Sorry! [Hardcover]

Trudy Ludwig (Author), Maurie J. Manning (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Jack's friend Charlie seems to know how to get away with just about anything. Adults always back down when you say you're sorry. But does an apology count if you don't really mean it? Jack learns that the path to forgiveness isn't always the easiest. Includes afterword by apology-expert Dr. Aaron Lazare, M.D., note from author, and discussion questions.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5–Ludwig continues to tackle serious subjects in this follow-up to My Secret Bully (River Wood, 2003) and Just Kidding (Tricycle, 2006). Here she deals with the insincere apology. Jack's friend Charlie behaves badly all the time and gets away with it by saying he's sorry even though he clearly isn't. Jack doesn't like this about Charlie, but he does like how being the boy's friend makes him a somebody. Then Charlie damages Leena's science-fair project, and she tells him that Sorry doesn't cut it! A teacher helps him understand that he has to make amends for the hurt and damage he has caused. With Jack's help, he fixes the project. In the end, Jack chooses Leena's company over Charlie's. An afterword on the importance of apology, an author's note, discussion questions, and Apology Dos & Don'ts are appended. The text is stilted and lacks an authentic age-appropriate voice. Manning's digital pastel-and-watercolor illustrations effectively capture the characters' myriad emotions and provide valuable support to the text. Purchase this title as need dictates.–Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH
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Review

"Trudy Ludwig's books beat with the authentic hearts of real children." -Stan Davis, author of Schools Where Everyone Belongs

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tricycle Press (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582461732
• ISBN-13: 978-1582461731
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.4 x 10.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Manners

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forced Apologies Teach Force & Not Remorse, January 16, 2007

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sorry! (Hardcover)

Ms. Ludwig is a genius. No two ways about it.

In addition to JUST KIDDING, MY SECRET BULLY and now SORRY, she has shown her insights into the dynamics of bullying and harassing behavior.

Jack, a tween in the early grades feels that his identity is enhanced by being friends with Charlie. An aggressive, biffy sort, Charlie exacts cruelties on others and tosses off a casual "sorry." Many let him skate by with his insincere apologies.

Jack resents this, but does not feel he can challenge Charlie on this. A girl named Leena is the recipient of one of Charlie's more cruel pranks. When he destroys her science project, she tells him in no uncertain terms that she does not buy his insincere apology. Jack, touched by genuine remorse helps Leena rebuild her project.

Their teacher wisely intervenes and explains to Charlie what he has to do to make reparations and amends. Saying "sorry" is simply a formality; one has to be truly remorseful and willing to extend themselves to help the other person in order for it to be meaningful. Charlie sees the consequences of his behavior when Jack jumps his ship and forms an alliance with Leena and the other kids.

I love this book and want to add the following thought - I think it is not a good idea for people to coerce children into apologizing. The lesson that teaches is "appease the adult in question; avoid getting into further trouble by saying what the adult in question wants to hear." I have always resented this; as a child, I hated being forced to apologize and remember consciously thinking, "I'm lying if I apologize, but I'll say it so I don't get punished more." This book explores this; forced apologies teach children to "appease;" "to go along with a system" and is often viewed as an indignity and a price to pay to avoid further repercussions. This book does a good job of uncovering that.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read!, September 18, 2006

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sorry! (Hardcover)

Hurrah! Sorry! is a wonderful book to help parents and children deal effectively with the child whose behavior is not consistent with being or saying they're sorry.

We all know children (perhaps even some adults) who seem to get away with inappropriate behavior because they use the magic phrase "I'm sorry" all of the time. The problem is, they really aren't sorry and often you're able to discern this at the very moment the phrase is being used.

Jack's friend Charlie is a kid who thinks he can do almost anything and get away with it as long as he says he's sorry. He's even got Jack following his lead. The problem is, Jack is uncomfortable with his own behavior. When Charlie, accompanied by Jack, ruins a girl's science project, Jack learns that sometimes saying "I'm sorry" is not enough.

Sorry! is for children age 5 to 8 (and probably older) and will help children understand the value and seriousness of an apology. The "Afterword" is a must read as it explains how some apologies heal while other hurt. It offers a four-part apology explanation and discusses the purpose of an apology. It can be the beginning of informative and instructive conversations about apologies. The book also includes discussion questions and Apology Dos and Don'ts.

Armchair Interviews says: A must read!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for elementary school classes, February 3, 2007

By 

Maureen Caryl "moecaryl" (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sorry! (Hardcover)

Trudy Ludwig's books are all wonderful supplements to my classroom guidance lessons, especially in grades 3-5. As an elementary school counselor, I love reading books to students which reinforce concepts and skills that have been taught. I found Sorry! to be a perfect story for 3rd graders. It fits well with discussions about how acquaintances of bullies, or "bystanders," can make a positive difference in bullying situations. The message is also very clear that insincere apologies do more harm than good. Kudos to Trudy!