i was scared

Ah, another 'tough issue' book. And another weird amalgamation of fact and fiction. What is it with books like this that try to tell a story but then randomly insert strangely serious social or medical information in awkward places. I know Earl Alexander, Sheila Rudin, and Pam Sejkora were trying to write book that first- to third-graders could understand, I'm assuming that's their target audience since Lindsey, the narrator, is in the second grade, but it gets to the point that it's insulting. I guess I believe in giving kids the facts, especially if they're curious enough to ask in the first place, and this book is pretty much in direct contention with my views. The dad in My Dad has HIV, has HIV, obviously. But how? Why? It's like it mysteriously and spontaneously generated in his system. Lindsey tells how her dad is brave and talks to people about being responsible for their own health...by eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and washing their hands regularly. To prevent colds and the flu...ok...but where does HIV come in? The entire book likens the disease to the cold or a flu because it's a virus but they kind of leave out any real information or any kind of reaction to the disease. I'm not saying the characters should be stigmatized, far from it, but if you're going to write an informational book for kids, shouldn't you include information? Or if you're writing fiction, shouldn't there be a story? My Dad has HIV has neither.