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brandypainter's review against another edition
2.0
This book deals with mental illness and the impact it has on children. It pushes in a lot of other issues too and also has a mystery. It is not really my taste as far as writing style is concerned and I was a little skeptical of the romantic parts.
suzannedix's review against another edition
5.0
So good! A very deep look at bipolar disorder, first love, best friends and a murder mystery. I could not stop reading this one!
Grades 5 and up.
Grades 5 and up.
tcbueti's review against another edition
4.0
Deals with some very serious topics (Bipolar disorder, PTSD, child abuse, murder) in a straightforward way.
Footer Davis is just doing what needs to be done. Her older neighbor's farm was burned down, and his body was found in the ashes. His two grandchildren have not been found, dead or alive. Footer and her best friend Peavine start investigating, taking notes like detectives, partly because Footer's mom is back in the hospital after a manic episode, and Footer is afraid her mom might have been involved. Then, Footer starts seeing things: dreams? hallucinations? or flashbacks? Was she there herself?
Although this is clearly takes place in Mississippi, it's not overly folksy. I like that the fact of Footer's mom's illness is important but not sensationalized. There are lots of people ready to help. One of Footer's biggest problems, aside from missing her mom, is fearing that she too might develop bipolar disorder. This is dealt with both in the story and in a factual epilogue. Also, Peavine is on crutches--I forget why, and Vaught just says "Peavine poled along on his arm crutches..." and later explains why very matter-of-factly; his little sister Angel may have Asperger's but she's simply tolerated for being sort of annoying.
This is not a light book, but Footer is so sturdy, and her dad is so solid (except for when he briefly doubts her) and her (boy)friend Peavine is sensible and supportive, his mom is great--there is a lot of support and humor here, even light romance, here. Readers will probably figure out a big piece of the mystery before Footer does, but that's not always awful--there's still plenty of suspense to keep them turning pages.
Footer Davis is just doing what needs to be done. Her older neighbor's farm was burned down, and his body was found in the ashes. His two grandchildren have not been found, dead or alive. Footer and her best friend Peavine start investigating, taking notes like detectives, partly because Footer's mom is back in the hospital after a manic episode, and Footer is afraid her mom might have been involved. Then, Footer starts seeing things: dreams? hallucinations? or flashbacks? Was she there herself?
Although this is clearly takes place in Mississippi, it's not overly folksy. I like that the fact of Footer's mom's illness is important but not sensationalized. There are lots of people ready to help. One of Footer's biggest problems, aside from missing her mom, is fearing that she too might develop bipolar disorder. This is dealt with both in the story and in a factual epilogue. Also, Peavine is on crutches--I forget why, and Vaught just says "Peavine poled along on his arm crutches..." and later explains why very matter-of-factly; his little sister Angel may have Asperger's but she's simply tolerated for being sort of annoying.
This is not a light book, but Footer is so sturdy, and her dad is so solid (except for when he briefly doubts her) and her (boy)friend Peavine is sensible and supportive, his mom is great--there is a lot of support and humor here, even light romance, here. Readers will probably figure out a big piece of the mystery before Footer does, but that's not always awful--there's still plenty of suspense to keep them turning pages.
backonthealex's review against another edition
3.0
Dealing with a mother who has bipolar disorder isn't always easy for Fontana "Footer" Davis, 11, especially when she goes off her meds and ends up in a mental hospital. Which is exactly what happens after she kills a copperhead with a big-game hunting gun. To help her cope, Footer enlists her best friend, Peavine Jones, and his younger sister Angel, to carry out an investigation into the fire that burned a neighboring farm to the ground, who shot and killed Mr. Abrams, the farmer, and what happened to his two grandchildren, Cissy, 12, and Doc, 6, who have been missing ever since.
There seems to be two things going on in this novel - one is Footer's coping with her mother's bipolar disorder which results in her hospitalization whenever she goes off her medication and Footer's fears about her own mental health. the other is the investigation by Footer and her friends, Peavine and Angel, into the death of unfriendly neighbor Mr. Abrams, the fire that totally destroyed his house and his missing grandchildren Cissy and Doc.
