My Big Sister Takes Drugs [Paperback]

Judith Vigna (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

When the police bring home Paul's sister Tina, who was found taking drugs in the park, a nightmare begins for the family, and Paul's new friendship with Jose and his plans for soccer camp both seem lost.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-3-- Paul's teenage sister, Tina, is addicted to drugs. He has seen her personality change and has refused her offer of pills. He feels guilty but tells their mother. Later Tina is picked up by the police for drug use in the park and is sent to a rehabilitation center. Because of Tina, Paul's new friend Jose doesn't want to play with him and there is no money to send him to soccer camp, but in the end his parents, his soccer coach, and Jose turn out to be true friends. Muted realistic watercolors with black ink outlines complement the text, capturing the feelings and dilemmas of the characters. This is bibliotherapy rather than literature, and is best used as part of a drug education/awareness program. --Renee Blumenkrantz, Davis Community Library, Bethesda, MD
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Vigna is an Albert Whitman author.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (March 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807553166
• ISBN-13: 978-0807553169
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #784,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Drugs
  • #72 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Teens > Social Issues > Drug Use & Abuse > Fiction
  • #76 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Drugs

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank God, April 22, 2009

By 

Matthew Plainview (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Big Sister Takes Drugs (Paperback)

This book is perfect if, like me, you just CANNOT talk to your kids. Plop em down in the corner with this book and you have got gold. Blammo. Try the other books in the series like "What is up with Mom and her New Friend Barbara?" and my personal favorite "How Come That Man Staring At Me?"

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sad but reality, January 8, 2007

By 

Jersey Librarian "MB" (Aberdeen, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Big Sister Takes Drugs (Paperback)

I was surprised when my 7-year-old daughter wanted to check this book out of our public library, but decided to let her read it. The reality is that drugs are a part of our society and kids are learning about them at a very young age. She has already learned about the dangers of drugs at school, and this book was a good example of how destructive addiction can be to families. I think it was a realistic portrayal and my daughter was empathetic to the young character in the story who loses the love of his older sister as well as his chance to attend soccer camp since his parents must pay for his sister's rehab.

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is absurd., October 6, 2011

By 

Education > Fear - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Big Sister Takes Drugs (Paperback)

You are doing something very detrimental to your child's development with scare tactic "education". The unrealistic pressure you put on them by the no tolerance "Drugs are horrible" stance will keep them from coming to you if they need help, hide any habits they have (you don't have enough trust between you and them for your child to be open about his or her habits or experiences, and the constant anxiety of them having to hide a part of their life from you causes a plethora of problems)prevent them from learning about the actual dangers of drugs and the actual effects and keep them from utilizing harm reduction techniques if they ever try to experiment.

Why is it that parents are afraid of being honest with their kids. Drugs can be used responsibly, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine. They are all drugs, and can be used in a way that is healthy and even beneficial. If you can't tell your kid that drugs are detrimental to mental health until about 20 and after that they are more or less fine (not stimulants or injected drugs) if used in a safe, responsible, reasonable and educated maner; then you really aren't responsible enough to have children. Drug ABUSE is usually caused by mental issues or depression, which is a health issue, not a legal or moral one. There is nothing immoral about eating/ smoking something to lift your depression or forget about not having friends as a temporary solution, it saves lives actually. Recreational drugs are only dangerous (other than because they are not regulated in a mature manner rather than anyone who so much as speaks about them in an honest way gets labeled a druggie or addict and persecuted for having an intelligent view point, let alone if the police are involved in any way.
You are indoctrinating your kids.
"Not until you are an adult with a fully developed central nervous system," NOT "YOU WILL GET ADDICTED EVERY TIME! YOU WILL DIE! YOU WILL GO TO JAIL FOREVER! YOU WILL KILL EVERYONE YOU LOVE! YOU WILL HAVE HORRIBLE DISEASES AND DIE IN PAIN!"

This book epitomizes what is wrong about the current stances on drug use.

It doesn't work for drinking, it doesn't work for drugs, it doesn't work for sex.

Only HONEST AND OBJECTIVE education works.
Your kids WILL drink, have sex, probably try drugs. It is your job to talk to them in an objective way with an emphasis on harm reduction and emotional support. Keep them from becoming addicted, from drunk driving, from doing coke and ODing. It is your responsibility to foster a level of trust where they can call you at 3am to be picked up from a party when they are drunk, or high, not to bring down the hammer of shame on them when they experience LIFE.