Mind's Eye (novel) facts for kids
Mind's Eye is a special kind of novel written by Paul Fleischman in 1999. It's unique because it's written entirely in dialogue, which means it's like reading a play where you only see what the characters say. This book was recognized as one of the American Library Association's Best Books for Young Adults, showing it's a great read for teens!
Exploring Mind's Eye
What the Story is About
The main character in Mind's Eye is a girl named Courtney. She has faced many difficult challenges in her young life. First, her father left when she was little. Later, her mother remarried a man who was not kind.
Sadly, Courtney's mother passed away, leaving her alone with her stepfather. To add to her troubles, Courtney had a riding accident that left her unable to move her legs. Because of this, she was sent to live in a nursing home.
New Friends and a Special Journey
At the nursing home, Courtney meets two older women. One is named Elva. The other is named May, who has Alzheimer's disease. This condition affects memory, and May often repeats her words, like "I think my dance dance dance lessons were cancelled."
Elva had made a promise to her husband before he died that they would visit Italy. Now, she is too weak to travel there in person. She feels stuck because she can't use maps to plan her dream trip.
Elva decides to take an imaginary trip to Italy instead. She needs help to do this, and Courtney is just the person to assist her. Together, they embark on a special journey using their "mind's eye." This means they imagine the trip vividly in their minds.
They work together to complete this imaginary adventure. By the end of their shared journey, Elva finds peace. She passes away, having fulfilled her promise in a unique and meaningful way.
