Lenny's Space

by Kate Banks

Nine-year-old Lenny Brewster is captivated by the world - the mysteries of machines, the magic of snow, the pure joy of a perfect ride down a slippery slide. He knows a lot, but not how to share it with others. Of course, it doesn't help having an absent father, a preoccupied mother, and a teacher and peers who don't like him. Lenny spends much of his time in the principal's office or alone, absorbed in his ideas. Then he meets Van, a kindred spirit, and Muriel, the canny school therapist. Their simple acceptance of Lenny helps him find his place at last.

Written with incisive prose, smart humor, and profound wisdom, Lenny's Space is not only about recognizing the possibilities life affords us and the challenge of coming to grips with its sometimes difficult realities, but also about the triumphant, undying power of true friendship.

Genres: Fiction, Friendship, Childrens, Disability, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile, Death

160 pages, Hardcover

First published September 18, 2007

About the author

Kate Banks has written many books for children, among them Max’s Words, And If the Moon Could Talk, winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and The Night Worker, winner of the Charlotte Zolotow Award. She grew up in Maine, where she and her two sisters and brother spent a lot of time outdoors, and where Banks developed an early love of reading. “I especially liked picture books,” she says, “and the way in which words and illustrations could create a whole new world in which sometimes real and other times magical and unexpected things could happen.” Banks attended Wellesley College and received her masters in history at Columbia University. She lived in Rome for eight years but now lives in the South of France with her husband and two sons, Peter Anton and Maximilian.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/katebanks

Reviews

[babyhippoface · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't figure this book out. All the way through it just felt like the kind of book where the author introduces the main character as a child, so that you'll understand why he's got such problems as an adult. Know what I mean? I kept thinking she should hit time's fast-forward button and we'd see Lenny all grown up and still weird.

The professional reviews love this book. Love it. I can't love it. It wasn't bad, not at all. Well-written, in fact. It's just that it's supposed to be for kids, and as a children's librarian, I cannot, for the life of me, think of one single kid who would read beyond the first 2 or 3 chapters of this book before tossing it right back into the return slot of the checkout desk. Not even the bizarr-o kids who are just like Lenny.

I don't know. I'm just mystified....

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. I liked how Lenny learned and changed throughout the story.

[Sawyer Goodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

heartbreaking

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The is a good view into the mind of a child who is not neurotypical. Lenny has a hard time focusing and a brilliant mind. His teachers and principal have no idea how to handle him, not understanding why he "just won't grow up" and he has no idea what they mean when they say they WANT him to grow up. Why would anyone want to grow up? He can't match his own clothing and needs coaching to figure out what clothes are appropriate for certain circumstances.

As I read through the other reviews about this book I see why this kind of thing is necessary, and why it needs to be written like this. Short and sweet. How many people realize the traits in this child are so typical of asperger's/autism when they read this? And how many people look at a kid like Lenny in their community and don't have any patience left for him?

Beautiful. I gave this book 5 stars because I can't think of a single thing I didn't like about it... I will be looking for a copy to add to my bag of books I use with the children I work with.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lenny Brewster is not your average nine-year-old. He can do high school level math with ease, can make any chore a game, and can not prevent himself from shouting in the library. His teachers and principal don't know what to do with him. His mother is always busy and preoccupied and his father left them when Lenny was still very young. Lenny doesn't have any friends until he meets Muriel, the school therapist, and Van, a younger boy with leukemia. With the help of Muriel and Van, Lenny learns how to relate to other people and how to control some of his odd behaviors.

Lenny's Space is a heartwarming story about friendship and acceptance. Banks' prose is precise and beautifully crafted. Listed as one of the best books of 2007 by School Library Journal, Lenny's Space is a must have for any public or school library.

Recommended for grades 3 - 6

[Charlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lenny has no friends, no father, and a mother who never touches him because she always protects her hands with gloves. He is super-smart, but his behavior is so bad that no one ever sees past it to the intelligence that lies within. Lenny may appear to not care about his situation, but he does. He misses the father he doesn't know; he misses the touch of his mother's hand; he misses not having a friend in his class, in his school. Then he meets Muriel, a counselor who works him at school, who tries to begin making him more aware of his actions and allows him to be who he is. And he meets Van, a young boy who becomes his first friend.
This is NOT a book for a child who yearns to read about adventure and mystery. This is a book that may help others understand the child who doesn't control his actions, who is always acting out, who is the class pariah.

[Bill Prosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took me a while to get into, but then I couldn't put it down. Kate Banks does a marvelous job of presenting Lenny, an eccentric, intelligent 9 year old boy through interviews with what I believe to be a school psychologist, his interactions with his hand model mom, in class with his less than tolerant teacher, and in the office of the harsh disciplinarian principal. Lenny also makes his only friend Van and it is a touching relationship between two outcasts. This is extremely well written and makes a teacher think about how we treat those "problem" children who may have a lot of baggage we are not aware of. The message is, get to know them! Awesome book.

[Salsabrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nine-year-old Lenny is a gifted, restless boy without friends and a
preoccupied mother who is a hand model and always wears gloves to protect her hands. Lenny often ends up in the principal's office; his behavior isn't malicious but mostly annoying and spontaneous. He begins meeting regularly with Muriel, the school therapist. About the same time, he meets a small boy on the playground, Van, who becomes his friend. Lenny is self-absorbed by his own world and thoughts, proud that he and his mother are not people who cry. But in his meetings with Muriel and the discovery that Van has leukemia, Lenny finds a way outside his personal walls to empathy and possibilities.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great portrayal of a great kid who just can't quite fit into his world. Assisted by a seemingly perfect school counselor, Lenny learns to deal with the world around him, and finds his own ways to interact with others. Most of the book fits smoothly into a child's voice and point of view. Only the first few pages comes off as awkward, when the author is trying to describe Lenny. "Lenny was mostly selfish, but there were occasions when he exhibited a generous spontaneity that was childlike and winning," A good read and a great book to recommend to kids who don't quite fit in.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. Lenny, who doesn't have any friends and can't conrol impulses, meets with Muriel and has his own space on a shelf where he can put objects. He makes a friend named Van who has leukemia. They both like to paint and to build things. Very touching story without being overly sentimental. Lenny is never labeled, and I think lots of kids can identify with feeling different as he does.

[Addison Children's Services · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject headings mention leukemia, but do not mention ADHD. I really think they should include ADHD, although the book never states that Lenny's problem, it sure seems that way. Lenny gets in trouble at school and has no friends due to poor impulse control and different interests. Things improve for Lenny with the help of counseling and a new friend �?? a boy who has no friends due to his leukemia.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lenny is a math/science brain, but has a hard time relating to the everyday world (like paying attention in class). He is sent to a specialist who gives him a piece of space in her office that he fills with objects depending on how he is feeling. The best that I can come up with is that it was just okay.

[Susan Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lenny is so smart that he manages to alienate most people, until his school counselor and a new boy in the neighborhood manage to get through his defenses. I call this a kinder gentler Joey Pigza. And it's sad too! Would be great for a kid who is going to see a counselor, as the counselor in this book is amazing.

[Robynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am reading all of Kate Banks picture books and childrens/Ya novels. She has a softness and a thoughtfulness that appeals to me. Lenny is a brilliant little boy that doesn't connect with others until he meets another boy on the playground. He grows to care for this new friend and with the help of his counselor learns to empathize with others and deal with his own great losses.

[Chantel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those "kid" books that I think is much more effective for an adult. I can't think of too many kids who would like it or "get" it.

I especially the discussions between Lenny, who is ADHD?, and Muriel, the school therapist. I liked Lenny's perspective. It helped me better understand kids with similar personality traits.

[Lauren S · Rating 4 out of 5]

i would give this book at least 4 stars.. i would, because it is very detailed and very easy to understand. at times lenny decides to do something he should not!!! He's very naughty! this book makes you think about life, because instead of being Abnormal Lenny has to see a girl to help him. *Murial*

[Roxanne Hsu Feldman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most interesting about this book is the dialog portions between Muriel and Lenny -- Banks chose to highlight the sessions and make them standout by differing these sections stylistically. Very effective.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brilliant nine year old, Lenny Brewster, is emotionally disconnected, and as a result he's in trouble a lot. He makes friends with a boy in his neighborhood, and begins meeting with Muriel, who lets him create a space of his own. This is a deeper read.

[Jonathanketford · Rating 1 out of 5]

i think this book SUCKS and the author should SUCK IT UP! doesn't pitying subhuman animals like lenny make you feel retarded! Erica you are SO CONFUSED! are you obsessed with terence tao or something???? did van really have to DIE? I like to pretend I'm eating him sometimes.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I liked this, it seems to have broader adult appeal. Felt similar to Joey Pigza.

[Adrianna Costello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about a quirky, very ADHD 9-year-old boy. Sad part required three tissues!

[Laura Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erica recommended this to me...and it was just amazing. I cried, too!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

It shows people who don't know how to share their smartness with each other how to.

[Nono · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy who just didn't quite fit in and how he finds a place in the world.

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

470L
This is a wonderful story about accepting people and appreciating differences/quirks. Good lesson for all ages.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one. Loved Lenny. Did some serious crying, too.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please see my review of this book on my blog at: http://harvestparklibrary.wordpress.c...

[Ⓛeah ✿εїз✾]

A touching yet depressing story

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, but not necessarily one that children would enjoy.

[Morgan (Turbo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when a kid's friend dies of leukemia? This is a book that is a heartfelt response to that question. The first half is bubbily and fun. The second half focuses more on the loss of friend. Very good book for kids!