Icy Sparks (Oprah Selection)

Rating:
Summary: up-close and personal view of Tourette's
Review: A great book to read if thisis of interest to you. This character grows up with Tourette's before much is known about it. Being a first-hand account gives it innocence and sympathy-2 qualities usually tough to apply to Tourrete's.

Rating:
Summary: Watery Fizzles-might be more apt
Review: Interesting premise but poorly written with a weakly executed plot. Yet another addition to the southern-poetry of rural- poverty genre; this one doesn't work as well as others. At times the novel seemed like an excuse for Ms. Rubio to trot out her zingy one-liners--I returned the book to the library so I can't provide any actual examples. An easy enough read--so if you're curious about the story go ahead and give it a go, just don't expect anything spectacular.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: Just wanted to add my two cents. Definitely one of the 10 best books I've ever read. Heartwarming!

Rating:
Summary: If you don't know the meaning of empathy...
Review: If you don't know the meaning of empathy before reading the book, you certainly will after. I loved the book! I am so proud of the author's accomplishments and not giving up before her gifts were recognized. One true friend is worth more than 500 acqaintances. Miss Emily obviously had her own problems, but never gave up on Icy Sparks.

Rating:
Summary: Icy Sparks: Lights the heart's fire
Review: Gywn Hyman Rubio....what an extrodinary talent she has to write beleivable yet unbelievable characters at the same time. Icy Sparks, the books faulty herione seems as real to me as my own family. She has tourette sydrome, yet we see beyond that because she has the inner strength and courage we wished that we had. She had it really hard; her parents died, she croaks and swears uncontrollably, she has the horror of scaring off her first love, yet she still gets through it with the help of Miss Emily, an obese lady who teaches Icy to be herself and damn the consquences. I believe this book is for anyone who has ever felt left out or alone. Once you read this you know in you are never really alone. You have yourself, and what a great gift that is.

Rating:
Summary: Eyeopening and Warm Hearted
Review: Icy Sparks was a wonderful book that gave insight into how people, and especially children, live and deal with Tourette's Syndrome. Icy Sparks is a young girl with alot of problems. She croaks and pops her eyes out and swears when she is anxious or embarassed or angry. People in her town, even her grandparents, think there is something mentally wrong with her. They send her away to a mental institution where children with every type of mental disability live. Icy learns to love and care for these castoffs and they soften her heart. Icy is released from the institution with no cure to her problem and even more social anxieties. Eventually, she was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome. The book was a very good, quick read. It was heartwarming to see how Icy related to kids who were different just like she was. At first she was reluctant to get near them but she realized that all they wanted was to be loved, just like her. The book moved a little slowly at times but overall it was good. The book skipped big frames of time. For instance, one chapter skipped two or three years without any explanation of what had happened. The ending was very abrupt and it wasn't clear what happened to her in her adult life. What a heartwarming book!

Rating:
Summary: Being different
Review: The story begins with a telling description of the backwoods ideas and folklore that permeate rural America.I think the author delivered a genuine homespun observation of the coolness that sometimes resides in rural areas. It was chilling on many levels as teachers, doctors and family members ignored this young girl struggling and suffering with a disease without a name. She felt shameful and yet overcame the obsticales by becoming resourceful with others who had been outcasted by this community. I felt compelled to read on and was taken back by the simplicity of the town people who did not care to help this young girl.

Rating:
Summary: And I thought I had problems..
Review: This book pulls you out of your small world and allows you the freedom to peer into some real problems. Uplifting, endearing, and intriguing from beginning to end. I challange anyone to read this and stay in their own pity-pit.

Rating:
Summary: Icy Sparks Rules!
Review: I just finished reading this wonderful, tender, and inspirational book. Yes, Icy is an inspiration to all who come to know and love her. I laughed, I cried, and I seriously could not put this book down. I fell in love with so many of the characters in this powerful, heartwarming book, but none touched me as much as Icy Gal herself. It has been awhile since I've read a book this good. Not your usual Oprah book!

Rating:
Summary: A Hymn To Not Fitting In
Review: A few of the characters were intriguing in this slow-paced book, but I thought it was a cop-out to end it with the child, Icy Sparks, learning that the only place misfits belong, like Icy with her tics and the obese Miss Emma, is at church. That cheapened the whole read into a conversion attempt.