Brothers and Sisters (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Wizards at War April Spisak Duane, Diane Wizards at War. Harcourt, 2005551p ISBN 0-15-204772-7$17.00 R Gr. 6-9 This photodocumentary introduces listeners to six families in which one or more of the kids has a disability. Each four-to-six page family description opens with a narrative introduction presented in the voice of one of the children; that same child goes on to talk about his or her brother or sister's disability, accommodations that the family has made for that child, and the many things the narrator likes to do with that sibling. The featured disabilities include congenital amputation, Asperger's syndrome, blindness, Down syndrome, deafness/hearing impairment, and cerebral palsy; each of the disabilities is named in the narrative with the unexplained exception of the description of the boy with Asperger's (who is described as having a good memory and an inclination to forget what is happening around him). Dwight's color photographs clearly and effectively capture the actions described in the text, and young browsers will leave this book with a definite sense of loving, nurturing family relationships. Her attempt at telling the story from the point of view of the kids is less successful; the narratives are more simplified than an adult voice but too informed for a child's voice, making them implausible and purposive. This remains, however, a positive depiction of a specific family dynamic, and the book offers great potential for discussion. A glossary defines each disability, and a list of resources provides contact information for organizations that serve the needs of each population. Copyright © 2006 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois