applej314's review against another edition
4.0
The Ashwater Experiment is more than a little bit about wondering if you're the only person in the world who's real, which, while certainly self-centered, is the epitome of the middle school experience. I was obsessed with this book as a 7th grader, because Hilary understood that the world was messy and unpredictable, and she was trying desperately to figure out her place in it. I think if I read this for the first time today, I wouldn't like it nearly as much. It's perfect for its audience, which I think is one of the highest compliments you can give to a book. Thanks, Hilary. We had a good time.
sakusha's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A middle grade book about a seventh grade girl named Hillary who travels around the country with her parents who sell recycled gizmos. Hillary usually never attends the same school for long, but in this book she stays for several months and gets attached.
I liked that Hillary felt like an outsider, the only real person in a sea of people who didn’t really matter, who could all be easily labeled. But by the end, many of the characters felt three dimensional. The book made me cry, and it’s going on my favorites list for the preteen audience. It had some insightful quotes from characters:
“Friendships that are stuck in one place are different. You never know if you choose to be with that friend, or if you’re friends out of habit and lack of choices. And it gets competitive. You start defining yourself by them. If your friends fail, you feel successful. If they succeed, you feel like a loser. Pretty soon you are wishing all kinds of awful things on them!” - Ina, Hillary’s mom (33).
Cass: “Grown-ups love to shop. I guess that’s why they cover the planet with stores. Maybe having stuff makes them feel less floaty. Thoughts and feelings are drifty, but stuff, like cars and couches, is solid.”
Hillary: “Real. Stuff is real. Couches don’t die, they don’t even sleep.”
Ina: “I heard that. And I disagree. Stuff is the opposite of real. Make no mistake, my dears, reality is the sun on our faces, the breeze sneaking under our clothes. Reality is two good friends strolling down the street, sharing thoughts.” (95)
Serena: “She says she’ll get me a nose job when I’m I’m sixteen.”
Hillary: “If she likes you so much, how come she doesn’t like your nose?” (104)
Ed: “Whatever we have at certain times in our lives, we want the opposite” (139).
I liked that Hillary felt like an outsider, the only real person in a sea of people who didn’t really matter, who could all be easily labeled. But by the end, many of the characters felt three dimensional. The book made me cry, and it’s going on my favorites list for the preteen audience. It had some insightful quotes from characters:
“Friendships that are stuck in one place are different. You never know if you choose to be with that friend, or if you’re friends out of habit and lack of choices. And it gets competitive. You start defining yourself by them. If your friends fail, you feel successful. If they succeed, you feel like a loser. Pretty soon you are wishing all kinds of awful things on them!” - Ina, Hillary’s mom (33).
Cass: “Grown-ups love to shop. I guess that’s why they cover the planet with stores. Maybe having stuff makes them feel less floaty. Thoughts and feelings are drifty, but stuff, like cars and couches, is solid.”
Hillary: “Real. Stuff is real. Couches don’t die, they don’t even sleep.”
Ina: “I heard that. And I disagree. Stuff is the opposite of real. Make no mistake, my dears, reality is the sun on our faces, the breeze sneaking under our clothes. Reality is two good friends strolling down the street, sharing thoughts.” (95)
Serena: “She says she’ll get me a nose job when I’m I’m sixteen.”
Hillary: “If she likes you so much, how come she doesn’t like your nose?” (104)
Ed: “Whatever we have at certain times in our lives, we want the opposite” (139).
j_apple's review
4.0
The Ashwater Experiment is more than a little bit about wondering if you're the only person in the world who's real, which, while certainly self-centered, is the epitome of the middle school experience. I was obsessed with this book as a 7th grader, because Hilary understood that the world was messy and unpredictable, and she was trying desperately to figure out her place in it. I think if I read this for the first time today, I wouldn't like it nearly as much. It's perfect for its audience, which I think is one of the highest compliments you can give to a book. Thanks, Hilary. We had a good time.
More...