This is the story about a family who moves to a new town after the death of the father. The girl (Vinnie) and boy (Mason) both deal with the loss of their dad in different ways. Mason refuses the talk, and Vinnie takes her anger out on her brother.

For Vinnie, it's not only losing her dad, but also her best friend. A move means a new school. And that's where she comes across the Flip-Flop Girl, who is dealing with her own loss. But she's a little... weird. Definitely different from the other kids in Vinnie's class.

I liked how Paterson connects the threads of Vinnie and Mason's story with the Luce's story, especially through Mason, the brother.

While this book is not as powerful as Paterson's masterpiece Bridge to Terabithia, it's still a good read. Vinnie's reactions and thought-process is very interesting.

A short good story.

Katherine Paterson has done it again. Written a poignant and believable story of the trials of youth.

not that realistic

This book reminds me a lot of, “Daphnes Book,” by Mary Downing Hawn.
Vinnie goes through hard times after her father dies and her brother refuses to speak. She moves out of her town to live in Brownsville with her grandmother.
No more to say or I will spoil it. But I would give it 3 1/2 stars.

Age: 11+
Content Considerations: Way too many morbid thoughts concerning cancer and the father's recent death. Disrespect toward authority and in sibling relationships.

This is not Mrs. Paterson's best work. Thus far, I believe it is my least favorite of her stories. I do not hate it, but I have no desire to read it again and wouldn't highly recommend it.

This was a great book, even though it made me cry. Within the first four pages, I thought the narrator was mean and selfish, although I also knew she was hurting. As the story goes on, I felt her anger, her pain, her loneliness and her insecurity. Her fluctuating feelings seemed very appropriate for a grieving fourth-grade girl. Any future teacher ought to read this book to gain insight on how a 4th grader might think and to be inspired to be the caring, involved teacher that Mr. Clayton was (and how sometimes students hurt you out of their own anger and pain). I like how the title refers not only to Lupe.



After finishing the story, I wonder how children would feel reading it. It's a slower story, and the main character is very sad and lonely. They might want more action in a story. For me, though, it was a wonderful, in-depth look at a child's grief. I wish I'd read this before teaching my last children's literature class; I would have assigned it to them. (D*** used once.)

The Katherine Paterson books I've read seem pretty intense for kids...I found it a little painful and uncomfortable to read this book following the confused emotions of a girl whose father has just died, whose brother has stopped talking or eating, who feels neglected and misunderstood by everyone except her fourth-grade teacher--but is haunted by jealousy whenever the teacher pays special attention to anyone else.

This book deals with important themes: loss of a parent, struggles with a sibling, and being a lonely “new kid” at a school where everyone knows each other already.

I definitely read this when I was young. I wonder what I thought of it then. As an adult, I found it at times moving, at times relatable, and at other times I wondered if the older children were really acting like 9 year olds, or if they were acting older than their age. Probably Katherine Paterson got the age behavior correct, as she raised four children (two girls and two boys) plus taught school for a year. I often didn’t fit in with my peers, so I wouldn’t necessarily know what other kids were thinking and feeling.

I think “Lupe” was a super interesting character about whom I wish we knew more. Is she taller because she’s actually older than the other kids? (Was she originally educated in another country and is repeating grades in English?) She certainly acts more mature. Lavinia was lucky to have such a thoughtful person in her class, because Vinny certainly didn’t do anything to earn Lupe’s kindness.

It’s also interesting to see how teaching and school standards change. Nowadays a kid who vandalized a teacher’s car would be sent to juvenile prison, particularly if she was black. The teachers would be so busy teaching to standardized tests that they wouldn’t have time to enjoy and adapt the day’s lesson to a spectacular pumpkin brought in by a student. And teachers are paid so poorly that they wouldn’t be able to afford a nice car or give needed items to students.

Family read aloud...krb 10/17/21....no one is into this book right now. will come back to it later...krb 11/9/21

Yes it's book for 9-10 year olds, but I read it twice.

I feel like I read this in like fifth grade. Maybe not. But it seemed familiar. Anyway, it was decent. Nothing exceptional, but nothing horrible. I kind of wish it had been a little longer.