Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
Minnie McClary Speaks Her Mind
by
Valerie Hobbs (Goodreads Author)
Minnie McClary is the new girl and knows that she doesn't quite fit in, especially not aftershe lost it one dayin language arts.In art, Minnie has to paint a self portrait--but how can she do this when she doesn't even know who she is anymore? Things aren't great at home, either. Her uncle Bill is building a huge replica ofthe Apache helicopterhe flew in Iraq, andher fathe...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
August 7th 2012
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
(first published April 28th 2012)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
270)
Minnie is having a hard time adjusting to moving to a small town. Her father has lost his job as a lawyer and is having trouble finding work. Her mother is putting in long hours selling cars, her brother Dylan is just a jerk, and her Uncle Bill, who was injured fighting, is building a model of an Apache helicopter in the basement and not dealing well with PTSD. Minnie's 6th grade class has run off a number of teachers, but eventually ends up with Miss Marks, who is fresh out of school. Miss Mark...more
Sep 08, 2012
Barbara
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
bullies,
community,
cultural-identity,
depression,
families,
friendship,
identity,
immigration,
ncbla2013,
art,
school,
self-esteem,
social-justice,
teachers,
strong-women,
war,
writing
Her family's recent move to Arizona has meant changes for sixth grader Minnie McClary, and she just doesn't feel as though she fits in at her new school. Her new language arts teacher, Miss Marks, encourages her charges to ask themselves and those around them hard questions and to write in their journals. As she encourages community and self-expression in the classroom, she comes under fire because of the way she dresses and expresses herself. There are also vague rumors about her sexual orienta...more
view 2 comments
A moving story about an amazing teacher. Miss Marks is controversial, she doesn't follow the dress code and she introduces her students to big ideas and encourages them to ask difficult questions of both themselves and their environment. Before long a group of parents form a committee to try to get Miss Marks removed from her position.
Minnie has just moved to Mojave Middles School from Pasadena where her father was fired from his job at a law firm for standing up for what he believed was right c...more
Minnie has just moved to Mojave Middles School from Pasadena where her father was fired from his job at a law firm for standing up for what he believed was right c...more
In Minnie McClary Speaks Her Mind author Valerie Hobbs produces another engaging and important book. Hobbs gets into the mind of her eleven-year-old narrator, Minnie, so completely and authentically that it’s easy to forget an adult author is behind the voice. From the very first chapter I was rooting for Minnie, a girl who knows right from wrong, but struggles with wanting to impress her peers. Welcome to middle school, Minnie. Compounding the problem are a couple of potentially embarrassing ad...more
A heroine who finds her spunk when she encounters unfairness that she understands and can do something about. Minnie starts 6th grade in a new middle school after her father loses his job for being a whistleblower and they have to move. Minnie doesn't really understand this but she knows that it is unfair. Her uncle lives in the basement where he is building an attack helicopter. This is also something that Minnie doesn't understand. But when the new teacher is fired and her new friend is being...more
This book is about taking risks when you know it is the right thing to do.
Minnie is a girl who wishes to be invisible, a girl who does what she is told and never gets into trouble. A shy child with a good heart, who wants to do her homework and never be noticed.
But, with the arrival of a new teacher, one who does stand up for what she believes, Minnie watches as events spill out of control and no one stands up to stop it.
Minnie is forced to consider the consequences of her silence.
Val Hobbs t...more
Minnie is a girl who wishes to be invisible, a girl who does what she is told and never gets into trouble. A shy child with a good heart, who wants to do her homework and never be noticed.
But, with the arrival of a new teacher, one who does stand up for what she believes, Minnie watches as events spill out of control and no one stands up to stop it.
Minnie is forced to consider the consequences of her silence.
Val Hobbs t...more
I confess that I was not taken with either the title or the cover of this book, so I went in with low expectations. I was happy, then, to discover that Hobbs has created another eminently readable book. Minnie is new in town and she’s got all sorts of challenges (no friends, an uncle suffering from PTSD living in her basement, a teenage brother) when in walks her new teacher, Miss Marks. Miss Marks is like no other teacher and her impact on her students is profound. While the character of Miss M...more
I love this book-Minnie McClary rocks! I love her outgoing personality, her loving character, and her way to stand up for herself, her teacher, and her new friends. Minnie is the best girl I've read about in ages-and she's smart and the story is very realistic. There's no, like, fantasy moments, and everything could happen!
