From: Donna Freedman <dfreedman>
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 1997 14:22:12 -0900

I, too, liked "The Tulip Touch." It was disturbing and often dark, but it didn't sugarcoat the reality of child abuse. Interestingly, the book didn't spell out exactly what was going on at Tulip's house; you were left to figure things out from hints such as a bruise, an absence from school or a lack of supervision. Since people are still reluctant to get involved, the don't-ask-don't-tell approach worked quite well. As Tulip's world deteriorates, her behavior became increasingly menacing, but the narrator was too young to understand that her friend was crying out for help, and the adults in the story simply didn't want to see what was going on. Certainly, the book is no fairy tale, but it should definitely start some heated discussions in the classroom. Donna Freedman Anchorage, Alaska
Received on Tue 09 Dec 1997 05:22:12 PM CST