Book Review and SickFic: Child of the Mountains
I have taken my maybe-last practice test before I take the ASCP test tomorrow. I am so nervous, but I know that I have the ability to pass it. We'll see if I bring that to fruition or not. But I read another book. A Children's book. And it was fantastic, and it qualifies for book review and SickFic.
This middle-grade book is about Lydia Hawkins, a girl who grew up in the mountains of West Virginia. Her father died when she was very young, her Grandmother passed away recently, and when her genius younger brother, BJ, dies of Cystic Fibrosis, her mother is charged with child endangerment, and sentenced to ten-to-fifteen years in prison. Now, she lives with her aunt and uncle in a coal mining town, where she is known as the girl with the mountain dialect and the murderer mother. She only has one dream now, and that is setting her mother free.
This story, in feel, theme and story is very reminiscent of the books of Katherine Paterson, and that is a compliment of the highest level coming from me. Lydia's relationships with all of her family members are loving and complex.
The memories of her brother's life are warm and fuzzy, but also poignant to someone who works in healthcare. They really highlight the need for respect of other backgrounds and social groups, for allowing the uneducated to make their own healthcare decisions, and not assuming that just because he's a child and from West Virginia, that he doesn't understand your cracking jokes about "consanguinity," and hillbillies.
The book is an easy 5 stars.
Now for the SickFic Rating:
Accuracy: 10. Very well-done.
Humanity: 9. BJ, to Lydia, is BJ. Not a sick kid. Even though he is only alive in the book through Lydia's memories, his personality still pops off of the page.
Permanence: 10.
Encouragement: 7. It's not super encouraging that he dies at the age of six or so, but it's 1953. What do you expect? But he lives his few years to the fullest and with friendships, intelligence and the love of his family.
Cripple-Card: 8. He does fake coughing spells to get what he wants sometimes, but when he gets caught at it, he doesn't get away with it.
You Must Have Faith Penalty: 0
Stereotype Penalty: 0
Other Purpose: +5
Final Score: 49/50
This middle-grade book is about Lydia Hawkins, a girl who grew up in the mountains of West Virginia. Her father died when she was very young, her Grandmother passed away recently, and when her genius younger brother, BJ, dies of Cystic Fibrosis, her mother is charged with child endangerment, and sentenced to ten-to-fifteen years in prison. Now, she lives with her aunt and uncle in a coal mining town, where she is known as the girl with the mountain dialect and the murderer mother. She only has one dream now, and that is setting her mother free.
This story, in feel, theme and story is very reminiscent of the books of Katherine Paterson, and that is a compliment of the highest level coming from me. Lydia's relationships with all of her family members are loving and complex.
The memories of her brother's life are warm and fuzzy, but also poignant to someone who works in healthcare. They really highlight the need for respect of other backgrounds and social groups, for allowing the uneducated to make their own healthcare decisions, and not assuming that just because he's a child and from West Virginia, that he doesn't understand your cracking jokes about "consanguinity," and hillbillies.
The book is an easy 5 stars.
Now for the SickFic Rating:
Accuracy: 10. Very well-done.
Humanity: 9. BJ, to Lydia, is BJ. Not a sick kid. Even though he is only alive in the book through Lydia's memories, his personality still pops off of the page.
Permanence: 10.
Encouragement: 7. It's not super encouraging that he dies at the age of six or so, but it's 1953. What do you expect? But he lives his few years to the fullest and with friendships, intelligence and the love of his family.
Cripple-Card: 8. He does fake coughing spells to get what he wants sometimes, but when he gets caught at it, he doesn't get away with it.
You Must Have Faith Penalty: 0
Stereotype Penalty: 0
Other Purpose: +5
Final Score: 49/50
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