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roseleaf24's review against another edition
3.0
This book is strange. It starts off strange in a funny kids' book way, then just gets strange. But it deals with grief and adolescence in a way that will resonate with some readers.
nightchough's review against another edition
3.0
First encountered this book in elementary school in the late 1970s while burning through the list of Newbery books. It stuck with me, but, couldn't remember the author or title. Wasn't that hard to find it though; not so many YA books about rare bookstores or Joseph Conrad fetishes.
After re-reading, must say this was darker and more thought-provoking than I remembered. Many reviews talk about the big shift between the halves of the book and I agree. But in the end was still happy to revisit.
After re-reading, must say this was darker and more thought-provoking than I remembered. Many reviews talk about the big shift between the halves of the book and I agree. But in the end was still happy to revisit.
luisasm's review
3.0
She's written far better. It just didn't make sense, quite often. But I did like the characters, and it was a nice zany family dynamic. The plot just got a little lost in all the wackiness.
pagesofpins's review
1.0
Mona Lisa Figg-Newton comes from a bizarre, circus-like family who live in the town of Pineapple. Surly Mona hates the attention her family attracts, but loves her uncle Florence the book dealer fiercely. When Uncle Florence dies, Mona has to find Capri, the heaven of her family's self-created religion, in order to find Uncle Florence and ultimately let him go. This was shelved in the children's mystery section of my library but doesn't follow the pattern of any conventional mystery. The mystery is mostly if Mona will find Capri, and if Uncle Florence's girlfriend Phoebe is made up or not. Thought I did enjoy the ridiculous humor of this book (Cousin Fido's parents are dog trainers, and he is named after one that died. Too bad he's allergic) I was not impressed with this book. Much of it left me questioning what was going on, and I didn't feel like anything significant happened to change Mona's view of life.
salmonread's review against another edition
Book Riot 2016 Read Harder Challenge #5: Read a middle grade novel
lazygal's review
3.0
Mona Newton's life is a trying one: she's constantly embarrassed by her flamboyant family, the Figgs, and really only connects with her uncle Florence. Together they form the Figg-Newton Giant, who appears once a month to steal books from the top shelf of Ebenezer Bargain's book store, and then walk slowly back to Newton "Newt" Newton (aka "Dad")'s used car lot.
The Figg family follows a strange religion, one based on finding a mysterious island, Capri (not the one we all know). Several of the Figg forebears have found it, leaving behind notes that the family reads out in a monthly ritual. Florence is preparing to leave for Capri himself, much to Mona's dismay. When he does finally leave - or die, as the rest of the world sees it - Mona is distraught and, in her grief, she manages to visit Capri for a little while.
I wouldn't call this magical realism for kids, but it's close. The oddness of the Figg-Newton clan, the concept of Capri, and the interjections from the people of Pineapple (the town in which this all takes place) might confuse younger readers but if they stick with it they should enjoy this reprint.
ARC provided by publisher.
The Figg family follows a strange religion, one based on finding a mysterious island, Capri (not the one we all know). Several of the Figg forebears have found it, leaving behind notes that the family reads out in a monthly ritual. Florence is preparing to leave for Capri himself, much to Mona's dismay. When he does finally leave - or die, as the rest of the world sees it - Mona is distraught and, in her grief, she manages to visit Capri for a little while.
I wouldn't call this magical realism for kids, but it's close. The oddness of the Figg-Newton clan, the concept of Capri, and the interjections from the people of Pineapple (the town in which this all takes place) might confuse younger readers but if they stick with it they should enjoy this reprint.
ARC provided by publisher.
sbaunsgard's review against another edition
3.0
Like most of the Raskin books I've read, this is also about death. More or less, a girl's uncle dies. But there's more to it than that. There are puns (Figgs and Newtons), strangeness (tap dancing, a spiritual system where Capri is heaven, dream sequences that make up a significant portion of the book), and people who you learn a fair bit about in few words. I like this book, but not as much as Raskin's others. It doesn't really get going until the dream sequence starts.
binxthinx's review against another edition
4.0
I get why this book isn’t for everyone, but I thought it mostly worked. It’s fun reading children’s literature that is a little bonkers and isn’t afraid to let kids read some bad things (it’s not like it condones the bad things).