Jamie Gilson

Star and a half because the author can write; she just can't write Middle Grade characters. I first read this half a dozen times in fifth grade. I wanted my school to do something like it! We did not. I wished I was tall like Dinah. Instead, I had a -lot- in common with Orin. Still do. As an adult, I have to ask: does Kool-Aid work as a hair dye on fine, blonde hair? I have dark hair that requires special dye and styling products, so Kool-Aid attempts would never amount to anything. I'm just curious if the urban legend is true. So, Kool-Aid's possible uses have more of my attention in this story, than the story itself. I was surprised at how boring and annoying I found this book as an adult. There were too many stories and characters jammed into one little book, and the chapter names were annoying. I'm glad I found it again, though. I have set aside a good book for myself to read, and shall now.… (mehr)

In style and topic, this is very similar to Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You by Barthe DeClements—both are about kids who are dyslexic and having trouble in school. The copy I read was deaccessioned from the library, probably because the MC’s parents discuss whether or not he is “r#t#rded” and because the type of orthodontia in this book is out of date and contemporary kids might not understand what was happening. (Do kids still have to wear retainers and accidentally throw them out in the lunchroom?) But the novel was really funny and well-written and had lots of action, including a tornado. It was like a beautiful slice of my 1980s childhood and I enjoyed it very much. Apparently Jamie Gilson died just last year. I am going to look for more of her books.… (mehr)

I really worried that this was going to be racist/culturally inappropriate and was really worried about reading it, but it ended up being really good.

The bully in the story ended up being so well-written I wanted to beat him up, just like I wanted to beat up all the bullies in my childhood (and never did because they were all bigger than me).

The best part for me was probably the end, the way things came together and Harvey and Tuan mature because of circumstances and come to recognize each other as ... individual persons.

Adrianne… (mehr)