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I really enjoyed this book. Catherine’s dad did a great job of pointing out the things that made Catherine special. This book will be a great model for students in grades k-3. It teaches that we should look at what others can do and understand that it may not look or sound how it “normally” would. ( )

Based on a real-life case, Catherine suffers from a form of epilepsy. She has a learning disability and cannot speak. Her cousin is curious about her case and wants to know more about it. Catherine's dad explains the good things and skills that Catherine exhibits. This shines a light on a specific disability and does not view it in a negative way. It informs those with and without the disability that people who suffer from these cases still hold special skills. ( )

Catherine, a young girl with a disability known as West Syndrome, leads a very special life. She even walks and claps her hands in a special way. Her cousin Frances is very curious as to how she does it and wants to learn how to. I do not think that Frances really knows that Catherine even has a disability. Having West Syndrome means that one is unable to understand most of what is said to her, is unable to speak, and is unable to walk without the help of an adult, and is unable to live out daily activities such as feeding or dressing herself. This story taught me many things that I had never known before. Before reading this, I had never known the name of this syndrome, how it could affect someone, and that it was a kind of epilepsy. I learned most of these things from the author's note which was very helpful in letting me deeply understand and almost feel what Catherine lives through. Catherine's dad says that many people talk way too much and that it is so nice that Catherine can just listen very very hard. The word special is used many times throughout this book. Some think of the word "special" in a bad sense and I like how this story put such a positive meaning to the word. It really made me realize that we are all special in our own ways. ( )