This is the first play I have ever read that has made it into my top 10 books of all time, and is certainly my favorite work of theater ever.
Written from the innocent, simplistically factual view of a bright young middle-schooler, Tillie. The two other supporting characters, her sister Ruth and her bitter mother, Beatrice, are some of the strongest characters I have ever read.
This book is short, concise, and easy to get through, writing at the approximate level of a middle schooler. However, the story-line remains entirely adult, mature, and haunting. Regardless of its number of pages, this is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. It made me cry about three times... And for a whole week, I could not read anything else.
Paul Zindel has brilliantly combined childhood with mature and sobering conflicts - this book is depressing and a bit disturbing, unabashedly honest, and extraordinarily written.
One of my favorite books of all time. ( )

Zindel’s Pulitzer prize winning, semi-autobiographical play is an enjoyable, easy read for any high school student. The battles between mother and daughters are relatable to any teenager, the dialogue and background information are very comprehensible. ( )

Tillie is the dreamer in a complicated family that includes a Beatrice, the cruel and mad mother, and Ruth, her sister who is selfish and embarrassed by Tillie. Her love for science and desire to grow man-in-the-moon marigolds for a science project keeps Tillie alive. Written in play form and autobiographical, Zindel has written a short play about the complex relationships between family members. Readers might even be able to recognize and relate to some of the characters in their own extended families. ( )

Certainly not the usual fine classic literature I've grown to love, but I can't stay away from Zindel's works. I still have no idea what the title really has to do with anything, but this, like all Zindel's work, is a wonderful read. ( )