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Moon Pie
by
Simon Mason
Tidy the house. Make tea. Put Tug to bed.
Ever since her mum died, 11-year-old Martha has gotten used to being the one in charge. Her brother, Tug, is too small. Her friend Marcus is too obsessed with Hollywood movies. And Dad is just too strange.
When Dad falls off the roof, it's Martha who takes him to the doctor. And when Dad doesn't come home at night, it's Martha who co...more
Ever since her mum died, 11-year-old Martha has gotten used to being the one in charge. Her brother, Tug, is too small. Her friend Marcus is too obsessed with Hollywood movies. And Dad is just too strange.
When Dad falls off the roof, it's Martha who takes him to the doctor. And when Dad doesn't come home at night, it's Martha who co...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
October 9th 2012
by Yearling
(first published April 7th 2011)
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This is another book that has been nominated for Children's Book of the Year with our Children's Book Group. I am reading all the shortlist first before they are given to the Children. Aimed at 8-12 year olds.
Martha is 11 and has a lot of responsibility, she's used to being in charge and staying calm, since her mum dies she's had to help look after her 5 year old brother Tug and also care for her dad who keeps acting 'strange'. This is principally a story about Alcoholism, and toldd through Mart...more
Martha is 11 and has a lot of responsibility, she's used to being in charge and staying calm, since her mum dies she's had to help look after her 5 year old brother Tug and also care for her dad who keeps acting 'strange'. This is principally a story about Alcoholism, and toldd through Mart...more
I read the first couple of chapters of this book and put it down for a day. I wasn't sure I wanted to read about a family with a missing parent, due to my own life right now. But, I picked it up again yesterday and then couldn't put it down.
Martha Luna's mother has died, leaving 11-year-old Martha to deal with her little brother, Tug, and Dad. Martha is a very capable 11-year-old, but she is just 11 and is trying to deal with grown-up problems a girl shouldn't have to face.
There's something wron...more
Martha Luna's mother has died, leaving 11-year-old Martha to deal with her little brother, Tug, and Dad. Martha is a very capable 11-year-old, but she is just 11 and is trying to deal with grown-up problems a girl shouldn't have to face.
There's something wron...more
Some things just get better when taken with a little pie, at least that’s what Martha’s little brother Tug thinks anyway. Martha Luna is not so sure. Ever since Mum died, Dad has been behaving badly. Climbing up drainpipes, and falling off roofs, staying out late, and forgetting her at after school activities. Martha is okay with it, she takes care of things, just like mum used to do. She stays after school for cookery class to learn how to make steak and kidney pie for Tug, and sews and fixes...more
After her mother dies and her father seeks solace in a poorly hidden drinking habit, eleven-year-old Martha takes on more and more responsibilities around the house and with her little brother, Tug. But will she crack under the pressure?
This is a tricky one because the cover is very young-looking, but the subject matter is more appropriate for older children - 11 and 12 year olds. The writing, especially the first few pages, is very British and could be a turn-off for kids who have never heard s...more
This is a tricky one because the cover is very young-looking, but the subject matter is more appropriate for older children - 11 and 12 year olds. The writing, especially the first few pages, is very British and could be a turn-off for kids who have never heard s...more
Sep 02, 2011
Rachael (Piper)
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
carnegie-2011
A beautiful heart-warming, heart-breaking, heart-wrenching book! Just full of heart!
Martha and Tug are two children whose mum has passed away, they're on their own with Dad. But there is one word to describe Dad and that's 'strange'. You instantly get pulled into their family life and begin to enjoy life through Martha and Tug's eyes.
Martha is eleven and has to 'keep her head' because she's eleven. I'm not going to spoiler why her Dad is strange because you really have to read it and find out ho...more
Martha and Tug are two children whose mum has passed away, they're on their own with Dad. But there is one word to describe Dad and that's 'strange'. You instantly get pulled into their family life and begin to enjoy life through Martha and Tug's eyes.
Martha is eleven and has to 'keep her head' because she's eleven. I'm not going to spoiler why her Dad is strange because you really have to read it and find out ho...more
Jan 18, 2012
Mary
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childrens,
realistic-fiction
The cover of this book makes you think it is for 3rd or 4th graders, but this really should be read by older children. The protagonist of the book is an 11-year-old girl, so I think maybe 6th or 7th graders would be able to handle the topic of alcoholism and its impact on a family. The story here is of Martha, who, with her mother recently dead, is left to try to keep her family together. But Dad is acting strange and it gets harder and harder for Martha to take care of her little brother. The r...more
This is a British title about an 11-year-old girl whose father is becoming an alcoholic. Martha's mom died in a car accident two years ago. Since then, she's taken over a lot of the household duties, as well as helping with her little brother, Tug. Martha is moving on as best can, but it seems that that won't be so easy for her father. As he begins to drink more and more, Martha does her best to keep things running smoothly, but ultimately, after he drinks and drives with her in the car, the chi...more
I really enjoyed this book, despite the content being far from what I expected!
