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My Brother Made Me Do It
Oh, BRRRRROTHER!
Hi. I'm Julie Welsh. My nine-year-old brother is always cooking up schemes...and I get blamed. Because I'm older. Eleven, to be exact. But Frankie has his good points too, as I told Mrs. Kaplan, my 89-year-ald pen pal, who lives in Kansas. I write Mrs. Kaplan about everything. Even my secrets. She was the first one I told about my juvenile arthritis. Mrs. Kaplan understands everything. She has arthritis too. I was feeling tired and achy all the time, and discouraged. Then Mrs. Kaplan gave me ideas about running for student council, and though I could barely lift my legs, Frankie made me want to compete in a fun run. Just when I thought my life was a permanent time-out, you'll never believe what happened....
Hi. I'm Julie Welsh. My nine-year-old brother is always cooking up schemes...and I get blamed. Because I'm older. Eleven, to be exact. But Frankie has his good points too, as I told Mrs. Kaplan, my 89-year-ald pen pal, who lives in Kansas. I write Mrs. Kaplan about everything. Even my secrets. She was the first one I told about my juvenile arthritis. Mrs. Kaplan understands everything. She has arthritis too. I was feeling tired and achy all the time, and discouraged. Then Mrs. Kaplan gave me ideas about running for student council, and though I could barely lift my legs, Frankie made me want to compete in a fun run. Just when I thought my life was a permanent time-out, you'll never believe what happened....
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
2 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Peg Kehret
76 books640 followersPeg Kehret writes middle grade fiction and nonfiction. She's won dozens of state children's choice awards, where kids vote for their favorite book.
When she was twelve, Peg was paralyzed with polio. Most of her protagonists are the age she was then.
A volunteer with animal rescue groups, three of Peg's books are co-authored by Pete the Cat."
When she was twelve, Peg was paralyzed with polio. Most of her protagonists are the age she was then.
A volunteer with animal rescue groups, three of Peg's books are co-authored by Pete the Cat."
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 24, 2019
A well written story with one of the most unrealistic depictions of a disability I have ever seen. Julie is a relatable character, and her relationship to her JRA is realistic enough for a girl her age... but I find her limitless ability to achieve incredible feats too difficult to digest. If you're a boundless optimist, then this is the book for you. But if you know anything about disability in the real world (as I do, living with a mother who has CMT, a hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy), part of living with a disability is coming to terms with and accepting that you have the same value even WITH your limitations. This story does not treat that realistically or fairly. As such, I found it emotionally shallow, rather than inspiring.
August 25, 2020
A fun read for a summer afternoon, but child me would not have liked the story, and cynical me says that Julie must have had better luck with her disability than just about anyone else.
January 9, 2013
Julie reluctantly writes her 89 year old assigned 5th grade pen pal and finds Mrs. Kaplan to be a wonderful sounding board and source of advice. This story was touching to me for so many reasons. Watching Julie, her family, and her friends cope with JRA was sad and touching. Some might find this book a bit sappy, but I think it's wonderful for children to read about other communities handling the differences created by disease well. Also, I grew up with several friends who had a sibling with a disability and the affection and compassion in those families was incredible. This story reflected those experiences.
November 19, 2013
My Brother Made Me Do It, by Peg Kehret, is a book about the comedic adventures of an eleven year old girl named Julie Welsh. The story is told through Julie, via pen pal letters sent to a woman in a nursing home. Julie begins all of her letters with “Dear Mrs. Kaplan,” and jumps right into the details of her life and thoughts without any censoring.
As the title of the book suggests, most of the antics Julie writes about are the result of her little brother’s prompting. Julie tells Mrs. Kaplan, “My nine-year-old brother is always cooking up schemes…and I get blamed” (Kehret 1). In fact, the book opens up with Frankie and Julie making a look-a-like dummy of Julie for a school project. After they admire their creation and how life like it is, Frankie has the idea to shove the dummy out the window, as a prank on their parents, saying they will think it is funny. Frankie eventually wins Julie over and they come up with a little skit for Julie’s fall. Instead of their parents laughing at their hilarious joke, they call the ambulance. Their parents were highly upset and embarrassed when they had to explain to the paramedics and the neighbors what really happened. While Julie and her brother are grounded, Julie writes to Mrs. Kaplan, adding in her own candid opinions.