To complicate matters, Footer is beginning to have olfactory hallucinations. At first, she only smells the smoke of the Abrams fire, but as they begin to get stronger and she can smell fire and blood as well. But when Footer begins to see things that happened at the Abrams farm the night of the fire, she isn't sure if she is crazy and having visual hallucinations, or if her visions could possibly be a flashback, in which case, she and Peavine really needed to solve the mystery surrounding the Abrams farm. Especially since her own mother is part of the vision or was she really there and why?
To make matter even more complicated, Footer seems to have taken up sleep eating - raiding the refrigerator and pantry without even remembering it. But without gaining any weight considering the volume of food her seems to be consuming.
If all these disparate things tie together, will all of Footer's worst fears turn out to be true?
Footer Davis is Probably Crazy is mainly told in the first person by Footer, with the inclusion of school assignments that she relates to what is happening in her life, and notebook entries of interviews with various people - some suspects, most not - conducted by Footer, Peavine and even Angel. I really liked the mystery part of the story since it seems to me to be the kind of thing an 11 year old could really get into.
The story is well written, well plotted, but I did have a few problems with the novel...
I felt that, with the exception of Footer, most of the characters didn't really have much depth. They were there only to as props for Footer's story, even Peavine, who had more depth then most of the others, including Footer's mom. Same with Footer's concerned teacher, Ms. Malone, and the social worker from the Department of Child Services, Stephanie Bridges.
I also wondered why it was necessary for Peavine to have cerebral palsy since it didn't really figure into the story. In fact, it's actually only mentioned once as the explanation for how Fontana became Footer.
And I wondered by Footer's mom was bipolar. Was it to get rid of her? Or could it be a plausible explanation for Footer's hallucinations and questioning her own sanity in light of some of the events surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the Abrams children, in which case it would just be a plot device.
And yet, oddly enough, despite these criticisms, I very much enjoyed reading Footer Davis is Probably Crazy and would recommend it to middle graders looking for a contemporary mystery.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
There seems to be two things going on in this novel - one is Footer's coping with her mother's bipolar disorder which results in her hospitalization whenever she goes off her medication and Footer's fears about her own mental health. the other is the investigation by Footer and her friends, Peavine and Angel, into the death of unfriendly neighbor Mr. Abrams, the fire that totally destroyed his house and his missing grandchildren Cissy and Doc.
To complicate matters, Footer is beginning to have olfactory hallucinations. At first, she only smells the smoke of the Abrams fire, but as they begin to get stronger and she can smell fire and blood as well. But when Footer begins to see things that happened at the Abrams farm the night of the fire, she isn't sure if she is crazy and having visual hallucinations, or if her visions could possibly be a flashback, in which case, she and Peavine really needed to solve the mystery surrounding the Abrams farm. Especially since her own mother is part of the vision or was she really there and why?
To make matter even more complicated, Footer seems to have taken up sleep eating - raiding the refrigerator and pantry without even remembering it. But without gaining any weight considering the volume of food her seems to be consuming.
If all these disparate things tie together, will all of Footer's worst fears turn out to be true?
Footer Davis is Probably Crazy is mainly told in the first person by Footer, with the inclusion of school assignments that she relates to what is happening in her life, and notebook entries of interviews with various people - some suspects, most not - conducted by Footer, Peavine and even Angel. I really liked the mystery part of the story since it seems to me to be the kind of thing an 11 year old could really get into.
The story is well written, well plotted, but I did have a few problems with the novel...
I felt that, with the exception of Footer, most of the characters didn't really have much depth. They were there only to as props for Footer's story, even Peavine, who had more depth then most of the others, including Footer's mom. Same with Footer's concerned teacher, Ms. Malone, and the social worker from the Department of Child Services, Stephanie Bridges.
I also wondered why it was necessary for Peavine to have cerebral palsy since it didn't really figure into the story. In fact, it's actually only mentioned once as the explanation for how Fontana became Footer.
