Book Review: "Me and Rupert Goody"

O'Connor, Barbara. Me and Rupert Goody. New York, NY: Frances Foster Books, 1999.

Me and Rupert Goody is a book about Jennalee, who lives with in southern North Carolina's Smoky Mountains with her very large family. Jennalee's only escape from her chaotic home life is working with Uncle Beau in his general store. Jennalee enjoys helping Uncle Beau stock the shelves and he is always attentive and understanding of her troubles at home. Beau is not her real uncle, but they have a special friendship that is turned upside down when a young African American boy who is cognitively impaired comes to town proclaiming that Uncle Beau is his father. Jennalee does not welcome Rupert right away, worried that he will take her spot in Uncle Beau's life, but after the town begins to object to Rupert because he is African American, Jennalee begins to realize how Rupert has become an important part of her life as well as Uncle Beau's and she comes to Rupert's Defense. Jennalee transforms from being stubborn and jealous of Rupert to having an accepting friendship.

The story focuses greatly on the life of Jennalee, and the developmental disabilities of Rupert are only secondary to the story as she is introduced to him and struggles to finally accept Rupert into her life. While developmental disabilities are not the main issue in the story, and race is also brought into the picture, Me and Rupert Goody is a well written book that helps bring awareness about people with developmental disabilities as Jennalee finds a way to reach acceptance of Rupert, teaching positive lessons about tolerance, belonging, and even love. Me and Rupert Goody is the second chapter book to be recognized by the Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award. This award is given to quality literature that positively portrays characters with developmental disabilities. While Barbara O'Connor does not always tackle the topic of developmental disabilities in her works, in Me and Rupert Goody, she gives a realistic portrayal of a young person’s exposure to someone with disabilities and the positive but sometimes difficult steps taken toward acceptance.