Customer Reviews

The Acorn People

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Camp Wiggins was not a place for medically sanitized facilities, safety rails, or strict activity schedules. It was a place for memories to be made, accomplishments, and fantasies to be fulfilled. By no means were the handicaps of the teens attending this camp would burden this in any way. The Acorn People, by Ron Jones, tells a story of how a camp of handicap teens grow together and accomplish more than they could ever dream of doing at a camp made for boy scouts. In this true story, Ron Jones, the camp counselor of a group that goes above and beyond the expectations of camp, ables these teens to work together to climb Mountain Lookout, swim for the first time, and then struggle with getting the approval of the camp owner Mr. Bradshaw. Over all, this story was emotionally filled as well as giving you a new look on people not as fortunate as those not handicapped.

The kids in Ron Jones group whom he counseled each were very unique. They all had their different disability as well as something that they were good at. Martin was blind. He was one of the most mobile in the group. He always seemed to have a smile on his face, as well as all the other blind kids at the camp. He always was in motion. Then there was Benny B. Polio had taken both of his legs. He was a speed freak. He could do wheelies and many other things in his wheel chair. Spider was another kid in Ron's cabin. He had no legs or arms. Spider was always alert and loved to talk. He was a so-called "jukebox". Then there was Thomas Stewart. He had muscular sclerosis and weighed about 35 pounds in all. He never talked and you never could tell what he was really thinking. Aaron or "Arid" had no way of the waste in his body to be exerted out of his body. His smell was horrible causing him to not have too many friends, and getting the nickname "Arid". Throughout this story, you saw how each character developed from handicapped boys into outgoing, dream filled young men. This occurs when Thomas actually talks to them for the first time, when Spider shows them all how he's such a great swimmer despite having no limbs, and when Aaron gets crowned King at the dance.

The Acorn People gets its title from a conversation that Benny B. and Ron had. Ron was making a necklace made of nuts because he was feeling extremely stressed out. Ron did not have the job as a counselor because he wanted to work with handicap teens, but he had the job because he needed one. He was not prepared at all to have to change sheets every night from the bed wettings that occurred, or to feed many of them individually. He decided to make this necklace of acorns to express how "nuts" he felt being there. While he was doing this, Benny B. walks over asking him what the necklace was for. At first Ron didn't answer him but then, after constantly being asked by Benny he told him how he felt a little nuts being here and so he thought the necklace to be appropriate. Benny B. responded with saying, "So do we counselor, we all feel a little nutty here! You might want to call us the nut people, yeah, that's a good name for us." After this, Ron's whole group made these necklaces and then eventually made them for the whole camp. The name "The Acorn People" got around the camp quickly.

The kids in this story experienced many new things that they had never been exposed to before. Ron and Dominic (the other counselor) heard an old announcement that was for the boy scouts that said something about climbing Lookout Mountain. Benny B. heard it as well and said to Ron if the boy scouts could climb it then why couldn't they? So eventually the group ends up taking a hike up to the mountain and then stops, looking up at it pondering how they will get up it. Martin steps out and starts up Mountain Lookout, experimenting ways they could possibly get up it. He finally finds a way that would be possible. They would have to scoot up the mountain on their bottoms and Thomas would sit on Ron's lap and Spider on Dominic's. This scene in the book just puts forth a new perspective to the kids in that group. It shows how much, despite their disadvantages, they want to accomplish things that regular kids are able to do.

Throughout this book it shows different instances which state that they aren't different but they are just like those not handicapped. When they had the dance and the boys and girls were dancing together showing emotion for each other it showed this. Who says handicapped people can't have crushes on the opposite sex? I would suggest this book to those that have had experience with those handicapped. They would most likely get the most appreciation out of this book. This book brings forth so much emotion and a new perspective on those handicapped. I have much appreciation for this book and the view it is written from.

-H. Cooper

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.

I was appalled to read some of the ignorance in the reveiws of this book about someones experience. I think he captured the spirit and importance for camps for people with special needs. THe point of the camp wasn't trying to "make' these kids be normal at camp the point was they were haveing a great summer despite their challenges. It wasn't about saying "all the things your suppose to say about handicapped persons" as one review read it was about sharing the initial fears and concern that often people deal with when faced with such a task and showed how it turned to great blessing. I didn't feel this book was about the children but about the change and growth within the writer because of the children. Its a beautiful message that is just a little rough around the edges with the writing skills of the author.

