Acorn People

Rating:
Summary: A Hidden Treasure
Review: After recommending a book called SEEDFOLKS to a colleague, she recommended THE ACORN PEOPLE to me. Though written many years back and almost impossible to find in most libraries or bookstores, it's one of those hidden treasures that can make you laugh and cry at the same time. It tells the story of a college stuent turned summer camp counselor who gets a job working with severely physically handicapped youngsters and, almost immediately, feels like going AWOL from this job because of the overwhelming odds. However, he soon discovers that they can teach him far more about life than he ever learned in a classroom. Just as a blind person usually has a far keener sense of hearing, these physically handicapped youngsters have a way of sharing their true personalities and strengths, producing some mini-miracles (actually maxi-ones) for each other as well as themselves. Wording in the book is superb, realistic, and not the least bit maudlin. When I finished reading it and noticed something I had previously missed--that the story was actually true--it made this book even more meaningful to me. Though a short work, it's impossible to read it without feeling its strong, positive impact. It helps all of us to be grateful for what we have and to also see how we can compensate for what we do not have. THE ACORN PEOPLE depicts a summer that none of the group would ever forget in their short lives and that will stay with the reader as an inspiration for what people can do when they bother--and have fun doing it at the same time. With the exception of one word that won't be found in the dictionary, this work is one that should be read (or at least heard) by everyone over the age of ten. It would make the world a better place.

Rating:
Summary: I'm an Acorn
Review: I loved this book. I like hearing about disabled kids. Arid was funny because he was strong and had an over reactive bladder. Benny was also funny because he was a speed demon!

Rating:
Summary: Review on The Acorn People by Stephen MacPherson
Review: The Acorn People by Ron Jones is a story teaching about respecting other people no matter what they look like on the outside. The story is told by a counselor at Camp Wiggin who at first doesn't realize that this camp is for people with disabilities. He feels awkward when they arrive, just like most people would, but then he realizes that they are nice people just like him and that he is doing a good thing. Some of the kids at Camp Wiggin-

Benny B- He is African American and very small. He suffers from Polio and is in a wheelchair. He is the fastest one in his wheelchair.

Spider- He has no arms or legs, instead he uses his mouth for everything. He loves to eat.

Thomas Stewart- He has muscular scleosis. He is 15 or 16 but he only weighs about 35 pounds due to his handicap.

Arid- He doesn't have a bladder so instead he uses a bag to store his "bodily fluids." He got his nickname from his smell.

Martin- He is blind but he is them most able-bodied child out of the group.

The Acorn necklaces symbolize friendship and the kids give one to all of their friends they have ever met. By the time camp is over everyone became friends with each other. After a few years the kids die due to their handicaps.

I would recommend this book to everyone who can read.

Rating:
Summary: The Acorn People
Review: The Acorn People was a good book; it showed how kids with disabilities can be like normal kids. One of the counselors, Ron, admits he only agreed to help at Camp Wiggins for the money-it seemed like it would be an easy job. But what he doesn't realize is that the disabled children can't do everything for themselves. During the next few days, Ron got to know the kids, and realized that in a way, they were just like him. Not only do the kids learn to have some fun, but also the counselors. Each learned something about him/herself.

Rating:
Summary: The Acorn People
Review: The Acorn People was a good book; it showed how kids with disabilities can be like normal kids. One of the counselors, Ron, admits he only agreed to help at Camp Wiggins for the money-it seemed like it would be an easy job. But what he doesn't realize is that the disabled children can't do everything for themselves. During the next few days, Ron got to know the kids, and realized that in a way, they were just like him. Not only do the kids learn to have some fun, but also the counselors. Each learned something about him/herself.

Rating:
Summary: Acorn people
Review: This book was interesting and funny. The characters seem like real people. The story help me understand more about handicapped people and handicapped kids are like any other kids.My favorite characters were Benny B. and Spider because they reminded me of some of my friends that are not handicapped.I also liked this book because it was a true story and was pretty short and had alot of information.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good book
Review: This book was pretty good. It teaches you that you should respect one another's differences, and just have fun. It's about a boy in his teenage years who gets a job as a camp counselor. He's just looking for an easy way to get some money. He figures he will just be playing sports, swimming, and hiking all summer...and then he met the campers. Spider is a boy with no arms or legs. Benny is a boy with polio who needs a wheelchair. Arid is a boy with no bladder who uses a wheelchair. Martin is a blind boy, and Thomas is extremely frail and needs a wheelchair. The counselor's heart drops as he sees them walk into Camp Wiggin. "There goes my summer," he thought. He barely makes it past the first day; all he did was assist people who can not do anything by themselves. The next day, though, the counselor sees the campers for the people that they really are; Benny is fast, spider can swim and he talks a lot, Martin likes girls, and Arid and Thomas start to become more independent. The group makes acorn necklaces at arts and crafts to show their unity. They end up making necklaces for everyone in camp. The counselor and his campers begin to really bond, and they grow as people. They do fun things with each other; things that they would normally not be able to do like hiking up a mountain or swimming. The campers and the counselors end up having a great summer and are very sad when they have to leave. They keep their necklaces in remeberance of the fun time they had at Camp Wiggin. This book taught me to appreciate life and to make the best of it. It is a good book to read if you are looking to learn a life lesson.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good book
Review: This book was pretty good. It teaches you that you should respect one another's differences, and just have fun. It's about a boy in his teenage years who gets a job as a camp counselor. He's just looking for an easy way to get some money. He figures he will just be playing sports, swimming, and hiking all summer...and then he met the campers. Spider is a boy with no arms or legs. Benny is a boy with polio who needs a wheelchair. Arid is a boy with no bladder who uses a wheelchair. Martin is a blind boy, and Thomas is extremely frail and needs a wheelchair. The counselor's heart drops as he sees them walk into Camp Wiggin. "There goes my summer," he thought. He barely makes it past the first day; all he did was assist people who can not do anything by themselves. The next day, though, the counselor sees the campers for the people that they really are; Benny is fast, spider can swim and he talks a lot, Martin likes girls, and Arid and Thomas start to become more independent. The group makes acorn necklaces at arts and crafts to show their unity. They end up making necklaces for everyone in camp. The counselor and his campers begin to really bond, and they grow as people. They do fun things with each other; things that they would normally not be able to do like hiking up a mountain or swimming. The campers and the counselors end up having a great summer and are very sad when they have to leave. They keep their necklaces in remeberance of the fun time they had at Camp Wiggin. This book taught me to appreciate life and to make the best of it. It is a good book to read if you are looking to learn a life lesson.

Rating:
Summary: An alright book
Review: We had to read this book for school. The characters were sappy, their actions were predictable, and everyone said exactly what you are supposed to say about handicapped people. I could outline the plot after I had read the first page. To me, the worst part was that the narrator's attidude changed in less than a day. It was completely unrealistic. I have heard that this is a true story; if so, something very critical was lost during the writing. There were no surprises; the author tried to make it appeal to older kids with limited swearing, but this is no more than 5th grade book. With all due respect, once I put this book down, I couldn't pick it back up.