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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
At the beginning of sixth grade Abby is expelled for defending herself against a bully at her school, but no one will listen to her. Abby ends up starting at a catholic school where she finds people who will listen.
I totally relate with Abby as my family often doesn't listen to me.
I totally relate with Abby as my family often doesn't listen to me.
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Rather nice. It's a rather sweet search for faith. I don't think it's particularly extraordinary, but after slogging through the book Tunnels I found it an enjoyable read.
Surprisingly good little book about childhood bullying, faith, and finding yourself.
Another book with a spiritual bent that I read on the heels of my daughter JoAnn. This one had a lot of applicability to my life and makes me want to finally take that trek to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception for Easter vigil again.
A young girl is bullied and all but invisible to her parents, so-called friends, and teachers. The parents are your typical self-absorbed workaholics who find raising a child inconvenient and annoying. Abby finally retaliates in big way, earning an expulsion. She is transferred to a private catholic school and there undergoes a spiritual transformation that helps her find her place in the world.
Gr 6-8-Only days into sixth grade, quiet, studious Abby is expelled from school for pulling a pocketknife on a classmate who has been sexually harassing her for a year. Her friends, teachers, and parents will not believe that popular Brett McAvery would do such a thing, and the fact that his father is the principal does not help Abby's case. Her parents, workaholics who cannot fathom the idea of homeschooling Abby, enroll her in a private Catholic school, although they are devout nonbelievers. Abby is filled with anger at their lack of involvement and support and resolves to convert to Catholicism in an effort to irritate them. While her initial decision is impulsive and provocative, she finds that she is drawn to Christianity's comfort almost in spite of herself, and she ends up taking her studies much more seriously than she had anticipated. As she delves into the traditions and beliefs of the Church, Abby finds that forgiveness of the people who have wronged her is the most difficult barrier to overcome. Bradley does not pull back from the questions and confusion that adolescents face when it comes to religion, and packs a lot of power into this slim novel. There are no pat answers, and the tension between Abby's doubts and her desire to believe in a higher power will resonate with many readers.-Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
This is such a wonderful story and one that can help reaffirm your own faith. This is the story of Abby, a girl who gets expelled from public school for stabbing a boy who was bullying her and then gets sent to Catholic school. To spite her parents, she decides to "pretend" she's been converted to Catholicism to get their attention. It's really a great read for anyone out there who has lost some of their faith along the way.
A positive book about Catholics? A positive not preachy book about Catholics? I'm so there.
This was actually more middle grade than YA, but it dealt with good issues and was presented well. And it wasn't condescending.
This was actually more middle grade than YA, but it dealt with good issues and was presented well. And it wasn't condescending.