In reviewing the reviews written for this book I was appaled at some of the reviews that I read. I seems that this world is trapped in a "Hollywood mentality" in which every book should read like a movie, fast and shallow. This book is much deeper. Although it is short, and obviously cuts out some of the trying times they must have gone through at camp, the author chooses to write it as an uplifting message.
Anyone who is bored by this book is missing the deeper message. Children/people with handycaps are human also, and they have to suffer much more than any of us could possibly imagine. This is a story about special children allowed to be normal children, like they were meant to.

The Acorn People is a very touching story. You learn to love the characters and feel like you were there with the handicapped children at their summer camp. I had it read to me in school and I know there were several teary eyes at the end of this amazing book. This book is one don't forget.

I read the Acorn People first as a magazine article. I was heartened and saddened by this true story, which brings together love, thought, hope, and a jolting reality. I am even even more saddened and upset, though, by the negative reviews seen here. I am an adult with some disabilities. I have been a teacher, and a counselor. I work with people of varying abilities and disabilities, with parents and teachers, and with children. I find it ironic that ANYONE could find this story "misguided", "demeaning", "unrealistic", "out of date", "inappropriate", or the children's lives "miserable" or "futile."

This story is a beautiful example of how we can all benefit from pushing our own limits. Ron Jones pushed his limits by staying and learning and accepting these kids who were so different from anyone he had met. They taught him so much just by sharing and allowing him to share. They pushed their limits, too, and the limits so many of us put on ourselves and each other... "Climb a mountain??? Impossible!" How many of us deny our ability to climb mountains in our lives because we think we "can't"? These kids did, with the help of a man who wasn't afraid to ask himself, "Why not let them try?", just as he asked of himself, "Why not try?" He did. They did.

Short but powerful. If you think that Ron's thoughts at the beginning of the book are stereotypical and negative, you are right. But this is a true story about the author's experiences, and that is actually what he thought. Contrary to popular belief, as time passed, he improved rather than got snotty. And just to clarify: the people at the camp did not make up Arid's nickname, he brought it himself, and he didn't mind it. If you expect the author of a non fiction book to change the theme to the happy and chipper one it never was, you should go read a third grade level fiction book. Thank you.

The book is not a novel. It's non-fiction. Originally written as an article that was (I believe) published in PSYCHOLOGY TODAY magazine. So if the ending depresses you... such is reality. It was made into a TV film (not great, but using real handicapped kids.) He is also the author of B-Ball: THe Team THat Never Lost A Game (about a Special Olympics team he coached) and wrote the story "The Wave" which was rewritten for TV and then "novelized" by Todd Strasser. The movie & books are not easy to find. I have taught this book to 7th graders for about 6 years and have always found it to be a worthwhile choice.

Hi am an eleven year old who has read this excellent novel titled "The Acorn People". The reason why this book was so good was because it gave you a chance to read about the struggles a handicapped kid has to go through everyday. This novel also makes you deep down inside cheer for one of the characters in the novel and it makes you feel like you too have to overcome all the obsticles the kids in the novel had to overcome as their camp days slowly came to an end. Even though the book had some happy points it also had some sad points. To me the ending was a little disturing. Yes, this novel is a true story which in some ways is very sad. Personally once I picked this book up I could not put it down. My favorite character was Benny because he was a speed demon just like me. He had no legs therefor his wheelchair took their place. Here are some names of the characters that you will learn to love: Dominic, Thomas Stewart (Spider), Benny, Martin, and Aaron Gerwalski (Arid). I advise people of all ages to read it so you to can live life through the eyes of a disabled child. One other thing that a personally did not like about the novel was that it was based on a boy's camp cabin. Yes, once or twice they talked about the girls but, not as often as I would have preferred but, do not let a minor reason like that shy away from the novel. I advise you to pick this bok up this book today at your nearest book stor, the library, or right here at Amazon Books online

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.