Radiance Descending (Laurel-Leaf Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Award-winning author Paula Fox succeeds again with Radiance Descending, a novel about a boy struggling to ignore his brother who has Down's syndrome. Paul can spin mental circles around Jacob, and he's tired of the way his parents focus all of their attention on his younger brother just because Jacob has a problem. Jacob dawdles, laughs endlessly, messes up Paul's room, and has a pumpkinlike face. Most of all, Jacob embarrasses Paul. Disgusted by the way Jacob fawns over him and angry at the way he feels erased in his own family, Paul focuses all of his energy on ignoring Jacob. Slowly, though, Paul begins to wonder if, perhaps, not thinking about Jacob is only another way of thinking about him? Radiance Descending is an enchanting, deeply felt tale about family pain and the courage it takes to reach out into the unknown. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

In a starred review, PW said, "Newbery Medal-winner Fox tells a perceptive, sensitive story about a preteen-ager who is idolized by his Down's syndrome brother." Ages 10-up. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 101 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (November 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440227488
• ISBN-13: 978-0440227489
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,237,787 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A terrible,stereotypical,outdated,depressing & harmful book!, September 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Radiance Descending (Hardcover)

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 Information about Down Syndrome is outdated and stereotypical.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

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars unnecessarily negative and dark, June 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Radiance Descending (Hardcover)

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!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Vile, horrifying, stereotypical, outdated !!!, April 28, 1998

By	Clare Ferguson (Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Radiance Descending (Hardcover)

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.