True (. . . Sort Of)

I thought this book was really cute. It's about a younger girl who has a bad habit of getting in trouble. She then meets a new friend who helps her out in more ways than just that. I loved all the relationships in this books. They were all so complex but perfectly realistic. The main character, Delly, was really fun. She made up cool words and always wanted to have a good time. Her developing relationship with Ferris Boyd was also fun to watch. That's what this book is mainly about, relationships, and the author did it perfectly. It's hard to review this book without giving anything away because the ending is a little sad and rough. It's not all butterflies and rainbows here but it was a perfect ending.

Fifth grader Delly has been T-R-O-U-B-L-E ever since she can remember. But when she meets a mysterious new classmate who doesn't talk and won't be touched, Delly's life is forever changed. Ferris Boyd helps her so much, but can Delly help Ferris when it's needed?

Delly's whimsical vocabulary and way of speaking was fun at first, but wore at me a little over the course of so many pages. It's a great story about a troublemaker becoming more self-aware and realizing that the world doesn't center around her. But it's a little overlong and I was TOLD too many times exactly what Delly was feeling instead of seeing it for myself.

For the whimsical turns of phrase and near magical realism, I'd recommend it to fans of SAVVY by Ingrid Law. For the show more troublemaker trying to put things right, I'd recommend it to fans of JOEY PIGZA SWALLOWED THE KEY by Jack Gantos or THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS by Katherine Paterson. show less

a beautiful, heart-warming story. A story about abuse, child abuse in particular, is never easy to read. But with a character like Delly, who has a Dellyictionary and her own delly-days she names - well, it sure makes it a lot easier.

Delly never had a friend, and when she finally does, she has to learn a lot about having a friend - sharing, the art of silence that says more than words.

And, when telling a secret is safer than keeping it - even if it means making your friend upset. And that is the hardest lesson of all.

And finally, a younger juvenile book where the parents aren't awful or so absentee it's embarrassing and unrealistic. Mind you, not all parents in the story are good, but Delly & RB's parents sure are.

Delly, who's always in trouble, finds some secrets to staying out of trouble through a friendship with a mute girl in her class, Ferris Boyd. Ferris is the victim of undescribed abuse by her father, but neither girl has the speech or knowhow to get help. I found that Delly's word inventions became too cute and unbelievable pretty quickly, but perhaps the middle grade audience would not be annoyed.

From the time she was very young, Delaware has found herself in trouble of one kind or another, and it is only when she sees her mother crying when she is given one last chance by her school principle to avoid being sent to a school for troubled children, does Delly attempt to mend her ways. Each day is a struggle, until she discovers the one thing that can make her change, and she discovers true friendship in the form of the new girl in town, Ferris Boyd, a selective mute who fears human contact of any kind.

This was a really sweet novel, perfect for listening to in the car with young kids, though not without it's sadness and heartache. Through some of the issues that the kids had to deal with I had a hard time not wanting to just wrap show more my arms around my own kids and hold them close, especially my oldest who is the same age as Delly and Ferris. I highly recommend this book for children between the ages of 9-12. None of the major issues (I can not be more specific as I don't want to spoil the plot) are explicitly stated or even illustrated so that should not be a reason to shelter your kids from it. I find even more than the somewhat dark topics upon which this book touches, that at it's core this book is most truly about love and friendship. show less

The inspiring story of the redemptive power of friendship. Loud, brash Delly, who *knows* to her core she is bad meets quiet, sad Ferris and both their lives are changed, for the better. If its true that people can't change, perhaps its only true they can't do it alone. I think we've all had a friend who makes us see the world/ourselves with new eyes. This book made me appreciate all the good friends in my life all over again. Great read, read it in one sitting!

A very readable book about a girl who gets into trouble. The author does a good job of evoking this age and the trouble that comes with it. Delaware, who is prone to fighting, is helped by her gentle younger brother who teaches her to count her way out of the urge to fight. She is also intrigued by a lonely looking girl, often mistaken for a boy, who seems to have an ability to befriend animals. She starts to follow the girl home, and spies her playing basketball, not Delly's favorite activity. but it gives her the idea, back at school when made captain of a basketball team to choose the girl for the team. But instead of slam-dunking the team to a win, as Delly fantasized her doing, the girl just stands there, letting the ball bounce show more right off her, losing the game. When Delly asks the mute girl why she did this, the girl writes "You didn't ask." So asking replaces counting, which Delly hated anyway, as a way to keep her out of trouble. The two become friends, along with Delly's little brother, and they have a great time in the girl's hideaway in the woods, not always communicating with words. The fun is interrupted by visits by the girl's father, and Delly comes to realize that there may be more trouble going on than she realizes.
I did enjoy the trouble of this age. I could relate! What I did think was a bit of a stretch, honestly, was the amount of compassion shown by kids this age. It seemed a touch unrealistic. In my experience, troubled kids, while they often turn it around eventually, usually don't do it quite this fast. that is my experience, and I know kids come in great variety, obviously, and some are naturally more compassionate than others. I just know, that when I was making trouble, was pretty self centered and it took me years to change.
It is a nice book though, and I enjoyed reading it, and I think kids will, too. show less