A Song for Jeffrey (American Girl) [Paperback]

Constance M. Foland (Author), Wendy Popp (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1999 | Age Level: 9 and up

Lonely eleven-year-old Dodie meets Jeffrey, who has muscular dystrophy, and discovers what it is like to have a real friend, even as his condition worsens.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

paper 1-56247-754-4 In a loving, occasionally sentimental story, Dodie is having a hard year: her parents are separated, and heading for divorce; her older brother, once a comrade, now finds her useless; her hopes for the school talent show are squashed by a disastrous tryout; and there is no one her age in the neighborhood. She's feeling sorry for herself until Jeffrey moves in, a wheelchair-bound boy with muscular dystrophy and plenty of attitude about those who look upon him with pity. Dodie is just plain curious, and her persistent overtures of friendship win out. They become good friends, and unite his talentpaintingwith her singing for another talent show. Jeffrey's condition is deteriorating rapidly, however, and Dodie is on stage alone on the night of the performance. Dodie's self-pity, abundant in the beginning, will be difficult for readers to abide, until it becomes a part of her realistic response to Jeffrey's illness; shocked that he will die so young, Dodie finds herself blaming him for being one more disappointment in her life. Her turnaround is warming; as the disease progresses, Dodie faces up to her selfishness, and her own good fortune in knowing Jeffrey at all. Foland skips the death scene, reigning in the sadness while celebrating the serenity the two friends have found. For sheer tear-jerking, this is not up to Lurlene McDaniel's formulaic novels, but it has rewarding moments. (Fiction. 9-12) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: American Girl; First Edition edition (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1562477544
• ISBN-13: 978-1562477547
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.5 x 5.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,926,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Emmotionally memorable...a true pleasure!, May 4, 2000

By 

"thebookreader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Song for Jeffrey (American Girl) (Paperback)

In my About You page, I once said emmotional stories were favorites. The statement doesn't change with this book. Not unlike MICK HARTE WAS HERE by Barbra Park (another favorite of simmalar gerene), it tells the tale of a preteen girl coping with many things. This book, however, is multilayered. In MICK, Phoebe copes only with death, while SONG's Dodie copes with rejection, friendship, death, and starting over.

Also, the book is truthful about handicaps... it doesn't hide some things and show some others. It shows everything at one of the higher levels it can be shown at. Jeffrey is like many, including me, and Dodie reminds me of a few special friends.

A touching novel that comes highly reccomended!

ALSO RECCOMENDED: Mick Harte Was Here by Barbra Park

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Song for Jeffrey, February 9, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Song for Jeffrey (American Girl) (Paperback)

I laughed and cried through this book; the characters had me sold right away, and the story proved my instincts right. I like an author who makes me feel the emotions of the characters, but who stays in command of the story so the emotions don't carry me away. This author did just that.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magnificent Book about everyday Situations!, November 21, 2000

By 

Kit Kitterede (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Song for Jeffrey (American Girl) (Paperback)

A Song for Jeffrey is a magnificent book. It talks about things that happen everyday. It was a little sad when you heard about what Jeffery went though all the time with muscular dystrophy. This book proves that all people, even with diseases, can have many talents. I'd encourage anybody, even adults, to read this great book!