United Tates of America

Rating:
Summary: United Tates of America
Review: A great book. Very interesting and creative. I like the part where she was learning and adapting to a new school and also her experiences of not feeling as close to her best friend.

Rating:
Summary: United Tates of America
Review: I think this book has 3 million thumbs up! I really liked it! I was so into it, I read it in a day practically and read it 10x! I especially like that she and I have the same problems and both are interested in scrapebooking!

Rating:
Summary: Booooooring
Review: This is a really boring book. The only sad or emotional part is when the Great Uncle guy dies. Otherwise its very corny. Not to mention "cheap". What's with stealing the name "Lipschitz" from Rugrats. And come on, the ryhme thing got old fast.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful for kids & adults - and the travel season ahead
Review: Though the book opens with the first day of sixth grade for its heroine Skate Tate, "Tates" comes out at an excellent time for kids and families planning spring and summer vacations, since the final chapters are spent "on the road."

Paula Danziger gets the language of middle school just right...my daughter laughed over much of this book (she's a fifth grader) and was moved to tears as well. As an added bonus, the scrapbook portion inspired her to gather up photos and memorabilia and spend her allowance on a scrapbook of her own.

"United Tates of America" is funny, well-written, thoroughly entertaining, and also deals thoughtfully with some difficult issues, including death and how to answer a late elementary/early middle schooler's concern about feeling responsible for the death of a loved one. I've been recommending it to friends/other parents who need resources in this area (much as I steer people to "The Tenth Good Thing About Barney" by Judith Viorst when the topic is death of a pet).

And if your child can't read in the car without getting carsick, there's an audiobook version available with a full cast of children and adult voices; in fact, Paula Danziger herself can be heard on the audiobook recording--first as Skate's teacher, Mrs. Lipschitz, and then in a special afterword in which she shares her own journey in creating this novel.

I found this book engaged my child on a deeper level due to the scrapbook section; when you see photos of the characters, although you know it's fiction, you can't help but feel their experiences more intimately. Take a look and give it a try - it's as good a read for adults as it is for kids, and a good place to start a dialogue with your child on loss and healing, among other topics.