, suicide, and so much more. My complaint about this book is that its too short. It packs a heavy punch and tackles really heavy things and I wish it would've been less bang, bang, bang because it makes it feel very life time movie esque.
November 29, 2024
3.5. YA novel set aside by my daughter. This book was quite informative about the realities, accommodations, and struggles it would be to go blind. Natalie is only 14 and quickly losing her sight. It is time to learn to be more independent as someone who is now blind. All I kept thinking about was how challenging, upsetting, and frustrating it would be. It was really interesting to learn about strategies and systems visually impaired people can use. Good read with some challenging themes that would appeal to its intended audience.
March 6, 2018
What an eye opener this book is! The amount of research put in by the author is clearly evident. The desription and details allowed me to experience Natalie's slowly developing blindness and the emotional/mental impact of such a life-altering event.
I really liked and felt for Natalie even though she wasn't always a likeable character.
Great job Ms. Cummings on alowing the reader to experience what it might be like to be blind without being preachy!
I really liked and felt for Natalie even though she wasn't always a likeable character.
Great job Ms. Cummings on alowing the reader to experience what it might be like to be blind without being preachy!
May 14, 2019
3.5/5 stars
An interesting novel about a young teenager losing her sight and starting at a school for the blind. The writing is clear and concise, and Natalie is an easy character to empathize with and relate to. Sometimes the plot seemed to get a little too wild (the attackers, Bree dying, the bear attack), and the novel could’ve worked with only one of those. Regardless, it’s a good, quick read, and I’m glad I read it!
An interesting novel about a young teenager losing her sight and starting at a school for the blind. The writing is clear and concise, and Natalie is an easy character to empathize with and relate to. Sometimes the plot seemed to get a little too wild (the attackers, Bree dying, the bear attack), and the novel could’ve worked with only one of those. Regardless, it’s a good, quick read, and I’m glad I read it!
October 6, 2017
This book is really good I recommend you reading,because it teaches you about overcoming your fears.I think a lot of teen would relate to this book as well as me because in this book the main character has to leave the place where she was loved and had a lot of friends,I also had to leave my friend to move to different state.The thing that repeats again and again is “i miss home”.
October 27, 2010
Blindness has always been an interesting concept for teens of these days, and in Priscilla Cummings’ book Blindsided, we get a bit of insight into the world of 14-year-old Natalie O’Reilly, who because of her glaucoma is losing her sight. After a devastating visit to her doctor, her family decides that she must go to a school for teens that are losing or have lost their sight, so that she can learn how to take care of herself. In this heart-breaking story, the reader can get a glimpse of the World of the Blind.
The story is told from the point of view of Natalie O’Reilly, a young girl who was diagnosed with glaucoma at a young age. Despite her being diagnosed so young, Natalie has been doing her best to avoid going to a school for the blind. As she says, it would be admitting that she might lose her sight completely. When her doctor tells her that she will most likely lose her sight completely soon, Natalie’s parent’s decide that she has to go to a school for the blind before it’s too late. That’s where Natalie meets another girl by the name of Serena, who becomes one of her closer friends. Serena, like Natalie isn’t completely blind, but it is likely that she will be. Serena however, is prepared for it, and is ready to be blind. She’s come to terms with the fact that she will probably never really be able to see well, unlike Natalie who still clings to her sight. Another girl that Natalie meets at the school is Bree, a young girl very much like Natalie, if not more. Bree however, lost her sight in some kind of accident, and has no sight at all. Still, Bree eventually warms to the kids at the blind school like Natalie, as they begin to learn what they must do to survive in a world that is not entirely friendly to blind people. There are several conflicts throughout the book, including those of Natalie and Bree, being unable to accept the loss of sight. Natalie also faces losing her independence, fitting in among her old friends now that she has to carry a cane or hold their arm to walk around. Another is the conflict with her parents. Her father especially is unwilling to admit that his daughter can’t do the same things that she used to do. By the end of the story though, Natalie has achieved a peace with these conflicts as she’s faced them, including her biggest trouble of learning not to live scared.
This book is actually very well written. I get the feeling that Cummings knows more about blinds than most people. Through her use of imagery and emotional details, each reader is able to truly get inside Natalie’s head and see what she is going through. It can help those who don’t understand blinds as well, see them as people and understand how they can help blinds. In personal reflection about the book, I find that most things I thought about blind people are actually wrong, and many myths about blinds are also untrue. I got a very in depth idea of Natalie’s emotions as she received the news that she would probably lose her sight. All-in-all, I believe that Blindsided is a very good read, especially for teenagers, but I would suggest it to an adult any day as well.
