Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have alway enjoyed Jean Little's writing. This was a beautiful story and very thought provoking

Mine for Keeps by Jean Little is a reissue of a beautiful, sensitive novel about a young girl facing the challenges of cerebral palsy. As vocabulary has changed regarding disabilities, this edition was updated to reflect that. Jean Little has a gift for communicating a child's world so authentically and I am so glad another generation can experience the beauty of her writing.

Sally had been boarding at a special school for children with disabilities when her parents made the decision to bring her home. Sally is faced with so many feelings: fear that she won't fit into her family; sadness over leaving the only friends she has known, and doubt that she will be accepted at her new, "regular" school.

The first challenge for Sally is figuring out where she fits into her family. The attention she receives causes some envy from her siblings and everyone is learning to adjust to a new normal. What is really noteworthy is her supportive mother and father. They offer help when absolutely necessary but allow Sally to struggle a little to gain more independence. Her second challenge is facing a new school and trying to find friends. She worries about what other children will think of her having to use crutches (and the fear and dread of misstepping and falling at school).

A secondary part of the story is the friendship between Sally and a new pet. As she nurtures him, she grows in confidence and is determined to train him. With the help of some new friends, she faces this challenge with creativity and grit. This endeavor leads to helping another child who has struggles of his own. All in all, this was a thoroughly delightful, poignant story about the transformational influence of family and friends.

When the book was written, mainstreaming children with disabilities was a significant shift in
educational philosophy. Mine for Keeps offers not only a historical perspective on the integration of children back into their families and into schools, but also offers a very positive example of encouraging all children--regardless of their abilities--to reach their fullest potential. The feelings that Sally experiences are universal: wanting to fit in and be accepted for who we are and learning to grow through challenges with the help of caring friends and family. I highly recommend this wonderful book!

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Mine for Keeps from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received and the opinions expressed are solely mine.

Love this classic dog story, now revamped for modern readers (Puffin 2023 edition). I wish I could have read this book in my childhood, as it would have been one of my favorites back then if I had.

Mine for Keeps was originally published in 1962, but I would definitely recommend it for young readers now. It's a wholesome kind of story. It introduces diverse characters to kids, as Sally is a girl with cerebral palsy, but it touches on other serious topics too. All the characters have their flaws and their virtues. I love how that illustrates that nobody's perfect.

To the dog lovers:
I looooove West Highland Terriers, and am extremely delighted that this breed is in this book.

I loved this story and the message throughout, about finding your place and valuing who you are, based on real life experiences. I have since bought other books by Jean Little and have enjoyed all that I've read so far.

Mine for Keeps
Puffin Classics Edition
by Jean Little
Pub Date 04 Apr 2023
Penguin Random House Canada, Puffin Canada
Children's Fiction



I am reviewing a copy of Mine For Keeps through Penguin Random House Canada, Puffin Canada and Netgalley:


While Sally Copeland was away at school she dreamed of going home. Now that she's home she's frightened and uncertain of herself.


Will her brother and sister accept her?


Will she be able to do things for herself?

And what will it be like to go to a regular school and be the only one with cerebral palsy?


I give Mine For Keeps five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

This was absolutely delightful. The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish. The characters were charming and witty. I highly recommend this fun and quick classic read! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

I feel really blessed reading the author’s work for the first time with this amazing award winning middle grade classic.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the advance reading copy of the new edition coming out on 4th April, 2023. It’s amazing! I love the cover so much!

I can relate with the main character Sal the entire time I was reading the book. The sense of wanting to belong to your family as much as everyone else in your family but also desperate for being the individual you are as you are familiar with when you are there with your family. Our main character, Sally Copeland, comes home finally after staying away from her family for years because of her disability.

She’s been missing home the entire time but when she’s surrounded by her family finally she’s not sure what to feel about it. However, her parents and her siblings along with those close to her family do their best to make her feel at home. Even though she struggles to fit in, she eventually finds her own place eventually.

I find the writing getting quite intense in the second half which I felt is just the grip needed to make the story more interesting. I am so happy to read a middle grade book with adult as well as child side characters having a distinct voice in the entire story. I am so impressed with the author’s writing and the manner with which some very sensitive topics having been dealt with so much understanding and maturity. I really appreciate this.

As I said before, I am quite blessed to have read Jean Little’s book for the first time. I am so grateful!