msaplusteacher's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
4.0
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.
jbrooxd's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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
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.
amdame1's review against another edition
4.0
Noah attends a really small, unusual school. They have weekly meetings where they all sit on couches or the floor and read items put into the "Suggestion Box". There is also a cat that lives at the school and wears different ugly sweaters all the time. The picture of the cat in the corner of the book cover suggests that this is a humorous book. While there are some funny parts, the book overall is about a very serious topic - eating disorders - and the cover diminishes that fact. I think it will also mislead students who pick up the book based on that. Noah's sister has very serious health issues but the family doesn't talk about them, but at some point they are going to have to deal with them.
Engaging characters, important topic. Not a book students are likely to pick up on their own, but a good book talk or giving to select students will get it read by an appreciative audience.
Engaging characters, important topic. Not a book students are likely to pick up on their own, but a good book talk or giving to select students will get it read by an appreciative audience.