The story is told from the point of view of Natalie O’Reilly, a young girl who was diagnosed with glaucoma at a young age. Despite her being diagnosed so young, Natalie has been doing her best to avoid going to a school for the blind. As she says, it would be admitting that she might lose her sight completely. When her doctor tells her that she will most likely lose her sight completely soon, Natalie’s parent’s decide that she has to go to a school for the blind before it’s too late. That’s where Natalie meets another girl by the name of Serena, who becomes one of her closer friends. Serena, like Natalie isn’t completely blind, but it is likely that she will be. Serena however, is prepared for it, and is ready to be blind. She’s come to terms with the fact that she will probably never really be able to see well, unlike Natalie who still clings to her sight. Another girl that Natalie meets at the school is Bree, a young girl very much like Natalie, if not more. Bree however, lost her sight in some kind of accident, and has no sight at all. Still, Bree eventually warms to the kids at the blind school like Natalie, as they begin to learn what they must do to survive in a world that is not entirely friendly to blind people. There are several conflicts throughout the book, including those of Natalie and Bree, being unable to accept the loss of sight. Natalie also faces losing her independence, fitting in among her old friends now that she has to carry a cane or hold their arm to walk around. Another is the conflict with her parents. Her father especially is unwilling to admit that his daughter can’t do the same things that she used to do. By the end of the story though, Natalie has achieved a peace with these conflicts as she’s faced them, including her biggest trouble of learning not to live scared.
This book is actually very well written. I get the feeling that Cummings knows more about blinds than most people. Through her use of imagery and emotional details, each reader is able to truly get inside Natalie’s head and see what she is going through. It can help those who don’t understand blinds as well, see them as people and understand how they can help blinds. In personal reflection about the book, I find that most things I thought about blind people are actually wrong, and many myths about blinds are also untrue. I got a very in depth idea of Natalie’s emotions as she received the news that she would probably lose her sight. All-in-all, I believe that Blindsided is a very good read, especially for teenagers, but I would suggest it to an adult any day as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2016
The book Blindsided is about a girl who's born with a disease that causes her to slowly lose her sight. She has to adjust to a whole new world, "a parallel universe," is what she calls it. Natalie is forced to go to the school for the blind, even though she is in denial about losing her sight. Natalie needs to quickly adjust before she goes blind. Natalie has to finally accept the fact that she's goind blind and has to learn the skills she needs to get through life.
One of my favorite characters in the book was Serena, who helped Natalie a lot when she got to the school. Serena isn't totally blind, but she can only see partially out of one eye. I felt an attachment to the characters by the end of the book because they felt so real, and if I didn't know, you couldn't have convinced me the book was totally fictional. The story really kept me guessing. I wanted to start crying by the end. My favorite part of the book was when after Natalie had had an accident of falling down the stairs, her newer roommate, Bree, (who was also in denial about her sight) had shown her soft side and wanted to help Natalie, because the same thing had happened to Natalie at the beginning: Natalie was in denial about her sight, until she finally showed her true personality. The scenes in the book were written extremely well, I could actually feel like I was there watching them. I never wanted to put the book down, it was great. I want to read more books by Priscilla Cummings because this book was excellent.
There wasn't much I disliked about the book. I did not like how Natalie's friend from her hometown seemed kind of two-faced when it came to Natalie's blindness, yet Natalie always went crawling back to her. I did not find it difficult to care about the characters, when something happened to Bree, I wanted to throw the book across the room! I loved almost all of the characters. In the book, there were two guys that Natalie somewhat liked, and I'm just wishing she could've showed some sign of picking one: Arnab, who's blind, or Jake, the normal guy from her old school who cares about her blindness. This book was amazing and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone, especially people who don't necessarily have a favorite genre, because this book has a little bit of everything!
