I read this book in high school over 10 years ago, and I still feel that it is the best book to really teach you what autistic and behaviorally disturbed children are really like. This is the book that made me choose to become a teacher. I recently recommended it to a friend who just married a man with a 7 year-old autistic daughter.

Simply the best book I have ever read. It shows how children with mental disabilities SHOULD be taught and loved, with love, compassion and patience. Mary MacCracken has an insight others need!

New Dreams...New Hopes...Second Chances

Joey, a bright intense seven year old, still can't read, so he plays class clown for approval... Eric, a withdrawn kindergartner, is left speechless by the horrors he's witnessed at home... Alice, a winning fifth-grader; scorces zero on every math test... Charlie, a confused eight-year-old, struggles in his own distorted mirror-image universe... Ben, a rich kid, has been called stupid so often be believes it. These are some of the learning-disabled kids who were deep in trouble until Mary MacCracken, an extraordinary therapist and teacher, worked miracles with them - and changed their lives. Her heartwarming book is a testament to her talent, compassion, and love...

(I realy enjoyed this book, and thought I just tell you what's it is about - and let you decide if it is what you are looking for.)

This book was a wonderful story about a caring teacher helping some very disturbed children. However, there are some points during the story where you can tell it is an old book. A teacher claiming autism is an emotional disorder, possibly linked to retardation, for example, shows the age of this story. However, it is still a heartwarming and enjoyable book.

My sister and I both read this book in grammar school, in my mom's Reader's Digest condensed (20 years ago!). Mary MacCracken had an incredibly hard job, and did it well. She warmed the hearts of misunderstood children, while warming the hearts of the readers of her story. Children don't choose to be emotionally disturbed and learning disabled, but teachers do choose to help them. An interesting note: their day at the beach seems to have preceded research on autism and music; Hannah's love of music should have been documented by scientists for further use. As the Reader In Georgia wrote, what DID happen to Lovey?

Lovey is an awesome book. It helps you understand what disturbed children go through each day and you'll be able to learn so much about them. It's a heartwarming story for teachers, students, moms, dads, and everyone else! Check It Out!