Small Steps

SUMMARY
This book is about a girl that contracts a disease called polio that paralysis the arms and the legs, sometimes resulting in death. But with support, education, hope and a chocolate milkshake, she overcomes the effects of the deadly disease and lives.

THEME

DEFINITION

Adverse or unfavorable fortune or fate; a condition marked by misfortune, calamity, or distress.

No matter what adversity or fear we may confront, we are always inherently free to choose how to be.

The first way the author overcame adversity was to have a support system of family and friends.

FAMILY VISITS

• In the book, the author tells that her family would visit her on Sundays. On pages 80-85, the author says her parents often brought her and her friends gifts to brighten their day.

MAKING FRIENDS

• In chapters 9-16 she meets patients in the hospital that are going through the same struggle.

The second way the author overcame adversity was to educate herself about her disease.

GAINING KNOWLEDGE

• In chapter 2, Peg gets sick and is diagnosed with three types of polio: spinal, respiratory and bulbar polio.
• The doctors and nurses told her about her disease and how it would effect her body

The third way the author overcame adversity was to try to have a positive attitude and to never give up hope.

THERAPY

• In chapter 6, Peg talks about how difficult and painful the physical therapy was when they stretched out her arms and legs to work the muscles.
• She wanted to resist, but she knew she had to endure it to try to get better.

HAVING FUN

• In chapters 9-16 she does not let her disease stop her from having fun with the other patients in the hospital.
• In chapter 16, she tells about the time she played Mother Mary in the Christmas play. Although she falls down while walking on stage, she did not the accident frustrate or embarrass her.

PROGRESS

• In chapter 14, Peg uses leg and arm braces to learn to walk again.
• The nurse encourages her to be patient and take small steps to regain her balance and control.

REFERENCES

• Small Steps By: Peg Kehret
• Haiku Deck
• Dictionary.com

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