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The Acorn People
by
Ron Jones
Even though he knows the camp is for disabled children, Ron Jones anticipates sunny days of hiking, swimming, and boating as a counselor at Camp Wiggin. But he arrives and realizes how severely disabled the children are, it seems too much to bear. Until he meets his campers—The Acorn People. A group of kids who teach him that, inside, they are are the same as any average k...more
Paperback, 89 pages
Published
June 11th 1996
by Laurel Leaf
(first published January 1st 1976)
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This is a short, simple little book with an enormous emotional impact. It is a book about the meaning of humanity, and how acceptance can bring joy and understanding, and why it is important to cherish each moment.
The author is not a brilliant writer, but they do know how to tell a story, probably from their background as an educator and a camp counselor. However, the simplicity of the writing increases its impact a bit because 1) the story is so compelling, you realize the author just had to g...more
The author is not a brilliant writer, but they do know how to tell a story, probably from their background as an educator and a camp counselor. However, the simplicity of the writing increases its impact a bit because 1) the story is so compelling, you realize the author just had to g...more
Oct 24, 2011
Marcy Janssen
added it
All of the students at my school were required to read this book in their English class. There was also an assembly on diversity. The purpose was to get the students to recognize that even though someone might be different than they are, doesn't mean that they should be treated any differently (being picked on and etc). This book is great at showing how even students with different disabilities are still special and unique in their own way.
It's about this counselor who doesn't really know what a...more
It's about this counselor who doesn't really know what a...more
This book is written from an able-bodied perspective that comes off as glorifying the able-bodied for dealing with disabled children rather than teaching about differences and acceptance. I feel that the author intentionally exaggerated the physical disabilities of the children to the point that they were grotesque and unreal. The book was short and many passages were vague and nondescript. And many times when a passage commented on some triumph or the children acting “normal,” he slams it back...more
My son just read this for his 7th grade summer reading this year, and wanted me to read it next. We both enjoyed the book, but thought it really could have been offered in 5th or 6th grade. It was a very quick read, but sent a powerful message. Very similar to "Shouting At the Sky" , it gives an account of youth counselor who is not sure what to expect with this group of campers. The Acorn People was for a younger audience exploring what challenges developmentally disabled youth might be hurdlin...more
"nice" book in that you feel a glimmer of hope and encouragement, but I really did not care for it, and will not use it in my classroom again. On a personal level, the description of what MS is was awful. i recognize that research has come a long way since this book was published, but I dealt with explaining to my students that, just like each of them, not every disability is the same and what MS really entails. (I am not an expert, nor am I a neophyte, I have MS)
Read this with my sophomore class and it was a pleasant read. The drunken nurse was comedic but made an awesome statement about total acceptance and recognition and my whole class really connected with that. A little comedic relief is needed in dramatic pieces, but the nurse was deeper than the drunken porter in Macbeth; I found her stance on outsider's perceptions of disabled children to be applaudable. The characters could have been described in better detail, but the glimpse into each of thei...more
Though well written and definitely heart-wrenching, The Acorn People by Ron Jones was quite brief. I found myself many times while reading it wishing for more description or more details about the camp experience. The author/counselor appeared to have the ability to portray his experiences with the campers in a more extensive manner (the scene with the hike was beautiful), but for some reason, Jones chose to keep his memoir disappointingly brief.
I just read this today as an extra-credit English class assignment. It's only 80 pages long, and heck, the pages are tiny, so I finished this book in less than an hour.
The Acorn People is about Ron Jones, a man who starts working at a summer camp. At the begining of the novel (or should I say novella??), he is majorly ****** off when he discovers that the kids in the camp have disabilities. And it's bad - some have missing limbs, or muscle/bone diseases, bladder problems, are blind and whatnot....more
The Acorn People is about Ron Jones, a man who starts working at a summer camp. At the begining of the novel (or should I say novella??), he is majorly ****** off when he discovers that the kids in the camp have disabilities. And it's bad - some have missing limbs, or muscle/bone diseases, bladder problems, are blind and whatnot....more
Ron Jones tells it like it is. There is a wonderful lesson to be learned in The Acorn People about pre-judging people based on their physical appearance. This story left me with a warm heart felt message about what true friends will do for eachother. This is a great book for 7th-8th graders. The content is heavy and teaches about disabilities.
This was a very good book, it talked about disabled children and how they're no different then children that aren't disabled. In the beginning of the book it was very slow and not a lot happened, but in the middle it was still going at a slow pace and there wasn't a lot going on. By the end of the book i was really bored.
Just simply boring IMO.
Jones getting into the camp and played with them and blablabla.
And then the children all died. FIN.
Comparing to other stories that I have read before, this is probably the worst.
Truly boring and no exciting parts, or even parts that are enjoyable to read.
Jones getting into the camp and played with them and blablabla.
And then the children all died. FIN.
