The Sibling Slam Book: What It's Really Like To Have A Brother Or Sister With Special Needs [Paperback]

Don Meyer (Author), David Gallagher (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 11 and up | Grade Level: 6 and up

(2006 Independent Publishers Book Awards: Finalist in Juvenile-Teen-Y/A Non-Fiction category) Give teenagers a chance to say what's on their minds, and you might be surprised by what you hear. That's exactly what Don Meyer, creator of Sibshops and author of VIEWS FROM OUR SHOES did when he invited together a group of 80 teenagers, from all over the United States and abroad, to talk about what it's like to have a brother or sister with special needs. Their unedited words are found in THE SIBLING SLAM BOOK, a brutally honest, non-PC look at the lives, experiences, and opinions of siblings without disabilities. Formatted like the slam books passed around in many junior high and high schools, this one poses a series of 50 personal questions along the lines of: What should we know about you? What do you tell your friends about your sib's disability? What's the weirdest question you have ever been asked about your sib? If you could change one thing about your sib (or your sib's disability) what would it be? What annoys you most about how people treat your sib? THE SIBLING SLAM BOOK doesn't slam in the traditional sense of the word. The tone and point-of-view of the answers are all over the map. Some answers are assuredly positive, a few are strikingly negative, but most reflect the complex and conflicted mix of emotions that come with the territory. Whether they read it cover to cover or sample it at random, teenagers will surely find common ground among these pages and reassurance that they are not alone. It is a book that parents, friends, and counselors can feel confident recommending to any teenager with a brother or sister with a disability.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 6 Up–This multifaceted vehicle for eliciting some unique and many universal emotions is designed specifically for siblings of special-needs children. An adolescent mainstay, the slam book is the chosen venue for encouraging the venting of opinions, hopes, fears, frustrations, and triumphs. Comments by 81 young people display the recurring theme of optimism, complicated by hard work, dedication, resentment, and fierce protection, all as by-products of love. Some questions serve as icebreakers, such as "What should we know about you?" and "What should we know about your sib?" while thought-provoking chapters include "What life lesson have you learned from being a sib?" and "What are some advantages–good parts–of having a sibling with a disability?" Typical slam-book questions such as "Has your sib ever embarrassed you?" are interspersed with chapters like "Ever feel invisible?" Answers from the large sample group supply ample material so that each reader is sure to relate to some of the thoughtful or heartfelt responses. Highly recommended for all middle, high school, and public libraries.–Sharon A. Neal, Alvernia College, Reading, PA
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Review

"As a parent, I found it very worthwhile to read the thoughts and feelings of 80 teen siblings." -- Down Syndrome News, Volume 28, Number 4

"I highly recommend this book for any teen siblings of a child with special needs, or your clinic waiting room." -- ADVANCE for Physical Therapists & PT Assistants, September 12, 2005

"The Sibling Slam Book would be an excellent choice for a Christmas gift or any occasion." -- Breakthrough, Fall 2005

"[F]unny, smart, opinionated and thoughtful, the teens' observations weave together a realistic portrait of the complexities of sibling relationships." -- NDSS Newsletter, Summer 2005

"[O]ne of the best and most user-friendly books Disability Resources has come across in the growing field of 'sib books.'" -- Disability Resources Online, May 2005

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Woodbine House; 1 edition (March 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890627526
• ISBN-13: 978-1890627522
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,913 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brutally honest, and brilliant!, May 19, 2005

By 

Jenna (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sibling Slam Book: What It's Really Like To Have A Brother Or Sister With Special Needs (Paperback)

An insightful, contemplative, and often humorous read. Slam book editor Don Meyer asks 80 young people what it's really like to have a sibling with special needs. The answers are as varied as the contributors.

This book is a must-read for kids and teens who have a brother or sister with a disability, and is a valuable resource for health and social workers.

Read it and know that you're not the only one who gets scared or frustrated or embarassed. And learn how others work through tough times to become mature, independent and thoughtful young people.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sib couldn't put it down, October 13, 2005

By 

C. Singer "Parent" (Montclair, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sibling Slam Book: What It's Really Like To Have A Brother Or Sister With Special Needs (Paperback)

My daughter, the twin sister of a boy with Down Syndrome, couldn't put the Sibling Slam down. She quickly got taken up into the many comments and it definitely stimulated a number of good, open conversations between us. A great and important read for a sibling, and a parent.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great to see everyone else's point of view..., February 17, 2006

By 

S. Johnson (Jasper, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sibling Slam Book: What It's Really Like To Have A Brother Or Sister With Special Needs (Paperback)

I am one of the 81 siblings who answered the questions in this book, and although it was nearly 3 years ago and I've changed a lot since I wrote my answers, it still feels good to go back through and know I'm not alone. That was really our intended goal behind this book, and it came off well. Seeing that others share the same joys and frustrations of being a sibling as I do will never cease to help me get through the difficult life that we, as siblings of special needs kids, will live forever.