Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis

Her fellow seventh graders don’t understand her. Still, I highly recommend this to middle readers and those who enjoy well-crafted fiction for young people.Emma-Jean Lazarus is the smartest–and definitely the strangest–girl at William Gladstone Middle School. Konigsburg's The View from Saturday for the younger set, although it is not so masterfully written. This is a sweet book, and in some ways it reminded me a bit of E.L. Perhaps Emma-Jean can solve her situation.Įmma-Jean learns, of course, that it doesn't always work to apply logic to human problems - and she also learns that once she gets involved in one problem, it means she will be involved and entangled in many, which is not a particularly comfortable place to be. Colleen is a nice person, and certainly doesn't deserve to be made to cry. Emma-Jean's demonstrating to Colleen effective ways of hiding the fact that she has been crying leads to Colleen pouring out her troubles, and Emma-Jean finds herself drawn in. Her attitude is one of not getting involved - until she comes across Colleen Pomerantz, one of the popular students, crying in the girl's bathroom. She doesn't really understand the social lives of her fellow seventh graders, or what their motivations are, except in the way that one might understand the social lives of small mammals after observing them for a while.

That is hook enough.'- School Library Journal, starred review ReviewĮmma-Jean Lazarus is what one might term an odd duck, and she's rather proud of it. Most of them do not offer young readers such fine writing and real characters. * 'There are many books that offer adventure and twists and unusual story lines.

'Internal drama, compelling characters, and Matties strong voice propel the story of learning to do 'a small brave thing.'- Booklist Mattie's growing trust of others and her attempts to be 'bold and friendly' lead to gratifying rewards for Mattie and poignant moments for readers.'- Publishers Weekly, starred review Always school had made her feel skittish and small') while expressing the quiet yet significant moments in her day-to-day life. Urban's understated, borderline naïf narrative gives voice to Mattie's many uncertainties ('Always Mattie has been shy. * 'Urban ( A Crooked Kind of Perfect) traces a highly self-conscious child's cautious emergence from her shell in this tender novel about new beginnings and 'small brave' acts. * 'This outstanding, emotionally resonant effort will appeal to middle-grade readers.'- Kirkus, starred review

Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis