Thirteen-year-old Joey Willis is used to being left out of conversations. Though she's been deaf since the age of six, Joey's mother has never all...
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May 09, 2011
Becky
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In one of the Goodreads groups I’m in, we do a bookmark swap with other members. For one of the rounds, we each chose three favorite books for the bookmark maker to choose from. The person that was chosen as my recipient, Kellee, chose “The Giver” by Lois Lowry, “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins, and “Hurt Go Happy” by Ginny Rorby. I’d read the other two books, and as much as I love them both, decided against using them as they are both so popular and well-known. “Hurt Go Happy” on the other
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Jan 19, 2009
Mr. Z
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One of 15 Sunshine State Book, Schneider Family Book Award. Now, this is a bit of a hard story to get into at first, but it is SO WORTH IT! All her life Joey (a deaf teenage girl) is left out of conversations b/c her mom doesn't want her to learn sign b/c she thinks Joey will look strange doing it. When Joey befriends Dr. Charles Mansell and meets Sukari, a baby chimpanzee, her life changes forever. A compelling book about teenage struggles, family problems and animal rights, it is complicated a
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Oct 04, 2011
Madison
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Readers Response
Title: Hurt Go Happy
Author: Ginny Rorby
Pages Read: chapter 4 to page 2041 (Kindle)
Summary
So far, things have gotten alto more complex and darker secrets have been placed out there, waiting to be revealed. Joey was doing great with the guy she liked but when Charlie dies and Sakuri the chimp must be sent away to Lynn, a nice relative of Charlies, things start to go wrong. It seems like Charlie was on the verge of finding out how she became More...
Title: Hurt Go Happy
Author: Ginny Rorby
Pages Read: chapter 4 to page 2041 (Kindle)
Summary
So far, things have gotten alto more complex and darker secrets have been placed out there, waiting to be revealed. Joey was doing great with the guy she liked but when Charlie dies and Sakuri the chimp must be sent away to Lynn, a nice relative of Charlies, things start to go wrong. It seems like Charlie was on the verge of finding out how she became More...
Jul 22, 2011
J.
rated it:
I read Rorby’s novel as part of my goal to write a book worthy of one of the American Library Association awards, The Schnieder Family Book Award.
I feel a kinship with the main character, Joey Willis, a deaf child. Joey is isolated from the rest of the world by her inability to hear. I can hear, but can only communicate with people that can read my lips. Joey does have hearing aids, but they make her more uncomfortable than being left in a silent world.Joey’s mother refuses to let her learn Ame More...
I feel a kinship with the main character, Joey Willis, a deaf child. Joey is isolated from the rest of the world by her inability to hear. I can hear, but can only communicate with people that can read my lips. Joey does have hearing aids, but they make her more uncomfortable than being left in a silent world.Joey’s mother refuses to let her learn Ame More...
Nov 20, 2010
Susan
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This book was awesome! Very deep and moving for a children's book. The main character Joey has substntial hearing loss caused by her father's abuse. Her mother won't let her learn sign language because it announces to the world that her daughter is deaf. Joey meets a young Chimpnanzee named Sukari who has been taught sign language. A friendship forms between Joey, Sukari, and the scientist who has taught Sukariu sign language for research purposes. As Joey learns sign language her world br
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Mar 26, 2010
Danielle
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 10, 2009
Lisa
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Joey is deaf, her mother is adamantly opposed to her learning sign language, insisting that she learn to read lips. Not everyone has easy to read lips however, including Joey’s kind, mustached stepfather, and her rambunctious pre-school brother.
Joey often feels alone and isolated, then she meets an old man named Charlie and his chimpanzee Sukari. Sukari communicates with Charlie using ASL and Joey wants to learn more than ever how to sign, but her mom still opposes the idea.
Wit More...
Joey often feels alone and isolated, then she meets an old man named Charlie and his chimpanzee Sukari. Sukari communicates with Charlie using ASL and Joey wants to learn more than ever how to sign, but her mom still opposes the idea.
Wit More...
Apr 05, 2009
Lorraine
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Joey is a 14yr old girl who lost her hearing when she was seven. The first half of the story deals with her struggles with her mother over learning ASL and making friends with an old man and his chimpanzee (who can sign). The second half of the book (roughly) deals with Joey's fight to save the chimp from being used as a test subject for pesticides.
This book is young adult fiction through and through, based on my experience. There's enough school life, friends, and boys to have More...
This book is young adult fiction through and through, based on my experience. There's enough school life, friends, and boys to have More...
Jun 07, 2010
Amy
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This book is probably classified as a children's book, but I never found the characters or writing style to be "juvenile." Although neither of them are deaf, my sister knows ASL and her husband learned it at a young age and interprets and teaches it to others. Thus I know some of the background on ASL (such as the fact that many view it to be just a redundant form of English, or that many parents refuse to let their children learn it). I thought the author did a great job of incorpo
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Oct 06, 2011
Lyn
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Feb 12, 2008
Leela
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I began and finished this book in one day. It is one of the only books to ever move me to tears, right up there with Black Beauty and the Sixth Harry Potter Book. I strongly recomend this book for anyone with a big heart. Im not going to spoil the book by trying to explain the plot; its not that easy. All i can say is that this is one of the most beeautiful books i've ever read. The plot is bitter-sweet, made even sweeter by the originality of it.
