The Man Who Loved Clowns [Hardcover]

June Rae Wood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 1992

Feeling guilty about being ashamed of her beloved uncle, Punky, who suffers from Down's Syndrome, Delrita distances herself from her neighbors, until a tragedy teaches her a valuable lesson about friendship.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this potent debut, Wood displays a prodigious writing and storytelling talent. Delrita, 13, has recently moved to a small Missouri town with her parents and Punky, an uncle who has Down's syndrome. Delrita adores Punky, yet is also embarrassed by him. She easily accepts his childish ways at home, but avoids having visitors, and attending church in her new community causes the girl considerable anguish. Always a loner, Punky is befriended by the persistent Avanelle Shackleford ("a name that was almost bigger than she was"), a classmate who also has familial shame--and a fabulous older brother. When disaster tears Delrita's life apart, her new friends' support fortifies her as does Punky's enduring love. The skillfully crafted work, based on the author's memory of a brother who had Down's syndrome, is enriched by humorous touches and Delrita's involving, simply told narrative. This close-up view of a prevalent disease is more than a one-note novel: the author also artfully interweaves issues of loneliness, first romance and parental death. Both Delrita and Punky are complex, realistically drawn characters worthy of attention and admiration. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7-- Delrita Jensen, 13, has no friends, and she prefers it that way. She doesn't want anyone to meet her uncle, ``Punky'' Holloway, who has Down syndrome and lives with her family. Although she loves him dearly, she can't help being ashamed of him. Then, when her parents are killed in a traffic accident, and she and Punky must go to live with her aunt and uncle, everything changes. In the months that follow, Delrita learns many things: that others can come to love Punky and be proud of him, that she might have misjudged her aunt, and most of all, that she wants friends. Wood has created a realistic portrait of the problems that confront a child growing up in a family with a disabled member. But more than that, she has created an engrossing story with characters that readers come to care about very deeply. It's a story with a universal theme--the struggle to come of age and find a place in the world--and because of this, it will bring pleasure to many readers. Also incorporated are the joy of discovering and exercising a talent, the warmth that can come from finding a friend, the excitement and uncertainty of a first romance, and the conflict that is always a part of life. Wood's prose is strong and flowing, with a good balance of dialogue and narrative, and with several well-developed and memorable characters. It's a hard book to put down. --Constance A. Mellon, Department of Library & Information Studies, East Carolina Univ . , Green ville, NC
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (October 21, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399218882
• ISBN-13: 978-0399218880
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,473,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The man who loved clowns (review) : By Kayla Parks, October 20, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Man Who Loved Clowns (Paperback)

Delrita moved to Tangle Nook from a small town. She lived with her mom,dad and uncle Punky. Punky has a disease called Down's syndrome and just turned thirty-five, and it's very unlikely for someone with Down's syndrome to live past forty. Delrita meets Avanelle Shackleford, and her brother Tree. Delrita, and her family pack up and go to Silver Dollar City. While they are there Punky "trades" a clown for clown. That led them to meeting Whittlen Walt. Walt came in handy later when Delrita's parents get in an accident and Walt is there for Delrita, and Punky.
In my opinion this book is an excellent book. It is most definitely highly recommended in my mind.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Best Ever", September 2, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Man Who Loved Clowns (Paperback)

The book is the best. I can't help but say that it is a great book and it made me laugh and cry. Our teacher read it out loud and everybody (including the teacher) but three people cried. It is a good book and you'l love it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sibling Support Project, June 25, 2003

By 

Marsha. Melkonian (Warrenton, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Man Who Loved Clowns (Hardcover)

This book reminded me that siblings have the longest relationship with a person with any disability and need support - the parents lives overlap with their children to a certain extent, but a sibling's life overlaps for the whole of their lives. The sibling is just as affected as the person with a disability and their lives are changed too. The Sibling Support Project of the ARC is a great resource for kids who ahve a sibling with a disability ...