Minnie is really attached to her teacher, Miss Marks. By the end of the book, I was attached to it like she was attached to Miss Marks!
Minnie is really attached to her teacher, Miss Marks. By the end of the book, I was attached to it like she was attached to Miss Marks!
A completely fortuitous find at the public library. While it addresses a lot of topics - intolerance, homophobia, the aftermath of war - the book is focused in its message: if you see something you don't like in this world, you need to do something about it. Stand up for the people & ideals you love. It's a wonderful book for young readers.
Full review forthcoming on www.slatebreakers.com
Full review forthcoming on www.slatebreakers.com
I won my copy from Goodreads Giveaways! I really loved this story and I cannot wait for my fourth grader to finish reading it. I also loved this story because I am a teacher and I loved the character Miss Marks. This story is a great read for a middle school reading level, but it is enjoyable for adults too. I think this book is great for opening up a conversation about the importance of questioning your surroundings and what you are taught. This is a wonderful story!!
I'm in favor of books with spunky girl heros who stand up for what they believe in but this one contained a few elements that I felt I'd read before - PTSD uncle, making friends with a Muslim girl who others make fun of, a rebel teacher who is persecuted by a narrow minded PTA and has to be rescued at a meeting...just a tad too familiar.
We all have questions rolling around in our heads an no one to answer them, what an inspirational story for us to pull from. Write write write your questions down and write about them. You have the answers and this will inspire you to stand up and talk about what you believe in.
I loved this book!If I had a teacher like Miss.Marks i would love that class.I love the twist Minnie uncle put on the story.This is one of the books that you have the feeling like you're glad you read that book.I don't get that feeling for all my books but for most of them.
Strong middle grade novel dealing with hate, different forms of bullying and standing up for what's right. The ending is a little tidy and it sometimes felt like there was a bit too much going on, but overall, it was well done and and enjoyable read
5th/6th grade
5th/6th grade
6th grader in a new school learns what it means to do the right thing, take a stand and confront prejudice. A little didactic, but touches on some series issues- war, ptss, intolerance etc.
I enjoyed this book very much. Minnie was endearing, her teacher was inspiring and the deeper messages made it a great read. Valerie Hobbs is one of my favorite children's authors.
Well, I'm a sucker for a good teacher story, so I was bound to love this book. It's a great opportunity to talk to kids about standing up for what you believe is right.
My mom got this for me early, at amazon, where she works. I picked it up, and it was addicting, but a little corny, and it wasnt very well written. But loved the inspiring story, and the amazing Language Arts teacher, Miss Marks.
Excellent read! I would recommend this book to any teacher. It reminds us of the importance of creating thinkers, not just kids who can bubble in a test!
Very thought provoking book as author intended. Will recommend to kids looking for answers to life's questions.
When is the time to stand up for what you think is right, is true, is worth fighting for?
Review to come for School Library Journal.
I won this book from Goodreads First Reads!!
This book was pretty good!! It is perfect for middle grade kids!!
This book is about a girl named Minnie who wants to be invisble until a new teacher Miss Marks makes her start writing in a journal. She starts questioning a lot of things and discovers a lot.
This book was pretty good!! It is perfect for middle grade kids!!
This book is about a girl named Minnie who wants to be invisble until a new teacher Miss Marks makes her start writing in a journal. She starts questioning a lot of things and discovers a lot.
IT seemed that there were storylines that got edited to insignificance. Wouldn't have minded some fleshing out of these subplots.
Addendum--I can't seem to get over this problem: Middle grades book where the young thinking and acting 11 year old protagonist loves "Speak", but in other major plot points in the book doesn't know what a whistle blower is or PTSD.
Addendum--I can't seem to get over this problem: Middle grades book where the young thinking and acting 11 year old protagonist loves "Speak", but in other major plot points in the book doesn't know what a whistle blower is or PTSD.
SM
good message
Apr 29, 2013
Kathleen
marked it as to-read
Apr 22, 2013
Kimberly
marked it as to-read
Apr 18, 2013
Amy
added it
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Valerie Hobbs is the author of many award winning novels for young adults including Sonnys War, Tender, and How Far Would You Have Gotten If I Hadnt Called You Back, for which she was designated a Flying Start author by Publishers Weekly in 1996. Hobbs was the winner of the 1999 PEN/Norma Klein award for an emerging voice of literary merit among American writers of childrens fiction and the Arizon...more
More about Valerie Hobbs...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
