
Reach for this book when your child is struggling with a physical limitation, feeling like an outsider, or navigating the complexities of a changing family dynamic. Set against the backdrop of 1941, this historical novel follows Mariel, a girl recovering from polio, and Brick, a boy desperate to return to his home in apple country. As they embark on a journey from Brooklyn to upstate New York, they discover the true meaning of resilience and belonging. It is a gentle yet profound story that addresses self-acceptance and the courage it takes to define oneself beyond a diagnosis or a difficult past. Perfect for middle grade readers, it provides a safe space to explore themes of identity, loyalty, and the hidden strengths we find in the face of adversity.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe children travel alone and face minor challenges during their journey.
The book deals with physical disability (polio) and parental abandonment. The approach is direct and realistic for the time period, focusing on the social and emotional toll of the illness. The resolution is hopeful and grounded in self-acceptance rather than a 'miracle cure.'
An 10-year-old who feels 'different' because of a physical challenge or a complicated family history and needs a story about finding agency and choosing your own family.
Read the sections regarding Mariel's memories of the hospital (the 'iron lung' era) to provide historical context about the polio epidemic of the 1940s. A parent might see their child withdrawing from social activities because they are self-conscious about a physical trait or feeling like they don't fit in with their peers.
Younger readers will focus on the 'escape' adventure and the friendship, while older readers will pick up on the nuanced historical setting of WWII and the deeper search for identity.
Unlike many 'disability books' of its era, Giff focuses on the internal grit and the partnership between the two children rather than just the medical struggle.
In 1941, Mariel is living in a home for children recovering from polio in Brooklyn, feeling isolated by her limp and her mysterious past. She meets Brick, a boy who has been sent away from his beloved apple farm to stay with his mother in the city. Together, they decide to run away to Windmill Hill to help Brick's elderly neighbors, the Farrellys, save their harvest. Along the way, Mariel searches for the truth about her mother and learns to see herself as more than her disability.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.