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Post by sugarmonkey on May 27, 2006 13:00:05 GMT -5
I can't believe Kristy thought that she knew better than Susan's parents when it came to the best care for her. I guess I can see a 13 year old (or anybody) assuming what a shame it is for a child to be 'shipped off' away from home most of the time, even when they don't know the whole story. But, Kristy never stopped to think that maybe she wasn't qualified to make a judgement on that situation?
The word "retarded" would never fly today.
After School Special Moment: When the special education teacher told Kristy she could visit during study hall and Kristy says something like "You know what, I think I will."
I'm glad I got to see the teasing the Hobarts went through. I've read of it in other books, but I didn't remember what actual book it was in. Once again the main plot and the sub plot had parallels. What a coincidence.
I do like the fact that the writers at least tried to introduce serious topics from time to time. It's a nice break from the boys, mysteries and so forth.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on May 27, 2006 18:13:21 GMT -5
Kristy was arrogant and insufferable in this one, but it was an interesting read. This is one serious topic that I believe was handled slightly better, the BSC was unable to be the heroes who step in and save the day against all odds, it was a learning experience for everyone.
I wish we'd heard about the family again, though.
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ktag
Junior Sitter
Posts: 694
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Post by ktag on May 28, 2006 4:07:24 GMT -5
This book was kind of an uncomfortable read, but I guess that's to be expected. This plot definitely stuck with me from when I originally read it. At least Kristy came to her senses at the end.
I find it hard to believe people knew so many days of the week for dates. I have no clue what day of the week I or anyone I know was born. Though I guess I could have asked Susan.
I loved how Stacey messed with Karen when they were playing "Let's All Come In." This was the only time I was entertained by that game.
Were they foreshadowing Stacey getting sick later?
Susan shows up again in European Vacation.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on May 28, 2006 6:15:15 GMT -5
They did that in at least the dozen or so books preceding Stacey's Emergency "lately, Stacey's been even more tired that usual and looking really pale. I hope she's okay"
Only reason I know is because of this book! When I read it as a kid, I discovered I had no idea what day of the week I was born and asked my mum about it (Saturday, if anyone cares ;D )
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ktag
Junior Sitter
Posts: 694
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Post by ktag on May 29, 2006 20:11:11 GMT -5
Oh, also...the kids who were bullying the Hobarts...they just walk right into their backyard to tease the boys? What is that? That would piss me off.
And why didn't Kristy just walk to the Felder's house after school? Charlie could have just picked her up after the meeting. When the other members sit at Kristy's house after school, they just take the bus with her.
I thought that was about her not sticking to her diet? Was she doing it the entire time?
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Post by sotypical42483 on May 31, 2006 11:33:03 GMT -5
This book was so boring to me. I felt kind of bad for Kristy though. I mean yeah, it's silly that she thinks she can solve Susan's problems and all, but at the same time, she's used to being a problem solver and figuring everything out on her own, so I suppose it was a bit of a rude awakening when she couldn't do that.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on May 31, 2006 18:35:44 GMT -5
At the end of Stacey's Emergency - when she confessed not sticking to the diet to her mum - Maureen explained that the doctors didn't think Stacey's diet had anything to do with her becoming so sick (although obviously it didn't help)
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Post by aln1982 on Apr 27, 2007 15:34:10 GMT -5
I didn’t hate this one like I did the first time I read it but I can’t say I enjoyed it. I don’t like reading about mentally challenged kids or people because it makes me uncomfortable. I think it takes a special person to really deal with people like that and I admit that I am one who can not deal with them. This book had some good points like introducing the Hobarts and Mal liking Ben They are so cute together. I loved James Hobart as it reminded me of how I was nice to kids that everyone else picked on and also endured ridicule for it. Mel and Zach and that Gina girl made me really mad and reminded me of typical elementary school kids. Kristy and the sitters bugged me because they were so incredibly naive thinking that Susan would be better off not at the school. Don’t understand why Kristy thought she could handle going to Stoneybrook Elementary. This showed Claudia level dumbness in my opinion. Anyway, it wasn’t a bad book or anything, just one of my least favorites because the subject made me uncomfortable. Glad I did reread so I saw that I didn’t actually hate it but I probably won't reread again for a while. Wanderingfrog, I saw what you were talking about in another thread when Ann said she worked with autistic kids as an intern during college. She said this in her “note” at the back of the book. What kind of internship was it?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2007 18:16:00 GMT -5
I sort of liked this book the first time that I read it. My sister is a little autistic, but not nearly as bad as Susan. I was mad when Kristy started to plan Susan's life. We all know she is Super Sitter, but she can't plan an autistic kid's life from babysitting them after like a couple of weeks. What kind of training did she think she had to help special needs children? Another thing I hated was the Zack and Mel plot. Kids at my elementary school never acted like that towards special needs children. If they didn't try to help the children, they let them do their own thing. Barely anyone teased them, and they loved going to school. I feel sorry for Susan's mother and father. They barely every get to see her, and they can't communicate? Did they ever mention what happened to the baby that her mother was pregnant with? I wish they would have done another book about them, not just that little thing in Super Special #15. I wish Ann would have written this book better.
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Post by booboobrewer on May 20, 2007 20:02:50 GMT -5
Yeah, I totally hated Zach, Mel, Gina, and those kids. And I also never witnessed such teasing like when they're at the assembly. Ugh, mean. I remember the special needs children at my middle school were their own group and were either left alone or treated in a kind of distant, polite way.
That had me laughing. Also when Stacey is teasing Mal about Ben.
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Post by Kylie90210 on Aug 21, 2007 22:12:48 GMT -5
I always wished we had a bit more about Susan and 'Hope' (the to be born baby's name). This book did teach me about Autism though, well the basics. It was actually quite sad, I thought.
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Lauren
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,026
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Post by Lauren on Aug 21, 2007 23:13:19 GMT -5
I want to read this book again sometime. I worked at a camp for autistic kids the summer after my freshman year in college and it was a very interesting experience.
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lyricalangel
Sitting For The Newtons
Logan's love-bunny
Posts: 1,918
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Post by lyricalangel on Aug 21, 2007 23:29:05 GMT -5
We talk about autism a lot in my early childhood education classes.
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Post by bscfan81 on Aug 22, 2007 11:41:02 GMT -5
I never thought Kristy was arrogant in this book so much as I thought she was idealistic. Like sotypical said, Kristy's used to being able to solve problems and situations, and this was one that she couldn't change.
Not long after I read this book, I found out that a woman I know has an autistic daughter. Naturally, I had some questions for her. She said her daughter, like Susan, is a savant, but unlike Susan, her talent is with languages. Her daughter taught herself German, I think, plus several other languages. She did say that her daughter withdraws sometimes, though, so even though her autism isn't quite as severe as Susan's, she still has a few similarities.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2007 16:30:15 GMT -5
I was born on a Tuesday, but I only know that because my mom made this huge deal about all of her kids being born on Tuesday. Pretty much a 1 in 7 chance, and it might have been more fascinating if we were all NATUALLY born on Tuesdays.
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