As the story progresses, Julie becomes closer to Mrs. Kaplan, especially after she is diagnosed with JRA (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis). Julie’s initial reaction was shock, as she thought only old people got arthritis. Because of this thinking Julie avoids telling people that she has arthritis, believing they will not have any sympathy and will call her a grandma. Instead of telling everyone the truth, including her mother’s church friends, that she has arthritis, she tells them she has a brain tumor. Needless to say, Julie’s plan didn’t work out well.
Three quarters of the way through the book, life becomes more difficult for Julie because her arthritis continues to flare up. Her arthritis gets to the point where she finds even walking a short distance painful. She eventually ends up in a wheelchair. Despite all of these complications, Julie decides to enter her school’s fun run for charity, even though she is unsure if she can actually finish it.
My Brother Made Me Do It is highly recommended for preteens or adults looking for a light read. Younger readers will be able to relate to the sibling rivalry and silliness the book takes on. Julie and Frankie’s naïve nature will probably remind older readers of the funny things their kids have done. Peg Kehret does an excellent job of telling a story through a child’s viewpoint, while also bringing to awareness how kids with arthritis learn to work with and around their disability.
As the title of the book suggests, most of the antics Julie writes about are the result of her little brother’s prompting. Julie tells Mrs. Kaplan, “My nine-year-old brother is always cooking up schemes…and I get blamed” (Kehret 1). In fact, the book opens up with Frankie and Julie making a look-a-like dummy of Julie for a school project. After they admire their creation and how life like it is, Frankie has the idea to shove the dummy out the window, as a prank on their parents, saying they will think it is funny. Frankie eventually wins Julie over and they come up with a little skit for Julie’s fall. Instead of their parents laughing at their hilarious joke, they call the ambulance. Their parents were highly upset and embarrassed when they had to explain to the paramedics and the neighbors what really happened. While Julie and her brother are grounded, Julie writes to Mrs. Kaplan, adding in her own candid opinions.
As the story progresses, Julie becomes closer to Mrs. Kaplan, especially after she is diagnosed with JRA (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis). Julie’s initial reaction was shock, as she thought only old people got arthritis. Because of this thinking Julie avoids telling people that she has arthritis, believing they will not have any sympathy and will call her a grandma. Instead of telling everyone the truth, including her mother’s church friends, that she has arthritis, she tells them she has a brain tumor. Needless to say, Julie’s plan didn’t work out well.
Three quarters of the way through the book, life becomes more difficult for Julie because her arthritis continues to flare up. Her arthritis gets to the point where she finds even walking a short distance painful. She eventually ends up in a wheelchair. Despite all of these complications, Julie decides to enter her school’s fun run for charity, even though she is unsure if she can actually finish it.
My Brother Made Me Do It is highly recommended for preteens or adults looking for a light read. Younger readers will be able to relate to the sibling rivalry and silliness the book takes on. Julie and Frankie’s naïve nature will probably remind older readers of the funny things their kids have done. Peg Kehret does an excellent job of telling a story through a child’s viewpoint, while also bringing to awareness how kids with arthritis learn to work with and around their disability.
November 29, 2012
This was a great book full of moral lessons that would be influential to a classroom. Julie an 11 year old girl begins and pen pall relationship in her class room with an 89-year-old woman named Mrs. Kaplan. The bond over both having arthritis and talking about everyday things. In the end of the novel Mrs.Kaplan passes away and it teaches Julie many life lessons and helps her to grow up. Also Julie's relationship with her brother is a large part of the book. It depicts a classic brother-sister relationship which I felt very connected to because I have a brother. This book would be a great introduction or conclusion to starting pen pals in your classroom, maybe assigning them pen pals to a nursing home.
