Kate’s 2¢: “Little by little: a writer’s education”, “Stars come out within”, and “The belonging place” by Jean Little

“Little by little: a writer’s education”, “Stars come out within”, and “The belonging place” by Jean Little

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read. I’m just saying…

I first heard about Jean Little during a Behind Our Eyes, Inc./Written Word Party-Line tele-conference with author Kristen Witucki on July 21, 2019.

I down-loaded three of Jean Little’s many books: “Little by little: a writer’s education”, “Stars come out within”, and “The belonging place”.

It was easy to remember the title and author – Little By Little by Jean Little. It is a clever way to remember the title and author, but, I also enjoyed the story she told about herself growing up with a disability. Most of her books are for younger readers, yet, I’m a big fan of parents reading what their children read…maybe even read the book with their children. It’s a great spring-board to valuable discussions about disabilities, abilities, inclusion, and well, things that happen in life.

In “Stars come out within”, Little delves into her teaching experience, becoming a published children’s author, and her first guide dog, all  while losing her eye-sight. I could identify with her elation when a student gets that “aha moment”; the  agony of feeling isolated and alone; the irritation of other people not sharing the same thrill she felt when she held her first published book; and especially, the frustration of eye doctors who don’t seem to understand that her eyes are connected to her whole body, so they treat her like a piece of furniture.  And, of course, my first guide dog was perfect, too!

I’d recommend the three books I read and, I suspect, other books by Jean Little would be worth reading, too.

From Wikipedia:

Jean Little was born in Taiwan  on January 2, 1932. Her parents were Canadian doctors serving as medical missionaries under the United Church of Canada. The Little family came home to live in Canada in 1939, moving to Guelph in 1940. Although Little was legally blind from birth, she attended elementary and secondary school in regular classes. She went to the University of Toronto and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature.

After teaching disabled children for several years, Little wrote her first children’s novel, Mine for Keeps, about a child with cerebral palsy. It won the Little, Brown Canadian Children’s Book Award and was published in 1962. She has subsequently written numerous published works, which include novels, picture books, poetry, short stories, and two autobiographical books. Her novel, His Banner Over Me, is based on her mother’s childhood. Little has won literary awards for her work and has been published internationally.

Little has taught Children’s Literature at the University of Guelph, where she is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of English. She has six honorary degrees and is a Member of the Order of Canada. She has journeyed widely talking to both adults and children themselves about the joys to be found through reading and writing. In March 2004, she went to India and in November 2006 to Bulgaria. Little gave the 2016 Margaret Lawrence Lecture at the Canadian Writers Summit in June.[1]

As of 2016, Little resides in Guelph, Ontario with her sister Pat, her great-niece Jeanie, and her great-nephew Ben. She continues to write through the aid of a talking computer and travels with her Seeing Eye dog Honey.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Little by little: a writer’s education DB29589

Little, Jean. Reading time: 5 hours, 31 minutes.

Read by Kerry Dukin.

Disability

Jean Little, an accomplished Canadian writer of books for young people, is legally blind. In this autobiography that focuses on her life from childhood through college, she shares with readers the ridicule, humiliation, and strength she encountered as she struggled to live as a blind child in a sighted world. For grades 5-8 and older readers.

Stars come out within DB36981

Little, Jean. Reading time: 7 hours, 2 minutes.

Read by Kerry Dukin.

Biography of Writers

Following Little by Little (RC 29589), the second installment of the author’s memoirs begins with her first day teaching disabled children. Little herself has always been visually impaired–a condition that worsens when she loses an eye to glaucoma. She is helped over this hurdle by the success of her first children’s book and then by Zephyr, her new dog guide. Little continues to write stories featuring disabled children.

The belonging place DB47528

Little, Jean. Reading time: 3 hours, 29 minutes.

Read by Kristin Allison.

Historical Fiction

In the mid-nineteenth century, the Gordon family moves from Scotland to Canada bringing their adopted daughter, Elspet, with them. When Elspet breaks her leg, Granny Ross suggests that Elspet write down her life story to keep occupied. She reflects on her experiences living with different people in various places and how she gradually realized what it means to belong. For grades 4-7.

Kate’s 2¢: If there be thorns, Garden of shadows”, Flowers in the attic”, Petals on the wind” by Virginia C Andrews

“If there be thorns, Garden of shadows”, Flowers in the attic”, Petals on the wind” by Virginia C Andrews

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

“Flowers in the Attic” is a 1979 Gothic novel by V. C. Andrews in the  Dollanganger Series

It is controversial, because it deals with the obsessive, incestuous relationship between the two older teens in the family. I wanted to flog the Mother and Grandmother who kept the children imprisoned in the attic rooms.

I marveled at how well the older teens took care of the younger two; and certainly didn’t blame them for the things that happened. It was interesting how the author brought the story around to have history repeat itself.  I had no problem with how the story ended.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Petals on the wind / DB34341

Andrews, V. C, (Virginia C.). Reading time: 16 hours, 34 minutes.

Read by Barbara Caruso. National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.

Suspense Fiction

Carrie, Chris, and Cathy finally escape from the attic where they had been imprisoned for more than three years by their greedy mother and sadistic grandmother. They attempt to pick up the pieces of their lives, but Cathy is determined to get revenge at any price. Explicit descriptions of sex. Sequel to “Flowers in the Attic.”

The book was adapted into a stage play by V. C. Andrews’s ghost writer, Andrew Neiderman, in the form of an e-book and was published by Pocket Star. The Shadows”, “Christopher’s Diary: Secrets of Foxworth”, “Christopher’s

Diary: Echoes of Dollanganger” and “Christopher’s Diary: Secret Brother”. The novel is written in the first-person, from the point of view of Cathy Dollanganger.

Flowers in the attic DB36176

Andrews, V. C, (Virginia C.). Reading time: 13 hours, 59 minutes.

Read by Barbara Caruso. A production of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.

Suspense Fiction

Bestsellers

In order to inherit a fortune, Corrine Dollanganer hides the existence of her four children from their grandfather by packing them off to live secretly in an attic. But the grandfather’s death takes years, and the children’s ordeal of boredom and desire, interrupted only by their grandmother’s acts of sadistic cruelty, stretches into months and years. Explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller.

Garden of shadows DB26953

Andrews, V. C, (Virginia C.). Reading time: 11 hours, 19 minutes.

Read by Jill Ferris. A production of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.

Suspense Fiction

Bestsellers

In this “prequel” to “Flowers in the Attic,” we meet young, handsome Malcolm Foxworth, and his new wife Olivia. Soon three beautiful children are born–one of which will hold the key to the shocking secret that will taint the Foxworths forever and cause Malcolm and Olivia to become evil. Explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller.

If there be thorns DB60196

Andrews, V. C, (Virginia C.). Reading time: 12 hours, 56 minutes.

Read by Barbara Caruso. A production of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.

Supernatural and Horror Fiction

A sinister old woman and her butler living next door lure nine-year-old Bart from his loving home. Soon the neighbors’ dreadful stories about the boy’s parents lead him to shocking acts of violence. Sequel to Petals on the Wind (DB 34341). 1981.