Petey

For years, as fellow teacher recommended this book to us and repeatedly sang its praises. Being stubborn, I put it off until last week. I shouldn't have waited so long! Not only does this book sing to me in telling Petey's story, but I loved the "second story" -- the blessing that Petey became in Trevor's life. Mikaelsen did an exceptional job of researching a history that seemed impossible to backtrack . . . yet this book never seems like a lesson in history as Petey's experiences at both the Warm Spring Asylum and the nursing home in Bozeman transcend the ordinary reporting of facts and takes the reader into the minds of each of these exceptional characters. "Petey" is an warmly told heart wrenching story.

Only giving 4 stars instead of 5 because my book, while brand new, had a deep gash in the front where a box cutter cut into it. The book itself is really great. It takes a lot to make me cry for a book, but this story is just so well written and what Petey goes through is terrible. But,*spoilers*He overcame what life threw at him and I will always appreciate this story.

Ben Michaelson is one of my favorite authors for kids. Petey is a severely disabled man whose love of and enthusiasm for life teaches us empathy, compassion and an appreciation for what you have. I use it as a read aloud in 6th grade.

Such a wonderful book. My, at that time, Jr high son, wanted this book for his collection. He had read it in elementary school and was very inspired & moved by it. My husband was able to contact someone, to have the author sign it..he did !! It remains a cherished book in his collection today at 22yrs of age. He even named his puppy, Petey, same spelling !

As a gift and not the kind of book he would necessarily select, M.E.S. was perplexed when he first looked at this book called Petey. When he opened it and read "Spring 1922" Bozeman, Montana" he didn't put it down until he was finished reading the very last page, So much to think about. Not uncommon to M.E.S. he gave me a very entertaining and compassionate thumbs up oral book review of it in his last letter.

Petey is a story that has touched my life and made me a different person. I now look at life as a wonderful and joyous gift that I was given. I now remind myself that life could have thrown me a curve ball, like Petey's. However, Petey never lets that hinder his love for life and how he touched the lives of others. I read this story and immediately knew that it would be a read-aloud in my classroom. It has made an enormous difference in the way my students look at people with disabilities and are different than themselves. They cry, laugh, and want to talk about what is going on in the story as never before during a read aloud. Last year, not long after I started reading Petey, a boy moved into your school who had a disability a lot like Petey's. The kids immediately began talking about how his life must be hard like Petey's, how they wanted to be his friend, could they learn sign language to communicate better with him, etc. Instead of laughing like most young people, my students welcomed him with open arms. I cried when i realized that Petey had made a difference in my children's lives.I don't know if you are aware of the fact that Petey is a real person that the author met and became involved in his life. He took him on trips and did many of the things that happen in the book. It is evident that this man changed the life of the author, just like he has changed so many lives with this book.This book is a MUST READ!

My daughters book club (13 yr old girls) selected this book and it was a unanimous hit. I read it too (middle aged mom) and loved it as well. It was heartwarming, sad, inspirational and provided context to learn about the differences we all have. Loved it!

Book was amazing and it had me crying more than once. It’s amazing how much has changed since 1922 this book may be for children but it’sIs a great read for adults because it helps put things into perspective.

L loved this book. I could relate to Petey's challenges and loved his determination to do what he had to do!

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