Playing Solitaire

Rating:
Summary: Review from School Library Journal 4/00
Review: "Ellie will be starting ninth grade in the fall, in the small Oklahoma town where she now lives with her grandfather. Her mother has died of brain cancer, and her father has done something so despicable that she vows to kill him if she ever sees him again. To pass the time, and to console herself, the teen plays solitaire. Though there are numerous hints, it is not until almost the middle of the book that readers learn that in a drunken rage, her father cut off part of three of her fingers with his hunting knife. Ellie's hatred and fear of him consume her thoughts, but a blossoming friendship with a neighborhood boy, an adopted dog, and a caring grandfather help her to heal emotionally. The climactic scene in which she actually confronts her father at gunpint is action-packed and holds a few surprises. Ellie's narration reveals her typical teen struggles with self-image and friendship, as well as her overwhelming fear that her fugitive father will appear. The novel is short (a typical chaper is six pages), and with its clean, clear writing, depth of character development, and fast-moving plot, it will be accessible to reluctant readers, yet still hold the attention of those just looking for a good story." Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Aloha, OR

Rating:
Summary: A Review from Publishers Weekly 4/24/00
Review: "With the tension and pacing of a thriller, Antle's novel tackles difficult issues including alcoholism, grief and emotional abuse honestly and with a delicate touch.The author plants clues as to why 13-year-old Ellie has recently moved to Drasco, OK, to live with her grandpa from the outset: "Nobody'll be feeling sorry for me 'cause my daddy was a mean drunk or 'cause Mama died of brain cancer." The protagonist finds comfort in the "neat little rows" of cards in her favorite game, soitaire, the loving bickering of Grandpa and his out spoken neightor, her adopted dog and a new friend, but the impending possiblity of her alcoholic father's reappearance threatens Ellie's sanctuary. The theme of solitaire works on several levels, as Ellie tries to go it alone, secretly plotting to kill her father when he arrives, and struggles to trust family, friends and her newfound felling of belonging. Antle handles Ellie's longing for revenge responsibly and believably, gradually upping the emotional ante for readers until, in the penultimate scene, she reveals the past episode that triggers Ellie's all-consuming anger. In a subtle, spare style and with fully delineated characters, the author skillfully creates the community of this eccentric small town and portrays the ways loved ones both tiptoe around and champion those they care about in times of crisis and pain. Readers will be heartened by the hope and redemption dealt in the final hand of this complex psychological novel."

Rating:
Summary: Emotional journey
Review: An emotional story where the main character Ellie has family issues, and a physical impairment. Much like Crucher's Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes and Voigt's When She Hollers, the female character is pushed to the limit. Inner strength and the importence of telling the truth are the prevailing themes. The ending does leave the reader a bit unsatisified about Ellie's future.

Rating:
Summary: Playing Solitaire
Review: Every time we had to stop everybody said they did not want to put the book in the desk because it was funny and sad.In every chapter there was always something exciting. It was a great book.

Rating:
Summary: playing soliaire
Review: I Felt Happy About This book because I Like the part when Ellie was About to shoot her father at the end and she didn't and it turned out a very good ending.

Rating:
Summary: Playing Solitaire
Review: I FELT HAPPY ABOUT THIS BOOK BECAUSE I LIKE THE PART
WHEN ELLIE WAS ABOUT TO SHOOT HER FATHER AT THE END
OF IT. AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY HER MOTHER
DIED AND HER FATHER CUT OFF HER FINGERS. AND SHE LIVES
WITH HER GRANDFATHER. AND SHE HAD A DOG NAMED BIRDIE.

Rating:
Summary: Playing Solitaire
Review: I liked this book because it was funny,sad,easy to read,and I couldn't put the book down for a second. The most exiting
piece was when the grandmother choked the drunk father.

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Summary: Playing Solitaire
Review: I think it was a great book for me and class.It was fun to read and we didn't want to stop when we had to stop reading.we couldn't put down the book.

Rating:
Summary: Playing Solitaire
Review: I think it was a very good book and I did not want to let it go.I loved when we saw the author and asked her questions. The part of the book that was really sad was when the father cut her fingers off.

Rating:
Summary: playing solitaire
Review: I think it was great.I dont like to read ,but I couldn't put the book down.It seemed like at the end of each chapter it was the best.