Unfinished Dreams

		"Sometimes a teacher can change a person's life and inspire the path they take. It happened to me. And it happened to my son. And it happens to Jason. The love and support of one human being for another is very potent 'stuff,' especially for a child."                                                                                    -Jane Breskin Zalben Unfinished Dreams: Jason can't imagine school without Mr. Carr, the principal who organizes Pajama Days and lets Jason keep his violin tucked away in his office. He's shocked to learn that Mr. Carr has AIDS and may not be coming back to school, but he's even more upset at the way some of his classmates and their parents turn against Mr. Carr. No one seems to remember the great things about Mr. Carr-- Except Jason. Jason understands what it's like to be different, since his dream of becoming a violinist has always set him apart from the other kids in his class. He also knows that being different has its price. When someone goes out of his way to hurt him, Jason is almost ready to give up the dream Mr. Carr encouraged him to pursue. But then Jason learns something surprising about Mr. Carr, and discovers the importance of holding onto-- and finishing-- dreams. Nominated for the 1999 William Allen White Award Kirkus Pointered Review The New York Times Book Review / Bookshelf Pick The New York Times / Featured Article Nominated for an American Library Association Best Books List Westchester Public Library System Best Books List German Edition now available through Erika Klopp Verlag "...few will remain unmoved, for Zalben's gift in simple, unobtrusive writing, is to make readers feel what Jason feels. At the end, what they'll feel is hope."                                                                           -Kirkus Reviews "...it will be savored by those who enjoy a subtly rich and quiet read."                                                                           -Voya "I was deeply moved by the story of Jason and Mr. Carr. I think the novel will stimulate discussion on a number of issues: death and dying, peer pressures, AIDS discrimination and religious tolerance. Unfinished Dreams belongs on a 'must read' list for young readers!"                  -Judy Burnett, Executive Director                                                                                      Ryan White Foundation "There were moments that made me laugh and moments that made me cry. But there was never a moment, not one, when I didn't feel Jason's story deep in that place inside that says, 'No matter what the differences of our ages, our lives, or our dreams, this is my story too.' I can tell you this: This is a book you will read with your heart."                -James Howe, author of the Bunnicula Series (Simon & Schuster, 1996)
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