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Jul 17, 2010
Cball
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recommended by my 10 DD as a "must read", I picked this one up expecting to love it. In the end, I didn't love it; however, I have a feeling the story will stay with me. Joey is 13, deaf, and not allowed to learned ASL (her Mother wants her to lip read in order to not stand out). The story takes a turn when Joey meets a neighbor who is raising a chimp, using sign language and is passionate about chimp and animal well-care. There are a lot of issues in this small book which don't al
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Oct 02, 2010
Linda
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I became aware of this book after reading Ginny Rorby's newest book, THE OUTSIDE OF A HORSE, and loving it. HURT GO HAPPY is the story of Joey, a deaf teenager who has difficulty fitting into the hearing world. Her relationship with Sukari, a chimp who has learned to sign (a skill Joey has been forbidden to learn) is one you won't soon forget.
I had a bit of a hard time wading through the first part of this book, but it was as if I was trying to experience the world with the same dif More...
I had a bit of a hard time wading through the first part of this book, but it was as if I was trying to experience the world with the same dif More...
Oct 17, 2010
Emma
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This book is amazing. It is a story about Joanne (Joey), she is almost completely deaf from a accident when she was young and her mother refuses to let her learn sign language. She meets a man named Charlie and his chimp Sukari, and they both use ASL even though Charlie is not deaf, but his parents were and Sukari can use ASL to communicate to Charlie. Charlie and Sukari secretly teach Joey ASL behind her mothers' back. Then the unspeakable happens and Sukari's life is at stake and it is up to
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Aug 29, 2011
Kimberly
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There were two major issues portrayed in this book: deafness and animal rights. I was highly impressed by the way the author, Ginny Rorby, wrote about both issues, but I was particularly moved by her insight into deafness and how it affected Joey and her mother. The debate over modes of communication for deaf and hard of hearing children is huge and Ms. Rorby presented both viewpoints realistically.
My one complaint is that I didn't care for the way time sped up at the end of the boo More...
My one complaint is that I didn't care for the way time sped up at the end of the boo More...
Jan 06, 2008
Jordan
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this was truly a wonderful book, it is based on a true story but soooo sad and hurt go happy doesnt sound like a hell of a name for a book but when you find out why you will cry i assure you : ( its sad but its a really really good book.
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Aug 13, 2009
Nick
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While based loosely on a real event, this story is fictionalized in a way that is very powerful and interesting. The author's impassioned plea at the end for compassion for chimps is heartfelt.
The story itself is very interesting, about a young teen girl who has to deal with deafness. As the story progresses the reader realizes there is a second, hidden story having to do with the cause of her hearing loss. As the truth is revealed to the reader, the story takes several twists.
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The story itself is very interesting, about a young teen girl who has to deal with deafness. As the story progresses the reader realizes there is a second, hidden story having to do with the cause of her hearing loss. As the truth is revealed to the reader, the story takes several twists.
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Oct 18, 2011
Allison
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Hurt go Happy is about a 13 year old girl Joey that lost her hearing when she was 6.Joey's mom wouldn't let her learn sign language because she thought it would make her look handy caped.Suruki is a 2 year old chimp that was rescued from Africa after poachers killed her mom.Charlie thought Suruki sign language so she can tell him what she needs and wants.I thought this book was was very good,it thought me that if someone is deaf you don't have to stare just write out what you need to say.I would
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Mar 09, 2010
Ms. Newman
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Joey has been deaf since she was 7 years old. Her mother has encouraged her to lip read and discouraged learning sign language. She just wants Joey to "fit in". But Joey doesn't fit in, she feels isolated at school and at home. One day she meets a neighbor who has an unusual pet, a rescued chimpanzee, who uses sign language to communicate. This becomes a major turning point in Joey's life.
This is an incredibly well written story. I read it in 2 evenings (I stayed up 't More...
This is an incredibly well written story. I read it in 2 evenings (I stayed up 't More...
Mar 28, 2009
Lesley
rated it:
A very influential book, Hurt Go Happy is my favorite Battle Book book. This book revolves around Joey, a young girl who became deaf in her early childhood. Since becoming deaf, Joey has always read people's lips to communicate. Her mother refuses to allow Joey to sign. When Joey befriends Dr. Charlie Mansell and his chimpanzee named Sukari, her world begins to open because Sukari is a sign language chimp. With the help of Charlie and Sukari, she secretly learns to sign, despite her mother's wis
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May 23, 2011
S--
rated it:
Full review/thoughts here.
Why I Started: It sounded like an interesting book.
Why I Finished: Can I just repeat the previous answer and leave all the rest for later? I don't think I can summarise properly.
Rereadability: On the one hand it's very high and on the other it's non-existent. Both are for good reasons, mind.
Recommendation: Do not read this at a time when your emotional response is already likely to be higher than normal. Beyond that, I'm not reall More...
