July 2013, Curious Fox, 144 pages, 9 years +, Review copy
Themes: losing your sight, recovering from serious
illness, struggling in new situations, making new friends, feeling useless,
finding something you can be good at, trusting your instincts, hope, farm
animals full of character,
Summary from Curious Fox
Laura’s life changed completely when a case of meningitis left her
blind. She wants to show that even though she can’t see, she can still
be useful – including helping out the farm’s sick cat.
Nayuleska's thoughts
Having a family member with visual issues,
as well as having the possibility for my sight to decline made me doubly keen
to see how Laura got on with her new blindness. My heart went out to her as she
missed doing certain activities, some simple ones that so many of us take for
granted such as selecting our own food, and some more complex ones like having
to learn spatial awareness of where things are. Laura kept comparing all that
she couldn't do, but her time in City Farm taught her a lot of what she could
do. She manages, with a little help after a turbulent start, to find an
activity which is unique to her yet helps so many others who visit City Farm.
I
liked how Silky the cat grows so attached to Laura, how she knows not to trip
Laura up. When life throws curveballs, especially with illness, having a furry
one can make the world seem more hopeful. Cats and other pets know when their
owners are having a tough time, and as Laura discovered becoming attached to
Silky gave her something else to think about instead her blindness. It was touching
that Silky trusts Laura enough to involve her in a huge life event for both
Silky and Laura which had me squee-ing away. I teared up over the way Laura
manages to forge new friendships, and how some of her dreams come through by
the end of the story, despite the goat incident!
Suggested read
Check out more books in the City Farm range
which includes Zoe and Swift (Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E)
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