The Window

Rating:
Summary: The Window
Review: Traveling from region to region was a common occurrence for Mandy, an only child, and her single mother. But a terrible car wreck left Mandy blind and traveling alone to a new city this time. Texas is full of challenges, as this teenager learns to adjust to her Great Aunt and Uncle's routine lifestyle. However, she finds a lot of love in her new household, makes friends at her school, and even finds a boyfriend. The fact that Mandy is blinded instantly prompts most people to "help" her. For the most part, Mandy does not need their help, and she certainly does not want it. As a matter of fact, she ends up giving more help than she could ever accept. She helps her Great Uncle reunite with his past, her best friend deal with her parents' divorce, her boyfriend face his deafness, and she even helps orphaned animals on the farm. The author uses the central picture of this young lady standing at the open window to take in the night air, to learn about the people from her past, to help her understand the present, and to guide her decisions in the future. The literary elements of irony, foreshadowing, and flashback beautifully intertwine to make the story flow well and end brilliantly that the themes in the book will stick with any reader forever. This story states the issues that all teenagers deal with, including teenagers with special needs. It recognizes how diversity should be appreciated and how any type of person can make great friends. Everyone needs help at times, and everyone can offer help at other times. Love, hope, and friendships form from being a good listener, believing in people and yourself, and trying. Life is not easy, but no matter what your circumstances are, you cannot run away from the hard times. Seventh grade and above could greatly appreciate the stories inside this book. It opens the door to many other topics including character education, history, geography, art, music, math, science, and of course language arts. This book deserves five stars. It is truly a great book.`

Rating:
Summary: Very Mysterious
Review: When Mandy gets left blind after a car accident in which her mother dies she has to live with family she has never met, or heard of. She goes to live with her Great Aunt Emma and Great uncles Gabrial and Abe. When she moves to Dallas, TX she has the choice of which school she wants to go to and so on. On the first day she was there she went to the window and was leaning out when she heard voices calling. Then she started to see things that were going on a long time ago. She starts going to school and she makes friends with a girl named Hannah and a boy named Sam. She has to adjust to a new school in which she has to take special classes to learn braille and things like that. Aside from her own problems she helps Hannah with problems about her parents. I would reccommend this book to any age. I really enjoyed this book and Jeanette Ingold makes this seem like it is happening to you.