Publishers Weekly
11/09/2015
Benny is a worrier. He worries about his father, who has had a brain aneurysm. He worries about his fourth-grade teacher, who seems increasingly distracted. And he worries about whether he has a best friend and about the mounting evidence that he isn’t good at anything—not bike riding, math, or the acts of kindness his school is encouraging. He doesn’t worry about his autistic older brother, George, though. George is George. Sometimes he can do more than his family expects, sometimes he talks to himself and makes strangers uncomfortable, but he always laughs at Benny’s jokes. In her first middle-grade novel, McGovern (A Step Toward Falling) brings readers fully into Benny’s troubled thoughts, making a clear distinction between the things that he can’t control (his father’s health, his brother’s autism) and the things that he can. McGovern’s thoughtful depiction of a family facing difficult situations without fracturing, coupled with a gentle message about not being too hard on oneself, will surely speak to middle schoolers with their own slate of worries. Ages 8–12. Agent: Margaret Riley, William Morris Endeavor. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
I loved this portrait of a young boy struggling to find his role in a family determined not to be defined by their differences. Benny’s brave story, told with wry humor, is inspirational.” — Ann M. Martin, New York Times bestselling author of Rain Reign
“In narrator Benny, readers find a resilient and very observant 9-year-old who accepts those around him with their strengths and shortcomings alike. His story is insightful and inspirational.” — Kirkus Reviews
“McGovern’s thoughtful depiction of a family facing difficult situations without fracturing, coupled with a gentle message about not being too hard on oneself, will surely speak to middle schoolers with their own slate of worries.” — Publishers Weekly
“A heart-filled story of a likable boy who doesn’t realize that his natural gifts are recognizable and valued by a supportive family. There are many moments that will ring true to middle grade readers: feeling anxious about friendships, wanting to be noticed, and trying to do the right thing.” — School Library Journal
“McGovern’s observations about ordinary-seeming life and about the people around us, about small acts of kindness and healing and forgiveness, are perceptive and thought-provoking.” — The Horn Book
“Benny’s first-person narrative radiates with exactly the kind of compassion his mother recommends. Like many nine-year-olds, Benny can be guileless in one moment and wise beyond his years in another. Highly recommended for fans of realistic fiction by writers such as Ann M. Martin or Lisa Graff.” — ALA Booklist
“McGovern writes convincingly about characters trying to figure out how best to live with the complications of a disability, both the person whom it most affects and also those around him or her. Benny’s voice deserves to be read aloud in a classroom.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
“McGovern’s books make readers think carefully about the themes presented. Her beautifully written novels feature people who are different in some way; developmentally delayed or suffering from cerebral palsy, obsessive compulsive disorder, or autism. Her stories make people who are “different” more accessible to all of us.” — Examiner.com
Praise for SAY WHAT YOU WILL: “This is a book to read, savor, and pass on and on until it has gone around the world twice.” — Ron Koertge, author of Stoner & Spaz
“Exhilarating and heartrending.This novel is stunning.” — ALA Booklist (starred review)
“Readers will be surprised, moved, amused, worried, hopeful, and grateful.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“McGovern’s triumph is how well she normalizes and highlights the variety of disability experiences among teens and their often circuitous journeys toward claiming their voices and right to self-determination. Ultimately, a deeply engaging and rewarding story.” — Kirkus Reviews
“What this book does best is move beyond the typical concerns and stigmas people with disabilities inevitably encounter to present an honest portrayal of the difficulties of growing up faced by these particular characters.” — The Horn Book
“Cammie McGovern channels her knowledge and passion for specialneeds kids. Like the deservedly best-selling Wonder by R.J. Palacio—required reading for every family—this doesn’t just get you talking, it gets you thinking, feeling and rejoicing.” — Family Circle
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
McGovern writes convincingly about characters trying to figure out how best to live with the complications of a disability, both the person whom it most affects and also those around him or her. Benny’s voice deserves to be read aloud in a classroom.
ALA Booklist
Benny’s first-person narrative radiates with exactly the kind of compassion his mother recommends. Like many nine-year-olds, Benny can be guileless in one moment and wise beyond his years in another. Highly recommended for fans of realistic fiction by writers such as Ann M. Martin or Lisa Graff.
