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Book Reviewed by:
Donna Chavez
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Hearts will break and spirits will soar for this powerful story, brilliantly told.
Rose Howard is obsessed with homonyms. She's thrilled that her own name is a homonym, and she purposely gave her dog Rain a name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein), which, according to Rose's rules of homonyms, is very special. Not everyone understands Rose's obsessions, her rules, and the other things that make her different – not her teachers, not other kids, and not her single father.
When a storm hits their rural town, rivers overflow, the roads are flooded, and Rain goes missing. Rose's father shouldn't have let Rain out. Now Rose has to find her dog, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places to search.
Hearts will break and spirits will soar for this powerful story, brilliantly told from Rose's point of view.
1
Who I Am—A Girl Named Rose (Rows)
I am Rose Howard and my first name has a homonym. To be accurate, it has a homophone, which is a word that's pronounced the same as another word but spelled differently. My homophone name is Rows.
Most people say homonym when they mean homophone. My teacher, Mrs. Kushel, says this is a common mistake.
"What's the difference between making a mistake and breaking a rule?" I want to know.
"Making a mistake is accidental. Breaking a rule is deliberate."
"But if—" I start to say.
Mrs. Kushel rushes on. "It's all right to say 'homonym' when we mean 'homophone.' That's called a colloquialism."
"'Breaking' has a homonym," I tell her. "'Braking.'"
I like homonyms a lot. And I like words. Rules and numbers too. Here is the order in which I like these things:
1. Words (especially homonyms)
2. Rules
3. Numbers (especially prime numbers)
I'm going to tell you a story. It's a true ...
Rose is the kind of fictional character that anyone would want to know. I realize Rain Reign is a young adult book, but some of the finest fiction of all time has been written for young adult audiences. This is one of them. There is something here that all readers – adults and young people – can benefit from. Should benefit from. I know I have...continued
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(Reviewed by Donna Chavez).
For parents, siblings and partners of people who have been diagnosed with autistic disorder, something as simple as stopping at the quick mart for milk can be a challenge. Depending upon the person's level of tolerance for changes in routine, and conditions on the day, his/her response could range from nothing out of the ordinary; to minimal – perhaps rocking back and forth or mumbling – all the way to loud, progressively violent screaming, hitting, and worse. Of course every person with autistic disorder is unique, and will respond uniquely to situations, but even happy occasions such as birthday parties or dining out can devolve instantly and without warning into vehement, disruptive behaviors. Because autistic disorder (the ...
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