4 out of 4 stars
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9 year old Sky Rota loves Minecraft, coming up with Football plays and is a friendly and popular 4th grader. His excitement for the new school year quickly turns to torment as his new teacher, Teacher Winifred, seems to really have it out for him. As things get worse throughout the year Teacher Winifred asks for Sky to be tested, and he and his parents learn that not only does he have dyslexia, he also has ADD. Look Mom, I’m the Dumest One in My Clas!: One Boy’s Dyslexic Journey is written by Sky himself and details the trials and tribulations he faces throughout his school year.
The school Sky had always gone to was one that's welcoming to students, and the reason he initially went there was because the school had always been accommodating to his learning needs. However, Teacher Winifred's focus on making everyone independent means blatantly ignoring all the suggestions his parents have to help Sky out. His papers come back heavily corrected in bright marker, when he asks her to read the instructions she merely tells him to try it again and she even informs the other students not to help! When she "accidentally" sends an assignment back home with a list of everyone's grades - his far below everyone else's, of course - he rightfully feels crushed and cries out "Look Mom, I'm the dumbest one in my class!" (just like the title!). Even when Sky and his parents learn he has dyslexia and new, official suggestions are made to the teacher they're ignored. Sky breaks down, not wanting to ever go to class again, as he's repeatedly embarrassed in front of all his friends. When his teacher won't even let him draw his football plays anymore, demanding that he write them out in cursive instead, it's the last straw.
What I really loved about the book was how well it blended his experiences in class with learning about dyslexia. I'd heard some about it, and for a long time it was pretty common to hear someone joke that they're "a little dyslexic", but I picked up a lot of new information here. For example, dyslexia is different for everyone, and in Sky's case he's an "ear-learner". This means that he learns by hearing, and even when he does manage to read something he doesn't pick it up well despite his incredible memory. He also points out that dyslexia comes with strengths as well as weaknesses, such as how he could put together model planes that were recommended for kids 14+ when he was only 7! Also, while he spells things the way they sound (like the purposeful misspellings in the title of the book), he can remember how to spell things like Ferrari and Lamborghini because he's so fascinated by exotic cars. While he can't tell time, he can relate to it in a way by comparing it to something else, like saying that a potential new school two hours away is "4 whole Spongebobs" away.
It's also worth mentioning that although Sky wrote this book himself and he's dyslexic, it's absolutely perfectly edited by Elizabeth Cameron who he thanks in his acknowledgements. I didn't find a single error in the 120 page book, which is something I can very rarely say about a book I've reviewed! I was hooked from the beginning, wondering how Sky would be able to get through such horrible circumstances in school and when things would get better. I was especially able to relate to the book myself; I dropped out of high school because the tension became so great that I was constantly nauseous and sick. I could feel those emotions through the pages as Teacher Winifred was so relentless with Sky and his school failed him so terribly.
Overall, though, this was a book about hope. Much like Sky focuses on the positives of dyslexia, Look Mom, I’m the Dumest One in My Clas!: One Boy’s Dyslexic Journey is about hope and learning to embrace our own unique strengths. It's an emotional, heartfelt, genuine book that I can't recommend enough, and as such my official rating is 4 out of 4 stars. If you have dyslexia or know anyone with it you should absolutely read the book. If you're a parent, the book also speaks to you about looking for red flags in the behavior of your child(ren). Finally, if you just love encouraging nonfiction books or are interested in an inside look at dyslexia, you should check it out as well. Sky is an incredibly positive, encouraging kid and a force of greatness! The book also includes links to his blog and his YouTube account, both of which I checked out and loved as well.
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Look Mom, I’m the Dumest One in My Clas!: One Boy’s Dyslexic Journey
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