Why I Started: It sounded like an interesting book.
Why I Finished: Can I just repeat the previous answer and leave all the rest for later? I don't think I can summarise properly.
Rereadability: On the one hand it's very high and on the other it's non-existent. Both are for good reasons, mind.
Recommendation: Do not read this at a time when your emotional response is already likely to be higher than normal. Beyond that, I'm not reall More...
May 02, 2010
Kellianne
rated it:
I liked this book for the story that it was. While I like animals, I'm no animal rights activist. I also didn't really feel like that was the message of the book until the very end I felt it sort of got pushed on me. Overall I liked the story of how the animal and the human saved each other. I also appreciate the idea that was portrayed to the deaf protagonist that "the only thing you can't do is hear". She had a disability but she wasn't incapable of living and loving and learning. Sh
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Feb 04, 2012
Erica
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Book talk: Joey can understand some people with ease. Her mother's words are always clear to her, sometimes it even seems as if they can read each other's minds. Other people, like her step father, she can't really understand at all: it's very hard to lip-read through facial hair. Joey wants to learn sign language to express herself, but her mother refuses to let her. Then one day as Joey is gathering mushrooms she runs into an old man. At first he yells at her for trespassing, but when he
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Nov 16, 2011
Janet
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This was one of those books that I wanted to finish in one sitting. I had to get up for work in the morning though so I took 2 days. The characters grabbed me immediately. The story was about a young teen girl, Joey, who lost her hearing due to an injury at 7 years old. She is very isolated and lonely in her silent world. Her mother due to her own guilt over the injury, keeps Joey isolated by forbidding sign language. This is the one part of the story I found the least feasible. Although
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Sep 28, 2009
Sally
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Hurt Go Happy
Do you like adventures? If you do you will love this book. This book is about a girl who goes out looking for mushrooms. Joey goes farther than she ever has before. Joey meets an old man and his chimp. Something has happened to the old man and in his will the chimp goes to Joey, but Joey’s mom won’t let the chimp live with them. The chimp gets sent to a place to test medicine on her. If you like animals you will love this book. Read it and see wha More...
Do you like adventures? If you do you will love this book. This book is about a girl who goes out looking for mushrooms. Joey goes farther than she ever has before. Joey meets an old man and his chimp. Something has happened to the old man and in his will the chimp goes to Joey, but Joey’s mom won’t let the chimp live with them. The chimp gets sent to a place to test medicine on her. If you like animals you will love this book. Read it and see wha More...
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May 05, 2008
Jennifer
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Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
I had actually never heard of this title until I stumbled across it on the New York Public Library's "Books for the Teen Age" list for 2007. How I had missed it is a mystery, one that I can only chalk up to a lack of promotional advertising. Which is a horrible shame, because this book is one of the best I've read in years. If you haven't read it, you should. If you've never heard of it, don't worry, because you'll never forget it once you More...
I had actually never heard of this title until I stumbled across it on the New York Public Library's "Books for the Teen Age" list for 2007. How I had missed it is a mystery, one that I can only chalk up to a lack of promotional advertising. Which is a horrible shame, because this book is one of the best I've read in years. If you haven't read it, you should. If you've never heard of it, don't worry, because you'll never forget it once you More...
Apr 13, 2008
Ana
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Feb 05, 2008
Suzanne
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Hurt Go Happy won the ALA Schneider Family Award for the best young adult novel depicting someone with a disability.
Hurt Go Happy is about Joey, a young girl who lost her hearing seven years earlier. Her mother refuses to let her learn sign language, fearing that it will isolate her from the rest of the world. What she begins to grasp - slowly - is that Joey is already painfully isolated from everyone but her mother (the only person whose lips she can read effectively). Joey, meanwhi More...
Hurt Go Happy is about Joey, a young girl who lost her hearing seven years earlier. Her mother refuses to let her learn sign language, fearing that it will isolate her from the rest of the world. What she begins to grasp - slowly - is that Joey is already painfully isolated from everyone but her mother (the only person whose lips she can read effectively). Joey, meanwhi More...
Jun 23, 2009
Megan
rated it:
Joey lost her hearing as a child and has been struggling to get along in life by reading lips. One day she meets a man with a chimp, Sukari, who has learned sign language. Joey starts to pick up a few signs and is thrilled to finally be communicating.
The rest of the book follows two conflicts. Joey and her mother fight over learning sign language, and Sukari's future is in jeopardy. Not the greatest writing, but if you are interested in animal rights and/or deaf issues, you may e More...
The rest of the book follows two conflicts. Joey and her mother fight over learning sign language, and Sukari's future is in jeopardy. Not the greatest writing, but if you are interested in animal rights and/or deaf issues, you may e More...
Apr 14, 2009
Rachel
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I really enjoyed this book. It is about a young girl who is deaf and a Chimp teaches her ASL. I thought this book was good because it shows that even though other people are different you should still accept them. I have a hearing loss myself and I realized that I can relate to some of the things this girl does. It's a story set here in Fort Bragg!!!!
