Lucky Lou Gets Game by Sarah Yates
September 19th 2011
Cover of Lucky Lou Gets Game by Sarah Yates
Before I review Sarah Yates’ latest book, I feel I have to declare my bias. I have been friends with Sarah ever since the early 1980s, when we both lived in Toronto and were members of the Periodical Writers’ Association of Canada (PWAC). I met Sarah when I was a new member, when she delivered PWAC papers to me. I have a vivid memory of her appearing at my door on a hot pink girl’s bicycle, wearing a hot pink helmet, her lovely long fingernails likely painted hot pink to match. She was impressive at first sight.
Moving about 25 years ahead, we’re still friends although we have both moved away from Toronto. Sarah hired me to do some media relations for her previous children’s books, and she hired me again this year when she published her latest work of fiction. So my review of her book can hardly be objective. But I can give an idea of what it’s about, and give my response to it.
Lucky Lou Gets Game is a young adult novel about a teenaged girl who has cerebral palsy (cp), gets around in a wheelchair, communicates vocally with a “cp drawl,” and through a computer or by means of alphabet board, both used with one foot.
If it seems that this girl, Lou, is severely restricted by her physical circumstances, this book shows how this isn’t true. Without denying the limits and challenges faces by Lou, Sarah shows just how ordinary her life is. Yet of course a book about ordinary life wouldn’t make very interesting reading.
Sarah has written about one dramatic summer in the life of a teenager with a disability. This is the summer when Lou gets involved in community activism over the right to have a wheelchair ramp built up to her house despite opposing neighbours who fear the loss of property values. This is the summer when Lou gets to play baseball with her peers and a group of able-bodied helpers. And this is the summer when Lou gets to experience the company of boys, and one special boy in particular.
I started to read the book out of obligation to a friend. I soon became eager to read on to find out what happens next. While almost any young girl could enjoy this book, anyone with a disability or concerned about disability issues will likely devour it. There are just not that many books published featuring protagonists with disabilities. And having a protagonist with a disability who plays a leading, active role in her own life and in her community is rare.
This is the very reason that Sarah has written a total of four books with young main characters who have a disability. As the mother of a child with cp, Sarah couldn’t find books that mirrored her daughter Gemma’s situation, so she began writing them.
The book focuses on what Lou can do and achieve and not on what could hold her back. This has been Sarah’s attitude througout Gemma’s life. Ironically, instead of creating a role model for her daughter to follow, in Lucky Lou Gets Game Sarah has written a character based very much on Gemma’s leading example of a role model.
Whatever your level of ability, this is a fun YA novel to enjoy. For how to get a copy, check out Gemma B. Publishing.
24th Annual Heart and Stroke Ride for Heart
June 06th 2011Here’s a post by Mike about what he did on the weekend:
Ride for Heart
I was out and about on June 5 on the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner in Toronto and ran into some of our Escarpment-area residents and other notable people.
Sheryl Gill, Survivor
Hon. Kathleen Wynne rode in the event. She also happens to be the Ontario Minister of Transportation. How appropriate!
Hon. Kathleen Wynne
Erin local resident James Moore pedalled in the event with an electric bike.
James Moore
The “Rude Riders” were out in force in tribute to Doug who passed away a few weeks ago from a heart problem. I can’t repeat why they are rude!
Rude Riders
I found one of our advertisers riding with the Rude Riders, Angelo De Medicis, from Milton Home Hardware Building Centre.
Angelo De Medicis
Niagara EMS “Pedal Angels"
Finally, the Niagara EMS rode as “Pedal Angels” wearing wings and halos. They collected $23,500 for defibrillators.
According to CTV morning news today (Monday), 13,000 cyclists took part and a record-breaking $3.9 million was raised.
Gala Fundraiser for Wellspring Cancer Support Centre/Chinguacousy
March 18th 2011Read this and WIN!
Here’s a post about a great cause – a fundraising event for Wellspring Cancer Support Centre/Chinguacousy. And as thanks for reading this and passing the info on to your friends, you could win a gift basket generously provided by The Belfountain General Store. Just post a comment and we’ll enter you in a draw for the gift. The draw closes April 2.
A Gala Evening is planned for Saturday, April 2, 2011 – In Support of Wellspring – Chinguacousy Cancer Support Centre’s Foundation – The 2011 Caledon Butterfly Gala, celebrates ‘for love of the living’. Join us and support this wonderful centre that provides a range of services that make a meaningful difference in promoting recovery of people dealing with cancer.
More information is available at http://wellspringching.ca.
Gala location Banty’s Roost Golf & Country Club, 12600 Bramalea Rd. Caledon East. Tickets $140 per person, cocktails 6 p.m./buffet dinner 7 p.m. (catering by Chef Warren Gelinas, Village Bistro, open bar, HST included). Join us for an exceptional evening of celebration and entertainment including a cirque-tacular performance by A2D2 and Alec & Steve’s duelling pianos. Special Guest Speaker, Master of the Arctic artist Mr. Cory Trepanier. For tickets email info@southfieldsvillagevoice.com or call 905-846-4852.
