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Dear Canada
To Stand On My Own: The Polio Epidemic Diary of Noreen Robertson, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 1937
In the summer of 1937, life on the Prairies is not easy. The Great Depression has brought great hardship, and young Noreen’s family must scrimp to make ends meet.
In a horrible twist of fate, Noreen, like hundreds of other young Canadians, contracts polio and is placed in an isolation ward, unable to move her legs. After a few weeks she gains partial recovery, but her family makes the painful decision to send her to a hospital far away for further treatment.
To Stand On My Own is Noreen’s diary account of her journey through recovery: her treatment; life in the ward; the other patients, some of them far worse off than her; adjustment to life in a wheelchair and on crutches; and ultimately, the emotional and physical hurdles she must face when she returns home.
In this moving addition to the Dear Canada series, award-winning author Barbara Haworth-Attard recreates a desolate time in Canadian history, and one girl’s brave fight against a deadly disease.
In a horrible twist of fate, Noreen, like hundreds of other young Canadians, contracts polio and is placed in an isolation ward, unable to move her legs. After a few weeks she gains partial recovery, but her family makes the painful decision to send her to a hospital far away for further treatment.
To Stand On My Own is Noreen’s diary account of her journey through recovery: her treatment; life in the ward; the other patients, some of them far worse off than her; adjustment to life in a wheelchair and on crutches; and ultimately, the emotional and physical hurdles she must face when she returns home.
In this moving addition to the Dear Canada series, award-winning author Barbara Haworth-Attard recreates a desolate time in Canadian history, and one girl’s brave fight against a deadly disease.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2010
21 people are currently reading
996 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Haworth-Attard
24 books42 followersBarbara Haworth-Attard is a native of Elmira, Ontario, presently residing in London, Ontario with her family. June 1995 saw the publication of her first junior novel, Dark of the Moon. Since then she has written twelve novels in the historical fiction, fantasy and contemporary genres for middle-grade and young adult readers. Her thirteenth book, "Forget-Me-Not" a sequel to "Love-Lies-Bleeding" has been out since this Fall 2005 from HarperCollins Canada. Henry Holt and Company released the US edition of "Theories of Relativity" in 2006. This book has also been sold to Editions Thierry Magnier of France.
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Juvenile (2010): Haunted
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Juvenile (2010): Haunted
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
February 24, 2023
Why I chose to read this book:
1. I have read other books from this series, all of which I have learned something new about Canada's history. Since this particular book is about Canada's polio epidemic during the early part of the 20th-century, with a focus on Alberta's neighboring province of Saskatchewan, it has been high on my WTR list; and,
2. I have designated February 2023 as my "Books for Young and Old Alike" Month!
Praises:
1. author Barbara Haworth-Attard gives a heartfelt yet realistic impression of how a young girl like Noreen probably coped with her feelings of guilt, fear, boredom, and loneliness when she contracted polio;
2. the author relates how her family and friends many have also felt fear, sorrow, frustration, and determination when their child, sibling or friend was ill with this terrifying disease;
3. since this story occurs during the Great Depression, I got the feeling of anguish this caused many people on top of dealing with a family member who had polio;
4. anyone who has ever been immobile (as I have) can relate to Noreen's comments: "It's funny, but when you are well, you never give stuff like this a second thought, but when you're ill or suddenly you can't go up and down stairs or get around easily, it is a really big problem ...I've been going up and down stairs all my life and now I have to learn how to do it all over again!" 😭;
5. photos of children convalescing in iron lungs, Bradford Frames, and splints are quite sobering; and,
6. I enjoyed the reference to the Hudson's Bay Company-sponsored "Pet Parade and Fun Show" held in Saskatoon, SK many years ago. It brought a smile to my face as I recall author Farley Mowat describing this event in his book Owls in the Family.
Overall Thoughts:
I am so grateful that many people were involved in finding a vaccine for this horrific disease!
The DEAR CANADA series is written by various authors in diary form with a fictional girl as the main character. The reader gets a sense of what life may have been like during the specific event in Canadian history that is portrayed in each book. The non-fiction portion (maps, text, photos, newspaper articles, etc.) following the fictional "diary" section is most informative. A matching ribbon bookmark adds to the feeling of an actual diary.
I look forward to reading more books in this series!
Recommendation?
If you or someone in your family had ever contracted polio, you may be interested in reading this particular book.
This series is a must-read for ALL Canadians (and even non-Canadians) - young and old alike!