One of my favorite characters in the book was Serena, who helped Natalie a lot when she got to the school. Serena isn't totally blind, but she can only see partially out of one eye. I felt an attachment to the characters by the end of the book because they felt so real, and if I didn't know, you couldn't have convinced me the book was totally fictional. The story really kept me guessing. I wanted to start crying by the end. My favorite part of the book was when after Natalie had had an accident of falling down the stairs, her newer roommate, Bree, (who was also in denial about her sight) had shown her soft side and wanted to help Natalie, because the same thing had happened to Natalie at the beginning: Natalie was in denial about her sight, until she finally showed her true personality. The scenes in the book were written extremely well, I could actually feel like I was there watching them. I never wanted to put the book down, it was great. I want to read more books by Priscilla Cummings because this book was excellent.
There wasn't much I disliked about the book. I did not like how Natalie's friend from her hometown seemed kind of two-faced when it came to Natalie's blindness, yet Natalie always went crawling back to her. I did not find it difficult to care about the characters, when something happened to Bree, I wanted to throw the book across the room! I loved almost all of the characters. In the book, there were two guys that Natalie somewhat liked, and I'm just wishing she could've showed some sign of picking one: Arnab, who's blind, or Jake, the normal guy from her old school who cares about her blindness. This book was amazing and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone, especially people who don't necessarily have a favorite genre, because this book has a little bit of everything!
July 7, 2018
Within ten pages of Blindsided, I was convinced that I was set up to enjoy this book for three reasons.
Reason 1: The main character's name is Natalie. MY name is Natalie. 'Nuff said.
Reason 2: While we didn't have goats growing up, we had sheep. They were similar in how they needed to be taken care of when the mom wouldn't, which was often the case when there were twins. I've had to bottle feed lambs. It's easier said than done to keep them alive when you're not their real mom and most didn't make it. I've held one in my arms while I laid on a Lisa Frank bubblegum machine print sleeping bag on top of a foldout lawn chair next to our wood stove, trying to get him warm (he died anyway). These are tough lessons when you're eight.
Reason 3: Here is a little known fact about yours truly. I took a Braille summer school class in elementary school. It wasn't the type of summer school you had to attend because of craptastic grades but the type where you picked out a handful of "fun" classes to take over the summer. My memory of summer school is fuzzy as if it never happened at all EXCEPT vividly remembering those Braille typewriters we used.
Natalie and Natalie were destined to be BFFs!
Except we weren't.
Back cover boasts: "Readers will enjoy the high drama and heroics."
DID I READ THE SAME BOOK?
This was a simple and sometimes sweet book. HEAVY emphasis on simple, as it was complete with eye-rolling/cheesy lines such as She wanted to break the darn thing over her knee and Those Braille cells - darn them!
3 Stars from me
But I would have probably given it 4 if I had read this when twelve or thirteen. Darn!
Reason 1: The main character's name is Natalie. MY name is Natalie. 'Nuff said.
Reason 2: While we didn't have goats growing up, we had sheep. They were similar in how they needed to be taken care of when the mom wouldn't, which was often the case when there were twins. I've had to bottle feed lambs. It's easier said than done to keep them alive when you're not their real mom and most didn't make it. I've held one in my arms while I laid on a Lisa Frank bubblegum machine print sleeping bag on top of a foldout lawn chair next to our wood stove, trying to get him warm (he died anyway). These are tough lessons when you're eight.
Reason 3: Here is a little known fact about yours truly. I took a Braille summer school class in elementary school. It wasn't the type of summer school you had to attend because of craptastic grades but the type where you picked out a handful of "fun" classes to take over the summer. My memory of summer school is fuzzy as if it never happened at all EXCEPT vividly remembering those Braille typewriters we used.
Natalie and Natalie were destined to be BFFs!
Except we weren't.
Back cover boasts: "Readers will enjoy the high drama and heroics."
DID I READ THE SAME BOOK?
This was a simple and sometimes sweet book. HEAVY emphasis on simple, as it was complete with eye-rolling/cheesy lines such as She wanted to break the darn thing over her knee and Those Braille cells - darn them!
3 Stars from me
But I would have probably given it 4 if I had read this when twelve or thirteen. Darn!
September 21, 2011
A very early childhood favorite of mine was a simple book called Follow My Leader about a boy who goes blind from an accident and has to learn to do everything over again. Blindsided was a more nuanced, teenage version of this book, which is why I think I enjoyed it so much.
I think if I hadn't had that early association I might have only given this book three stars. The dramatic plot twists are a bit overdone, in that I think the author could have chosen something less violent and... well... dramatic to happen to Natalie in order to get the same point across. I could also see it coming, which for me made the climax (both of them) less powerful than if the foreshadowing was less overt.