January 9, 2019
A children's book that I recently rediscovered one sleepless night. It's certainly a simple book in its narration, composition, and style but it explores complex thematic topics. Each "chapter" is a written letter from Julie to her elderly pen pal as part of a school project. Because Julie has such a childlike perception of reality, the reader often understands and feels perhaps even more deeply than her. And from that, we gain insights into coming to terms with disease, having fun at all stages of life, the importance of imagination, and creating prized relationships.
July 18, 2013
This book is the story of my life. I have AS or ankolosing sondalysis(forgive my spelling.) I have a younger sister who is always getting me in trouble. My school is part of a run 4 fun and was considering not going. But my sister encouraged me, and I did. I simply love this book it is encouraging it anyone who has a disability.
October 14, 2020
If you don't like a book if it is too short or too long this is a book for you. It gets really sad on the last few pages, but the rest is a fun exciting adventure. (The rest of this review is a spoiler.
May 29, 2009
I didn't think I would like this book, but I ended up loving it. It showed the children in a realistic manner - they acted like real kids. I loved how she described getting into trouble with her little brother. The letter about the race made me cry - well done Peg Kehret.
Read
July 26, 2013The story focused on a 5th grader with juvenile arthritis. It was hard for her to accept something that should not happen to children. She tells the story through letters to an elderly woman in a retirement center. She gets advice on dealing with normal kid problems and toughing out the JRA.
October 14, 2008
Very good. I don't usually like books that are one way letters, also had a good plot.
November 21, 2008
This book I will give a 3 because it's most letters that Julie is writing to her pen pal but they never show the letters from her pen pal.
November 16, 2008
I love this book! I forget a lot that happens but I do know that it's written in my favorite form: letters.
November 3, 2009
THE BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!!
October 3, 2011
it was a funny and heartfelt story about a good bonding about a brother and a sister.
November 11, 2011
I read this book in third/forth grade. It is such a great book and a real eyeopener. This is my second time reading it, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time.
June 12, 2013
This book is pretty interesting. It's about a girl's life. The girl has juvenile arthritis and it's about how it is harder for her to do things and it makes me appreciate what I can do easily.
September 16, 2018
An oldie but goodie, especially for young girls with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.
December 13, 2021
Julie's class has started participating in a pen pal program, and Julie finds herself becoming very close to her pen pal, an old woman named Mrs. Kaplan. She rights to her frequently, telling the old woman about her frustrations with her little brother, who is constantly getting her into trouble with his seemingly great ideas that always backfire. She also expresses fear and pain at her diagnosis of arthritis, and the struggles she faces with learning to adjust to this new pain.
I loved this book. The book is written as a series of letters from Julie to Mrs. Kaplan, and even with Mrs. Kaplan's responses omitted, it is easy to see the friendship Julie forms with this old woman who quickly becomes her confidant. The relationship between the two is beautiful to watch develop, and it is through Mrs. Kaplan's advice that Julie is able to connect with her little brother and end her bitterness towards him.
I loved this book. The book is written as a series of letters from Julie to Mrs. Kaplan, and even with Mrs. Kaplan's responses omitted, it is easy to see the friendship Julie forms with this old woman who quickly becomes her confidant. The relationship between the two is beautiful to watch develop, and it is through Mrs. Kaplan's advice that Julie is able to connect with her little brother and end her bitterness towards him.
May 31, 2020
Told entirely in letter form, as 5th grader Julie writes letters to her pen pal in a nursing home. Julie has the usual troubles, a little brother who gets her into trouble with his prank ideas, but also she has a lot of unusual pain. She gets a diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and deals with that. A good middle grade novel, the main character is not too perfect and is relatable.
November 2, 2022
Gem of a book. Julie Welsh may be my new favorite 5th grade heroine. A girl who never gives up despite JRA (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis). I'm off to find more Peg Kehret books.
May 2, 2023
Really great plot and relatable
December 3, 2022
I love me an underdog story when it's written right
December 10, 2010
Loved it! Best book I ever read!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews