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readertz's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of the only YHBA books I had not read yet. I was excited to read it since it is set in Indiana. Libby had some difficult things to deal with, but she didn't hide from her problems. I liked that about her character. The story was about raising animals for a county fair. That's not something I have any experience with. I didn't go to a county fair or even the state fair until I was an adult, but I still enjoyed the story. This is the author's first book, and I hope she writes more.
shighley's review against another edition
4.0
I was on the Young Hoosier committee that selected this as one of our middle grades titles (after all, it IS set in Indiana!). I enjoyed reading the author's blog and background. (and my husband lived in Warsaw for awhile). I enjoyed the characters, although the Darling girls seemed a bit much at times (but perhaps not for students reading the book). Even Frannie, the four year old, had a fun personality. (I've read that truly gifted children have more than one imaginary friend at a time, although I've never heard of imaginary grandchildren!) I also liked the fact that things didn't always turn out perfectly for Libby, and she did have a wonderful friend in Carol Ann. The first-person narration was well done, and I loved some of the phrases, such as farmers, "measured rainfall on a daily basis year-round, like a supermodel measures fat grams". A few things seemed a bit far-fetched (incidents in the show ring), and the Darlings leaving Ohma by herself after her tragedy.
All in all, a fun read giving some insight into cattle farming. I'd love to know how Nowhere, Indiana became the name of the town. Is this a dig from Ohio?
All in all, a fun read giving some insight into cattle farming. I'd love to know how Nowhere, Indiana became the name of the town. Is this a dig from Ohio?
kaylyn12marie's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
librariann's review against another edition
3.0
Ages 9+ (nothing objectionable, other than catty girls)
7th grader Libby Ryan is from a long line of northern Indiana cattlemen. This year, with her older brother Ronnie starting his freshman year at Purdue, it's up to her to raise the prize steer for the Practical County fair. Supported by her best friend, Carol Ann, and antagonized by the awful Darling sisters (Precious, Lil and Ohma), she develops a close bond with her two steer and struggles with the knowledge that the animals she loves are *beef*, and their ultimate fate is a slaughterhouse.
Knowing nothing about farm life myself, this seems like a fairly realistic (no Charlotte's Web endings) view of farm life. Although Libby struggles with the fact that her steer will be sold (and makes a few bad choices because of that) there isn't a rescue ending. Her brief stint with vegetarianism is met with puzzlement, and funniest of all, the pinnacles of style (where you go to buy designer evening gowns) are Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Still a sweet story and quick read. Readalike: Me and the Pumpkin Queen.
7th grader Libby Ryan is from a long line of northern Indiana cattlemen. This year, with her older brother Ronnie starting his freshman year at Purdue, it's up to her to raise the prize steer for the Practical County fair. Supported by her best friend, Carol Ann, and antagonized by the awful Darling sisters (Precious, Lil and Ohma), she develops a close bond with her two steer and struggles with the knowledge that the animals she loves are *beef*, and their ultimate fate is a slaughterhouse.
Knowing nothing about farm life myself, this seems like a fairly realistic (no Charlotte's Web endings) view of farm life. Although Libby struggles with the fact that her steer will be sold (and makes a few bad choices because of that) there isn't a rescue ending. Her brief stint with vegetarianism is met with puzzlement, and funniest of all, the pinnacles of style (where you go to buy designer evening gowns) are Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Still a sweet story and quick read. Readalike: Me and the Pumpkin Queen.
book_nut's review against another edition
3.0
Cute book. Loved that the author loves cows. (You can tell.)
abigailbat's review against another edition
3.0
Full review on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2009/05/book-review-beef-princess-of-practical.html
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2009/05/book-review-beef-princess-of-practical.html
mon_ique's review against another edition
3.0
Though, I couldn't care less about raising steers or whatever, I grew attached to this story the more I read. And the juicy description of juicy cheeseburgers, which is bad since I'm only juicing fruits and veggies right now. Sometimes I wish I lived on a farm and had all those duties, like this book describes, but then I usually forget about.
nerfherder86's review against another edition
4.0
Fun story about raising a steer for the county fair. I learned a lot about cows and county fairs in this book! Twelve year old Libby lives on an Indiana cattle farm, and has always dreamed of showing a steer that would become the Grand Champion; she wants to outshine her older brother, who's been the family champion cow-show-person. (See, I don't even know how to describe this stuff, I am such a city girl!) She ends up with two steer, one's docile and perfect, while the other is stubborn and ornery. But she gets really attached to them both. She also, to her horror, gets signed up to be in the Beef Princess pageant! Libby's just not a beauty pageant kind of girl, and she has to compete against the Darling sisters, who don't know much about cows but who always win at pageants. They're a hoot, very snooty and named "Precious" Darling, "Ohma" Darling, etc. It's a cute story about competition and friendship, Fair and farm life, and why it's never a good idea to become overly fond of cattle that go up to auction.