Now just click below to post your comment for a chance to win!
Take a Coffee Break® & Help Fight Alzheimer’s
September 14th 2010Coffee Break® supports programs for half a million Canadians with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia.
One in 11 Canadians over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.
Coffee Break® is the Alzheimer Society’s major nationwide annual fundraiser where friends, co-workers and customers gather in communities across Canada to raise funds for local Alzheimer Societies. Foodstuffs in Downtown Georgetown will be hosting a Coffee Break from September 16 to 25. [I think a cafe on Mill St. in Creemore is also participating in this.]
Participants at these events make a donation in exchange for a cup of coffee. The money raised stays in the province or community to help support local programs and services.
Even if you’ve already picked up your “usual” from one of Georgetown’s many great restaurants and coffee shops, you can still support our local Alzheimer Society by stopping in at Foodstuffs to “buy” a coffee cut-out or by visiting the Foodstuffs.ca home page for a link to the on-line Virtual Coffee Break.
The Coffee Break at Foodstuffs will feature local Ultimate Bean coffees brewed fresh for sampling. Every day there will be a draw for fresh-baked treats, coffees and accessories, and all participants will receive a special-edition newsletter filled with recipes, puzzles, coffee lore and nutritional information. Drop by Foodstuffs at 89 Main Street South in Downtown Georgetown any time from September 16 to 25 to join the in-store Coffee Break for our local Alzheimer Society. You’ll be helping someone you know.
For more about the great specialty store Foodstuffs, see this “Worth the Visit.”
Remembering Terry Fox
July 19th 2010Below is a request from the Terry Fox Foundation, for your memories of his historic run.
I’ll share mine here. My parents were hosting some of our relatives from Germany at their house in the country north of Georgetown. I was driving to my parents house, on the stretch of Highway 7 between Georgetown and Acton, when I saw flashing lights approaching me, people running on the shoulder on the other side of the road, carrying buckets to hold cash contributions, and I knew that something special was going on. I pulled over to the side of the road and then I saw him. Terry Fox in white T shirt and shorts, running with that unmistakable hopeful hop, swinging his artificial leg. Of course I burst into tears. When his procession passed, I drove slowly to my parents’ house.
“What’s the matter?” asked my ever-observant mother.
“I just saw Terry Fox,” I said, and the tears ran again.
“Who is that?” asked my German aunt and uncle. And my parents explained who Terry Fox was, and my relatives later went back to Germany with the knowledge of him and the impact he had on Canadians and perhaps the rest of the world.
And the tears are flowing even now as I write this, a few decades later.
Here’s what the Terry Fox Foundation wants:
It does not seem possible that the story of Terry Fox is now 30 years old, nor that we are all 30 years older since we first heard it. In preparation for the 30th Anniversary of The Marathon of Hope, the Ontario Office of The Terry Fox Foundation is asking individuals who met or saw Terry during his visit to your community to share their stories with us. Terry touched the lives of many people across the country in the summer of 1980. We would love to hear these stories and share them with the rest of Canada on our website, Facebook, and Twitter pages.
Please email or write your “I Remember Terry” (500 words or less) and fax it to the attention of Jessica at 416-924-6597 or email it to ontario2@terryfoxrun.org. We look forward to creating a narrative that reflects Canadians’ relationship with Terry Fox.
The 30th Annual Terry Fox Run is Sunday September 19th. Please join us as we work together to outrun cancer.
Are you going to share your memories? Is there someone else whose challenge with illness has moved you?
Specialized Cancer-Care Products With Small-Town Service
March 11th 2010The spring issue has a “Worth the Visit” feature with a good photograph of part of Young’s Pharmacy’s Renaissance Woman boutique, which specializes in cancer-care products. Here is some more information provided by Young’s about this special new department in their store.
Young’s Pharmacy & Homecare, located at 47 Main St. S. in downtown Georgetown, has officially opened the new “Renaissance Woman” boutique. This elegant boutique specializes in post-mastectomy apparel which includes bras, camisoles, breast forms, swimwear, compression sleeves & giftware. We also carry the “Sunveil” line of sun protective clothing. We provide a discreet, private and comfortable location within our store to assist you with your individual needs. For those suffering from Alopecia or hair loss due to cancer treatments, we carry lovely scarves, designer hats, and wigs. Providing comfort, style and grace are our goals at Renaissance Woman. We’re open weekdays and available for consultations 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or by appointment.
For more information or to set up your private consultation, please call Lilian at 905 877-2711 or 905 873-4021 extension 133. Here’s more information about Young’s Pharmacy.
