Hey, Dummy

by Kin Platt

Despite the opposition of his family and friends, Neil befriends the brain-damaged boy newly-arrived in the neighborhood.

Genres: Young Adult

Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Pseudonyms: Kirby Carr, Guy West, Alan West, Guy York & Wesley Simon York

Kin Platt (1911–2003) was the author of the perennially popular I Can Read Book Big Max, as well as several outstanding young-adult novels and the Max Roper mystery series for adults. Mr. Platt was also a noted cartoonist.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin_Platt

Reviews

[Angela Mcentee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this when I was pretty young, and felt the ending went over my head. I remember thinking in college, I should re- read this to see if I finally 'get it'. I re-read it and still was confused by the ending. reading other people's reviews gives me some insight, which leads me to conclude the author was either being offensive or too cryptic. I was irked by the ending then and now.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read this several times, and in hindsight wonder what the author was saying with this ending: that certain things are contagious, or that society's bullheaded bigotries will drive one mad. A captivating read.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book about ten years after it was first published. I was in junior high school then and had so much empathy and sympathy for the brain-damaged boy that I cried. This was the first book that I ever saw my own self in.

[rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

read it in grammar school....it was good.

[Kimberley Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just discovered this book; I like the toggled points of views, and the way the protagonist's dilemma is presented. Am still trying to decide whether the unexpected ending is a copout or brilliant.

[Robbie Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when I was in 6th or 7th grade. My mom got it at one of those school book sales. I identified a little with the protagonist and his sympathies for the brain damaged kid. The ending is mysterious, and very open-ended. I wonder if Kin Platt made it that way so every reader could interpret their own meaning because the rest of the book is very deliberately written to me. For my part, I think the protagonist believes the brain damaged boy's existence is so simplistic and free of care that he decides to adapt it.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I'll admit- I don't really remember the story of this book. I just remember being elementary-school-aged and finding a copy in my family's cottage in Ontario. The title made me giggle, and so I read it and ended up enjoying it.

My friend Ryan enjoyed it, too. In fact, I think I remember him taking it...

[Kris-tastic · Rating 1 out of 5]

March to your own beat

[Jeff Cioletti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was 7th Grade.