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
3.0
Cute, squeaky clean story about choices and about farm life. Libby Ryan is a realistic 12-year-old who spouts just enough attitude to make her lovable. I liked the story of showing steer and the ultimate choices one has to make to keep traditions alive.
tami_provencher's review against another edition
3.0
If you enjoy contemporary realistic fiction then The Beef Princess of Practical County is a good choice for you when choosing a Lovelace nominee. The main character is 7th-Grader Libby Ryan. The Ryan family’s livelihood is raising, showing and selling steers at market. Libby has grown up surrounded by the workings of the beef industry on property owned and run by her family for generations.
When the story begins Libby is picking out the calves she for whom she will care and groom to show (and then sell) at the Practical County Fair the following year. With her older brother away at his first year in college Libby sees this as an opportunity to participate in the beef industry so loved and fostered by her parents and grandparents. It is also a prime opportunity to spend time with her father and prove to him she is worthy of his attention.
When she proposes to name her newly acquired calves her father counsels against it. He knows that the end result of raising and showing a calf is selling it for beef at the Fair. Libby, however, proceeds with her own plan of action.
There is a parallel plot line for Libby involving their neighbors, the Darlings, and their three daughters (Precious, Lil and Ohma). In this storyline Libby–at her mother’s and best friend’s urging–enters the Beef Princess Pageant at the Fair. The title has been held by one of the Darling sisters for the past four years.
Libby is more comfortable in jeans and sweatshirts than a frou-frou dress. Because the Darling sisters are set up as the quintessential “mean girls” from middle and high school: pretty, shallow and elitist, Libby decides she needs to take a stand. The Beef Princess of Practical County needs to be a knowledgeable and passionate voice for the beef industry and the Darlings value only the tiara and the title.
There are parts of the book I thoroughly enjoyed. The author succeeds in creating a realistic loss situation for Libby to navigate. I think the character of Libby’s mother explains this too much at the end when she really doesn’t need to. As readers we already get it. Libby’s voice seems to be that of a 7th Grader for most of her narration but she occasionally lapses into what seems more like the adult voice of the author.
My biggest confusion came from the dual storylines. Every so often they would intersect, but never in a way that helped me understand why they were both in the same story except to manufacture some plot points. The Pageant story and the Beef Industry story don’t complement each other in a way that makes them more than what they are individually.
That said, I did find it informative about the beef industry in ways that were not preachy one way or the other. I enjoyed some laugh-out-loud moments with Libby’s younger sister Frannie and her imaginary grandchildren. And I was moved (as I usually am) by the child-animal relationship between Libby and her steer in a way I had not expected.
All in all I liked it more than I disliked or was confused by it. It’s a good choice for a young girl deciding which Lovelace nominees to read.
When the story begins Libby is picking out the calves she for whom she will care and groom to show (and then sell) at the Practical County Fair the following year. With her older brother away at his first year in college Libby sees this as an opportunity to participate in the beef industry so loved and fostered by her parents and grandparents. It is also a prime opportunity to spend time with her father and prove to him she is worthy of his attention.
When she proposes to name her newly acquired calves her father counsels against it. He knows that the end result of raising and showing a calf is selling it for beef at the Fair. Libby, however, proceeds with her own plan of action.
There is a parallel plot line for Libby involving their neighbors, the Darlings, and their three daughters (Precious, Lil and Ohma). In this storyline Libby–at her mother’s and best friend’s urging–enters the Beef Princess Pageant at the Fair. The title has been held by one of the Darling sisters for the past four years.
Libby is more comfortable in jeans and sweatshirts than a frou-frou dress. Because the Darling sisters are set up as the quintessential “mean girls” from middle and high school: pretty, shallow and elitist, Libby decides she needs to take a stand. The Beef Princess of Practical County needs to be a knowledgeable and passionate voice for the beef industry and the Darlings value only the tiara and the title.
There are parts of the book I thoroughly enjoyed. The author succeeds in creating a realistic loss situation for Libby to navigate. I think the character of Libby’s mother explains this too much at the end when she really doesn’t need to. As readers we already get it. Libby’s voice seems to be that of a 7th Grader for most of her narration but she occasionally lapses into what seems more like the adult voice of the author.
My biggest confusion came from the dual storylines. Every so often they would intersect, but never in a way that helped me understand why they were both in the same story except to manufacture some plot points. The Pageant story and the Beef Industry story don’t complement each other in a way that makes them more than what they are individually.
That said, I did find it informative about the beef industry in ways that were not preachy one way or the other. I enjoyed some laugh-out-loud moments with Libby’s younger sister Frannie and her imaginary grandchildren. And I was moved (as I usually am) by the child-animal relationship between Libby and her steer in a way I had not expected.
All in all I liked it more than I disliked or was confused by it. It’s a good choice for a young girl deciding which Lovelace nominees to read.