michelle_pink_polka_dot's review
5.0
I don't read a lot of older MG, but this one I LOVED as hard as my favorite YAs. The ending was a little forced, but overall I loved reading about Noah and his 2 best friends, their quirky school, and of course Curly.
I don't really read older MG, but when I saw that Jo Knowles had a new book I really wanted to read it no matter what age group it involved. What I learned was, I LOVE reading about MG boys!! If they're all like Noah, Ryan, and Sam, I could read about them non-stop. They're so funny and self-conscious, and just how I would picture boys going through that awkward age range would be.
My Fave Parts: The friendship between the boys. It wasn't 3 Musketeers-- they got on each other's nerves, they fought, they ignored each other.... but when it really came down to it, they had each other's backs. And there were a few moments between Noah and Ryan that warmed my heart because I think they fell out of the typical boy friendship "rules" (you know-- where you can't hug each other, sleep in the same bed at sleepovers, do nice things like buy presents for each other-- and other stupid stuff males do to act like they aren't emotional beings). I also LOVED the school they went to. It was quirky and non-traditional, and I kind of wish I went to a school like that. Also they had a cat at the school!! And it was allowed to just wander and do it's own thing!! Okay, I'm not really a fan of hairless cats, but how could I not love Curly and her outfits that changed everyday?? I spent most of the book terrified that for some reason Curly would have to leave the school... I just loved her so much, I wanted her to stay!!
I thought this book was adorably cute while also being serious when it needed to be. And I would put this up there with my favorite YA Contemporary books. Only thing is.... I felt the ending was kind of forced. I mean there's this big ISSUE that happens, and Noah and his family kind of go through some major breakdowns, and then it seemed like nothing really changed except Noah decided "Okay, I'm done with it". I didn't really care for that especially since his parents (you know, the ones who should be setting the example) were not coping well and NOT fixing it. But other than that bit of glossing over, I really found this unputdownable.
PS-- I totally have my kid saying "Who's to say?" whenever someone asks him about something (it's what Ryan says to his teachers when he doesn't want to answer a question).
OVERALL: LOVED reading Middle Grade from Jo Knowles. I knew if I stuck it out with this author it would pay off. I love this one and [b:Read Between the Lines|22747804|Read Between the Lines|Jo Knowles|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1415065698s/22747804.jpg|42292740]. It's so readable, adorable, cute, funny, but also about some heavier issues. I would recommend this to anyone for pretty much any reason.
My Blog:
I don't really read older MG, but when I saw that Jo Knowles had a new book I really wanted to read it no matter what age group it involved. What I learned was, I LOVE reading about MG boys!! If they're all like Noah, Ryan, and Sam, I could read about them non-stop. They're so funny and self-conscious, and just how I would picture boys going through that awkward age range would be.
My Fave Parts: The friendship between the boys. It wasn't 3 Musketeers-- they got on each other's nerves, they fought, they ignored each other.... but when it really came down to it, they had each other's backs. And there were a few moments between Noah and Ryan that warmed my heart because I think they fell out of the typical boy friendship "rules" (you know-- where you can't hug each other, sleep in the same bed at sleepovers, do nice things like buy presents for each other-- and other stupid stuff males do to act like they aren't emotional beings). I also LOVED the school they went to. It was quirky and non-traditional, and I kind of wish I went to a school like that. Also they had a cat at the school!! And it was allowed to just wander and do it's own thing!! Okay, I'm not really a fan of hairless cats, but how could I not love Curly and her outfits that changed everyday?? I spent most of the book terrified that for some reason Curly would have to leave the school... I just loved her so much, I wanted her to stay!!
I thought this book was adorably cute while also being serious when it needed to be. And I would put this up there with my favorite YA Contemporary books. Only thing is.... I felt the ending was kind of forced. I mean there's this big ISSUE that happens, and Noah and his family kind of go through some major breakdowns, and then it seemed like nothing really changed except Noah decided "Okay, I'm done with it". I didn't really care for that especially since his parents (you know, the ones who should be setting the example) were not coping well and NOT fixing it. But other than that bit of glossing over, I really found this unputdownable.
PS-- I totally have my kid saying "Who's to say?" whenever someone asks him about something (it's what Ryan says to his teachers when he doesn't want to answer a question).
OVERALL: LOVED reading Middle Grade from Jo Knowles. I knew if I stuck it out with this author it would pay off. I love this one and [b:Read Between the Lines|22747804|Read Between the Lines|Jo Knowles|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1415065698s/22747804.jpg|42292740]. It's so readable, adorable, cute, funny, but also about some heavier issues. I would recommend this to anyone for pretty much any reason.
My Blog:
msaplusteacher's review
4.0
A clever YA novel that tackles tough issues! Filled with humor & love, it'll keep you reading as things become more serious for Noah & his family. Great read & lots of opportunity for discussion for grades 7+.
sharonfalduto's review
3.0
Read this one aloud as a family while we traveled from New York back home to Iowa. A YA book about Noah, whose family has a secret they don't talk about (his sister's illness), and how he carries the burdens of worrying about her, and of the usual 7th grade worries--girlfriends and friendships and whatnot.
ajacks's review
4.0
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.
jbrooxd's review
5.0
Absolutely amazing! I loved Noah and his friends. My heart broke for his sister and their family. The story does a great job of looking at the impact of mental health struggles on the whole family. Fantastic! (Bring your tissues)
mjenae's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was… a lot better than I thought it was going to be.
