Bibliographical information:

Little, Jean. Mine For Keeps. Illus. Lewis Parker. Boston: Little, Brown, 1962.  Republished with a new cover in 1988.

also:

Little, Jean. Mine For Keeps. Illus. Lewis Parker. Boston: Little, Brown, 1988. 

Little, Jean. Mine For Keeps. Toronto, Ont., Canada : Viking, 1996. (This edition does not have the Parker illustrations.)

Library of Congress call number: PZ7.L7225 Mi FT MEADE

Sequel: Spring Begins in March

Brief summary:

Sally Copeland has been attending a boarding school for children with cerebral palsy. As the novel opens, she's on her way home to live with her family and attend the local public school. Her adjustment is bumpy, and she's quite lonely until she adopts a dog who is even more terrified than she is. Then she learns that she is strong enough to make her own friends, to train her dog, and to help others.

Comments:

This is a wonderful, wonderful book. I have loved it since I was eight, and it holds up amazingly well, especially given how much has changed since 1962. Parents will be struck by how little the school does to prepare for Sal's arrival. Also interesting is the eagerness of an immigrant family to adopt Canadian customs: the family of Sal's friend Elsje has given up celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas in favor of celebrating Christmas as Canadians do.

Grade/Age level:

I've seen this listed as appropriate for grades 4-6. I think that it would be appropriate for a strong reader in third or fourth grade. It's a good read-aloud book for first or second graders, too.

Cautions:

Sal's older sister tries too hard to help her, and is not always represented entirely sympathetically. This might be challenging for the sibling of a special needs child.

 --Lisa Gordis

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