With that said, the best parts of the book were the psychological struggle of Natalie and her peers to adjust to their new situation, and the support (and lack of support) they gave each other seemed realistic. Also realistic was the portrayal of the changing demographics of the school she attended; from being mostly populated by teens with a single disability to kids and teens with several disabilities (not portrayed in this book, but mentioned in the first cafeteria scene).
One of the other enjoyable aspects was the braille reference card in the back and (in the hardcover library version at least) actual braille on the front cover, so you could see what it's like to feel words with your fingers.
Anyway, overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it, especially if you are looking for something engaging but not too difficult that portrays teens living with blindness.
I think if I hadn't had that early association I might have only given this book three stars. The dramatic plot twists are a bit overdone, in that I think the author could have chosen something less violent and... well... dramatic to happen to Natalie in order to get the same point across. I could also see it coming, which for me made the climax (both of them) less powerful than if the foreshadowing was less overt.
With that said, the best parts of the book were the psychological struggle of Natalie and her peers to adjust to their new situation, and the support (and lack of support) they gave each other seemed realistic. Also realistic was the portrayal of the changing demographics of the school she attended; from being mostly populated by teens with a single disability to kids and teens with several disabilities (not portrayed in this book, but mentioned in the first cafeteria scene).
One of the other enjoyable aspects was the braille reference card in the back and (in the hardcover library version at least) actual braille on the front cover, so you could see what it's like to feel words with your fingers.
Anyway, overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it, especially if you are looking for something engaging but not too difficult that portrays teens living with blindness.
October 5, 2010
Cummings does an excellent job of presenting the practical side of becoming blind as a teenager - the logistics of moving to a school across the state, the new curriculum, the frustration at having to essentially learn a whole new language (Braille) and how to function in the world. I found these insights interesting, but considering they make up the bulk of the novel, not enough to create a compelling story.
Far too much emphasis is placed on amazement at what blind people can do - walk a whole mile from the bus stop! Travel to Scotland! Learn self defense! While these facts can certainly seem amazing to someone without experience with disabilities, I found the repeated emphasis patronizing and helped turn this more into an issue novel, rather than a coming of age story that just so happens to have a blind protagonist.
Cummings does do an excellent job with Natalie's voice. She is the right blend of bratty teenager and sympathetic narrator. 14 is hard for anyone - I can only imagine the difficulties with also having to adapt to losing your vision and changing schools. A lot of Natalie's frustration is totally waranted, and when she does go into extremes of anger or self-pity, well, that's what being 14 is about half the time.
Far too much emphasis is placed on amazement at what blind people can do - walk a whole mile from the bus stop! Travel to Scotland! Learn self defense! While these facts can certainly seem amazing to someone without experience with disabilities, I found the repeated emphasis patronizing and helped turn this more into an issue novel, rather than a coming of age story that just so happens to have a blind protagonist.
Cummings does do an excellent job with Natalie's voice. She is the right blend of bratty teenager and sympathetic narrator. 14 is hard for anyone - I can only imagine the difficulties with also having to adapt to losing your vision and changing schools. A lot of Natalie's frustration is totally waranted, and when she does go into extremes of anger or self-pity, well, that's what being 14 is about half the time.
April 6, 2011
Natalie was born with a congenital eye disease, and she knows she will eventually go blind. By the time she is in high school, the disease advances, and her sight quickly fades. It is very hard for her to accept, she is just about to get her driver's license, go to her first prom, and enjoy all of the things teens with normal sight enjoy. Her parents have no choice but to enroll her in a school for the blind. She fights it at first, insisting she'll be fine, but quickly sees, she needs to learn some coping skills, learn braile, learns to walk with a cane, and many other things. On top of this stress, she is given a roommate, Bree, has some very strange behaviors, and talks about her "accident" that caused her blindness. She never tells the story of how it happened. One day Bree leaves campus to meet her boyfriend which is strictly against the school rules. She calls Natalie in a panic to come pick her up (keep in mind they are both blind), and Natalie goes to meet her. Big trouble happens, of course. A great story to try and understand what life is like for someone with no sight and all of the difficulties they face each and every day.