1. I have read other books from this series, all of which I have learned something new about Canada's history. Since this particular book is about Canada's polio epidemic during the early part of the 20th-century, with a focus on Alberta's neighboring province of Saskatchewan, it has been high on my WTR list; and,
2. I have designated February 2023 as my "Books for Young and Old Alike" Month!
Praises:
1. author Barbara Haworth-Attard gives a heartfelt yet realistic impression of how a young girl like Noreen probably coped with her feelings of guilt, fear, boredom, and loneliness when she contracted polio;
2. the author relates how her family and friends many have also felt fear, sorrow, frustration, and determination when their child, sibling or friend was ill with this terrifying disease;
3. since this story occurs during the Great Depression, I got the feeling of anguish this caused many people on top of dealing with a family member who had polio;
4. anyone who has ever been immobile (as I have) can relate to Noreen's comments: "It's funny, but when you are well, you never give stuff like this a second thought, but when you're ill or suddenly you can't go up and down stairs or get around easily, it is a really big problem ...I've been going up and down stairs all my life and now I have to learn how to do it all over again!" 😭;
5. photos of children convalescing in iron lungs, Bradford Frames, and splints are quite sobering; and,
6. I enjoyed the reference to the Hudson's Bay Company-sponsored "Pet Parade and Fun Show" held in Saskatoon, SK many years ago. It brought a smile to my face as I recall author Farley Mowat describing this event in his book Owls in the Family.
Overall Thoughts:
I am so grateful that many people were involved in finding a vaccine for this horrific disease!
The DEAR CANADA series is written by various authors in diary form with a fictional girl as the main character. The reader gets a sense of what life may have been like during the specific event in Canadian history that is portrayed in each book. The non-fiction portion (maps, text, photos, newspaper articles, etc.) following the fictional "diary" section is most informative. A matching ribbon bookmark adds to the feeling of an actual diary.
I look forward to reading more books in this series!
Recommendation?
If you or someone in your family had ever contracted polio, you may be interested in reading this particular book.
This series is a must-read for ALL Canadians (and even non-Canadians) - young and old alike!
January 25, 2025
Maybe I should be reading those Dear Canada series books I have not already read (or I should review the ones I have read and not yet reviewed), but last night I felt only like rereading To Stand On My Own: The Polio Diary of Noreen Robertson, as it is one of my favourites thus far of this series, and I simply needed to reread a favourite book.
Now Dear Canada series has without a doubt become one of my favourite series of Canadian children's historical fiction, period. Conceptualised and presented as "historical" diaries, these books not only present and portray interesting, often thought-provoking historical episodes and facts pertaining to Canada's past, they generally also feature both charming and believable, historically authentic characters (both the narrators themselves, the diarists, but also the individuals described by the former).
I have, to date, read a goodly number of these fictionalised diaries (and I am kind of obsessive about collecting the entire series), and while there are certainly some that I have enjoyed more than others, I can honestly say that of the books in the Dear Canada series I have read so far, I would not hesitate to strongly recommend the majority of them. The series manages to be both historically interesting and informative, while at the same time showing the observations, joys, tragedies and triumphs of the young "diarists" in an engaging, emotionally realistic and believable fashion; these are not dry historical documents, but engaging and emotional stories of hope and despair, of triumph and tragedy. An added bonus of this series are the historical notes, documents and photographs that are included at the back of each of the diaries, making this series not only a wonderful reading experience (and in my opinion for both children and adults), but also providing interesting and valuable historical documentation and facts. This makes Dear Canada not only a wonderful series for anyone interested in Canadian history and/or historical fiction, it also makes this series a wonderful and informative teaching resource for both homeschooling as well as elementary and middle grade history or social studies classes.
Barbara Haworth-Attard's To Stand On My Own is one of the more recent publications in the Dear Canada series and has rapidly become one of my very favourites. An engaging, at times emotionally wrenching, but in the end triumphant account of twelve-year-old Noreen Robertson's struggle with polio, this diary-novel also provides valuable historical background information on both the polio epidemic of 1937 and the devastating effects of the Great Depression, especially the devastation caused by the "Dust-Bowl" droughts on a primarily agricultural province like Saskatchewan (a province hit worse than other provinces, because farming was the main livelihood for most).
Now mreally, the author has managed to totally and engagingly capture the voice of Noreen, of a young girl struggling with a disease that she cannot fully understand, but all the same realising that polio might prove fatal, knowing it could well leave her with permanent physical challenges. And with this in mind, Noreen's diary account truly reads like the diary of a child; one never has the impression as though one is simply reading Barbara Haworth-Attard's attempt to appear and/or sound like a twelve-year-old girl (Noreen's narrative feels and reads as one hundred percent authentic). I was, and still am, completely immersed in this story, personally feeling Noreen's emotions, her pain, her fears, her doubts, her anger, her frustrations, and finally, her triumphs and joys (as well as those of many of the other characters described by Noreen in her diary). To Stand On My Own will make you cry, laugh, cheery wildly, as well as exclaim in anger and frustration. You will fall in love with the characters and care immensely about Noreen and her friends at the Regina hospital (you will scream happily when Edna is finally able to move her fingers and arms, you will simply hate the fact that Thelma's parents abandoned her when she became ill, you will feel as proud as Noreen when she is finally able to walk down the hall using her crutches). And finally, To Stand On My Own will also make readers appreciate how fortunate most of the world is today, how because of the devastating polio epidemics of the early and middle 20th Century, we now have the ways and means to prevent this dread disease, we now have vaccinations and better treatment options.
Now Dear Canada series has without a doubt become one of my favourite series of Canadian children's historical fiction, period. Conceptualised and presented as "historical" diaries, these books not only present and portray interesting, often thought-provoking historical episodes and facts pertaining to Canada's past, they generally also feature both charming and believable, historically authentic characters (both the narrators themselves, the diarists, but also the individuals described by the former).
