Date Published: February 19th 2013
ISBN: 0061625019
Genre: Middle grade, contemporary
Publisher:Katherine Tegen Books Harper Collins Children's
Themes: self-discovery, friendship, poetry, Emily Dickinson, middle school, destiny
Add it on: Goodreads / Shelfari / Amazon / B&N
About The Book: Eleven-year-old Emily Elizabeth Davis has been told for her entire life that her destiny is to become a poet, just like her famous namesake, Emily Dickinson. But Emily doesn’t even really like poetry, and she has a secret career ambition that she suspects her English-professor mother will frown on. Then a seeming tragedy strikes: just after discovering that it contains an important family secret, she accidentally loses the special copy of Emily Dickinson’s poetry that was given to her at birth. As Emily and her friends search for the lost book in used bookstores and thrift shops all across town, Emily’s understanding of destiny begins to unravel and then rewrite itself in a marvelous new way.
In her third novel, Kathryn Fitzmaurice again weaves a richly textured and delightful story about unexpected connections, about the ways that friends can help us see ourselves for who we truly are, and about the most perfect kinds of happy endings: those that happen just on time. —Goodreads
"Emily’s engaging first person narrative chronicles her daily life, her wonderfully quirky family, her musings on fate, her growing sense of self, and her one-way correspondence with her favorite write, Danielle Steel. The books idyllically happy ending may have its critics, but most young readers will find it entirely satisfying." —Booklist
2. 335 pages
3. The Hook: She hooks the reader right from the first line by putting the question into the head of the reader, What is her name? How did her mother decide on her name? You want to know...
4. Inciting event: Emily Dickinson's book of poems goes missing and her mother told her that is where she could find the name of her father.
5. Plot and Pace: Every chapter is full of mischievous action and emotion. The humor also adds to the pace. The plot had several sub-plots creating complications all along the way.
6. Voice: Emily's voice is very distinctive and she has several quirky ways of communicating and describing things. I also loved Emily's perspective, always unique and age appropriate.
About The Book: Eleven-year-old Emily Elizabeth Davis has been told for her entire life that her destiny is to become a poet, just like her famous namesake, Emily Dickinson. But Emily doesn’t even really like poetry, and she has a secret career ambition that she suspects her English-professor mother will frown on. Then a seeming tragedy strikes: just after discovering that it contains an important family secret, she accidentally loses the special copy of Emily Dickinson’s poetry that was given to her at birth. As Emily and her friends search for the lost book in used bookstores and thrift shops all across town, Emily’s understanding of destiny begins to unravel and then rewrite itself in a marvelous new way.
In her third novel, Kathryn Fitzmaurice again weaves a richly textured and delightful story about unexpected connections, about the ways that friends can help us see ourselves for who we truly are, and about the most perfect kinds of happy endings: those that happen just on time. —Goodreads
First Line: My destiny was decided in a secondhand bookstore the day before I was born when my mother, Isabella, found a book of poems.
One Great Line: Aunt Nora— "Her poems were like gifts to us. We never wiped them off. We'd find a section of the mirror with nothing written on it to brush our teeth or comb our hair rather than erase them."
What Others Are Saying: "Aptly set amid the hippie ambiance of Berkeley, Calif., and peopled by offbeat, but believable characters, Fitzmaurice’s story deftly mingles Dickinson, Danielle Steel, a budding crush, and protesting tree sitters while maintaining suspense that leads to a satisfying ending." —Publishers Weekly
Book Bloggers Weigh In
What I Thought: Awesome! I'll say it again, awesome. If you haven't had the chance to read one of Fitzmaurice's books you are missing out on some of the most sensitive and insightful middle grade authors. She might as well use a paintbrush because the images her words create are incredible. Add to that complex characters, not just the protagonist but all the characters that surround Emily are fascinating people and I would know them if I met them on the street. This is definitely, going on my list of favorite reads for 2013!
My Analysis:
1. POV: First person: Emily Elizabeth Davis2. 335 pages
3. The Hook: She hooks the reader right from the first line by putting the question into the head of the reader, What is her name? How did her mother decide on her name? You want to know...
4. Inciting event: Emily Dickinson's book of poems goes missing and her mother told her that is where she could find the name of her father.
5. Plot and Pace: Every chapter is full of mischievous action and emotion. The humor also adds to the pace. The plot had several sub-plots creating complications all along the way.
6. Voice: Emily's voice is very distinctive and she has several quirky ways of communicating and describing things. I also loved Emily's perspective, always unique and age appropriate.
About The Author:
Kathryn Fitzmaurice
Check out my review of The Year The Swallows Came Home Early and interview from 2011, here.
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Next Week: Alligators Overhead by C. Lee McKenzie
Thank you, Pam, for such a nice review, and for your continued support! I am so happy you liked the book.
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