"One of those truly distinguished books that offers many rich layers for readers to reflect upon." -- School Library Journal, S...
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May 11, 2011
Janessa
rated it: 
Courtney's a sixteen year old when her world is turned upside down after an accident leaves her paralyzed from the waist down. With her mother and father dead, she ends up in a nursing home resting beside 88 year old Elva. Elva, a previous school teacher, has the imagination of a child backed with the wisdom found in the poetry and books she's absorbed throughout her life. She convinces Courtney to accompany her on a trip to Italy- a place she promised her husband she would go. It's not your ave
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Jan 03, 2010
Beth
rated it: 
Courtney, age 16 and paralyzed from a riding accident, is dragged into a fantasy game by Elva, her nearly blind elderly roommate at a convalescent home. Elva believes that Courtney's life is far from over and encourages her to cultivate her mind, now that her body has failed her. The two embark on an imaginary tour of Italy in the early 1900's with Elva's now deceased husband joining them. The former teacher gladly takes on a role as mentor. Courtney plays along reluctantly at first. Her bittern
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Dec 09, 2009
Josiah
rated it:
"But determination can make the miraculous possible."
—Mind's Eye, PP. 70-71
I'm really tempted to consider giving three and a half stars for this book.
In his always innovative style, Paul Fleischman has blown the cover off the traditional novel format, and created a new type of experience for us. I didn't know if a story told in play dialogue could be as powerful as it might be in normal prose, but in the skillful hands of Paul Fleischman More...
—Mind's Eye, PP. 70-71
I'm really tempted to consider giving three and a half stars for this book.
In his always innovative style, Paul Fleischman has blown the cover off the traditional novel format, and created a new type of experience for us. I didn't know if a story told in play dialogue could be as powerful as it might be in normal prose, but in the skillful hands of Paul Fleischman More...
Jul 15, 2008
GraceAnne
rated it: 
one of the saddest and most beautiful books ever written for young people - or anyone else.
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Jun 08, 2008
Marc
rated it: 
This story is about a sixteen year old girl, named Courtney who has been recently paralyzed in a terrible accident. The injuries no longer allow her to do many things such as walking, dancing, and running, and as a result, she is confined to her bed at a nursing home. Her parents are dead and she is alone with anger. An elderly woman, named Elva, tries to share with Courtney about her experiences with poetry and art, but that does not comfort Courtney at all. So Elva decides to read aloud a 1910
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Dec 22, 2009
Becky
rated it:
I picked this book up at a library book sale, mainly because of the name of one of the main characters, Elva. It is not a common name, but it is my mother's name - and that made me want to read it. I am really glad that I did - and I look forward to sharing it with her.
pg 105 "Elva taught me that. She compared a person's mind to a pantry. Every poem or book or painting you know is another jar on the shelf."
... and I heartily agree with this statement.
pg 105 "Elva taught me that. She compared a person's mind to a pantry. Every poem or book or painting you know is another jar on the shelf."
... and I heartily agree with this statement.
Mar 30, 2011
Kristi
rated it:
Paul Fleischman is good at not writing in a normal way. He won a Newbery Medal for a book of poems for two readers. This is written like a play (dialogue only) and so it takes just a minute to get used to, but once you do, it's great. A quick read, but strong words. Proof that books don't need to have a certain number of pages to tell a story.
Jan 08, 2011
Shaya
rated it:
This is a lovely little book, written like a play. It's about a teenage girl who is paralyzed and has to live in a nursing home. Her roommate is a peppy older woman who wants to take an imaginative journey to Italy. The book is about their relationship and what the older woman teaches the teenage girl about life. Well worth it.
Dec 26, 2010
strange but rather interesting--paralyzed girl learns about life through taking imaginary tours to Italy with her blind, senior-citizen roommate
Oct 14, 2011
Glorious.Clio
rated it:
I read this ages ago, but it was so powerful... it's about a girl, paralyzed from the waist down, imagining the "outside" world and a place for her in it....
Oct 01, 2008
B
rated it:
paralyzed 16 year old girl goes on a "mind trip" to Italy with her elderly room mate. Riveting dialogue.
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