Review: Splendid Handling of Sam's Story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 20, 2013
Some stories of the ills that haunt children's lives can be very difficult to read. It's so hard to imagine that people meant to cherish and care for the most innocent of our world would, could and DO the awful things too many children experience.In Sam's case, something terrible happened, but that wasn't the only thing this story deals with. It deals with the real emotions, the doubts, the fears, the trepidation and the struggle of coming to grips with telling the truth. And with every step Sam took, each little thought he had, I felt as if I were right there with him. It tugged at my heartstrings and kept me turning the pages to the very end.J.L Campbell's use of a closed door approach to the details of the grittier things lends this story to be a useful tool to share with middle graders. That's because it's more than a story of a child victimized. It is a story of a child overcoming, and that's certainly a story every child should know.I applaud you, J.L. :-)