Mighty Mike Bounces Back: A Boy's Life with Epilepsy

Be the first to write a review

Overview

Mike has epilepsy and sometimes it's hard to feel like a "real" kid. He is scared of letting other people know about his disease—or even worse, being seen having a seizure! He is often worried and afraid of what other people will think. Soon Mike's father buys him a basketball, and things begin to change. Mike starts playing basketball at his school, at home—everywhere! Through his growing love and talent for basketball, Mike learns to overcome his worries and to be courageous in the face of obstacles including ...
See more details below
Hardcover
$13.45
BN.com price
(Save 10%)$14.95 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Hardcover)
  • All (23) from $4.07   
  • New (16) from $5.35   
  • Used (7) from $4.07   
Note: Kids' Club Eligible. See More Details.
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

Mike has epilepsy and sometimes it's hard to feel like a "real" kid. He is scared of letting other people know about his disease—or even worse, being seen having a seizure! He is often worried and afraid of what other people will think. Soon Mike's father buys him a basketball, and things begin to change. Mike starts playing basketball at his school, at home—everywhere! Through his growing love and talent for basketball, Mike learns to overcome his worries and to be courageous in the face of obstacles including his epilepsy. Co-written by a real-life basketball star with epilepsy, Mighty Mike Bounces Back is an empowering story written to help kids learn to deal with adversity and to take control of their life.
Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

Chances are that the boys and girls who read this inspiring book won't have epilepsy and probably don't know anyone who does, but that doesn't make it any less relevant or meaningful. Like the three million Americans who grew up with this once-tabooed condition, every child grows up with challenges that can make them identify with this story of a boy who overcame them. Rob Skead's vividly told, empowering story about a basketball-obsessed youngster with epilepsy possesses added resonance because it mirrors the real-life story of his co-author, a veteran Harlem Wizards basketball star. (P.S. Skead is a spare-time children's book author; during the day, he serves as a director in our Corporate Communications Department.) —R.J. Wilson, Bookseller, #1002, New York NY

Children's Literature - Mary Clemens
All Mike wants is to be like the other kids. He doesn't want to be left out of their games. He doesn't want to wear a bike helmet when he is not riding a bike. He especially does not want to black out and have seizures. Mike is diagnosed with epilepsy when he is two-years-old. Since then his parents and older brother Joe do all they can to help him cope with his disability. When Mike's Dad gives him a basketball when he is eight-years-old, Mike discovers unknown talents. As the years pass and his ball-handling skills improve, Mike learns how to manage his disorder, deal with preconceptions born of ignorance, and overcome obstacles. When he finds himself at age fourteen playing in a championship basketball game, Mike is ready to take his shot. There are plenty of life lessons to be found in this title based on the childhood experiences of co-author Simmel, who, despite his small stature and medical condition, went on to successful college and professional basketball careers. Information about managing both the physical and psychological aspects of a disability interrupts the flow of the narrative, making the overall tone more self-help than story; however readers interested in learning more about Simmel or epilepsy may look past this. The small type-size makes the pages appear text heavy, which may be off-putting to the younger end of the intended reading audience. Supplemental material at the end of the book includes discussion questions, information about seizure types and coping strategies. Reviewer: Mary Clemens
Kirkus Reviews

A teen with epilepsy has fantastic basketball skills, honed by years of relentless practice, but still struggles frequently with his condition.

Fourteen-year-old Mike is about to take what might become the winning shot for his travel basketball team when he reflects back on his 12 years of living with epilepsy. His path to success has veered around roadblocks: seizures that aren't fully controlled by his medicines, bullying at school and prejudice on the part of his coach and a few other adults. With knowledgeable parents, a good doctor and a wise counselor, he's doing well; this aspect rings true, since one of the authors, Simmel, has had epilepsy since early childhood and is also a member of the Harlem Wizards, a performing basketball team. Stock characters and heavy-handed asides reinforce the helpful message to readers but often intrude on the storytelling unnecessarily: "His mom also reminded him that it's normal to be embarrassed or upset if kids didn't understand his epilepsy." This weakness diminishes the novel's potential to reach a broad audience. A lengthy afterward provides a wealth of accurate and useful information for patients and their families.

Thinly clad in the guise of a novel, this self-help book for kids with epilepsy offers a positive message but is unremarkable literarily. (Self-help fiction. 9-14)

School Library Journal
Gr 3–5—Mike sits by his window every day watching his brother and friends run around and play. Longing to be free of his epilepsy, he dreams of a world in which he won't black out and have unexpected seizures, kids won't make fun of him, and where he can play without having to wear a helmet in case he has an "episode." One day, Mike's father comes home with a basketball. Mike starts dribbling and doesn't want to stop. Soon, he finds that not only is his hand-eye coordination getting really good, but he also is having fewer seizures. His classmates and the adults around him, however, are worried that Mike's epilepsy might cause problems for him and the basketball team. Will he be able to join the team? The text seems overly simplistic for the target audience and, at times, is choppy. The characters and their motivations lack depth. The story, however, does a good job of inspiring readers while educating them about this condition, and back matter gives more information about it.—Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781433810435
  • Publisher: American Psychological Association
  • Publication date: 10/7/2011
  • Pages: 80
  • Sales rank: 981,127
  • Age range: 9 - 12 Years
  • Product dimensions: 5.70 (w) x 8.60 (h) x 0.40 (d)

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 29, 2012

    Great book! Loved it!

    What a great book! Its really intresting and really helps boost your confidence. If Mighty Mike can do it with epilepsy, than surely I can too! It teaches you to believe in yourself and that with hard work, anything can happen! If you have epilepsy or any other diagnosis, then i would definetly recommend this book. I would also recommend it even if you dont have anything like that. It was a wonderful read. It had a great plot and was really well written. I loved this book!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 10, 2011

    Highly recommended- check it out

    This is a great read aloud for teachers of elementary and middle school children. Good for discussions about adversity, being unique and character education. Also a good read for parents to share with their children of all ages. Students in upper elementary and middle school can read on their own and gain some powerful insight on what it is like to have epilepsy. THis is a heartwarming read for all.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)