 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Hurt Go Happy
- By Ginny Rorby
- Genre: Family Life
Common Sense Media says
Award-winner faces tough topic of animal testing.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that one of the major themes is animal testing and experimentation. Though not graphic, this may be disturbing to some kids. Also, a major character was abused as a young child, leading to deafness.
What's the story?
Joey has been mostly deaf since early childhood, but her mother has refused to let her learn sign language. But in her teens, Joey meets a neighbor, Dr. Mansell, who has a chimpanzee, Sukari, who can communicate in sign language. Trying to keep it secret from her mother, Joey begins to learn to sign. But when her mother finds out, and then Dr. Mansell dies, Sukari's future is in doubt. Includes sign-language alphabet, author's Afterword, and a Reader's Guide in the paperback edition.
Is it any good?
While the story never comes across as didactic, no one will miss the piercing critique of animal testing, and it's a theme that will resonate strongly with young readers. Equally powerful, though, is the web of issues relating to deaf children and their families, and in Joey young readers will encounter a strongly sympathetic, and courageous heroine. Like many in the deaf community, she recognizes the positive aspects of her situation, and though she is often frustrated and lonely, she is also at times grateful and relieved to embrace her deafness.
There are a lot of important themes here -- deafness, communication, animal rights, parental fallibility, abuse -- and sophomore author Ginny Rorby swirls them together into a powerfully potent brew in which each ingredient enhances the others. Without ever getting graphic or inappropriate, the emotional and at times disturbing result may be too much for more sensitive readers. The rest will find it hard to put down while reading, and harder still to forget afterwards. This is a book that has a lasting impact on the reader, and those in the target age group may want to go further and take action.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about animal testing and experimentation. What are the pros and cons? Which outweighs the other? What are the ethics involved? Is it OK if it saves many lives? Is it OK with some animals but not with others? Readers who wish to know more can start with the Web sites listed below, as well as the organizations listed in the back of the book.
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Kid, 9 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
I nearly cried
It was one of the most touching books I have ever read.Just the story make you think more about life.
1# ON MY LIST of best books!
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Parent of an infant
May 25, 2009
AGE
AWESOME
*************I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK IT ACTUALLY MADE MY CHILD CRY. HA HA HA WHEN I ASKED HER SHE SAID BECAUSE TIS BOOK IS REALLY GOOD. I THINK THIS BOOK WOULD BE GOOD FOR CHILDEN MAYBE 10 AND UP REALLY REALLY GOOD AFTER MY DAUGHTER READ IT I DID THE BOOK HAD THE CAME EFFECT ON ME AS IT DID OF MY DAUGHTER*************************
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Kid, 11 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
A Very Sad, Yet Heartening Novel
Be warned, this book has a very very very sad ending. It does, however, leave the reader with a feeling of redemption and trumph. It features a thirteen-year-old girl who is whose father's abuse has left her deaf. Although most of have not experienced this, we can easily empathize with her because we can compare it to many of the traumas that we have faced in our own life. The book begins when the family has escaped from the father, and has moved of their car into a nice home. The mother doesn't turn out to be the world's greatest parent either, refusing to let her daughter learn sign language because she does not want people to know that her daughter is deaf. Instead, her daughter lip speaks which she finds very difficult. The daughter finds solace in two "accidental friendships" with a doctor and his sing-language speaking chimp, and they began to teach the girl sign language. The book begins to get emotional here, dealing with harsh, ethically challenging topics like animal testing and death. Through these events and her friends, though, the girl does become successful. Leaves you with an aftertaste of sorrow and encouragement to face all odds. YOU WON'T FORGET THIS ONE!!!
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Teen, 13 years old
September 25, 2009
AGE
Deeeeeep to the Heart
I think this is a very intriguing book. It really touches the soul if you bother to understand the meaning of the story. There are some parts that bored me a tad bit, but overall I adore this story; it brought me close to tears.
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Teen, 13 years old
February 17, 2011
AGE
Best book ever!!!
i love this book it is so interesting!!!
What other families should know:
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Teen, 13 years old
February 8, 2009
AGE
very touching
i loved this book.
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Teen, 14 years old
April 10, 2011
AGE
AMAZING, TOUCHING READ!
This is A REALLY AMAZING BOOK and probably one of my favorite reads! It is a bit mature with the topic of child abuse and Joey's alcoholic father, but the way Joey and her mother are able to heal together from that experience is both touching and inspiring. The gruesome scenes in the testing facility and the fact that *SPOILER ALERT* a valuable character passes away can be a bit hard for kids to understand. I've read this book five times in the past three years. Hurt Go Happy is a story I will read over and over again, and it's the book that has inspired me to choose ASL as my foreign language for high school!
What other families should know:
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Teen, 16 years old
March 13, 2012
AGE
its very touching
It really good about deaf girl joey who was not aware with what people talking about. and miss out of every thing in her life. But lucky ran into a guy who made her mother to rethinking about opportunity of the life joey could earned. best education for her in deaf school. Chimpanzee also helped joey to learn something. YOU people should read this book because its really heartfelt.
What other families should know:
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Kid, 11 years old
May 5, 2012
AGE
Such an awesome book!
It's really touching and I can relate to it. It literally made my eyes well up with tears. It is such an awesome book!!!
What other families should know:
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Kid, 11 years old
December 5, 2012
AGE
Not too bad
In fourth grade, our reading group read this book. It's amazing and moving, but I thought it was disturbing because I had never really been exposed to anything like it. But if our elementary school thinks it is acceptable, I don't think it's too bad.
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| Author: | Ginny Rorby |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Family Life |
| Publisher: | Tor Books |
| Publication date: | August 1, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 267 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 11 - 11 |
| Read alone: | 11 - 11 |
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