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79th out of 219 books
—
38 voters
Quaking
Don?t call her Matilda. Her name is Matt. And don?t even think about getting close to her. She doesn?t need anyone. Can?t you tell by looking at her, dressed all in black with a spider painted on her face and her ice-cold stare? But most of all, do not bully her. She has been through it all already. But everything changes for fourteen-year-old Matt when she moves in with p...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
June 21st 2007
by Philomel
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Community Reviews
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664)
Why I picked it up: I'm fairly certain it's the only non-historical YA book with Quaker characters that I have seen.
Matt (don't call her Mattie, and absolutely don't call her Matilda) had a pretty bad home life as a young kid. She's lived with different relatives since then, but none seem to stick for long. She's on her “last chance” with distant relatives Sam & Jessica. Matt just wants to graduate early and move to Canada, but her new family seems to genuinely like her, which has her a bit...more
Matt (don't call her Mattie, and absolutely don't call her Matilda) had a pretty bad home life as a young kid. She's lived with different relatives since then, but none seem to stick for long. She's on her “last chance” with distant relatives Sam & Jessica. Matt just wants to graduate early and move to Canada, but her new family seems to genuinely like her, which has her a bit...more
Fourteen-year-old Matt (Matilda) is a Goth, but that's partially a pose to keep the world away. She uses her look, and her humor — a knife-like sarcasm — to avoid making connections and taking action. But she finds at her new home that the parents, in particular the father Sam, are devout Quakers and activists engaged in the anti-Iraq war movement. As she moves closer to Sam, those same beliefs lead to her harassment at school by a big mouth bully and a pro-war civics teacher. As the title sugge...more
This is a great book for young adults, and for the adults who come across it. The story of a troubled teenage girl who has been bounced from one foster home to another, it's also about love and learning to trust. The book rises above the average due to its setting and theme- a Quaker family dealing with the "war fever" that swept over many Americans post-911. It raises questions about what it means to be patriotic, and what it means to stand up for one's beliefs. My only regret is that it came o...more
Dec 01, 2011
Emily S.
added it
It seemed kind of interesting at first because I thought they could have written a really good story from looking at the plot. As I continued reading it got less and less interesting and it was like a chore to read it. I think the only reason I continued reading this book was because I thought that the writer would have something happen so it got more interesting. That never happened. I guess she tried to make it interesting at the end, because something kind of big did happen there (i’m not go...more
There was so much I loved about Quaking -- Matt's voice, Quakers, the questions like what is patriotism -- but somehow I didn't believe Matt. She's tough and tries to be unfeeling, but can't stand up to bullies. Over and over she describes her M.O. for survival, which is to not draw attention to herself. Really, with a spider drawn on her face? I see how the Goth look works to keep people at arm's length, but it IS going to draw attention.
Many of the details were pitch perfect, for example when...more
Many of the details were pitch perfect, for example when...more
Apr 10, 2010
Shaya
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
teens who like emotionally raw realistic fiction
Shelves:
realistic-fiction,
school-year-2009-2010
I read this straight through on a day when I had a cold and just wanted to curl up on the couch. There are many books in the realistic fiction genre that are similar to this one but I really liked Matt's (short for Matilda) voice and the Quaker aspects. Quaking reminds me of Speak, but personally I think Quaking is more intersting.
The book is set in the near future when the US is fighting against terrorism in the Middle East and in towns all over many people are taking up the "you're with us or...more
The book is set in the near future when the US is fighting against terrorism in the Middle East and in towns all over many people are taking up the "you're with us or...more
Fourteen-year-old Matt has made a few wrong turns in her life. For years Matt, whose real name is Matilda but don’t you ever call her that, has been bouncing around from distant family member to distant family member while pushing her limits every time. Now Matt is at her final stop. Her cousin, Loopy, has found a distant cousin of her own who will take Matt in. Sam and Jessica Fox are a little different than who Matt was expecting. Sam and Jessica are practicing Quakers. Matt looks like your av...more
This is a simple book. It is not deep. It is maybe not another book someone else would place of their favourite shelf. Yet, I found myself loving this book. I adore Matt. I loved the writing style. I even cried, and I haven't had a tear-worthy book in awhile.
The issues in this book are real to me. I've given some thought to them, so a book that was not long boring or over-complicated about it was great. How do other countries view the U.S.?
She also focuses on the subject of bullying and I thin...more
The issues in this book are real to me. I've given some thought to them, so a book that was not long boring or over-complicated about it was great. How do other countries view the U.S.?
