Reviews from

Too Many Birds Are Singing!

almost too fantastical to be true ...

56 total reviews 
Comment from N.K. Wagner
Excellent
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This is a wonderful story about a little boy's struggle with incompetent teachers in the face of his ADD. That ends on a hopeful note when he finally gets the help he needs. Funny, funny descriptions, Sharyn. Enjoyed it. :) nancy

 Comment Written 26-May-2013


reply by the author on 26-May-2013
    Thank you so much Nancy! :)S
Comment from Sasha
Excellent
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This is a fantastic story. I am familiar with far too many learning disabilities, having just about all of them in my own family. Being a teacher is not easy and being a student with a learning disability is even worse. You have done a superb job conveying the problems faced by these children and the terrible effects a bad teacher can have on them. Bravo. I didn't learn how to read until the seventh grade and it was only the determination of a wonderful, dedicated teacher that I was able to get passed having dyslexia an disability not yet identified. I enjoyed this very much. Keep up the great work. I don't know why, but the site will not allow me to give you a well deserved 6 stars for this one.

 Comment Written 26-May-2013


reply by the author on 26-May-2013
    My son's has never really been defined clearly either - and now he scores incredibly high on reading comprehension and only so-so on writing because he's still too squirly to sit still for long and he's 16! thx so much my dear - and I've noticed the site is weird this last week too - I know I had some sixes left last week and when I got to a couple of authors wanting to use them, it didn't let me do the '6' even though I know I hadn't given these authors a 6 previously. I'm going to ask Tom, because it's happened quite a few times. GRRR! But a huge thank you for the virtual and lovely praise! :)Sharyn
reply by Sasha on 26-May-2013
    It might be because you are only allowed to give one writer two 6's in a one month period. Silly rule but that may be the reason.
reply by the author on 26-May-2013
    just talked to Tom also - apparently once you review someone, and then are asked sometimes to go in and review if they make changes, they don't make a '6' available - it's only available first time around. I know about the 2 x month rule ... but I swear swear sometimes it's doing that for other authors that I HAVEN'T sixed - I'm going to keep an eye on it, just to make sure I'm not going crazy (craziER) :))
reply by Sasha on 26-May-2013
    That's good to know. I was not ware of the rule.
Comment from smudge
Excellent
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This posting is colorful in expression and overall appearance. It is exceptionally well written and a pleasure to read. I particularly liked your information on the tomato plant, relating to deadly nightshade.

 Comment Written 26-May-2013


reply by the author on 26-May-2013
    Thank you smudge - though hopefully you got more from the piece than information in tomatoes dear! :)Sharyn
Comment from robina1978
Excellent
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I could not follow it all. I think Tommy with what he said just read over and over what he learned. Not that much as he had ADD. At the end after ages of struggle he reached page three. I suppose it is about his ambition.

 Comment Written 26-May-2013


reply by the author on 26-May-2013
    Nope. Slow down, Ine - you'll get it dear. :)S
reply by robina1978 on 27-May-2013
    Is it not?
Comment from 9999pool
Excellent
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This is such a tender story about ADHD. If it is any comfort to know, one darling writer here has ADHD and she could write so well you had no idea she had it. I can relate to this story very well after what I was told.
The story had a happy ending though I suspected Jack had ADHD too, smiles.
Overall a very interesting story especially the brawl between the two misses, LOL.
The story unfolded in a very interesting manner especially the narration part which is the signature of Sharyn.
Excellent write and well penned. The story flows and up to the ending, it held my attentions (though I tend to drift when reading stories, LOL).
Cheerio, hugs and luff, Ritchie.

 Comment Written 26-May-2013


reply by the author on 26-May-2013
    I know Ritchie - in fact, quite a FEW writers here have it and still manage to do amazing, unique work. I think, personally, that we way over-diagnose - we need to accept normal squirly people as normal squirly people, without idiotic labels, yes?

    Blessings to you dear, as always!
    Sharyn
reply by 9999pool on 27-May-2013
    So true Sharyn. All of us have to shrinky and mad to be happy, isn't it? They are all gifted in a way - Angel Lawson is one of them. Style of writing is not important as long as readers understand the contents. When we are famous, even a three word sentence will get a seven stars, ROTFL.
    When we are popular here, anything we write is good and readable. Some have even stopped correcting my grammar as poets can twist and stare and they 'accept'. We came out with so many themes and your poem about the bully teacher is one example. Most are amaze at the rate we churn out poem without really planning it. I write poems in 15 minutes flat and so can you (that I am sure). What to write is the MAIN challenge.
    Even for a 32 cents read, they will read because it is an entertaining and fun/serious read.
    Cheerio, the madman poet, Ritchie. Hugs and smoochies.
reply by the author on 27-May-2013
    I think it can be an advantage - you don't get stuck using language only in conventional ways!
reply by 9999pool on 27-May-2013
    Big smiles. Huggies, Ritchie :))).
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Sharyn! That was such a brilliant story! I was really into it, the whole thing, the little boy who couldn't read, right up to the end where he is reading without realising it. Really really really brilliant!!!! Is there such a method to teach children that way? I have never heard of it, yet it sounds quite possible. A really excellent write and a wonderful story to read! xsx Sandra

