Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

My 11 yr old daughter needed to read a biography for a book report. We had an Amazon gift certificate and thought we would use it. Since it was February black history month, we originally searched for Bill Cosby, as she likes his TV show. We found this book instead. What a fantastic book to read!!! My daughter read it aloud to me entirely on her own, only stopping for those medical terms. She is NOT a book lover at all.... only reads because a book report is due, and even she commented how well written this book was and how much she enjoyed it. We both found that reading it was very inspiring and motivational. I enjoyed it just as much as she did too!! It was very well written for kids, and you don't feel like the adult version was 'dumbed' down. We were so enthralled with Ben's story, that we put his biography movie "Gifted Hands" starring Cuba Gooding Jr in our Netflix queue...we can't wait to watch it!

I greatly enjoyed this book and all the interesting facts in it. Ben Carson seems to be a great role model with all he has pushed through and accomplished. His story has encouraged me and I’m sure many others. I hear how his mother had Ben and his brother read books and write reports. Then, Ben became the smartest kid in the class. I personally love reading, and I’ve gotten away from it. But, Ben’s story encourages me to read on. My parents have me read educational books in between books I read for fun. Before I wished I didn’t have to, but now I appreciate it.

After hearing a speech by Ben Carson, I thought I might buy a book by him, and saw this book with the other titles. I bought it for my daughter, who is an amazing 10 year old who adores It takes a lot to get my daughter to read a non fiction book. She finished Watership Down last week, and her reading level is wonderful. I wanted her to learn Ben Carson's story, knowing it would be kid friendly. She read it in one day, and even took it to school since she couldn't put it down. I am thrilled! She has been quoting from the book all day long and comparing Ben Carson's school experiences to her own. This book has taught her about Ben Carson, but it has also taught her more about life lessons. I think the perfect reading age would be around 3rd-4th grade, but obviously, even a 5th grader can get a lot out of it.

I am so glad that a children's version of this amazing story is available for children. I am reading it to my fourth grade class while they eat snack each day. If I don't pick up the book quickly enough, one of the students will say, "Aren't we reading today?" Ben Carson's story is inspiring on several levels: It tells the story of a boy who went from "the dumbest kid in fifth grade" to become a world renowned neurosurgeon; it challenges children to become readers who pursue excellence in their endeavors; it demonstrates that a living faith in God can help a person find his way; and it reveals how a single mother with little education and mental health issues can have a tremendous impact on her sons.

I just finished reading this book to my 10 year old daughter. She loved the book! When I came to the last chapter, she asked if that was going to be it and I said yes, she said save it for another day "I don't want it to end." My daughter doesn't like to read, but this book held her attention and was so interesting to her that she talked about it to her classmates and teachers. She wants me to read this book at least once a year to her or at least until she can pronounce some of the medical words. I would recommend this book as a great read to your children. It will stir in them the desire to learn and they will be fascinated with Dr. Ben Carson's life from boy to world renowned Neurosurgeon. ENJOY! We did.

I chose this book for my 7th grader to read for a school assignment. It was an enjoyable read, showing how someone can overcome any obstacle in their life and still be successful if you work hard enough and are motivated to make challenging goals for yourself. It had some good lessons for children. However, the further you get into the book, much focus is directed into Dr. Carson's belief that God is the power he requires to survive and be a success. This is the only reason I gave it 4 stars, rather than 5. The story continues describing how much faith is placed on how he uses prayer to guide him through his life and it's challenges. Although the book is about Dr. Carson, his struggles, his successes, and how God leads him, for people who do not share the belief that there is an ultimate, invisible higher power, it loses some of the impact it had early on, especially for people who do not have such strong religious convictions. The first half of the book portrayed positive messages my son picked up on, but as it progressed, he lost interest in the story. Rather than describe the reality that we all must use our own inner strong will to get through life's pitfalls, and it is up to us alone to guide us through, it gives the impression that "God" had a huge hand in his success. It was an interesting review of Dr. Carson, but I was disappointed in how it focused on his religious beliefs to pull him along, beliefs not all of us share or could do.

We bought this autobiography for our eight-year-old son, who was looking to write a book report on a lesser known African American who had made a major contribution. He was instantly absorbed by Dr. Carson's story, retold so well for children by Gregg Lewis. In fact, he soon had his mother and father engrossed in the story as well. We bought the movie after that as well. For a young white boy, the story was especially powerful because his Mom is a physician and Ben Carson is not nearly so well known as other Black leaders. If you have a son or daughter in the same age group, I cannot recommend the book highly enough.

The Movie, Gifted Hands, is true to the book and Ben Carson's life story. Having seen him in person, he went over everything covered in the movie word for word practically. This book is a great middle school book for a biography assignment. It shows great character how someone can overcome their circumstances and be successful, a great model for today's youth. Incidentally, he is a hysterically funny man, not sure why in public you never see that. When he spoke at a dinner I went to, I thought he was a comedian. Seriously, you'd never guess it from his presidential run, but he is a very jovial guy and his wife is lovely. Watch the movie on Netflix and get the book for your kids or grandkids.

I love this book too. This book shows how a mother plays the vital role on a child's growth, either mentally or spiritually. I highly recommend this book for children and parents.

A teacher at my daughters school suggested she read some non-fiction books. While doing a search for good stories I found this book. The reviews seemed to be very positive so I gave it a go and we read it together. It truly was an inspirational book, for adults as well as children. A great story which kept us wanting to read more. I was so pleased to read that this talented man was not ashamed to talk about God and how He was involved in his life. In an era when "God" seems to be nearly a dirty word I found it completely refreshing and wonderful. I wish there were more books (and television shows and movies) like this as examples for our children to be inspired by.

I enjoyed this book, particularly the beginning. Near the end it went into the medical side of his life and seemed to lose a little of the personal story. Overall I would suggest others read this.

My eldest son was given this book to read by someone from church he loved it so much I purchased one. My youngest son read it and he also couldn't put the book down, they have both said the book has truly inspired them. Every school should have this book and every young person should read this book. It doesn't surprise me that he is now in the running for the Presidency.

It inspired me because Ben Carson came from being in a poor family to a very wise neurologist. Against all odds