She also focuses on the subject of bullying and I thin...more
for me this book is all about beliefs. not necessarily religious beliefs. but rather believing in something and fighting for it in whichever way you can without hurting or stepping on another human being.
matt is a girl who has been through a lot of hardships in life. being beaten by his dad, seeing her mom die, being from one family to another, one school to another and being bullied in every school that she goes to. but then matt came to live with this family, the foxes who are quakers (people...more
matt is a girl who has been through a lot of hardships in life. being beaten by his dad, seeing her mom die, being from one family to another, one school to another and being bullied in every school that she goes to. but then matt came to live with this family, the foxes who are quakers (people...more
I received the paperback edition of this book for free through the FirstReads program, and the cover is absolutely gorgeous - different from what's currently shown on the book's page here. The paperback cover is so eye-catching and beautiful, the sort of artwork that'd catch my eye if I were browsing in a bookstore.
After being bounced around from one foster family to another, Matt (short for Matilda) lands with her distant relatives, Jessica and Sam, who happen to be Quakers. Though there's now...more
After being bounced around from one foster family to another, Matt (short for Matilda) lands with her distant relatives, Jessica and Sam, who happen to be Quakers. Though there's now...more
I enjoyed this book, but felt that Erskine's characters were a little too simple. It seemed like all the good guys were always good, and all the bad guys were always bad - throughout the entire book. I would have liked to have seen some more internal conflict in the characters. Even Matt is on the "right" side of the issue at the beginning. I think it would have been more interesting if she had struggled with her opinion a little bit more rather than just struggling with her ability to express h...more
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Amazing book. Withdrawn girl sent to live with foster family who happen to be Quakers, she learns much about standing up for one's beliefs without being a bully. Learns to overcome bullying at her school where everyone is very scarily militant over how we should stay in Iraq and keep fighting this pointless war, and she learns to love her foster family too.
Kathryn Erskine is one of my new favorite YA authors- her books hit so hard, and I can't put them down. She knows her characters so well, and that's really amazing- there aren't caricatures of people here. Even the history teacher could have been, but he had depth to him too. Matt's story is not one of some troubled girl with a troubled past who is put through the foster care system. That would have been a story to tell about her, and it would have been cliche. But KE brings all of Matt's histor...more
A YA novel about an abused teen who bounces from home to home before ending up in kinship care with two young Quaker peace activists should have been right up my alley, but parts of the story were too pat to be convincing. Maybe if this had come out before November's election when change of a sort seemed possible I'd have been more willing to go along with the rash of hate crimes and the corrupt school system groupthink, but that along with the conveniently unspecified developmental delay of the...more
Erskine created some great characters and a good portrayal of trauma from abuse and healing from those experiences. I also loved learning about Quaker history and practices. Two things did bug me, though:
1) the two-dimensional portrayal of unsympathetic, pro-war characters. Most people who are bullies and espouse fascist beliefs are not also physically ugly, ogre-like and lacking any redeeming qualities.
2) Matt's extremely stilted voice. I know this writing style was probably intentional, to s...more
1) the two-dimensional portrayal of unsympathetic, pro-war characters. Most people who are bullies and espouse fascist beliefs are not also physically ugly, ogre-like and lacking any redeeming qualities.
2) Matt's extremely stilted voice. I know this writing style was probably intentional, to s...more
I'm not sure I completely buy the realism of the protagonist's voice, but this is a very compelling story. A very bright child of an abusive parent, Matilda (called Matt) gets moved from family member to family member after after her mother dies. She finds a home with a young Quaker couple who help her learn to voice her own opinions on violence, aggression, and seeking peace.
Matt is a character I'd love to get inside of more, but I feel like her voice comes across more like something an adult w...more
Matt is a character I'd love to get inside of more, but I feel like her voice comes across more like something an adult w...more
Matt, fourteen-year-old Matilda, but you better not call her that or even Mattie, is being sent to live with her distant relatives, Jessica and Sam, who are Quakers or Shakers "one of those trembling type religions." At first Matt's outspokenness is her defense when she is with Jessica and Sam but now her new history teacher, a bully, challenges her stance on peace. The teacher is just like her bully father used to be so Matt reverts to her younger way of coping--by quaking. Young aspen leaves q...more
I'd actually give it 3.5. Katherine Erskine is a Christian YA writer, and this book is about a teen with a crappy past, who's been bumped from one foster home to another, and ends up at the home of an earnest Quaker couple, determined to make a home for her. It's set in the American midwest (I think), during the American military action in Iraq. Tensions between the pacifists and those in favour of the war escalate, and violence erupts. Great plot, timely, development of Matt's character is beli...more
A few things about this book, in no particularly coherent order. It is written in first person, present tense narrative, but for once it isn't distracting - the only thing about her writing I didn't care for was an odd aversion to contractions, which may have been meant to reflect something about the character narrating, but if so I didn't get it. Other than that, it's very well-written and the author does a solid job of character development. The protagonist is a cynical 14-year-old with a roug...more
Nov 09, 2012
Jennifer Wardrip
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
trt-posted-reviews,
trt-gold-star-award-winner
Reviewed by Julie M. Prince for TeensReadToo.com
How can you not love a book that starts like this:
"Families come in all varieties but with no warranties. I have lived with first cousins twice removed, second cousins once removed, and now a third cousin who is removing herself. I call her Loopy. Because of her large earrings. And because she is insane.
