Petey (novel)

Plot summary

Petey Corbin is born in a Bozeman, Montana hospital during the 1920s. His mother, Sarah, is told by the doctor that her son has cerebral palsy and is both physically and mentally disabled, unable to walk, talk, or think. Heartbroken, Sarah and her husband spend two years and a lot of money visiting specialists, but every one advises them to put Petey in an institution. They eventually commit him to a psychiatric hospital in Warm Springs, Montana, which in 1922 was called an insane asylum.

The story then follows Petey’s life inside the hospital. The facility is crowded and dirty, and the nurses are lazy and careless, sometimes even abusive. A new male nurse named Esteban becomes Petey’s friend. He talks to Petey, brings him chocolate, and treats him as his favorite patient. Esteban realizes that Petey’s mind is fine, only his body is damaged. He is fired after telling civic leaders from Butte that Petey is not mentally retarded.

When Petey turns eleven, he is moved to the Men’s Ward, a large room with older men. He finds joy in watching a family of mice that lives there. Then a new patient named Calvin arrives. Calvin is mildly mentally challenged and has a club foot, but he quickly becomes Petey’s best friend. Over time, they meet other patients like Joe, Cassie, and Owen, but each one eventually leaves. Later, many patients are transferred to other places. Calvin is sent to a nursing home, and months afterward, Petey is also moved to a nursing home.

Years pass. In 1990, Petey is outside when some teenagers bully him by throwing snowballs. Another teen, Trevor, steps in and stops them. Trevor gets Petey a new wheelchair and starts taking him out. Eventually, Petey becomes sick and his health worsens. Trevor visits him in the hospital often and asks Petey to be his symbolic grandfather because of how much Petey has changed his life. As Petey lies dying, he lets Trevor know he should move on and live fully. Trevor says goodbye to his “Grandpa Petey,” and Petey passes away with dignity.

Reception

Joel Shoemaker of the School Library Journal wrote that Mikaelsen successfully conveys Petey's strangled attempts to communicate, captures the slow passage of time and the historical landscape encompassed, and brings emotions to the surface and tears to readers' eyes as Petey suffers the loss of friends he has grown to love. Kirkus Reviews wrote that despite some overly sentimentalized passages, the message comes through that every being deserves care, respect, and a chance to make a difference. Publishers Weekly criticized the characterization, writing that the characters never really come to life beyond their roles as symbols, and wrote that the novel never meets the promise of its compelling premise.