 Comment Written 26-May-2013


reply by the author on 26-May-2013
    oh'ray!!! my first sixer! Thank you SOOO much Sandra - and yes, actually, do you believe this happened to my son? He was diagnosed with a visual saccading problem (i.e. wasn't tracking from left to right properly), amongst other things - very amendable to therapy - but his school didn't want him there as soon as they found out. So I found this crusty old ex-lawyer who had become a reading teacher - she taught a 'PACE' program - basically a series of sub-skills essential to learning to read - but it was all in challenging "game" form and my son could chart his progress each session. I wasn't noticing much change until one day, one of his friends came over and he talked about reading "Eragon", a really THICK (and with thick prose) book. Kai, my son, opened it ... and started to read it aloud. I nearly fell off my chair. So - yes - miracles do happen, with the right chemistry, yes??? and a little magic helps, too, of course!
    :))))
    big hugs and thank you again! I love it when you enjoy my pieces!
    Sharyn
reply by Sandra Stoner-Mitchell on 26-May-2013
    What a wonderful feeling that must have been. It goes to show there is always a way to get round obsticles, just a bit of patience and someone who knows what they are doing. I am so pleased your son was one of the lucky ones. I couldn't begin to imagine how it would feel not to read. All the wonderful books out there to read! Oh, and you really, really deserved the 6!! xsx
reply by Sandra Stoner-Mitchell on 26-May-2013
    What a wonderful feeling that must have been. It goes to show there is always a way to get round obsticles, just a bit of patience and someone who knows what they are doing. I am so pleased your son was one of the lucky ones. I couldn't begin to imagine how it would feel not to read. All the wonderful books out there to read! Oh, and you really, really deserved the 6!! xsx
reply by the author on 26-May-2013
    And sometimes it needs a lot of not believing what the supposed 'professionals' are telling you Sandra. Fortunately I was a speech therapist, so already had some training in specific learning problems. At one stage they wanted to put my kid into a school with high functioning autistic kids - that's when I KNEW something was not making sense to me, thank goodness. Life is an eternal lesson teaching "trust yourself" lessons I find! :)))
reply by Sandra Stoner-Mitchell on 26-May-2013
    I agree with you, I just look at my brother to realise what nonsense some talk. My brother was born a diabetic and when it came to starting school, none would take him because it would 'upset' the other children seeing him have a biscuit mid morning to keep his sugar levels right. He had to go to a special school for diabetics and the nearest one was 200 miles away, so he had to be one of the boarders. It was heartbreaking. That was 50 years ago, nowadays it is accepted as there are so many. My granddaughter is one and has no problem with the school. Some people
    just have no common sence. It is fortunate for your son that you knew something about learning problems or he might have had quite a different life! :)x
Comment from Taffspride
Excellent
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An amazing read Sharyn. You grabbed my attention with the opening line, then kept it right through till the end.

I laughed at the description of Miss Montgomery, but certainly not at her teaching methods.

Poor Tommy, why are children with ADHD deemed unteachable? Jack certainly proved that they are not. There is a saying. If a child cannot learn one way, find a different way to teach him or her.

Thanks for sharing, and good luck in the contest.

Iechyd da

Ann

 Comment Written 26-May-2013


reply by the author on 26-May-2013
    And that saying is TOTALLY correct, Ann - I know, having gone thru it with my own son! GRRR!
    Bless you, as always, for your lovely reviews and constant encouragement :)Sharyn
Comment from Opal H.
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This is a cute story. Like a sweet kid's moral tale written in satirical Sharyn style. Oh, and or some reason we. I read about the teacher I was reminded of a character from Matilda by Roald Dahl called Mrs. Trunchbull. Have you read that book? It's even a movie.

 Comment Written 26-May-2013


reply by the author on 26-May-2013
    well of course! I LOVE that character Opal! My son is having some strife at school at the moment, as it happens, and he likened this teacher to Trunchbull, so I guess my inspiration came from Roald Dahl. And I LOVED both the book and the movie of "Mathilda"! I sould put that in the author notes!
    Bless you
    Sharyn
Comment from sweetwoodjax
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this is very well written, visionary, you did an excellent job writing this chapter where the boy stops hearing the birds so he can read. i enjoyed reading it. good luck in the contest

 Comment Written 26-May-2013


reply by the author on 26-May-2013
    bless you sweets! :)S
Comment from Eigle Rull
Excellent
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Oh what a heartfelt piece of writing. It was excellent. I loved the plot. I especially loved the dialog. I found no errors at all, and it certainly held my interest very tightly until the end. Good job my friend,

Always with respect,

 Comment Written 26-May-2013


reply by the author on 26-May-2013
    What a lovely review! Thank you so much E.R! :)Sharyn