Swamy's Book Reviews

This blog will hold all the book reviews, including those which were earlier posted at www.blether.com That site has been closed and so I am keeping all those reviews here so that a prospective author/publisher and a publicist can decide whether I am a suitable reviewer for the book they are trying to promote. My latest reviews are also being uploaded here.

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Location: Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

I am a Physicist, a Metallurgist and a Quality Management Professional, an Author, Editor and Reviewer. I review books mostly on Science Fiction, Management, Spirituality, Children's Fiction, Health etc. My reviews appear at Amazon, Shelfari, Bookpleasures and some Yahoo Groups.

Sunday, August 07, 2005

Finding The Right Spot

FINDING THE RIGHT SPOT - When Kids Can't Live With Their Parents
by Janice Levy; Illustrated by Whitney Martin

Category: Non-fiction / Education / Children
42 pages; ISBN: 1-59147-074-9

Rating: 8/10

Review

‘Finding the Right Spot – When Kids Can’t Live With Their Parents’, with text by Janice Levy and illustrated by Whitney Martin is a small book for young children, of suggested age 6-12 and the adults who need to take care of them.

Written from the perspective of a child, who is in the care of a foster aunt, and illustrated vividly, the book is a good read, filled with deep psychological insights. It is touching and moving. It is also highly educative. It is good value for children and for adults too.

Since separation from the biological parents is always traumatic, even where the child has been ‘rescued’ from a situation of abuse, the child needs to be taken care. The trauma of a fractured childhood lingers long, deep in the psyche, and holds sway for several years, until the script is erased by understanding and accepting.

Human psyche, especially in the formative years is fortunately flexible and negative strokes can, to some extent be compensated by positive strokes, hurts by hugs etc. This book demonstrates and reinforces the same concept through the small girl ‘finding the right spot’ in Jake, the orphan pup, to whom she can relate well because the pup too is separated from his mom. Aunt Dane provides the optimum support.

The same story, told from the perspective of the child's mother and the foster aunt would be interesting and educative to the adults who need to be the caregivers to similar children. I hope the author and APA will bring them out soon.

The Note to Caregivers at the end by Jennifer Wilgocki, M.S., and Marcia Kahn Wright, Ph.D., adds value to the book, by putting the story in the right perspective.


All in all, the book is an excellent addition to the children’s literature.

More information about the author, Janice Levy and her other books etc. can be found on www.janicelevy.com

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