Skip to main content

"Absolutely Almost" by Lisa Graff



I really wanted to like Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff. I liked one of her previous novels, A Tangle of Knots, so much I selected it for my 4th and 5th grade book club and it was one of the kids’ favorite books. It also was long-listed for The National Book Award. A Tangle of Knots is a quirky book that requires you to pay attention. The characters’ stories are truly woven around one another and there’s fun climax where all the ends come together. In truth, I’m not sure all my kids got all the subtle hints to the “untangling,” but it didn’t bother them. We had a good discussion (that veered off into lots of tangents) and they enjoyed the story and the characters.

So I’m a bit disappointed by Absolutely Almost. In many ways it can be compared to Wonder by R.J. Palacio or Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. The protagonist is a kid with a problem. (Truth be told, there are many such novels, but that just proves there’s a formula at work here.) Auggie, the hero of Wonder, has severe facial deformities. Melody, in Out of My Mind, has cerebral palsy. Graff’s Albie seems to be developmentally disabled in some way

I say in some way, because we don’t really know what’s “wrong” with Albie. His dad thinks he doesn’t study enough. His mom wonders if he may be dyslexic (he's not). He’s extremely naïve for his age and, well, just not very bright. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. And none of that makes him unlikable, but there's just not much story to tell. The conflict is Albie trying to make his way in life. He must leave his private school (he doesn’t meet its high standards) and transfer to a public school. His parents are distracted and don’t have enough time for them, but he has a very caring young adult nanny (in the role Auggie’s sister plays in Wonder). In his new school he meets the requisite bullies, makes a friend, loses said friend when he tries to get in with cool kids (who are just using him), and there’s a somewhat happy ending as Albie and his family learn to accept him just as he is.

There’s almost a good story in here. Albie is likable, but boring. And I’m sure kids who liked Wonder and want a book like it, will find in Albie another hero – another kid doing his best and trying to fit in. I just expected more from Graff.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Harry vs. Septimus

Sometimes, I like the Septimus Heap series more than the Harry Potter series. There I said it. It’s a secret I’ve kept from all but my kids for a long time. Don’t get me wrong: I’m wild about Harry. I’ve knitted Harry Potter bookmarks (in Gryffindor colors, naturally). I’ve thrown at least two Harry Potter-themed birthday parties, complete with a sorting hat I made. I’ve stood at line overnight at Barnes and Noble waiting for the next book to come out three times. I read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire  in one day. But, often, I like Angie Sage’s Septimus Heap books ( Magyk , Flyte , Physik , Queste , Syren , and the just published Darke ) more. And I’m not entirely sure why. My current theory is that the Septimus Heap books are better written and, while also highly derivative, much more charming. The characters are human (muggles, even) and fraught with faults. Also, the Harry Potter books are, rightly so, about Harry. Everything is from Harry’s perspective. Sadly, we don...
1 comment
Read more

“I Am Number Four,” by Pittacus Lore

I really wanted to read I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore after I read a review of it a few months ago. I remember the reviewer saying that the author’s name is obviously a pseudonym, then just filed the title away. (I actually have a “book book” – a little book in which I write titles of books I want to read, organized by author. My kids tease me about my book book, but when you’re a motherboard with limited RAM, you need to write things down.) More recently I heard that it’s already been made into a “major motion picture” (due out in February!), so I knew I had to read it soon. And it was OK. The idea – aliens living among us, waiting to get strong enough to go back to rescue their home planet from horrible monsters who now might be coming to conquer Earth – was rather interesting. But the book was just OK. I liked it enough to keep reading it, but probably not enough to bother with the sequels. It’s certainly not as good as Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy, which is also...
1 comment
Read more

"The Story of Arthur Truluv" by Elizabeth Berg

I have a confession to make: You know that book Wonder by R.J. Palacio about the boy with facial deformities who attends public school for the first time and it's difficult for everyone involved, but in the end everyone's heart grows at least four sizes and we all feel good? I didn't love it. It's OK. And the movie was probably OK too. But as far as plot, character development, the style of the writing... I thought it was just OK. That's how I feel about The Story of Arthur Truluv , which is really all the things the various blurbs about the book says it is -- heartwarming, moving and sweet. You may even cry a little. But, unfortunately, it's like a much-watered-down version of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Which is a far better book.   Arthur is too good. And Maddy's story is somewhat unbelievable (Why is she bullied? How does she get into the situation she gets into?) and too cliche (goth teen going to art school?). Lucille...
Post a Comment
Read more