I have, to date, read a goodly number of these fictionalised diaries (and I am kind of obsessive about collecting the entire series), and while there are certainly some that I have enjoyed more than others, I can honestly say that of the books in the Dear Canada series I have read so far, I would not hesitate to strongly recommend the majority of them. The series manages to be both historically interesting and informative, while at the same time showing the observations, joys, tragedies and triumphs of the young "diarists" in an engaging, emotionally realistic and believable fashion; these are not dry historical documents, but engaging and emotional stories of hope and despair, of triumph and tragedy. An added bonus of this series are the historical notes, documents and photographs that are included at the back of each of the diaries, making this series not only a wonderful reading experience (and in my opinion for both children and adults), but also providing interesting and valuable historical documentation and facts. This makes Dear Canada not only a wonderful series for anyone interested in Canadian history and/or historical fiction, it also makes this series a wonderful and informative teaching resource for both homeschooling as well as elementary and middle grade history or social studies classes.
Barbara Haworth-Attard's To Stand On My Own is one of the more recent publications in the Dear Canada series and has rapidly become one of my very favourites. An engaging, at times emotionally wrenching, but in the end triumphant account of twelve-year-old Noreen Robertson's struggle with polio, this diary-novel also provides valuable historical background information on both the polio epidemic of 1937 and the devastating effects of the Great Depression, especially the devastation caused by the "Dust-Bowl" droughts on a primarily agricultural province like Saskatchewan (a province hit worse than other provinces, because farming was the main livelihood for most).
Now mreally, the author has managed to totally and engagingly capture the voice of Noreen, of a young girl struggling with a disease that she cannot fully understand, but all the same realising that polio might prove fatal, knowing it could well leave her with permanent physical challenges. And with this in mind, Noreen's diary account truly reads like the diary of a child; one never has the impression as though one is simply reading Barbara Haworth-Attard's attempt to appear and/or sound like a twelve-year-old girl (Noreen's narrative feels and reads as one hundred percent authentic). I was, and still am, completely immersed in this story, personally feeling Noreen's emotions, her pain, her fears, her doubts, her anger, her frustrations, and finally, her triumphs and joys (as well as those of many of the other characters described by Noreen in her diary). To Stand On My Own will make you cry, laugh, cheery wildly, as well as exclaim in anger and frustration. You will fall in love with the characters and care immensely about Noreen and her friends at the Regina hospital (you will scream happily when Edna is finally able to move her fingers and arms, you will simply hate the fact that Thelma's parents abandoned her when she became ill, you will feel as proud as Noreen when she is finally able to walk down the hall using her crutches). And finally, To Stand On My Own will also make readers appreciate how fortunate most of the world is today, how because of the devastating polio epidemics of the early and middle 20th Century, we now have the ways and means to prevent this dread disease, we now have vaccinations and better treatment options.
December 30, 2020
This is one of my favourite Dear Canada books now. I decided to read this book because it’s about an epidemic and we’re in the middle of a pandemic right now. It might sound weird but I figured, “what better time to read this book than right now?” Now we can all relate to even Noreen better. We’ve all been isolated from family and friends for so long, just like Noreen is in the story.
What I love most about the Dear Canada series is that the authors make their characters so real and as relatable as possible. Noreen and the others are really real and relatable.
I didn’t know much about Polio before starting this. This book is a good introduction to the scary disease. Another great thing about these books are that there is always a historical note and pictures of the event the book focuses on. The historical note of this one explains all about polio and how the world worked to overcome it. Also, since this story is set in 1937, we get to learn a bit about how the Great Depression affected people in the prairies of Canada. The prairies were hit the hardest as the farmers literally watched their livelihoods shrivel up in their fields.
This book in particular really puts things in perspective. It makes me more aware of how we often take for granted things like the ability to walk. Noreen was just a normal, regular girl in the 1930s until she got sick. Then everything changes in an instant and suddenly her ability to walk is taken away. This was something she had always taken for granted. Her fears of never being able to walk again, of polio killing her, of never seeing her friends and family again, the fear of being pitied or made fun of are heartbreaking for a 12 year old girl to have to face. Noreen has to find courage to keep fighting and hope that things will get better. Noreen gets her inspiration from people like Amelia Earhart. I think readers will find Noreen to be a strong and inspirational character too.
This year, escaping reality is something we all wanted to do. This book completely transported me to the Saskatchewan of 1937 in the midst of the polio epidemic. You might think this is a weird time and place to want to be transported to, but I actually enjoyed being there. If I had read this any other time I might not have connected and related to what Noreen goes through as strongly as I did now. This has been a fearful, uncertain time for us all. Noreen felt the same way. This is what I love about history, being able to connect with people of times long ago, people and experiences we’ll never know here. It’s a sad story but it is also a story of finding courage, being brave and continuing to have hope, even when the future looks grim. It was exactly what I needed right now.
What I love most about the Dear Canada series is that the authors make their characters so real and as relatable as possible. Noreen and the others are really real and relatable.
I didn’t know much about Polio before starting this. This book is a good introduction to the scary disease. Another great thing about these books are that there is always a historical note and pictures of the event the book focuses on. The historical note of this one explains all about polio and how the world worked to overcome it. Also, since this story is set in 1937, we get to learn a bit about how the Great Depression affected people in the prairies of Canada. The prairies were hit the hardest as the farmers literally watched their livelihoods shrivel up in their fields.
This book in particular really puts things in perspective. It makes me more aware of how we often take for granted things like the ability to walk. Noreen was just a normal, regular girl in the 1930s until she got sick. Then everything changes in an instant and suddenly her ability to walk is taken away. This was something she had always taken for granted. Her fears of never being able to walk again, of polio killing her, of never seeing her friends and family again, the fear of being pitied or made fun of are heartbreaking for a 12 year old girl to have to face. Noreen has to find courage to keep fighting and hope that things will get better. Noreen gets her inspiration from people like Amelia Earhart. I think readers will find Noreen to be a strong and inspirational character too.
This year, escaping reality is something we all wanted to do. This book completely transported me to the Saskatchewan of 1937 in the midst of the polio epidemic. You might think this is a weird time and place to want to be transported to, but I actually enjoyed being there. If I had read this any other time I might not have connected and related to what Noreen goes through as strongly as I did now. This has been a fearful, uncertain time for us all. Noreen felt the same way. This is what I love about history, being able to connect with people of times long ago, people and experiences we’ll never know here. It’s a sad story but it is also a story of finding courage, being brave and continuing to have hope, even when the future looks grim. It was exactly what I needed right now.
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March 5, 2025I was obsessed with this book as a 10-year old and now I'm going to Saskatoon to study viruses, idk call that foreshadowing or something
March 22, 2017
This diary was a historical fiction account of a young girl diagnosed with polio in Saskatoon in 1937. My Nanna was diagnosed with polio in Regina in the 1940s. The little girl in the book received treatment at the Regina hospital. It was really interesting to read about this girl's experience and compare it to what I knew of my Nanna's experience with the disease. This diary is part of the "Dear Canada" series and I definitely want to read more! A quick read, very realistic and very informative! I don't know which one to choose next!?
August 12, 2020
Amazing
January 22, 2016
SLIGHT SPOILERS
"To Stand On My Own" is the polio epidemic diary of Noreen Robertson. The diary begins with Noreen being told by her mother to start writing in the diary, as a start to be more lady-like, but Noreen soon becomes accustomed to writing in it. It also serves as a distraction further into the book, as she is diagnosed with polio.
This book takes place during the Great Depression. I think that this adds an interesting factor, as it has tidbits about the depression in it.
Throughout the book Noreen gains new friendships with people she normally wouldn't have looked twice at. One friend she gains throughout her epidemic diary is a polish immigrant named Ann. Ann's family is on relief, which means that they are being supported by the government because they cannot make enough to support themselves.
I find that the Dear Canada books are a quick read packed with loads of information, although I do love thick books, I think that this series is wonderful, especially for some one who loves history as much as me.
"To Stand On My Own" is the polio epidemic diary of Noreen Robertson. The diary begins with Noreen being told by her mother to start writing in the diary, as a start to be more lady-like, but Noreen soon becomes accustomed to writing in it. It also serves as a distraction further into the book, as she is diagnosed with polio.
This book takes place during the Great Depression. I think that this adds an interesting factor, as it has tidbits about the depression in it.
Throughout the book Noreen gains new friendships with people she normally wouldn't have looked twice at. One friend she gains throughout her epidemic diary is a polish immigrant named Ann. Ann's family is on relief, which means that they are being supported by the government because they cannot make enough to support themselves.
I find that the Dear Canada books are a quick read packed with loads of information, although I do love thick books, I think that this series is wonderful, especially for some one who loves history as much as me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2020
the entries were kind of short for my liking, but i love learning about canadian history through fiction!!
January 16, 2015
SLIGHT SPOILERS
"To Stand On My Own" is the polio epidemic diary of Noreen Robertson. The diary begins with Noreen being told by her mother to start writing in the diary, as a start to be more lady-like, but Noreen soon becomes accustomed to writing in it. It also serves as a distraction further into the book as she is diagnosed with polio.
The book takes place during the Great Depression, I think that adds an interesting factor as it has tidbits about the depression in it.
Throughout the book Noreen gains new friendships with people she normally wouldn't have looked twice at. One friend she gains throughout her epidemic diary is a polish immigrant named Ann. Ann's family is on relief, which means that they are being supported by the government because they cannot make enough to support themselves.
I find that the Dear Canada books are a quick read packed with loads of information, although I do love thick books, I think that this series is wonderful, especially for some one who loves history as much as me.
"To Stand On My Own" is the polio epidemic diary of Noreen Robertson. The diary begins with Noreen being told by her mother to start writing in the diary, as a start to be more lady-like, but Noreen soon becomes accustomed to writing in it. It also serves as a distraction further into the book as she is diagnosed with polio.
The book takes place during the Great Depression, I think that adds an interesting factor as it has tidbits about the depression in it.
Throughout the book Noreen gains new friendships with people she normally wouldn't have looked twice at. One friend she gains throughout her epidemic diary is a polish immigrant named Ann. Ann's family is on relief, which means that they are being supported by the government because they cannot make enough to support themselves.
I find that the Dear Canada books are a quick read packed with loads of information, although I do love thick books, I think that this series is wonderful, especially for some one who loves history as much as me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2018
It’s been years since I read this book, and I’m glad I revisited it. It’s one of my favorite in the series. The author managed to really paint a picture of the day to day struggles of polio as well as growing up in the depression. She added in lessons about friendship, discussed fears of being discriminated against due to disabilities, and weaved in tidbits of historical happenings throughout the diary (like Hitler rising to power, Amelia Earhart, etc). She even touched on prejudice against immigrants. All in all, Noreen’s diary felt like it could have been real. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 18, 2016
This is my favourite Dear Canada. Noreen's character arc is well defined and rewarding to read.
February 10, 2020
This book was actually shorter than I would have liked it to be. It could have been longer, in my humble opinion.
The year is 1937, Summer in Saskatchewan. Smack dab near the middle of the Great Depression (I think, might need to brush up on my historical timelines). Noreen is our narrator, forced to spend 30 minutes a day with her diary because her mother worries she is becoming too much of a tomboy. Noreen enjoys climbing trees, biking with her brother and friends, snowball fights, swimming and many other things. Not all of these are considered proper for a young lady.
Fortunately Noreen's father still has a job (though his hours are reduced) so her family can afford to keep their house and food on the table without the use of the government Relief program. Noreen's older brother is sent away to a relative's farm in Alberta to work, thereby giving a bit of relief to their parents by having one less mouth to feed.
Noreen's mother is paranoid about her children potentially catching polio, which is running rampant through the city's youth population. It even gets so bad that several schools decide to open late in the year to help protect its students. Noreen and her brother are forbidden from going to any crowded place, including the swimming pool. So Noreen and her brother disobey and sneak into the pool, claiming they are too poor to pay.
Not far into the book Noreen finds she can't use her legs and is in terrible pain. The doctor is called and she is diagnosed with polio. She is whisked away to the hospital by her parents where you get a first hand look of what a polio ward would be like. Noreen can't use her legs. She is strapped into leg braces to keep her from getting drop foot and is given something in an attempt to make sure the virus doesn't spread. In the bed beside her is a boy who struggles to breathe because polio has paralyzed parts of his chest. He is later transported to a hospital where he is placed in an iron lung. An older lady across the aisle from them passes away.
Once Noreen is deemed noncontagious, she is sent home where her condition doesn't improve and her grandfather fights with her mother about her treatments. Finally her mother and father agree to send her away to a hospital in Saskatoon (I think) where they try to rehabilitate people struck by polio.
For 3 or 4 weeks Noreen stays there in a room with 3 other girls. Edna is almost completely paralyzed by polio and spends her days strapped to a board to keep her muscles from pulling too far out of place. Thelma is like Noreen, unable to use her legs. But unlike Noreen, she doesn't seem to be driven to recover. It is later discovered why. Noreen accidentally gives Thelma a reason to want to be better during a conversation, which is quite inspiring. there is also Julia...think it was Julia. She is not written about as much.
What's interesting is that Noreen gives a pretty detailed description of all the exercises and treatments she goes through to help her get back some of her mobility. She gives you the general schedule at which she and the other girls live by while in hospital. While all of this might sound boring, it's actually pretty interesting. You also get invested in her friends as she describes their individual hardships and the friendships they develop with each other. You cheer right along with them when Edna is finally able to move her fingers. It's a small thing but symbolizes hope for her. You also get to experience the failures of others, like Thelma who has to have her tendons cut in her ankle in order to relieve the pain of her drop foot which is partially due to the fact she refused to do her recommended therapies. Heck, you even get to see the boy from the first ward again, now in an iron lung in the very same hospital that is trying to rehabilitate Noreen.
While most of this book obviously takes place in hospital, it does give you a glimpse of Noreen's life once she returns home and her decision to continue getting stronger with hopes of walking without leg braces once again. This book's diary entries end on a very hopefully note. However, the epilogue and historical notes give you a more gloomy outlook, like how polio almost strikes again when the victims grow older.
Despite everything Noreen did, she ended up using crutches again when she was much older and eventually went back into using a wheelchair for mobility. The boy in the iron lung made a partial recovery only to die in his 30s (I think) due to his compromised lungs. Sure they are fictional characters, but you grow attached to them and any reader will surely realize that while these particular people are fictional, there are real people who had very similar experiences and that's heartbreaking.
It's great to put into prospective what an unchecked disease can do to people, especially when people are doing stupid things nowadays like refusing to vaccinate their children against completely preventable yet deadly diseases because of some outdated and disproved studies say it's bad. Herd immunity doesn't work when parts of the herd the can be vaccinated aren't vaccinated. Epidemics like this can be completely avoided.
Anyhow, I quite liked this book and would have loved if it was a bit longer.
The year is 1937, Summer in Saskatchewan. Smack dab near the middle of the Great Depression (I think, might need to brush up on my historical timelines). Noreen is our narrator, forced to spend 30 minutes a day with her diary because her mother worries she is becoming too much of a tomboy. Noreen enjoys climbing trees, biking with her brother and friends, snowball fights, swimming and many other things. Not all of these are considered proper for a young lady.
Fortunately Noreen's father still has a job (though his hours are reduced) so her family can afford to keep their house and food on the table without the use of the government Relief program. Noreen's older brother is sent away to a relative's farm in Alberta to work, thereby giving a bit of relief to their parents by having one less mouth to feed.
Noreen's mother is paranoid about her children potentially catching polio, which is running rampant through the city's youth population. It even gets so bad that several schools decide to open late in the year to help protect its students. Noreen and her brother are forbidden from going to any crowded place, including the swimming pool. So Noreen and her brother disobey and sneak into the pool, claiming they are too poor to pay.
Not far into the book Noreen finds she can't use her legs and is in terrible pain. The doctor is called and she is diagnosed with polio. She is whisked away to the hospital by her parents where you get a first hand look of what a polio ward would be like. Noreen can't use her legs. She is strapped into leg braces to keep her from getting drop foot and is given something in an attempt to make sure the virus doesn't spread. In the bed beside her is a boy who struggles to breathe because polio has paralyzed parts of his chest. He is later transported to a hospital where he is placed in an iron lung. An older lady across the aisle from them passes away.
Once Noreen is deemed noncontagious, she is sent home where her condition doesn't improve and her grandfather fights with her mother about her treatments. Finally her mother and father agree to send her away to a hospital in Saskatoon (I think) where they try to rehabilitate people struck by polio.
For 3 or 4 weeks Noreen stays there in a room with 3 other girls. Edna is almost completely paralyzed by polio and spends her days strapped to a board to keep her muscles from pulling too far out of place. Thelma is like Noreen, unable to use her legs. But unlike Noreen, she doesn't seem to be driven to recover. It is later discovered why. Noreen accidentally gives Thelma a reason to want to be better during a conversation, which is quite inspiring. there is also Julia...think it was Julia. She is not written about as much.
What's interesting is that Noreen gives a pretty detailed description of all the exercises and treatments she goes through to help her get back some of her mobility. She gives you the general schedule at which she and the other girls live by while in hospital. While all of this might sound boring, it's actually pretty interesting. You also get invested in her friends as she describes their individual hardships and the friendships they develop with each other. You cheer right along with them when Edna is finally able to move her fingers. It's a small thing but symbolizes hope for her. You also get to experience the failures of others, like Thelma who has to have her tendons cut in her ankle in order to relieve the pain of her drop foot which is partially due to the fact she refused to do her recommended therapies. Heck, you even get to see the boy from the first ward again, now in an iron lung in the very same hospital that is trying to rehabilitate Noreen.
While most of this book obviously takes place in hospital, it does give you a glimpse of Noreen's life once she returns home and her decision to continue getting stronger with hopes of walking without leg braces once again. This book's diary entries end on a very hopefully note. However, the epilogue and historical notes give you a more gloomy outlook, like how polio almost strikes again when the victims grow older.
Despite everything Noreen did, she ended up using crutches again when she was much older and eventually went back into using a wheelchair for mobility. The boy in the iron lung made a partial recovery only to die in his 30s (I think) due to his compromised lungs. Sure they are fictional characters, but you grow attached to them and any reader will surely realize that while these particular people are fictional, there are real people who had very similar experiences and that's heartbreaking.
It's great to put into prospective what an unchecked disease can do to people, especially when people are doing stupid things nowadays like refusing to vaccinate their children against completely preventable yet deadly diseases because of some outdated and disproved studies say it's bad. Herd immunity doesn't work when parts of the herd the can be vaccinated aren't vaccinated. Epidemics like this can be completely avoided.
Anyhow, I quite liked this book and would have loved if it was a bit longer.
October 22, 2010
At the suggestion of her mother, Noreen Robertson begins a diary in June 1937, shortly before her twelfth birthday. The Robertson family lives in Saskatchewan, where most people are struggling financially as a result of the Great Depression. There is also the worry of a polio epidemic. Noreen thinks her mother is being overprotective during the epidemic, until Noreen herself becomes ill with polio.
Noreen began her diary reluctantly, but during her recovery from polio, writing is one of the few things she can still do. She writes about her stay in the hospital, her fears of never being able to walk again, her return home, and the month she spends at a hospital with a special physical therapy program that tries to help children recovering from polio learn to walk again.
At first I found this book a bit slow-moving. A lot of it was just Noreen feeling sorry for herself, feeling guilty for not listening to her mother, wondering if she was being punished, etc. I suppose her self-pity was realistic since it would be awful to be twelve years old and be told you would probably never walk again. I did eventually enjoy the book and Noreen's character grew and matured and in the end she decided to focus on the good things that happened as a result of her experiences, rather than the bad, and how she could use what she had learned to help others like herself in the future.
