Yours Turly, Shirley facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Ann M. Martin |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Holiday House |
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Publication date
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1988 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-8234-0719-5 |
Yours Turly, Shirley is a children's novel written by Ann M. Martin. It was published in 1988. The story is about a girl who has dyslexia, which means she has trouble with reading and spelling. The book's title itself shows this, as "Truly" is spelled "Turly."
Contents
Story Summary
Shirley's School Struggles
The main character is Shirley Basini, a fourth-grade student. Shirley finds school very hard because she has dyslexia. This makes reading and spelling a big challenge for her. She often feels like she isn't good enough and worries about letting her parents down. This is especially true because her older brother is very smart and does well in school.
To hide her worries, Shirley often acts out in class. This makes her strict teacher unhappy. Shirley also faces a lot of pressure. If she doesn't improve her grades this year, she might have to repeat the fourth grade.
A New Sister Arrives
Shirley's parents decide to adopt a baby from Vietnam. Shirley is a little happy about this. She thinks her parents will focus less on her school problems. But then, there's a mix-up! Instead of a baby boy, they might adopt a slightly older girl. Shirley gets very excited about this idea. She looks forward to teaching her new sister English and helping her learn about American culture.
Jackie's Success and Shirley's Feelings
Shirley's new younger sister, named Jackie, quickly looks up to Shirley. Jackie is eager to learn from her older sister, and they become close friends. However, Jackie soon starts doing very well in school. She even moves from the regular third-grade class to a more advanced one.
This makes Shirley feel worried and jealous. She fears that Jackie won't need her anymore. For example, during a spelling bee, Shirley gets upset. Jackie can spell all the words easily, while Shirley struggles.
Learning and Growing
Shirley starts to give up on school. This causes a problem in her relationship with Jackie. But this challenge helps Shirley understand her role as Jackie's sister better. She also begins to see her own strengths. With extra help from the school's resource room, Shirley starts to find her own ways to succeed in school.
