Author: Jean Little (1932-2020)
Publication: Little, Brown & Co., hardcover, 1962
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Setting: 20th century Ontario
Description: Sal Copeland is excited to be returning home to be with her family after living in a residential home for handicapped children since she was four. She is also terrified. Her parents are loving but firm: they want her to be as self-sufficient as possible and that is hard for Sal who panics when confronted by something new. She is intimidated by her confident older siblings and stymied by her little sister Meg who asks questions about Sal’s cerebral palsy she does not know how to answer. Attending the local elementary school is stressful too – Sal can’t keep up and yearns for friends. When Sal adopts a West Highland White Terrier as timid as she is, she begins to develop the internal strength to deal with her new home and school and is able to understand that others have challenges as real as her crutches, although less visible.
My Impression: What does this book say about 1962? Mine for Keeps was Little’s first book and immediately established her as a talented children’s author, skilled at depicting young people with disabilities or other issues without sentimentality. However, they weren't "problem books" per se because her characters were so universal. Little herself was legally blind and, as an adult, taught at treatment centers for disabled children in Ontario before recognizing there were virtually no children’s books about children with disabilities. Mine for Keeps reflects her own experience transitioning from classes for the visually impaired to a mainstream school at about the same age as Sal. Mainstreaming children with special needs by putting them in a regular classroom was not common in the 1960s. Those in favor of educational mainstreaming believe that educating children with disabilities alongside their non-disabled classmates promotes understanding and tolerance, and prepares both groups for the real world.
Encouraged by her father, a medical missionary, Little started writing at a young age. He died while she was at the University of Toronto but she dedicated this book to him. Sal’s father is also very supportive:
One can see it would be a difficult decision for parents, and in the late 50s or early 60s sending Sal to a residential school might have been the best option but seeing her family only twice a year must have been hard for everyone! Of course, Sal was nervous about returning to live with them full-time and being in a school where she fears she will be the only different person. However, her teacher explains to Sal that Elsje, a classmate who is a Dutch immigrant, has also gone through difficult times, although her struggles are not as obvious as Sal’s. As Sal becomes more confident, she is able to develop empathy for others, which also helps her develop the friendships she craves. Her dog Susie also plays an important role in Sal’s progress.
Little died not long ago, having written more than 50 books. Mine for Keeps was one of my favorites, along with Look Through My Window and its sequel, Kate.
Source: Personal copy
“You want to know why we sent you away to school,” Dad said, settling himself between them on the couch. “Well, Sal, you were Meg’s age, but you couldn’t feed yourself. You couldn’t help to undress yourself. You couldn’t talk clearly enough so that strangers could understand you. Of course, we could have kept you at home and looked after you. We loved you. We didn’t mind dressing and feeding you, and we understood you. But we thought you’d rather be able to do these things for yourself. How about it? Were we right?”It was not unusual to send disabled children away from home in this era and earlier, for families with resources (or sisters who can baste shirts to help raise the funds). Otherwise, school might not even be an option. Remember, Mary Ingalls attended the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Iowa from 1881-1889 and it is unclear how often she returned to South Dakota.
Sal did not want to answer, but he waited. At last, not looking at him, she gave a very small nod.
Little died not long ago, having written more than 50 books. Mine for Keeps was one of my favorites, along with Look Through My Window and its sequel, Kate.
Source: Personal copy
7 comments:
This was wonderful to read.
Her name seems familiar but I found a list of her books, and I haven't read any. Strange, because my kids were of an age to read her when she was still writing.
Thank you for the introduction to her.
My library doesn't have anything by her, but the state ILL system has a lot. I will definitely search her out.
Thanks again!
What wonderful memories I have of Jean Little, both her books and seeing her in person. I remember at least two school visits, one when I was in elementary school and another when I was in high school (but that school was grade 1 to 12 and they convened a full school assembly for everyone to hear her speak). As a small child, I was most impressed by her guide dog but then began to read her books and especially loved Mama's Going to Buy You a Mockingbird and Little by Little.
So interesting to learn about the author as well as to consider the social context for this book, and where we have come today (not so far, still, in terms of books by and about people with disabilities!) I read one book by Jean Little as a Child, Stand in the Wind, and remember it as being an inspiring story - sadly I don't have my copy any more but I'm curious to reread it now.
It sounds like she visited a lot of schools, which can't have been easy, but she clearly loved children and wanted them to see her and what a writer looked like. And at that age I would certainly have been fascinated by a seeing eye dog (I still am). I was surprised to see I now own eight of her books, including Little by Little, which I should reread. I guess I have been picking up when I see them. Nan, these would be good to read aloud to the grandchildren!
Lory, if you can find any online, look for Look Through My Window and Kate, which are connected. I now see she also published a third book which is poetry ostensibly written by Kate. One poem is Oranges: https://apoemaday.tumblr.com/post/649913319185170432/oranges
I have never heard of this author, Constance, so thanks for presenting her.
I have finished my 1962 book (A Wrinkle in Time) but not reviewed it, yet. Thanks for visiting my list.
My own brother became disabled at 12 and never went to school again. The authorities provided a private tutor for a few hours a week but he was away in hospital a lot and missed out on heaps of schooling. I was 6 years younger and, as was the way in those days, did not have anything explained to me and had no idea what was happening and very little understanding. Thank goodness things have changed.
Her books are realistic about the stress between disabled and abled siblings; she doesn't pretend everything is easy (although they're children's books so nothing gets too dire). However, I think many parents of our generation, Cath, had few role models helping them figure out how to manage whatever services were available or what to tell their families about the prognosis or coping. Sal in this book has a wonderful doctor and teacher but not everyone is that lucky.
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