Larry Dickens - Novelist & Mariner
Reader Comments for Mrs. McGillacuddy's Garden Party
I welcome your comments about my book.
Please feel free to send them to me at
SuLindHill.
A 2004 Community Reads Project selection, Canandaigua Elementary 4th & 5th grades.
"What a Witch! (reference to title character, Mrs. McGillacuddy)"
- Peter and Mary Stiffler, Canandaigua, NY
"On behalf of the campers and their families from Camp Circle O'Friends I write to say a most
sincere thank you for the new book you donated to our
camp. It is such a good book and truly
captures such good feelings. What a wonderful initiative."
- Ann Schulman, Camp Director, Camp Circle O'Friends, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
"Thank you so much for donating your book, Mrs.
McGillacuddy's Garden Party,
to the
Elementary
School Library. There are so few books written about cancer at a
child's
level of
understanding. I read
the story and enjoyed it."
- Mary Ellen Duncan, Naples Elementary School Library, Naples, NY
"Larry, Thank you so much for reading to our kids!
The kids are saying that the book is excellent and
it's
a new treasure to our library! See you next year."
- Laura Rizzo and Pam Cooper, 2004 Camp Read-A-Lot organizers, Leo Bernabi
Elementary School,
Spencerport,
NY
"The book gave me tears and smiles."
- John Ingle, Jr.,
Naples, NY
"My thirteen-year-old daughter has just finished reading
the book, and she really enjoyed
it. Camp Delight will start soon. Your book will be recommended to
the children and will be
added to our library."
- Dean Chaulk,
Director, Camp Delight, St. John's, Newfoundland
"I enjoyed reading it so much - it's touching, funny,
fresh, and true. I think anyone would
love it, but it would be a godsend to kids with serious illnesses and their
families. That Erika
(the main character) goes on leading her life for all she's worth even
when she's scared is
inspiring in the best way. It's a real achievement and a wonderful novel!"
- Mary
Bringle of New York City, author of Hacks at Lunch and True
Confessions: The Novel
"With cancer deaths exceeding over a half-million
annually, everyone at some point may
be affected either directly or indirectly. Mrs. McGillacuddy's Garden Party!
Helps to put
a face on kids with cancer. My son, Tod, said he wished there had been a book
like this
back when he was fifteen, when his sister Teddi was fighting her cancer. He
said he would
have better understood what both his sister and his parents were going through
during that
terrible time. I think the book will serve as a warm and friendly awareness
piece.
Thank you for allowing us to read your story and asking for our comments, and
thank you
for making Camp Good Days and Special Times an integral part of the story."
- Gary Mervis, Founder, Camp Good Days & Special Times, Branchport, NY.
"In both Mrs. McGillacuddy's Garden Party and Forever Ten, Larry
Dickens takes real life situations
and shows that his mind and heart are with the multitude of young children
throughout our world who
are disadvantaged. I pray that his good work receives the attention of
those empowered to help."
- Fred W. Sarkis, author, Prisoner of the Truck and Yes Pa.
"Mr. Dickens' book is a heart-warming story filled with the kind of people that many of us
face in every day life. However, he has presented them to us through such a rare perspective
that I have changed my perspective entirely on people faced with conditions such as Erika's.
My favorite part of the book is when Erika makes friends with Luc, the French boy who has a
brain tumor that cannot be treated or removed. Luc had a significant effect on my opinion of
people, especially children, who have terminal conditions, because he was not at all afraid of
death. I am glad to know more about Camp Good Days as well - every year there is a tennis
tournament held by my grandfather that raises money for the Camp through the generous donations
of many people, but I knew very little about what the camp was like. Now I know that it is a
wonderful place where children facing difficult conditions from all over the world may spend time
relaxing and having fun. Mrs. McGillacuddy's Garden Party is a wonderful book that has given me
an inside view on the lives of children who (I have discovered) are just like myself, and I hope
that stories of success such as Erika's may happen in real life."
- Stephanie Sacco, a junior at Naples High School, Naples, NY
"Thanks very much for the copy of the book you sent us.
I've begun reading and have
enjoyed much of the content. Thanks again for the effort to supply these books
and
the positive message they provide."
- Bruce Spoelman, Exec. Director, Special Days Camps, Lambertville, MI
"Your book will find an honored spot in our camp library. Thank you."
- Kurt Sturver, Director, Happiness is Camping, Bronx, NY
"I wish to thank you for sending your book for us to share with our
children."
- Patty
Grubman, Co-Founder, Dream Street Foundation, Beverly Hills, CA
"THANK YOU so much for sending us your wonderful book for the children of Happy Days and
Special Times. It's nice to know that people all over the world share in our enthusiasm to
creatively make people aware of the lives of children with cancer. The children of Happy Days
have a competitive spirit and are determined to beat cancer. They may not always win the battle,
but it's people like you that help us encourage them to keep on fighting to live."
- Deborah Stephenson, Founder/President, Happy Days and Special Times, Charleston, SC
"I can't begin to thank you enough for sending me your
wonderful book and kind note. I loved
reading it and will carry its many messages with me always. I had Breast
Cancer as an adult and my
Mother died in my arms from Ovarian Cancer after a long 2-year battle.
Cancer seen through Erica's
positive and unrelenting courage, her desire to have her friends and a "normal
life" is completely
uplifting and inspiring. I really felt her draw to Luc at Camp Good Days
to want to reach out to him
because he was in pain by himself. She truly touched him deeply and
brought him out of himself. Your
brilliant words from Luc "Don't let the fear waste your time" and "don't be
afraid to be bold --think big"
are thoughts that are very real to me. I always want to carry with me
their strong, courageous
and powerful messages.
I volunteer at The Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia and see many cancer children. Larry, your
contribution and commitment to cancer camps for kids through your incredible
words is truly a reward
you will be blessed over and over again. I feel honored to have received
your book and kind note.
THANK YOU!"
- Susan Cobin, Philadelphia, PA
"Wonderful values are gleaned from this book. What
a wonderful story! I highly recommend it
to anyone, regardless of age. It's a good, fast-paced book about kids with
cancer and is done in a
light-hearted, light-handed way. It will appeal to mature kids and teens because it's written from the
point of view of an eleven year-old who has leukemia, and it will appeal to adults who are seeking
an entry-level piece into the subject of childhood cancer. There's plenty of mischief and humor, as
well as some somber moments. Like the quote on the back of the book says, it gave me tears and
smiles."
- Reviewer: A reader from Buffalo, NY USA (Amazon.com)
"A Book For All Ages. This book helps to teach children of all ages
empathy with others. It helps to give them
an understanding of life as it affects many. It is a well written book with
characters who are so real the reader can
identify with them or recognize someone they may know. He describes many
of the treatments that may be
expected by children who have cancer. It tugs at the heartstrings and makes us
feel for the characters as they go
about their daily lives."
- A reviewer
(BarnesandNoble.com)
"Great first book for Mr. Dickens. This is a very
touching story that shows the 'inside' view of a very ill child.
The author shows a lot of compassion for the terminally ill, with a first hand
look at children who are inflicted with
life-threatening diseases."
- A reviewer (BarnesandNoble.com)
"A must read for all ages...You have got
to get this book. Larry has created a tale that is so lifelike that you
feel you are there. It feels realistic and shows the power of children and
their beliefs. Please try it!"
- A reviewer (Amazon.com)