First Star I See [Paperback]

Jaye Andras Caffrey (Author), Tracy L. Kane (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-5--This novel attempts to present the difficulties and frustration felt by children with attention deficit disorder and by the adults who care for them. Paige wants to win a writing contest so she can meet her favorite TV actress, but she is easily distracted and despite her best efforts, doesn't succeed. The actress, however, asks to meet her because she happens to have a daughter who also has been diagnosed with ADD. The writing is just serviceable, with the distinct aftertaste of bibliotherapy, and the black-and-white line drawings are unmemorable. In spite of the stilted plot and writing, there may be a slight chance that this would be useful in school settings to help young readers understand ADD. Be advised, however, that this is a book of mediocre quality with very limited appeal.

Christine A. Moesch, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, NY

Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 157 pages
• Publisher: Verbal Images Pr (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884281176
• ISBN-13: 978-1884281174
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,326,065 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the first star I see, October 4, 2000

By 

cheryl (kenosha, wi USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Star I See (Paperback)

My daughter has ADD and she has been diagnosed for 3 years. Now she is in the fourth grade and is starting to ask questions about why she is differant. She wants to know if she can succeed with ADD, she is yearning for information that will help her understand herself, I think she is saddened and feels lonely and truly tries to do what she is supposed to....The First Star I see is a wonderful believable story about a 4th grade girl who always feels like she is behind the 8-ball...she finds someone who cares enough to show her that she has attention deficit and in finding out she starts to accept herself through understanding. It describes being teased, forgetting homework, missing details.....humorous story line, emotional and best of all relatable....Good starter book that is loaded with information about ADD/ADHD but presented in fiction form! Emphasis on the positive aspects of ADD .

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Humorous tale of a girl with AD/HD, June 30, 2001

By 

Carol Watkins "Psychiatrist" (Parkton, Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: First Star I See (Paperback)

This book would be good a for girl with AD/HD. She could identify with the successes and the mishaps of a character who shares some of her characteristics. Since girls with AD/HD often feel isolated and "defective," this book could her realize that she is not the only person in the world like this. She may see that one can succeed with AD/HD, and that one doesn't have to be the perfect student to be a successful person.

Paige daydreams during class, so much in fact, that her classmates call her "spacey." Her class is having a competition to see who can write the best paper on a particular topic. Paige is absent-minded, so she forgets about her paper until it becomes an urgent priority. Paige's dog provides distraction for her when she least wants it. The dog is stealing toys from children and animals. Despite all of these challenging events, Paige ends up getting at least part of what she wanted.

This book would be a good addition to the library of a child with AD/HD. It is a bit more of a "teaching" book than simply an entertainment book. However, some of Paige's situations are funny and keep the plot moving.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet little book, October 20, 2007

By 

Gina Pera "Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?, a... (San Francisco Bay Area, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: First Star I See (Paperback)

This was one of the first books I read about ADHD, some years ago. And now when I think back to it, I see that it laid a very good and accurate foundation for understanding the "heart" of ADHD challenges. And, it did so in an entertaining and inspiring way--not at all pedantic or "now we're going to learn about your brain wiring" preachy. If I had a child with ADHD, especially a lttle girl, I would definitely make this bedtime reading.