Petey by Ben Mikaelsen

Petey, born with severe Cerebral Palsy in the 1920s before they knew what Cerebral Palsy was or how to deal with it, was diagnosed as an “idiot” and confined to an insane asylum at just two years old. He was not an “idiot” at all, but was just trapped in a useless body. With the help of his friend Calvin, a club footed child who was abandoned at the asylum during a snowstorm, Petey learns to communicate. Eventually, Petey is transferred to a nursing home many miles away. There, as an old man, Petey is befriended by a young teenage boy who needs Petey as a friend as much as Petey needs him.

Petey is a beautiful story that will make you really evaluate how you treat handicapped people. Sometimes it is heartbreaking and sometimes it is heartwarming. Aimed at middle grades, it reads fast. I could barely put it down. I highly recommend it to adults and kids alike.

5 (out of 5) Stars

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