Comparing to other stories that I have read before, this is probably the worst.
Truly boring and no exciting parts, or even parts that are enjoyable to read.
This was one of my favorite books in Jr. High, it's a book for younger people but I really recomend reading it. The Acorn People is a heart felt story about a summer camp for disabled children. They have many obsticles to over come. I really enjoyed reading about each of their journeys.
I love this book. It is a book I use to teach my students about physical defects or birth defects. The kids love to hate it. They do cheer with the kids at the end of the book, but realize just how important it is to accept those who are different then themselves.
A fast read with some very real and startling observations on how we can affect another's sense of humanity. By treating someone like a human being with worth, they act like a human being with worth. This is a book that can be a great discussion, if you let it.
This book started out angering me from the first page. Then, it actually turned into a cute little story towards the middle. The end just sort of dropped off. I don't think I will ever want to reread this one, but I don't feel like I wasted time reading it once. It was a quick read. It only took the time that it did because I didn't have much free time this month.
I will say that this quote made it well worth it:
"Where am I going? And why am I at the base of this mountain fighting to see the top?...more
I will say that this quote made it well worth it:
"Where am I going? And why am I at the base of this mountain fighting to see the top?...more
Ron Jones teenage account of his experience as a leader in a camp for handicapped children. Both the bad and inspiriring sides are told equally well. A fast read for 5th, 6th graders who might need to learn a little compassion or gratitude.
My mixed feelings permeated throughout this short book. I appreciated the topic being addressed yet it felt forced at times. The honesty of the main character was helpful yet, at times, it felt disassociated. I liked it and I didn't.
Mrs. Nestler read this book out loud to the class. I'm afraid it made some of the intolerance of my classmates more obvious. What a tough sell for that age group and yet how beneficial the message is!
I read this book for the first time back in Jr High School. I do not hesitate to say I am eternally grateful Ron ones wrote & shared this story.
It is short & sweet and one of my all-time favorites.
It is short & sweet and one of my all-time favorites.
I hated this book!! I read it in humanitys last year. It started off ok. learning about how the boy goes to camp but it didn't get any better. It acaually got worse. I would not recamened this to many people.
May 31, 2012
Noreen Jane Bacordio
added it
The story is about those handicapped children who are full of determination.
In the end, I feel depressed for I knew that the death of every principal character in this story is tragic.
This story would be beneficial for those who are thinking that they are hopeless.
:)
In the end, I feel depressed for I knew that the death of every principal character in this story is tragic.
This story would be beneficial for those who are thinking that they are hopeless.
:)
May 27, 2011
Stacey Mulholland
added it
I first read this book in high school and reread it after college. It was a great book about how kids just want to be kids, even with significant physical disabilities.
Aug 31, 2008
Marcia
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
teachers looking for books with diversity
Recommended to Marcia by:
a classmate
Shelves:
grades-4-6
I wanted to read this book for two reasons: it was recommended by a classmate and I had weeded it from my school collection last year (based on the physical condition and age of the book.) I needed to see if I should replace it.
The story is based on a true account of the author's experience as a counselor at a camp with handicapped children. Definitely a population that is under-represented in children's lit. But it is one of those books where I'm not sure who the intended audience is. Upper ele...more
The story is based on a true account of the author's experience as a counselor at a camp with handicapped children. Definitely a population that is under-represented in children's lit. But it is one of those books where I'm not sure who the intended audience is. Upper ele...more
I loved this book when I was in middle school, and I had forgotten about it until I saw it on Amazon the other day. I can't wait for my kids to read it now.
Additional book assigned my my multiculturalism prof. Easy, fast reading. Sad to read the page after the story, but this book was written in 1976, I think!
I read this book while working on my undergraduate degree in the late 1960's. I read it because I was in Spec. Education. I loved it!
I read this book in the 6th grade and along with Freak the Mighty it is one of the few books from that time in my life that I am really looking forward to re-reading. The entire book is centered around a summer camp for children with disabilities and actively deals with the trials and tribulations of both the counselor and the campers, known as "The Acorn People". There is no immediate acceptance of disabilities as "differently abled", both Ron and his campers go through an exceptional process t...more
My 4th grade teacher read this to us as well. It was eye opening for and was the first book that made me want to cry.
Great book to teach "normal" people that disabled people are just like them and don't want to be just a label.
Oct 04, 2011
Alyssa Zurowski
added it
On the original cover, With the kids being pushed up a hill. there is a young black kid, Not being pushed...Racist.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's The Name o...: Nonfiction? Book about a man working with disabled or inferm children at a summer camp [s] | 5 | 121 | Nov 21, 2012 07:54am |
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“Why can't life be like this? Human beings in all their magnificence. Working to find that moment of pride. That one second of excellence at being alive...The feeling of belonging not just to oneself but to the entire universe.”
—
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Nov 19, 2011 11:33am