Firegirl

Firegirl

Sometimes we read about them in the papers or hear their stories
on tv news. Sometimes they are known only to those around them like
my sister, Harriet, who survived spinal meningitis, losing a
hemisphere to that awful disease. They miraculously live through a
deadly disease, accident, or assault. That is where the story ends
for most of the world. But not for the child involved...
...she or he must go out into a world that may be much less than
welcoming, especially if he or she looks or acts dramatically
different. Can you imagine needing support and affirmation more than
ever and frightening or creating revulsion in your peer group? In
Firegirl Tony Abbott touches beautifully on this issue.
Tom is one of those kids who sort of fades into the background.
His mom attributes that to the fact he "doesn't get out there." He has
a crush on a cute girl, a friend, Jeff, to hang out with, and a life
he considers ordinairy.
Everything changes for him when Jessica, victim of a horrible
accident, enters his classroom. At first he's as horrified by her
burns as the rest of the class. But he can't just write her off like
the rest of them. And therein lies the difference...
Firegirl is an oldie (2006) with a timeless message. If your
library doesn't have it, I'd suggest procuring it through inter
library loan. None of us, kids or adults, ever know when we'll be
called to push past our fears and prejudices to extend the hand of
acceptance to someone who might need it desperately.
On a personal note, spring semester 1990, great with child, I studied
journalistic ethics. Kathryn Olmstead was the teacher. I can still
see her in my mind throwing out questions and really listening to what
we had to say. We studied about a little girl, Sage I think, who
suffered terrible burns. Media coverage was the controversy. Were
her parents raising awareness of the plight of people like their
daughter or using her situation to their own advantage? What should
the media do in that situation?
A great big shout out goes out to Kathryn Olmstead for her just
published book which I shall review as soon as I get my hands on a copy.


Sent from my iPod