Since I got it from my library as an ebook, on a whim without ever hearing of it before, I really judged it by the cute whimsical title and cover art. What I thought would be a very short children's book turned out to be a much heavier middle grade story. But it was good. I don't have any experience with alcoholism (thank goodness) but it seemed believable. The characters are so varied and colorful, each one is uniqu...more
Since I got it from my library as an ebook, on a whim without ever hearing of it before, I really judged it by the cute whimsical title and cover art. What I thought would be a very short children's book turned out to be a much heavier middle grade story. But it was good. I don't have any experience with alcoholism (thank goodness) but it seemed believable. The characters are so varied and colorful, each one is uniqu...more
Feb 07, 2012
Heather
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2012,
kids-books-i-would-recommend
The cover doesn't imply that this is going to be such a serious book. But it is. It is about having an alcoholic father who is not in control. And 11-year-old Martha feels like she has to fix everything. But it is also about Martha and her brother Tug and their friends, of whom I have to say Marcus is fabulous. A budding costume designer who prefers fur on everything. Lovely. Despite the serious moments and a lot of upset and heartbreak, things turn out okay in the end. But it is a process to ge...more
Well, this is supposed to be a children's book, but I would not recommend it for any child. It did not live up to my expectations. The story line concerning an 11-year-old girl coping with an alcoholic father while being the responsible person in a motherless home is not entertainment for a child, plus the main character's best friend is a 12-year-old cross dressing boy who is very confused. Parts of the book are very sweet, others disturbing. A good read for discerning adults, but not for every...more
A nuanced look at alcoholism strictly through the lens of a child - why is Daddy so strange lately? Why is he acting the way he does? Like the children, it takes the reader some time to figure out what is the problem and to be just as angry and hurt as they are when he fails them again and again.
I hate to pick on book design but this cover feels completely wrong for this book too.
I hate to pick on book design but this cover feels completely wrong for this book too.
For older elementary
The cover and title are deceiving as it looks like a light read but the story is about a young girl's struggle with an alcoholic father. Her mother has passed away and her father becomes worse each day. She tries to hide her and her brother's situation until everything comes to a head.
The cover and title are deceiving as it looks like a light read but the story is about a young girl's struggle with an alcoholic father. Her mother has passed away and her father becomes worse each day. She tries to hide her and her brother's situation until everything comes to a head.
Moon Pie was an absolutely amazing book! It had sad, happy, frustrating, and just brilliant moments! This book was really easy to read, and well written, too. I would recommend it to kids 9-14. If you haven't read it, READ IT!!!!! It was SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm telling you, if you're in the age range, you MUST READ IT!!!!!!!
wow
all i can say is that after reading this book, which was a while ago, my whole mindset of my life totally changed. Beautifully written and a must read!!!!! *advice to the friends of mine
all i can say is that after reading this book, which was a while ago, my whole mindset of my life totally changed. Beautifully written and a must read!!!!! *advice to the friends of mine
I had moments where I loved the book, others where I was ready to abandon it. It took a long time to finish. Eleven year Martha is in charge when her drunk father can not be the adult in the family.
I often read YA books when I am not feeling well, and this little book was a great distraction.
Apr 21, 2012
Mary
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
middle-grade,
reccomend
Funny, heart wrenching, realistic understanding of Alccoholism for middle grade.
Beautiful, I fell in love with the characters, adored the ending and I love the cover!
Good problem novel about alcoholic father, but VERY British and VERY sad.
The main character's perspective, an 11-year-old girl, felt too adult-like.
British vocab, universal problem
Well-written and compelling story about 11 year old Martha and her 5 year old brother and how they cope with their mother's death and their father's alcoholism. I think it may appeal to a small segment of students.
sooooo good i'll lend it to anyone!
Really great read about a serious subject but unless you are steeped in British idioms and such it might be tough to comprehend.
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SIMON MASON is the author of the Quigleys series for young readers: The Quigleys (Highly Commended in the UK's Branford Boase Award), The Quigleys at Large, The Quigleys Not for Sale, and The Quigleys in a Spin. He has also written three adult novels.
Simon lives in Oxford with his wife and two children.
More about Simon Mason...
Simon lives in Oxford with his wife and two children.
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“Her head fell forward, her small nose hid itself in the collar of her dressing gown and at last she fell asleep.”
—
1 person liked it
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Jan 25, 2013 07:32pm