Becky the Brave: A Story about Epilepsy [Hardcover]

Laurie Lears (Author), Gail Piazza (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: 1 and up

Becky is Sarah's big sister. She is brave about going to a new school, about standing up to a big dog, and even about having epilepsy. But one day Becky has a seizure during class. Now Sarah must be brave for her sister.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

reSchool-Grade 3-In Sarah's eyes, her older sister is very brave. Becky is not afraid of the new school or of the barking dog that they meet on the way. She's not even afraid of the convulsive epileptic seizures that she sometimes has. But after a seizure at home, she confides to Sarah that, although the teacher and the nurse know about her condition, she has not told her new classmates and she worries that she will have a seizure in school. One day her fears are realized, and her classmates stare and some laugh. The next day, Becky refuses to go back to school and Sarah has to conquer her own trepidation, walking there alone and going into her sister's classroom to explain what happened. The text reads easily with just enough information about epilepsy to help readers understand Becky's feelings. The soft pastel drawings emphasize the loving relationship between the girls. Epilepsy is tough on children and their families, and this story will help to explain the misconceptions.
Martha Gordon, formerly at South Salem Library, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Epilepsy is tough on children and their families, and this story will help to explain the misconceptions."

School Library Journal

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company; 1 edition (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080750601X
• ISBN-13: 978-0807506011
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #966,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #94 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Epilepsy

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great way to introduce Epilepsy to children, November 14, 2006

By 

Dawn (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Becky the Brave: A Story about Epilepsy (Hardcover)

I used this book as a basis for a lesson plan introducing Epilepsy to lower grades. The story not only shares some basic information about Epilepsy, but does a great job of getting children to think about what it might feel like to have it and how nervous and afraid a child may be to come to school. A great way to teach compassion to all children. Well written and great illustrations.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming tale about two sisters, one of whom has epilepsy, January 11, 2010

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Becky the Brave: A Story about Epilepsy (Hardcover)

"Becky the Brave" is a well-written tale about a young girl's struggles with epilepsy. Becky helps her younger sister Sarah adapt to life at school, walking with her, and reassuring her as she attends school. Sarah looks up to her brave older sister - until one afternoon when Becky suffers a serious seizure. When Becky recovers, she retreats into herself and refuses to return to school, anxious that her condition not be revealed to her new classmates lest they treat her 'differently'. It is now Sarah's turn to be brave for her sister and help put things right again.

At the beginning of the book, there is some explanation about epilepsy, and I learned that about 300,000 children in the United States suffer from epilepsy, with no known causes, and can range from mild to extreme seizures. It is therefore important that educators and students know how to react when a child suffers a seizure in the classroom or school. This book not only narrates the story of a child dealing with epilepsy and the challenges it poses, but also educates on how others can help - by clearing away anything that can be considered a danger to a seizure-stricken child, placing the child on her side to prevent choking, putting something soft like a pillow under her head, etc. - all of these are well-illustrated by the pictures drawn by artist Gail Piazza which complements the text by author Laurie Lears. I love these series of books dealing with children's disabilities and how they cope with the challenges in day-to-day life - others in the series are Nathan's Wish: A Story About Cerebral Palsy, Ben Has Something to Say: A Story About Stuttering (Concept Books (Albert Whitman)), and Ian's Walk: A Story About Autism. I've been reading these books with my 5-year-old and hopefully she'll be able to understand and provide support to her peers in school who have disabilities, something I consider important given the more inclusive nature of classrooms these days. Recommended for grades K-3.

5.0 out of 5 stars An epileptic mother very grateful for a touching, honest book, June 5, 2011

By 

T. Tracy "T.Tracy" (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Becky the Brave: A Story about Epilepsy (Hardcover)

While I was pregnant I decided to start my child's library. I collected the standard fairy-tales and Dr. Seuss's books, then I began looking for books to explain epilepsy, as I am epileptic. I had a few seizures while I was pregnant with her and it woke me up to the fact that not only was my disability part my life, but it was going to be part of her life.

Becky the Brave is such an elegant book, so complex and yet so simple. Laurie Lears develops the story about two sisters, one with epilepsy and the younger one, who is the narrator. Inside a very clear and honest tale she is able to explain: epilepsy, a positive sibling relationship with an epileptic, first-aid, and peers' reactions. That is difficult enough, but Laurie goes beyond that and gives insight in to how an epileptic feels; scared, ashamed, confused, uncertain, brave, determined, and compassionate. The story has depth.

I have read Becky the Brave to my daughter a few times. She has always used it as a time to ask me about my epilepsy and we have a casual discussion. One day my 5 yr. old daughter told me that she wanted to write a book as well and she even gave me the title, "My Mommy Sometimes Has Seizures." If she ever does it, I hope that she'll use the style and manner of Becky the Brave as a model. It's a wonderful piece of literature.

Terry Tracy