Audrey Couloumbis

After their baby sister dies, Willa Jo and Little Sister are staying with their fussy aunt and bemused uncle for the summer while their mother tries to put her life back together. There is much friction in the arrangement, as Willa Jo resists her aunt's demands that everyone follow her strict regime, including never straying from the plastic runners on the carpet and never playing with the not-respectable children (read: they dare to play outside in such a way that gets their clothes dirty) show more across the street. And for her part, Aunt Patty can't understand why her nieces aren't grateful for all the help she's offering them and their mother. It's a mess that culminates in the sisters climbing up onto the roof early one morning to watch the sunset and then refusing to come down.

Not all middle grade books that take on the subject of death in childhood succeed, but this one does a pretty good job. It's a serious and sad topic, but it's handled fairly gently here and the young characters are given believable reactions to it. In fact, all of the characters are nicely drawn; the aunt is just the right amount of annoying without being irredeemable, the neighbor kiddos are a delight, and the uncle is the perfect laid-back foil to his uptight wife. I also like the choice to frame the entire narrative with the detail of the girls hosting an inadvertent sit-in on the roof. The only part that irks me is a small section in which the mother talks to Willa Jo about how the baby is now in heaven with the angels and will possibly get wings herself. Blech. The saving grace there is that it seems clear it's the character spouting these notions and not the author. show less

This is an amazing story trapped inside a bad book. This novel for grades 5-8 tells the true childhood story of the author's own husband, whose family was forced to house a German officer during the Nazi occupation of Greece. The book uses 3rd person narration to tell the story through the eyes of 12-year old Petros. It deftly portrays the suspicion and fear that accompanies a war, and the terrible danger for families as they negotiate occupying soldiers, Greek resistance fighters, hunger, show more and secrets. Every few pages, however, I would say, "huh?" and flip back to see if I'd missed anything. It felt as though the book had been much longer and had undergone significant cuts, but without further editing to tie the narrative back together. It was too choppy for me to enjoy, and overall I was disappointed. I was surprised to learn that the author had previously won a Newbery Honor (Getting Near to Baby). I wish she had spent more time on this one. show less

I had only a vague idea of who Audrey Couloumbis was when I saw this at ALA, but I picked this one up because Julia Denos did the cover! And all the pretty little inside illustrations! There’s one of a hermit crab that’s just…exquisite. Anyways, I devoured it in my hotel room during ALA Midwinter and it’s just….sooo perfect. I fell completely in love with Lexie, if I ever had a daughter that’s what I’d want her to be like…
So, Lexie knows that it’s going to be different this show more year. Her parents are divorced and instead of staying for a week at the beach with both of them and then with her mom, while her dad comes up for weekends, she’s staying a week just with her dad, then coming up for weekends. She kind of doesn’t want to go, but she kind of does.

Then she finds out they’re having guests. Then she finds out they’re having guests THE WHOLE WEEK. Then she finds out it’s her dad’s girlfriend, Vicky, her sullen teenage son and her very dirty three year old. Everything is wrong. Lexie does her best to be nice and live up to her dad’s expectations, but when she finds out her dad and Vicky are getting married, she just can’t take it anymore and realizes she needs to stand up for herself.

Lexie’s dad is completely clueless – not to mention a rather immature, selfish guy. We are totally in agreement with Lexie’s mom that she can’t live with him any longer. He goes along doing the things he wants without thinking of how they’re going to affect anyone else; or considering his daughter’s point of view. Lexie isn’t a plaster saint by any means, but she’s doing her best in a difficult situation without any support or understanding from her dad. When Lexie finally can’t take it anymore and stands up to him, I had to read that part aloud to my sister and we both cheered for her.

As you can see, the great strength of this chapter book is how real the characters are. I loved Lexie’s horror at first meeting Harris, the three year old. Three year olds are dirty and as an only child Lexie is horrified by this. She doesn’t particularly like small children and she really doesn’t want to have to drag this kid around with her. I also really liked the way Lexie watches her dad and Vicky together and analyzes whether or not they make a better couple than her mom and her dad. Ben, Vicky’s teenager, is realistically depicted from Lexie’s point of view, which is perfect. How often do you see a sulking teen shown through a pre-teen’s eyes, other than “I hate my older sister” funny plots?

And did I mention Julia Denos illustrated this story?

Verdict: So, so, perfect. You absolutely must buy this story and give it to all your eight to twelve year olds, boys and girls. Even if their parents aren’t divorced, they probably have a friend or relative who is. Plus, it’s a perfect summer beach read, sunny and a little lazy. Plus, it’s funny!

ISBN: 9780375856327; Published May 24, 2011; ARC provided by publisher at ALA Midwinter 2011; Purchased for my library. show less

Audrey Coulumbis is a Newbery award winning author. Getting Near to Baby is one of my favorite Newbery books primarily because like Out of the Dust, Okay for Now, The Wednesday Wars and Bud, Not Buddy, Coulumbis' books deal with difficult subjects in a non over the top way.

This small book packs a whallop without leaving the reader feeling bruised. When twelve year old Casey returns home from school realizing she has been abandoned by her step mother, she tries as best as possible to soldier show more on. No stranger to loss, her father died a number of years ago. Knowing her step mother loves her, she is surprised at the lack of care and consideration.

Afraid and brave, she relies on the foster child her the super of the New York City apartment building. When the street wise foster child of the super of the building relies on her fears to convince her to steal from an elderly woman, she walks down an uncharted path. Knowing she needs rent money and food, despite her moral compass, she follows through with the brazen plan.

Tentatively reaching out to her step grandmother nets an amazing response of kindness and compassion.

This is an intricate story of fear, love, abandonment and redemption. Twelve year old Casey learns that life and love are very complicated and people aren't always what they appear to be.

It is a book of pleasant surprises. I recommend that you say yes to reading this one! show less