Comments on: Kristy cures autism!

By: Ruby Woo

Ruby Woo — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:12:01 +0000

Wasn’t this the book where Kristy follows the girl and sees her getting inside a giant fake hug machine? (this is my seven year old interpretation…so don’t judge me…)

By: MJ McStabby

MJ McStabby — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:09:23 +0000

” I usually skipped the second chapter of all the books because I hated all the introductions and reasonings.”
I did that too, but I always read the part about what Claudia was wearing, because, well, duh.

This book was also my first intro to autism, and stayed that way for a good long time (I’ve never seen Rain Man). Eventually, I got a job working for twin boys with autism, and starting reading books about it and other neuro disorders. Those kids were effing awesome. They were pretty severe as far as functionality goes (nonverbal, etc.) but very lovable, and not averse to hugs. They had more personality that most SVH characters all put together (not like that’s hard.) Wouldn’t you know, I ended up with a boner for neurology and here I am, about to finish my first year of med school. Thanks, Ann M. Martin!

By: Peaches

Peaches — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:59:27 +0000

I agree with Cara Walker. I’m an Aussie too and I infrequently, if EVER, use the words “barbie” or “sheila”! The creator of the Hobart family has a lot to answer for.

By: Baby-Sitters useless vacation « The Dairi Burger

Baby-Sitters useless vacation « The Dairi Burger — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:47:13 +0000

[...] California thinks she’s the expert and jumps at the chance. And at the camp is Susan Feldman, the autistic girl that Kristy failed to cure! I thought she never made another appearance. The camp has a hugging machine used by individuals [...]

By: There’s no earthly way of knowing what was in your heart when it stopped going. « fi-ology

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:34:15 +0000

[...] More links for you, my darling readers! Passive Aggressive Notes Frankie’s blog I like this, because I remember the book [...]

By: calico drive

calico drive — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:47:52 +0000

” I usually skipped the second chapter of all the books because I hated all the introductions and reasonings.”
ah see thats why i did not skip these – i wanted to see how many ways they could saw Dawn was an individual; Claud was an artist etc etc LOL

By: RollingStone

RollingStone — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:35:59 +0000

I’ve actually been diagnosed with a mild form of autism. That didn’t happen until I was a teenager; before then, everyone just thought I was a shy kid who would grow out of it. Even today, most people assume that I’m just shy.

It really bugs me that the media and the schools are practically obsessed with severely autistic kids while no one gives a shit about adults with milder cases. If I were a public school kid today, I would be getting all kinds of help; instead, I can’t even find a specialist whose office is less than three hours away.

By: Laura @ Hungry And Frozen

Laura @ Hungry And Frozen — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:58:41 +0000

This book was the first I’d heard of autism, but like several others, I thought all people with autism had some kind of super-talent. I remember feeling kind of uncomfortable with this book even as a kid. On the one hand, Kristy is a tool, on the other hand, I guess the mean neighbourhood kids are kind of realistic.

By: audreyapple

audreyapple — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:54:09 +0000

Kristy also looks about 35 on that cover. But then, the Babysitters always looked so much older. I guess to try and fool the audience into forgetting shit like that parents would never leave their kids alone with an 11 year old no matter how much they weren’t allowed to babysit at night.

By: Jo

Jo — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:03:44 +0000

Interesting. I didn’t read this one until a year or so ago, when all the book were up on a Web site for a while and I read the entire thing. This is after having friends with autistic kids and doing a few papers on them.

“Also, it described Susan as being “inside herself in her own world” which I guess could be an accurate description, but I took it too literally.”

I can see why if you read this as a kid, you’d take it too literally, but nearly everyone I’ve met who has an autistic kid (or who teaches autistic kids) says this about them.