Upon reading the first chapter, I thought it was going to be a story about a bunch of immature, shallow boys doing immature, shallow things—written by an author who didn't remember anything about his middle grade years. Turns out, that's actually the whole point for the first third or so. It's important to the message of the book. In the end, everything comes together into something beautiful—something relatable, even.
So yeah, it improves after the first few chapters.
Upon reading the first chapter, I thought it was going to be a story about a bunch of immature, shallow boys doing immature, shallow things—written by an author who didn't remember anything about his middle grade years. Turns out, that's actually the whole point for the first third or so. It's important to the message of the book. In the end, everything comes together into something beautiful—something relatable, even.
So yeah, it improves after the first few chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
jillcd's review
5.0
I adored this book and literally read it on one sitting. The characters were so real- from the geeky,-socially awkward friend, to the caring teacher with the descriptive nickname. Told from a boy's perspective, it really encompasses middle school. I think the major topic was addressed well and exposure is necessary and rarely done adequately . Definitely a book I would re-read.
thenextgenlibrarian's review
3.0
Not sure how I feel about this book. It’s labeled middle grade 5th-8th but I’m not sure I’d put this in an elementary library. It has all the elements of a MG read, but there were lots of more mature references in regards to dating, religion, health and more. I struggled the first half because it was very juvenile: lots of discussion about dating, kissing, who likes who—to be honest, I really didn’t care. It wasn’t until about 2/3 the way through we find out what Emma’s secret is then the book had some depth and meaning and I finally got to see what it was really about. That’s when the tears came. When they have to take her to the treatment center on Christmas Eve and she still hasn’t returned by the end of the book, I felt that. This book offered a unique perspective about eating disorders and how it effects those around you, not necessarily the first person POV. That part I really enjoyed so I’m doing 3.5 stars.
cweichel's review against another edition
4.0
Noah is a pretty ordinary eighth grade guy. He's got a couple of best friends, Ryan and Sam. They josh around together like ordinary teens. The trio are fascinated by girls but worry and wonder about who likes who and what you actually do with a girl if she likes you.
We are introduced to them right off the bat as Ryan hides in a bathroom stall from a girl, Molly Lo, who he claims is stalking him. The bathroom door is locked from the inside, but no one unlocks it, they just climb over the top. After all, who in their right mind would touch the floor of a boys' high school washroom?
This is followed by the discovery of the smell of dead fish coming from Small Tyler's locker. It turns out that 'locker juice' has evolved from a tuna sandwich left in his locker.
These beginning incidents are hilarious and this comedic aspect wends its way through this otherwise serious book. The humour, and that it is told from Noah's point of view, will attract and keep guys reading this important novel.
Everyone in Noah's family worries about his older sister, Emma. The Thing That Happened before haunts them all. While we don't know what it is outright, there are enough hints in the description of how she dresses (layered sweaters so she looks like Spongebob) and the way the family act around food to figure it out. As the symptoms manifest themselves, no one actually talks about The Thing That Happened and what is going on now. As Emma's eating habits become more and more particular, they accommodate her (according to Noah) disgusting vegan diet. As Emma eats less and less food, no one actually confronts her.
It isn't until Emma collapses that they are forced to acknowledge how bad things are and take her into the hospital. Eventually Emma is admitted to a special eating disorder clinic a few hours drive from their home.
What this book reveals to us is how a family experiences one of its own dealing with an eating disorder. The story focuses primarily on Noah's experience and is told from his point of view. His worried parents spend their emotional energy on Emma while Noah is abandoned. What comes across is how much Noah loves his sister regardless of this.
Noah is a gifted artist and it is this, along with the support of a couple of compassionate teachers at his school, Ms Cliff, the art teacher and Tank, the social studies teacher, that help him get through this time.
I absolutely loved this story. Knowles writes with such authenticity you know what you are reading is truth, however fictional her characters.
We are introduced to them right off the bat as Ryan hides in a bathroom stall from a girl, Molly Lo, who he claims is stalking him. The bathroom door is locked from the inside, but no one unlocks it, they just climb over the top. After all, who in their right mind would touch the floor of a boys' high school washroom?
This is followed by the discovery of the smell of dead fish coming from Small Tyler's locker. It turns out that 'locker juice' has evolved from a tuna sandwich left in his locker.
These beginning incidents are hilarious and this comedic aspect wends its way through this otherwise serious book. The humour, and that it is told from Noah's point of view, will attract and keep guys reading this important novel.
Everyone in Noah's family worries about his older sister, Emma. The Thing That Happened before haunts them all. While we don't know what it is outright, there are enough hints in the description of how she dresses (layered sweaters so she looks like Spongebob) and the way the family act around food to figure it out. As the symptoms manifest themselves, no one actually talks about The Thing That Happened and what is going on now. As Emma's eating habits become more and more particular, they accommodate her (according to Noah) disgusting vegan diet. As Emma eats less and less food, no one actually confronts her.
It isn't until Emma collapses that they are forced to acknowledge how bad things are and take her into the hospital. Eventually Emma is admitted to a special eating disorder clinic a few hours drive from their home.
What this book reveals to us is how a family experiences one of its own dealing with an eating disorder. The story focuses primarily on Noah's experience and is told from his point of view. His worried parents spend their emotional energy on Emma while Noah is abandoned. What comes across is how much Noah loves his sister regardless of this.
Noah is a gifted artist and it is this, along with the support of a couple of compassionate teachers at his school, Ms Cliff, the art teacher and Tank, the social studies teacher, that help him get through this time.
I absolutely loved this story. Knowles writes with such authenticity you know what you are reading is truth, however fictional her characters.