Customer Reviews

Nobody's Perfect

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NOBODY'S PERFECT
by Marlee Matlin and Doug Cooney
Simon & Schuster
ISBN-10: 068986986X
ISBN-13: 9780689869860
Ages 8-12
240 pages



In this companion to DEAF CHILD CROSSING, fourth grader Megan is busily planning her Positively Purple Birthday Party. Meanwhile, Alexis, the new girl in school, thwarts all attempts that Megan makes to befriend her. Alexis is pretty, smart, and a good soccer player; in fact, Megan thinks she's nearly perfect. She learns that Alexis has a secret --- a little brother who is autistic. Through trial and error, Megan finally realizes that Alexis is not the perfect person she appears to be, and that no one else is perfect either.

Alexis is aloof with everyone, but Megan takes it personally and assumes that Alexis doesn't like her because she's deaf. Megan has been deaf since she was a toddler; she wears a hearing aid, can read lips, and uses sign language. She's used to her handicap, however, and has adapted quite nicely.

Their teacher assigns Megan and Alexis to work together on a science fair project. Neither girl is at all happy about this; Alexis thinks Megan is a bit stubborn and outspoken, while Megan is rather touchy about Alexis's constant rebuffs. After much arguing the girls finally decide on a project that will involve the school hamster, Zippity. They create a cardboard maze out of shoeboxes and paint the little rooms --- one is red, one is blue, and, naturally, one is purple. Their goal is to run Zippity through the maze several times and see which room he prefers to be in. They assume he will like the purple room best.

When Megan's brother develops a nasty rash from handling Zippity, the science project gets moved to Alexis's house. She's very unhappy that her family secret is out when Megan gets a good look at Justin's unusual behavior. But a strange thing happens. Megan seems to be able to reach autistic little Justin and teaches him, using sign language, to communicate for the very first time.

NOBODY'S PERFECT will have readers chuckling over how much the color purple is a part of Megan's life. It will help you understand the many ways in which people can lead fairly normal lives by learning to adapt to their handicaps. Co-author Marlee Matlin, an Academy Award-winning actress, is herself deaf.

--- Reviewed by Carole Turner

I loved this book. I read with my daughter every night and it brought up so many interesting discussions. I think it's a great book that adresses many self-image problems.

This book is a terrific insight on the different ways people are viewed, I give it two thumbs up!

Megan and her friends practically pop off the page. The hilarious descriptions of their prize-winning science projects are matched only by the true-to-life challenges they face in this charming book.

This book is okay, and it's about a shy, aloof girl who finds a new best friend and she has bright blue eyes and pretty blonde hair and it's sad. It's a sad, touching and sometimes alright book. It's okay. It has a good storypoint and beautiful writing and good story about a deaf girl listening to music. It's a good book. It's a beautiful story about Alexis who has a sad lifeline. The book ends with a birthday party, Alexis is the only chsracter I bought. It's okay and has potenial. it's perfectly fine and I enjoyed her writing. Kick life where it counts. Alexis.

The book was in ok condition. Wish I would have been told about the child who had the book before and written their name in black magic marker on the open binding.

I've really enjoyed the 3 books in this series that I've read. I keep recommending them to friends.

I'm writing this for my son Spencer. He has dictated:

I'm six years old. I liked that Alexis played soccer. And how Matt played baseball.