Sugar Was My Best Food: Diabetes and Me (Albert Whitman Prairie Books) [Paperback]

Adair Gregory (Author), Kyle Carney Gregory (Author), Carol Antoinette Peacock (Author), Mary Jones (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Albert Whitman Prairie Books

Diabetes brought big changes for 11-year-old Adair and his family. He learned to prick himself to test his blood-sugar level and got used to two insulin shots a day. For a while he was too weak to run track or ride his bike.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-4AAdair Gregory recounts how his world was turned upside down by diabetes. His initial reaction was typical-he felt scared, alone, weird. What he did next was anything but-he wrote this book for kids his age. He describes his ninth year-from symptoms and diagnosis to treatment, diabetes camp, and participation in a fund-raiser for diabetes. What is truly exceptional here is the boy's emotional candor: his surprise at the diagnosis, his squeamishness about daily injections, his frustration about taking inconvenient blood-sugar readings, his fear about his physical well-being, his disappointment at not being able to eat candy at Halloween, and, most of all, the loneliness of being different. He is also keenly perceptive about the wearying effects on his family, even the pets: "We were one big worry." His parents, however, worked with their son's doctors and school to move beyond the "it's awful" stage and gradually drew out the boy's resiliency. This appealing book is packaged with a colorful cover and has charming black-and-white illustrations. The chapters have catchy titles and the text adeptly blends medical details into the story. Adair's snail and e-mail addresses and a promise to answer every letter appear at the end. A useful title for children with this disease and those who want to know more about it.AAbigail Jane Goldberg, Brooklyn Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-6. In a voice so genuine readers will think they are being directly addressed, 11-year-old Adair Gregory describes his learning, at the age of 9, that he has diabetes. He recounts the enormous changes the condition brought to his life--from pricking himself to test his blood sugar and learning to give himself insulin injections to giving up sweets--and he poignantly conveys the effects the illness has had on his family, his struggles with his peers, and his feelings of being different. His remarkable attitude and lack of self-pity will help draw readers into the book, as will the simple pencil sketches, contributed by Mary Jones. Adair also gives his mailing and e-mail addresses: he wants, he says, to help some kid with diabetes "get his life back." Mission accomplished, Adair. Shelley Townsend-Hudson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 56 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807576484
• ISBN-13: 978-0807576489
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,668,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Diseases > Nonfiction

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rave review from the wife of a diabetic, August 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sugar Was My Best Food: Diabetes and Me (Concept Books (Albert Whitman)) (Hardcover)

I read Sugar Was My Best Food to learn more about what it must have been like for my husband when he became a diabetic at age 13. I was so impressed by the honest feelings expressed by the young author, and by the tremendous support he got from his family. Anybody who loves or works with a child with juvenile diabetes should read this terrific book. And diabetic kids should read it to learn how heroic they are and that things will get better with time.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First chapter book my 9 year old has ever finished., February 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sugar Was My Best Food: Diabetes and Me (Concept Books (Albert Whitman)) (Hardcover)

My 9 year old son was just diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. He has never been interested in reading . He received this book as a gift and started reading. He finished it in 4 days and has never finished a chapter book in his life. We need more books about kids with diabetes for him to read. Excellent book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Adair's book makes missing sugar a lot easier!, August 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Sugar Was My Best Food: Diabetes and Me (Concept Books (Albert Whitman)) (Hardcover)

What a treasure! Adair manages, as only children seem to do easily, to convey truthfully and honestly what it feels like inside to be diagnosed with diabetes (or any other major condition, I imagine). The "little girl" in me finally felt someone understood! There is much good medical information, in plain old English. But what is remarkable is how Adair verbalizes what it feels like, not only physically but emotionally, to have diabetes. Thank you, Adair!