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Summary: The rare book that made me cry
Review: I loved this book. The main character is so well drawn, such a unique but real individual, she comes alive on every page. I cared so much about her-- especially because I'm a middle child too-- that the last touching scene with her mother made me bawl. And I hardly ever cry when I'm reading.Also, it was a page turner. I stayed up much too late finishing it. It's so rare to find a book with great characterizations (and not just the protagonist, but her family, friends, and teachers too) and also a gripping plot, I reccommend it to children, teens, and even middle aged people like me.
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Summary: A great debut
Review: I read Gennifer Choldenko's debut after reading her second book, 'Al Capone Does My Shirts'. I can say she just keeps improving. She has not forgotten what it is to be a child, and she writes in a way that young people can relate to, as well as their parents, who can remember what it felt like to be that awkward adolescent.
Antonia "Ant" McPherson is a sixth-grader, the middle child surrounded by two "perfect" siblings. Her father changes jobs at the slightest whim, and has moved the family all over the country. All three daughters finally feel comfortable in their present town, even Ant, who has attached herself to a fellow misfit, Harrison, who has a pet chicken. Ant feels unloved and ignored by her parents, and is convinced she is adopted. She even starts telling everyone she is adopted, and she is waiting for her "real" parents to arrive any day.
Ant hides her frustration behind a web of lies, which begin to bury her. She is befriended by the young, idealistic art teacher, "Just" Carol, who lets Ant and Harrison be volunteers at the zoo. Ant creates self-fulfilling prophecies by telling her parents she is failing, even though she is the best math student in school. It seems that Ant wants to keep lying to her parents and to everyone, to avoid having to do anything to fit in with her "perfect" siblings.
Choldenko writes in a very entertaining style, and her stories are not sugar-coated or patronizing. Nothing happens that is from a fantasy world, and the feelings are real. We feel empathy for Ant, but we also feel she needs to stop lying and take responsibility for her actions. It is true to life with great lessons, and Choldenko is definitely one of the best writers for children today.
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Summary: Outstanding!
Review: The author has created a complex, challenging, and unforgettable character in Ant. Although lying has become a way of life for her, she is not mean-spirited, and by her own logic, the lying is usually justified --- especially when it comes to protecting her beloved dog, Pistachio. This is certainly one of the best children's novels I've read, and as a children's librarian, I read loads of them.
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Summary: Raves from a middle school teacher
Review: The school librarian recommended this book, but after the first few pages, I almost put it down because the simple language suggested a lower level than my seventh graders. I'm so glad I decided to stick with it. The main character, Ant, is so real that she practically jumped into three dimensions as I read. I've seen so many mismatches like Ant and her family that I'd say the situations, as quirky as they seem, are truly realistic and gave me a lot to think about. I can't wait to get my students' reactions to this terrfic, fast-paced read.
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Summary: ToTaLlY mE
Review: This book is about a girl named Ant (short for Antonia)who hates her parents and sisters, Elizabeth and Katherine. She creates a story that she is adopted by her current parents and her real parents are going to come take her away soon, along with her dog, Pistachio. To her, Pistachio (aka Tashi) is the only perfect part of the family, unlike her mother who lectures her about every little thing, her dad who is barely home, and her two stuck-up ballerina sisters. There is no real villain, except for the lies Ant cannot stop telling.
I know exactly how Ant feels like because my mom also lectures me every day about every little thing, and my brother is never in trouble... instead he always gets ME into trouble. *~.: xX crysta1 drag0n Xx :.~*
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Summary: A great book
Review: This book is one of my all - time favorite books. It has a lot of suspense, humor, and tough issues mixed into one story. It has a good plot line, and it never is boring. I think the main reason I liked it a lot is because the main character, Ant, is a really belivable character. She reacts to things like any 14 year would, and her thinking is very similair also. I also liked this book because I couldn't relate my family at all to hers, which kept me interested. I would give this book 5 stars.
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Summary: Really, really, real.
Review: This is the anti-sitcom book--rather than earth-shaking problems being resolved in half an hour, minus ads, this books shows the conflicts between Ant and the adults around her clearly and realistically, and begins the resolution process imperfectly and honestly. Ant feels she has to lie to get any notice in her family. Ant's Mom and Dad are fed up with lieing and refuse, then, to listen or give Ant any attention, positive or negative, unless she had said something so outrageous it cannot be let go. Circular conflicts that feed on each other are realistically and thouroughly portrayed in this phenominal first novel by Gennifer Choldenko. A great book for discussion groups, too!
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Summary: This "Liar" is a Terrific Read
Review: What a wonderful book! The main character in this novel about a young girl who feels alienated from her family, is a gem . . . someone I would want to know. Her feelings are real and the problems both she and her family members experience in communicating with each other about serious issues are portrayed honestly. The plot is gripping; it seems that there is no way for the issues to be resolved, and they are not resolved perfectly because the book is so real. Once you read this one, you will be hooked waiting for Gennifer Choldenko's next.
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