The Horn Book
McGovern’s observations about ordinary-seeming life and about the people around us, about small acts of kindness and healing and forgiveness, are perceptive and thought-provoking.
Ann M. Martin
I loved this portrait of a young boy struggling to find his role in a family determined not to be defined by their differences. Benny’s brave story, told with wry humor, is inspirational.
Ron Koertge
Praise for SAY WHAT YOU WILL: “This is a book to read, savor, and pass on and on until it has gone around the world twice.
Examiner.com
McGovern’s books make readers think carefully about the themes presented. Her beautifully written novels feature people who are different in some way; developmentally delayed or suffering from cerebral palsy, obsessive compulsive disorder, or autism. Her stories make people who are “different” more accessible to all of us.
ALA Booklist (starred review)
Exhilarating and heartrending.This novel is stunning.
Family Circle
Cammie McGovern channels her knowledge and passion for specialneeds kids. Like the deservedly best-selling Wonder by R.J. Palacio—required reading for every family—this doesn’t just get you talking, it gets you thinking, feeling and rejoicing.
School Library Journal
09/01/2016
Gr 3–7—Benny's father endures long-lasting effects when he suffers a brain aneurysm. Benny's life was already tough: his brother George, who has autism, requires special attention; Benny's best friend moved away, and making new friends hasn't been easy. Now with his father's recovery uncertain, the whole family is facing the toughest time ever. Meanwhile, at school, a new program encouraging random acts of kindness awards kids with named footprints displayed on walls, and Benny feels like he's the only kid who isn't getting any recognition, no matter how hard he tries. Through LEGO-populated films, a homemade carnival, and a well-placed literary homage, McGovern—herself the mother of a son with autism and here making her middle grade debut—deftly propels Benny toward awareness of his own resilient, amazing soul. Eternally youthful-voiced narrator Kirby Heyborne effortlessly imbues the characters with multifaceted personalities. VERDICT An ideal acquisition for all libraries, especially for summer but recommended for any season. ["Recommend this sensitive novel to fans of Lisa Graff's Absolutely Almost (Philomel, 2014) and Rob Buyea's Because of Mr. Terupt (Delacorte, 2010)": SLJ 12/15 review of the HarperCollins book.]—Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DC
APRIL 2016 - AudioFile
Kirby Heyborne’s soft tones quickly define artistic, empathetic fourth-grader Benny Barrows. Benny’s mother credits her youngest son with being the most compassionate member of the family, especially when it comes to handling his older brother, George, who is autistic. Heyborne evokes the gentleness of this tenderhearted boy and shows how Benny’s vulnerable feelings intensify after his father’s accident, the aneurysms that follow it, and Benny’s belief that he’s to blame. Benny’s feelings seem particularly heartrending in light of a superficial schoolwide program undertaken to increase kindness. The book’s sometimes heavy-handed messages are tempered by Heyborne’s sympathetic depiction of a self-questioning boy who is honestly trying to understand his life’s inner and outer complexities. S.W. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2015-10-14
Fourth grade is proving to be harder than Benny Barrows expected. But Benny is stronger than he realized. Benny has a lot to deal with. Over the summer, his dad suffered from an aneurism that's left him an invalid at home. Dad's behavior is now unpredictable and at times embarrassing, somewhat similar to that of Benny's older brother George, who is autistic. At school, Benny has difficulty with math and spelling, and he does not excel at sports. His best friend moved away the previous school year, and now Benny finds himself trying to make new friends. Mr. Norris, his teacher, has troubles of his own and doesn't seem to notice Benny. Martin, his other older brother, is busy figuring out his own life. As the family faces financial trouble, with medical bills mounting and Dad not able to work, the boys come up with an idea to raise money. It is then Benny movingly if predictably realizes how lucky he is when everyone—family, friends, neighbors, and schoolteachers—comes together to help. In narrator Benny, readers find a resilient and very observant 9-year-old who accepts those around him with their strengths and shortcomings alike. Recent books have featured an autistic or otherwise disabled character as the narrator. Here, McGovern offers the perspective of someone who loves that character. Though a little heavy-handed, Benny's story is insightful and inspirational. (Fiction. 8-12)