Noreen began her diary reluctantly, but during her recovery from polio, writing is one of the few things she can still do. She writes about her stay in the hospital, her fears of never being able to walk again, her return home, and the month she spends at a hospital with a special physical therapy program that tries to help children recovering from polio learn to walk again.
At first I found this book a bit slow-moving. A lot of it was just Noreen feeling sorry for herself, feeling guilty for not listening to her mother, wondering if she was being punished, etc. I suppose her self-pity was realistic since it would be awful to be twelve years old and be told you would probably never walk again. I did eventually enjoy the book and Noreen's character grew and matured and in the end she decided to focus on the good things that happened as a result of her experiences, rather than the bad, and how she could use what she had learned to help others like herself in the future.
January 1, 2013
I went to the library a few days ago, and after a gander at the young adult section, I quickly came to realize i was sick of reading the same fantasy romance book, which feature the same hopeless love triangle. I needed a change. I decided that something new, bare, and 'out of my comfort zone' should do the job. So after heading to the childrens' section, I quickly came upon this book...and i loved it! I was a little skeptical at first, but went with it anyways in the end. I was acutally working on a major project, at that time, and still had made very little progress (i'm a helpless procastinator, i know shame on me :( ), but after I finished the book (2 days), I realized that at the end, under the title 'Famous people who had polio', Arthur C. Clarke's name was printed at the very bottom. I nearly fell off my chair! I was doing a porject on that author, and needed to find some extras/ other interesting information. YAY! I'm going to include this book, and maybe bring it in for a class presentation! Yay! I'm going to encourgae others to read this, and get a good mark! Yay! This book is truly awesome!
(Excuse any mis-spelt words, I wrote this in a rush, and goodreads dosen't have spellcheck)
(Excuse any mis-spelt words, I wrote this in a rush, and goodreads dosen't have spellcheck)
March 24, 2020
I've never read any other books by Barbara Haworth-Attard, but it looks like she at least wrote one other Dear Canada book, so I may have to try that one out someday. To Stand On My Own strikes a happy medium between historical context and detail, character development, and good pacing. So many of these diary format books fall into the trap of making the diary entries too mundane or too consciously heavy on historical detail. This story avoids that but still uses history as the backdrop to educate the readers a bit about the polio epidemic while still telling a believable story about it through the eyes of an ordinary girl. Noreen's character development was done very well and was entwined perfectly with the story of her treatment and recovery. If you'd like to read something on the polio epidemic that isn't too heavy, this is a good place to start!
October 17, 2016
This was an exceptionally GREAT diary; I thoroughly enjoyed it. Quite often I find that these girls are too goody-goody, or make maybe two mistakes total. I still love them as characters but I find them harder to relate to. In this story, Noreen is actually a bully a couple of times and finds it hard to apologize and in fact puts it off. I found her to be a much more realistic character in that respect as she has personal problems that she manages to work out, and as a result of the polio she actually becomes a better person and friend. That being said, I also found this diary particularly informative. I learned much more about polio and the history of past epidemics than I knew before. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good historical stand-alone fiction.
August 20, 2016
I loved this one--fantastic entry in the Dear America series! I loved that it touched on the aftermath of the polio epidemic, rather than the anticipation and fear of a disease outbreak like so many stories tend to do. It was intense and scary and well-written, but completely age-appropriate both in tone and in audience. It seems really genuine as a young girl's experience with disease, but without ever venturing into gross or horrifying. A well-written, important book, and one I'd love to see get more acclaim.
For my full review, check out Young Adult Historical Vault https://yahistoricalvault.com/2016/07...
For my full review, check out Young Adult Historical Vault https://yahistoricalvault.com/2016/07...
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March 30, 2020My 10 year old self: Life is definatley not easy on the praries, at least in 1937. The Great Depression is a hard learning experience, and Noreen as well as her family must skimp in order to survive. It makes it even harder when Noreen, like many others at that time, catches polio. After long thought and disscution, it is agreed that Noreen was to be shipped off into another hospital. She longs to get better, so that her legs would work again, and so she could stand on her own. Borrow this book. It is at the edge of the four star to being a five.
(That spelling! #perf)
(That spelling! #perf)
August 9, 2011
I have been supporting the elimination of Polio with Rotary the last few years. I really appreciated this perspective of what it was like in Canada before the disease was eradicated here. Very informative.
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April 24, 2021Best one
March 25, 2012
i think thet the book was the best book ever and my friend told it about me and i loveed it we read it it together we saidthat it was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!u rock
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March 30, 2017
In 'To Stand on my Own' Noreen becomes stricken by Polio. This is during the late 1930s when the polio outbreak first started.
The book starts when Noreen is well and best friends with Bessie. However, she soon contracts the disease and is hospitalized. There, she is diagnosed with polio and declared paralyzed from the waist down. Bessie abandons her, her friends and family are isolated from her, and soon Noreen begins to lose faith with herself. Gradually, through subsequent hospitalizations and new friendships, Noreen begins to recover and learns to live with her disease.
Throughout the book, Noreen makes many friendships in which she learns valuable lessons. When she meets Ann, she learns about the hardships of immigrants and the struggles of being poor. When she spends time with her Grandpa, she learns about politics and world news.
