July 7, 2003
Misunderstood by her parents, a middle child torn between wanting to be noticed and wanting to be invisible takes solace in the idea of a fantasy family, and in the company of her dog and her quirky best friend. "This funny and touching novel portrays the tug-of-war within this strong heroine and taps into very real emotions," said PW. Ages 10-14.
May 14, 2001
Choldenko (Moonstruck) vividly captures the feelings of a middle child torn between wanting to be noticed and wanting to be invisible, through the narration of sixth grader Ant (Antonia) MacPherson. Ant believes she was misplaced at birth. "Dear Real Mom,/ This is what I would like to happen. I would like you and my real dad to come RIGHT NOW," she writes in the book she's keeping for her "real parents." She feels like the thorn between two roses, overshadowed by her sisters ("Your Highness Elizabeth" and "Katherine the Great") and misunderstood by her mother and father. She takes solace in the idea of a fantasy family, and in the company of her beloved dog Pistachio and quirky best friend Harrison (he's obsessed with chickens) as well as the nest of falsehoods she constructs for herself. Some have serious consequences, such as switching her stellar report cards with Harrison's lackluster ones, dodging vet bills and accidentally endangering herself and others while volunteering at the zoo. A sympathetic art teacher, Just Carol ("she always says, 'Just call me Carol' "), glimpses the hurt behind Ant's misdeeds and steps in, but ultimately it's up to Ant to face some hard truths, take responsibility for her behavior and forge a fresh start with her family. Poignant passages belie Ant's tough exterior, as with her observations about her best friend, and her interaction with her father upon his return from a six-week business trip. This funny and touching novel portrays the tug-of-war within this strong heroine and taps into very real emotions. Ages 10-14.
August 6, 2001
The confident and youthful sounding Meyers is a solid choice as Antonia "Ant" McPherson, an embittered, smart-mouthed 12-year-old girl who hides her pain behind a constantly growing web of bold-faced lies. Ant, the middle McPherson child, is a challenge, nothing like her agreeable, perfect sisters "Your Highness Elizabeth" and "Katherine the Great." As such, Ant's exasperated parents treat her differently. The result is a sense of alienation so strong that Ant takes comfort in the fantasy that she is adopted and that her real parents will soon show up and take her to her real home. While she's waiting, she relates only to her best friend Harrison, a budding artist, and her beloved, aging dog Pistachio, instead of wasting her time, or the truth about her feelings, on "people who don't understand." But Ant and Harrison's young new art teacher at school, "Just Carol," sees beyond Ant's lies and reaches out to the fragile girl beneath the bravado. Carol's efforts help Ant and her family begin to work things out. Meyers nails Ant's blend of pain and posturing but is less successful taking on the supporting roles, which are exaggerated and not nearly as convincing. Ages 10-14. (June)FYI:Simultaneous release with the Putnam hardcover.