132,585
edits
Changes
Red Sky in the Morning by Elizabeth Laird (view source)
Revision as of 11:30, 23 September 2020
, 11:30, 23 September 2020no edit summary
{{infoboxinfobox1
|title=Red Sky in the Morning
|author=Elizabeth Laird
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=192
|publisher=Macmillan Children's Books
|date=6 Oct October 2006
|isbn=0330442902
|amazonukcover=<amazonuk>0330442902</amazonuk>|amazonusaznuk=0330442902|aznus=<amazonus>0330442902</amazonus>
}}
Anna's little brother, Ben, was born with hydrocephalus. He is profoundly disabled. But from the moment she sees him, Anna loves him, far more than she could ever have imagined she would love anyone. She spends every moment possible with Ben, cuddling him, comforting him, even teaching him to kiss. However, at school, Anna keeps Ben's disability a secret. It fills her with shame and she is too afraid of prejudice and mockery to face up to the reactions of her classmates. Until, inevitably, it is forced upon her.
Children will love Red Sky In The Morning because of the many chords it will strike. Its powerful statement calling for the inclusion of the disabled will appeal to their fledgling sense of justice and its candour will win them over. Young people can spot a fake from a mile away. I think adults should read it too - any parent struggling with an "impossible" adolescent might gain some insight, might even remember how it was for them. Laird has a way of sifting through the compromises and alighting upon simple truths that many adults will find incredibly refreshing and even comforting. For everyone, it's a sensitive study of family stresses and responsibilities.
Those under ten may find the emotional landscape unfamiliar unless they have some specific experience of disability, in which case they will recognise it all too well. All those aged ten and over will take something very valuable from reading this book. Adults will appreciate [[The Way Back to Us by Kay Langdale]]. We also have a review of [[The Prince Who Walked with Lions by Elizabeth Laird]].
{{interviewtext|author=Elizabeth Laird}}
{{amazontext|amazon=0330442902}}
{{amazonUStext|amazon=0330442902}}
{{commenthead}}
|name=Magda
|verb=said
|comment= Come to think of it, I actually do remember myself aged about 11 and behaving in a similar fashion regarding my father's disability (physical and not very obvious at first look). Strangely enough there was absolutely no reason for it, as nobody I ever 'confided' in expressed any negative attitudes. But the sheer fact of being different in this way (not even myself!) was somehow a worry. Mindboggling!
}}