The book also explores other aspects of depression era such as the dust bowls, the immigrants on aid, and the shortages of things such as fresh fruit and gasoline.
I especially liked the end of the book that had historical notes and photos of the epidemic. I did not, however, like the epilogue. In trying to tie up all loose ends, they generalized Noreen's life and made me feel as if I didn't know her anymore. I think it was a bit much to complete the epilogue with her death.
The book starts when Noreen is well and best friends with Bessie. However, she soon contracts the disease and is hospitalized. There, she is diagnosed with polio and declared paralyzed from the waist down. Bessie abandons her, her friends and family are isolated from her, and soon Noreen begins to lose faith with herself. Gradually, through subsequent hospitalizations and new friendships, Noreen begins to recover and learns to live with her disease.
Throughout the book, Noreen makes many friendships in which she learns valuable lessons. When she meets Ann, she learns about the hardships of immigrants and the struggles of being poor. When she spends time with her Grandpa, she learns about politics and world news.
The book also explores other aspects of depression era such as the dust bowls, the immigrants on aid, and the shortages of things such as fresh fruit and gasoline.
I especially liked the end of the book that had historical notes and photos of the epidemic. I did not, however, like the epilogue. In trying to tie up all loose ends, they generalized Noreen's life and made me feel as if I didn't know her anymore. I think it was a bit much to complete the epilogue with her death.
April 18, 2022
This book captured my interest specifically because of my grandma's personal struggle with polio as a teenage girl. This made for a fascinating read, especially because it was written from the perspective of a young girl who was going through all of the regular struggles a teenage girl faces, and who just happened to become disabled after contracting polio. As I read, I constantly thought of my grandma and I really wish she were still here so that I could ask her just how similar to her own journey with polio Noreen's story was. I have such respect for anyone who contracted (or contracts - polio is still not completely eradicated) polio and has to adjust to such heavy life changes. This story does have a very positive ending, which felt a little rushed, but I suppose it makes sense for the intended audience of middle-grade readers.
One thing I did not appreciate about the book was the ableist language, both throughout the story as well as in the epilogue/historical review at the end. I feel that much of it could have been left out or replaced with more inclusive language.
One thing I did not appreciate about the book was the ableist language, both throughout the story as well as in the epilogue/historical review at the end. I feel that much of it could have been left out or replaced with more inclusive language.
December 1, 2012
Noreen is just a young girl growing up during the depression in Saskatoon when she falls ill with Polio. Her diary takes you through her illness and her eventual but slow recovery.
I love the way I just got lost in the story. I thought the author did a wonderful job of portraying a young girl in such an awful situation. I especially loved her relationship with Ann- I thought it was a great way to show how relationships change so quickly when your young.
These 'Dear Diary' books are incredibly addictive. Already started on the next one!
I love the way I just got lost in the story. I thought the author did a wonderful job of portraying a young girl in such an awful situation. I especially loved her relationship with Ann- I thought it was a great way to show how relationships change so quickly when your young.
These 'Dear Diary' books are incredibly addictive. Already started on the next one!
November 18, 2014
I think this is my favourite Dear Canada book, but I haven't read them all yet so I can't say. To Stand On My Own Is the first one I red and it got me hooked on the series. A beautiful story, truly. I really got into the characters and cried when they experienced something terrible, and was happy when they were. And I love the fact that the protagonist, Noreen, isn't perfect and was a bit of a bully before she got polio. It made the whole story feel more realistic. As well, I now understand the crippling effects of polio.
August 23, 2015
This book came at an incredible time for me. Over the summer I have been dealing with depression and reading with this book I found I could really connect with what she was going through and the sense of burden that she took on. It was extremely well written and portrayed the issue in a sensitive and honest light that I really felt a connection with. I feel like this could be a good read for anyone dealing with something difficult at the moment or just if they want a quick and enjoyable read.
October 18, 2015
My favourite part was when Noreen got better and learned to walk again. The worst part was when Noreen got Polio and her legs wouldn't work, and she had to go to a hospital in Regina, which is super far away. My favourite character was Noreen because she was nice to everyone, even if they were mean to her. There was no worst character because no one knew what caused Polio. Auryn 12 years old, 2015
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2020
Polio is one of my favorite topics in medical history and it is something I have studied on quite extensively. I found the historical note to not be entirely accurate and did not think it likely that the family would have attached Sister Kenny's name to the treatment as in 1937 the only country using the Kenny Method was Australia. Noreen did not have the best personality, either.
May 7, 2012
Loved this book. It held my attention with her experience with polio and its treatments, as well as the attitudes of the time toward polio and toward those who were disabled in general. A well developed, likeable diarist, with astute observations of others. It's also interesting to contrast expectations of and attitudes toward children then and now.
March 23, 2013
Its a really good book, it makes you think of how quickly things can happen, how everything can just be taken away from you. I love this book, because I can relate. I lost my ability to walk, so i used a wheelchair, then to walking with parallel bars, and then i gradually became stronger in my legs so I used crutches, and now I can walk and run on my own.
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