And I wondered by Footer's mom was bipolar. Was it to get rid of her? Or could it be a plausible explanation for Footer's hallucinations and questioning her own sanity in light of some of the events surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the Abrams children, in which case it would just be a plot device.
And yet, oddly enough, despite these criticisms, I very much enjoyed reading Footer Davis is Probably Crazy and would recommend it to middle graders looking for a contemporary mystery.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
libscote's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a great mystery, and also deals with some tough issues such as a parent with mental illness. I want to know more about Footer and her escapades.
jillcd's review against another edition
2.0
Although a noble attempt at incorporating difficult topics into a middle grade story, it just didn't capture me.
whit_knee's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book for free as a part of GoodReads First Reads Giveaway.
Footer Davis Probably is Crazy is a good book that brings attention to mental and physical disabilities. Footer Davis' mother is bipolar, and because of that her word is questioned. Footer has a best friend who has a physical handicap as well. This book was a great mystery, even if I thought it was pretty predictable. This is a book geared towards a younger audience so it probably wouldn't be as easy for them to figure out. Regardless this was a page turner for me, and I really enjoyed the drawings and hand written letters included in the book. I really liked how physical handicaps, Bipolar disorder and PTSD were all addressed in the book. There are people who have these disorders or mental health issues and the sooner society addresses them, the better off we all are.
Footer Davis Probably is Crazy is a good book that brings attention to mental and physical disabilities. Footer Davis' mother is bipolar, and because of that her word is questioned. Footer has a best friend who has a physical handicap as well. This book was a great mystery, even if I thought it was pretty predictable. This is a book geared towards a younger audience so it probably wouldn't be as easy for them to figure out. Regardless this was a page turner for me, and I really enjoyed the drawings and hand written letters included in the book. I really liked how physical handicaps, Bipolar disorder and PTSD were all addressed in the book. There are people who have these disorders or mental health issues and the sooner society addresses them, the better off we all are.
lizpatanders's review against another edition
4.0
This was so good! I love how it dealt with a lot of tough issues. Definitely worth the read.
merer's review against another edition
5.0
This book. What am I going to do with this book?
I'd love to know who was in charge of the cover art and branding for this one, because, what on Earth were they thinking? This looks like a Wimpy Kid read-alike on the outside. I assure you, it is not.
Footer and her best friend, Peavine, decide to investigate the murder and arson that took place on a property near their neighborhood, right around the same time that Footer's mother is carted off to the mental hospital to ride out a major bipolar episode. What starts off as playing at detective work soon turns serious, as Footer begins having horrific flashbacks to the night of the incident--flashbacks that suggest that not only was she a witness to what happened, but that her mother may have been responsible.
Issue: Footer is 11. ELEVEN! This is a book that describes
Issue: The cover art is going to appeal to kids who are 8-10.
Despite the young age of the characters and the design, I'm really hoping that this one will appeal to my middle-grade readers, because it's an excellent page-turner for 12-14 year olds.
I'd love to know who was in charge of the cover art and branding for this one, because, what on Earth were they thinking? This looks like a Wimpy Kid read-alike on the outside. I assure you, it is not.
Footer and her best friend, Peavine, decide to investigate the murder and arson that took place on a property near their neighborhood, right around the same time that Footer's mother is carted off to the mental hospital to ride out a major bipolar episode. What starts off as playing at detective work soon turns serious, as Footer begins having horrific flashbacks to the night of the incident--flashbacks that suggest that not only was she a witness to what happened, but that her mother may have been responsible.
Issue: Footer is 11. ELEVEN! This is a book that describes
Spoiler
in graphic detail someone being blown away, and covering witnesses in a rain shower of blood. It's not for every 5th and 6th grader out there.Issue: The cover art is going to appeal to kids who are 8-10.
Despite the young age of the characters and the design, I'm really hoping that this one will appeal to my middle-grade readers, because it's an excellent page-turner for 12-14 year olds.
pussreboots's review against another edition
3.0
http://www.pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2016/comments_07/footer_davis_probably_is_crazy.html