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My Thirteenth Winter (by Samantha Abeel)

common sense media says

Honest story of life with learning disability.

parents & educators say
See all 8 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this memoir chronicles the author's challenges with dyscalculia, a learning disability that affects her ability to accomplish tasks related to sequential processing. This is a very personal and sometimes sad read, as the author expresses her many frustrations. But the book has little questionable content, and would be a powerful means of support for others, including parents and teachers, experiencing or wanting to learn more about learning disabilities.

Positive messages: Overcoming obstacles through support, love, maturation, and acceptance.
Violence: Mention of kids who fight.
Sex: Mention of pregnant 13-year-old student.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Mention of kids smoking cigarettes at school.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on My Thirteenth Winter

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about different types of learning disabilities and resources that may help. Can you imagine not knowing how to schedule according to time? Why did a comment from a teacher, that she didn't look like someone with learning disabilities, bother the author so much? There can also be discussion of the means of support that helped the author: parents, teachers, counselors, therapists, and anti-depressants.

What's the story?

What's the story?
This memoir chronicles the author's challenges with dyscalculia, a learning disability that affects the ability to accomplish tasks related to sequential processing, making things like telling time, giving change, and opening a locker very difficult. Starting with her earliest memories of learning difficulties, the book continues to show the challenges on the road to her diagnosis at 13, her depression and panic attacks as she grew older, and her slow path to acceptance in college.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Most kids take the simple things they do during the day for granted, like giving a cashier the right amount of money to buy lunch, knowing you can chat for five minutes before the next class, or opening a locker easily. These are things that terrified Samantha Abeel. It's hard enough just wanting to fit in, but add to that a profound learning disability and any kid would want to be invisible.

MY THIRTEENTH WINTER gives a detailed account of Samantha's experiences during the school years, leading up to her diagnosis through college. It's a great resource of information and support for kids having similar experiences and ideal for readers who like books about teens overcoming challenges. Life is an intense struggle for Samantha, as she honestly describes. The book ends on a realistically optimistic note regarding her future and happiness.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Samantha Abeel
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Publication date: January 1, 2005
Number of pages: 203
Paperback price: $5.99
Read Aloud: 14
Read Alone: 14
This review was written by Pam Gelman
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

Alyssa.Vanegas
teen, 14 years old
12
 
Review..
I think My Thirteenth Winter is a very good memoir but not so much a good book. I just feel like it's the same stuff happening,, She is okay,, then she starts getting very self concious again,, then her anxiety attacks start,, and she has a little break down then the process starts over again. It's going to be like that because its about her life, and I guess thats what happened to her but I didn't really like all the repetiton. What I did like is that we can see view how a person with dyscalculia sees the world. It got personal and gave alot of detail with what she sees and goes through on everyday, from the begining to her life to where she is now. I think its well written because it feels like it never leaves out the littlest detail in anything it's describing. I think it's an alright book, not the best but close to it.(:
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Alyssa_Denise
teen, 14 years old
14
 
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helped me decide (12) | had useful details (15) | read my mind (13)
nerdgirl96
teen, 15 years old
10
 
Helped me understand learning disabilities.
I'm a twice exceptional student; that means I'm gifted in some areas and learning disabled in calculation (unlike Samantha, I don't have dyscalculia-I understand what to do and why, but I still don't know my multiplication tables and add slowly). I just got into high school, and reading this really helped me think more about my place on the gifted/learning disabled continuum and my elementary school struggles, as well as articulate this to friends. Samantha is an amazing, persevering person. Must read for parents of twice-exceptional students. The only thing that limits the age range to 10+ is the level of reading (in a good way- it's written very well), and if you're a good reader, go ahead.
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mesimps1995
parent of 10 , 12 , and 14 year old
12
 
Great read for anyone who has a learning disability, teaches children or knows someone with a learning disability.
Loved it! Very inspirational and heartbreaking at the same time.
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denden12
teen, 15 years old
10
 
Perfect for older kids, but not for tweens
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xchafinx
teen, 16 years old
10
 
Perfect for anyone old enough to understand!
I am 14 and i loved it! There is nothing innapropriate at all, it sends a great message, and it is very inspiration for people with or without learning disabilities.
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helped me decide (7) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (8)
pizzavince
teen, 15 years old
11
 
Slightly Uncomfortable, but Positive Story
I thought this was a great book, and it made you think about what things you take for granted that others have to work alot harder for. However, the book made me slightly uncomfortable. It was just because the writing was so good, but there were lots of moments you felt as though you were the main character. And I warn you, it's not pleasant. But it's a positive story.
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)
F a n i l y a
adult
2
 
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (7)

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