Customer Reviews

Radiance Descending (Laurel Leaf Books)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Paul hates his younger brother who has Down syndrome for the entire book. No one ever tries to help him understand or deal with his negative feelings. He hates his brother as much in the end as he did in the beginning. Information about Down Syndrome is outdated and stereotypical. The book is an anachronistic horror.The child with DS is portrayed as never having been in any kind of program or school although he is 7 years old. He has no friends or playmates hisown age in the community. When, at 7, it is decided he should (finally) go to school, it is not to a regular local community school but to a separate segregated "special" school [not the common practice nowadays].Throughout the book, Paul's parents take absolutely no steps to work with him or to help him deal with his hateful feelings. The reader (and Paul) never get a chance to examine or understand the reasons for all the hatred. The raw loathing and negative feelings just go on ...and on... and on... and are never resolved. There is never any evidence that Paul has learned anything, worked anything through or moved any closer to accepting or appreciating his brother.This book is dangerous and harmful and will perpetuate negative stereotypes about individuals with Down syndrome. ALL of the characters are unsympathetic (either actively or because they never care to do anything to help Paul) and the story NEVER accomplishes any enlightenment or growth in anybody!!It will do far more harm than good in a young impressionable reading audience. It should be repudiated and avoided. There are wonderful books which give a much more truthful and positive picture of the real capabilities of people with Down syndrome than this depressing volume.I gave it a "2" instead of a "1" only because Paula Fox has a rather nice writing style. But her understanding of today's attitudes about people with developmental disabilities is appallingly out of date. Except for her nice writing style, this book should get a zero. This is a weird and dangerous book

Whew! After having read this book the only strong feeling I had was relief! Why is all the recommended, award-winning literature for children so depressing and dark? Isn't anyone writing children's literature anymore that have happy, or at least hopeful endings? This book never explains why Paul is so angry, other than the fact that his brother has Downs Syndrome. If Paul were my child, I would be looking for other reasons, as well. He is a totally one-dimensional character in this book, and I for one could never conjure up any compassion for him. This book is just not real, and the author needs to do more research about today's expectations for people with DS. They certainly go to school before age 7, and not to "trade school." What is that??? This book was a total waste of my time!!! Yuk!

This book is an atrocity. I shudder to think of how the author truly feels about people with Down syndrome. The main character hates his brother and as readers we are asked to accept that as normal. While anger and jealousy are quite common in sibling relationships, especially with children who have special needs, the young boy in the book has feelings which are excessive. Even at the end of the book Paul feels vindicated because his grandfather refers to Jacob as eerie. Never in seven years does he find out what his brother is really like. The child with Down syndrome is portrayed very negatively and does not go to school. He will soon go to a special school to learn a trade? Where did the author get her information? Did she bother to get to know any families who have children with Down syndrome? I think this book should be avoided at all costs. It is a very damaging piece of work, especially for the age group for which it is wriiten. If the book is meant to teach a lesson, I didn't get it. What I learned was that it is okay to hate.

I just finished this book and turned to see the Amazon reviews. I was horrified to see the positive review given by Hornbook and glad to see the two negative reader reviews. This book perpetuates out-dated stereotypes of Down Syndrome. Because the reader sees the entire book through Paul's point of view, his hateful misconceptions are never corrected. His beloved Grandfather calls Jacob "eerie." Are we talking about "Children of the Damned" or a book about a child with a disability? Paul's hatred of his brother is unmotivated and pathological. The author seems totally unaware of all the progress in the education of people with Down Syndrome. Early intervention programs bring children, parents and educators together from birth. Parents are members of parent advocacy and support groups. There are also groups for siblings. Children like Jacob learn to read and are mainstreamed in regular classrooms. Some attend college, hold jobs, drive cars and live independent lives. None of this appears in the book. Accuracy seems to be the least a reader could ask for. The only people who should read this book are the parents of children with Down Syndrome. It will make them so mad that they will go out and fight the stereotypes with renewed strength - a loving parent of an adolescent with Down Syndrome.

I was very disapointed to read that people found this book bad. My little brother had Down syndrome, so I understand why Jacob does many of the things he does. I read one review that did not like this book because it was stereotypical and another review said it was dark and depressing. I disagree with both. This book is not sterotyping at all. It is only showing how one child does not understand the things his little brother does. In fact the only way I see that this book is sterotypicle at all is maybe the things Jacob does, but not even in that way,is it really stereotyping. I know this becuase my little brother did many of the same things when he was younger and still does today. For the other review, well maybe it's not the best CHILD'S BOOK, but I dont think it is dark or depressing at all. It is accually very touching and has a meaningful ending.

The perception of the book can be taken any way depending on the reader. So if anyone finds this book anything less than warm and enlightening, I would think they are very closed minded.

I very much agree with one of the reviewers who declared this book to be "an atrocity". This book is written for older elementary age students, but the negative language and stereotypical portrayal of the young boy with down syndrome is very inappropriate. Yes, there is a need to understand the jealousy and anger that can exist within a family when a sibling has special needs, BUT there are more developmentally appropriate ways to depict these natural feelings without demonizing a small child, and playing into stereotypes of children with down syndrome.

i just finished this book and thought even though it's a bit on the dark side it was a great read. the mistake people make with this book is that they focus on the Jacob, the down syndrome child, and that not the case. the story is about Pual the older brother and his feelings for jacob,and although there not good feelings there real and thats what the auther is trying to gat across. if you come at this book with an open mind you will enjoy it and get the meaning of the book.

For a 35 yr. old parent this book was indeed a treat for thought. You will need a few tissues through this short but to the point book. Great for school age children who daily socialize with special needs children. (but also may be hard for kids to feel impact while reading) Adults- If you have a few hours..........Enjoy