Reviews

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

chapita4's review against another edition

5.0

The Boo's review: This book was the best in the WORLD!!!!!!!! In the beginning you meet the main character and you start to learn about the Almost... Albie really, really likes donuts and he stacks cups in order to earn them. Albie's superhero is DonutMan whose super power is....Kindness. I liked the end the best because of the coffee sleeves having a message about superpowers and kindness. My favorite character was Albie, because of all the almost and how he keeps working really hard to get there. You should definitely read this book. Mom's note...the chapter where Albie describes New York was one of my favorites because it is amazingly insightful and poetically perfect.

vtsarahd's review against another edition

5.0

Albie is a character with whom many students will relate. This is his story of fitting in and coming to realize his own worth.

gmamartha's review against another edition

4.0

There is absolutely almost in each of us - but moreso with Albie. Weaving his way through each of his relationships seems a minefield. But he IS kind. No almost about that.

agmcculloch1's review against another edition

5.0

I loved Albie and what he learned about how 'cool' is decided and what it means to be a friend. The angst of finding your place on the social ladder to which we all can relate.

megangraff's review against another edition

4.0

I quite liked this book and enjoyed seeing her world through Albie's eyes. It made me stop and think about students I have taught over the years.

jaij7's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this story about Albie, a 5th grade kid, trying to figure out life. Kids will love that he is like them, questioning friendships, school and his parents. They will also love that some chapters are super short. This always makes kids happy claiming, “I just read a chapter.” Great book that I highly recommend.

mlejmeyer's review against another edition

4.0

This one really called to me to be read aloud. Albie won a piece of my heart. I will definitely read this aloud to my education students---so much here about how it feels to be a kid who struggles in school and life. Poignant read.

ellejax's review against another edition

4.0

Interesting writing style. Varied tween social situations provided a good opportunity for discussion with kids.

brandypainter's review against another edition

4.0

There are quite a few stylistic elements here that tend to annoy me a great deal, the episodic nature of the plot, how it just sort of ends with no real closure, and the tropes that are often overused in MG realistic fiction. The fact that I liked it as much as I did despite these things says a lot about the quality of the writing and character development in the book. Albie is an excellent every-kid narrator. The whole concept of being an "almost" is one so many can relate to and his voice is absolutely perfect. He tells his story exactly the way a child in his situation would (which is why the episodic plot makes sense even if it's not my favorite thing to read) and his observations are spot on and conveyed exactly like a fifth grader would do it. One of my favorite parts after a classmate calls Albie a "retard" and the principal makes an announcement that the word is "outlawed" at the school:

But Darren Ackleman doesn't call me "retard" anymore.
Moron.
That's what he called me on Thursday.
Moron. Numbskull. Bozo. Idiot.
Stupid little rat.
Marblehead. Freak. Dum-dum. Hopeless. Lamebrain. Crybaby. F-minus.
Dummy
That's what he called me on Friday, and every day since.
Dummy.
Dummy.
Dummy.
Darren Aclkleman doesn't cal me "retard" anymore.
But I think maybe it's not words that need to be outlawed.

Absolutely pitch perfect.

reading_rachel's review against another edition

4.0

More like 4.5. I loved Albie & Calista - I just wanted more. I couldn't put it down! Such a sweet, true story.