March 20, 2013
I enjoyed this book. It taught me to not give up hope because you can do and accomplish so many things you would've never thought you could've done. First day of going to the school of blinds came and Natalie hated it. She felt something was wrong with her. However, she remembered she started a program to help students with disabilities in her school. She started getting used to it. However, her bunkmate, Gabriella felt the exact same way when she entered the school. They both eventually got used to it and started to feel like they belonged again. Bree, (Gabriella) and Natalie become very close friends. They got used to the daily routines. However one day, they were separated. They couldn't see anything nor knew what happened. Later did she find out, Gabriella had died. Though Natalie started out feeling worthless, she never gave up and she learned how to protect herself. She learned how to do everything she would normally do with her sight. She never gave up hope. Thus, she ended up with knowledge on what to when she cannot see. If she had given up hope, she would've died. She wouldn't have been able to walk and read on her own. So, never give up hope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2010
I enjoyed this one, as I do most stories of this type. Cummings has a good voice, and she wrote pretty well developed characters. Natalie is a realistic character, and I could understand what she must have felt and gone through. I got to watch her grow, accept, and her desire to overcome shine through in the end.
Some of the events in the book could have been foreshadowed a little less and they would have had a greater effect on me, but that doesn't detract too much. I also wish that I could have gotten to know Bree a little better, but as Natalie said it should be for both her and me maybe a mourning of what could have been.
I felt for her when Meredith was struggling with the friendship, and Natalie just wanted her to be there, but I am glad that they were able to bond more in the end.
Cummings also hinted at two possible relationship interests, and I wish that would have been explored a little more-- then I could have stayed in this universe a little longer, which I would have been happy about. It was over too soon!
Some of the events in the book could have been foreshadowed a little less and they would have had a greater effect on me, but that doesn't detract too much. I also wish that I could have gotten to know Bree a little better, but as Natalie said it should be for both her and me maybe a mourning of what could have been.
I felt for her when Meredith was struggling with the friendship, and Natalie just wanted her to be there, but I am glad that they were able to bond more in the end.
Cummings also hinted at two possible relationship interests, and I wish that would have been explored a little more-- then I could have stayed in this universe a little longer, which I would have been happy about. It was over too soon!
January 17, 2011
I picked this book up on a whim. It's definitely not how the description says it is: what it's really about is a blind girl who is learning how to use a cane and how to read Braille.
Her acceptance of being blind is sudden and unrealistic: one fall down some stairs and suddenly she's perfectly fine with being blind. Her blindness was even unrealistic: the doctors in the book said her vision would deteriorate over time, yet her blindness seemed to come overnight. Is this a plot hole? Or did the author intend to make this shockingly abrupt? Either way, it definitely inhibited my understanding of the book.
Throughout the book, it is very unclear who she likes; Jake or the Indian guy? (I've already managed to forget his name. How 'bout that?) She and Jake only spoke around three times during the whole story, and somehow at the end, she ends up (Seemingly) liking him instead of (insert Indian guy's name here), who said she was beautiful and understood her troubles.
Three stars for a mildly entertaining plot, with confusing characters and events.
Her acceptance of being blind is sudden and unrealistic: one fall down some stairs and suddenly she's perfectly fine with being blind. Her blindness was even unrealistic: the doctors in the book said her vision would deteriorate over time, yet her blindness seemed to come overnight. Is this a plot hole? Or did the author intend to make this shockingly abrupt? Either way, it definitely inhibited my understanding of the book.
Throughout the book, it is very unclear who she likes; Jake or the Indian guy? (I've already managed to forget his name. How 'bout that?) She and Jake only spoke around three times during the whole story, and somehow at the end, she ends up (Seemingly) liking him instead of (insert Indian guy's name here), who said she was beautiful and understood her troubles.
Three stars for a mildly entertaining plot, with confusing characters and events.
December 20, 2013
Priscilla Cummings book"Blindsided" Is a great book.The main character,Natalie,is an average fourteen year old, with the exception of one condition.She is going blind from glaucoma.Natalie's family decides to send her to a special school for the blind,where it will prepare her for the day when her visions becomes worse and than completely blind.Natalie is surrounded by other kids who are blind.She Beings to feel like she will be fine as long as she can maintain the vision that she has.However,Natalie wakes up one morning and realizes that her visions is completely gone,not even a blur to be seen.Soon after she comes to realize that to survive as a blind individual she must learn the skills.She than slowly comes to gain self confidence and begins facing new challenges.Natalie returns home to wallow,only to begin with a life threatening situation that proves to her that she has the ability to go beyond her condition.I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read and likes realistic fiction.
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