Loopy drives like a ten-year-old car thief on a sugar high."
From the very beginning, Matt (not Mattie, and certainly not Matilda) has a chip on...more
How can you not love a book that starts like this:
"Families come in all varieties but with no warranties. I have lived with first cousins twice removed, second cousins once removed, and now a third cousin who is removing herself. I call her Loopy. Because of her large earrings. And because she is insane.
Loopy drives like a ten-year-old car thief on a sugar high."
From the very beginning, Matt (not Mattie, and certainly not Matilda) has a chip on...more
Quaking by Kathryn Erskine
In Southern California we all know about quaking.
When everything starts to shake we might pause for a second or two to see if it is going to last, and then dive under a table or desk and ride it out. You probably started preparing for this kind of quake when you were just little kids.
But for 14-year-old Matt, (don’t ever call her Matilda), quaking has nothing to do with the earth shaking.
For Matt, there are the seemingly minor quakes, like the ones that happen when you...more
In Southern California we all know about quaking.
When everything starts to shake we might pause for a second or two to see if it is going to last, and then dive under a table or desk and ride it out. You probably started preparing for this kind of quake when you were just little kids.
But for 14-year-old Matt, (don’t ever call her Matilda), quaking has nothing to do with the earth shaking.
For Matt, there are the seemingly minor quakes, like the ones that happen when you...more
This is the most wonderful novel. If you're looking for a present for young teens and older preteens. The first five pages didn't quite grab me, but then, oh then, I became totally engrossed with Matt, a 14 -year old with a horrific past adopted by a Quaker couple, the father of whom is a saint, but one with belly. WHat I especially liked about QUAKING was the humor. I found myself smiling every few paragraphs. Matt is terrifically funny, and makes junior high so interesting to read about.
Jul 27, 2011
Medina
added it
I really enjoyed this book and it reminded me once agin how a history class can be used as a tool of social manipulation the difference between fact and opinion can be manipulated to say almost anything. Mr. Warmonger took his position of authority and teacher to acomplish a specific agenda rather than to teach students to use fact to create their own opinions about history and it's impact on our current lives. I also thoroughly enjoyed seing the slow softening of Matt's protective shell.
I loved this book! I really liked the characters and felt really invested in what happened to them. The situation was very real. I kept asking why no one noticed the Rat bullying Matt, especially when she was pushed down. But I teach middle school and I know that kids can get away with things and that teachers and kids see only what they want to see. I liked the development of Matt's character, as well as the social/political message. This was one that I nearly stayed up all night to finish.
Matt (Matilda) has been through a lot in 14 years, and now she has new foster parents who are Quakers. To make things worse, the Post-9/11 world is not treating the peaceful peoples too nicely, and Matt doesn't want anything to draw attention to her. A bad match? Way will open, though!
I've read a lot of Quaker fiction (I graduated from a Quaker college and identify as Quaker), and Erskine's Friends are pretty "right on." It's her too stereotypical Matt who didn't speak to me.
I've read a lot of Quaker fiction (I graduated from a Quaker college and identify as Quaker), and Erskine's Friends are pretty "right on." It's her too stereotypical Matt who didn't speak to me.
Quaking is a great story told from the perspective of Matt, a troubled fourteen-year-old girl. Ms. Erskine did a marvelous job of capturing the emotions and reasoning of a foster child. The story also gives a true look at the Quaker religion and how the silent meeting is viewed by a non-Quaker kid.
As the small Pennsylvania town is torn apart by the war in Iraq, Matt quietly stands up to a warmongering teacher and promotes peace. Her silent stance doesn’t improve her predicament with a bully refe...more
As the small Pennsylvania town is torn apart by the war in Iraq, Matt quietly stands up to a warmongering teacher and promotes peace. Her silent stance doesn’t improve her predicament with a bully refe...more
I liked this book- how Matt's past was presented, her family situation, etc. etc.
The most annoying thing was the lack of contraptions. The sentences didn't flow as well. It sounded so robotic.
It is okay
I do not think that I am ok
Opposed to
It's okay
I don't that I'm ok
The bullies seemed very unrealistic. In real life, bullies don't repeat words like "chicken shit" over and over.
Overall, this was an odd but insightful read.
The most annoying thing was the lack of contraptions. The sentences didn't flow as well. It sounded so robotic.
It is okay
I do not think that I am ok
Opposed to
It's okay
I don't that I'm ok
The bullies seemed very unrealistic. In real life, bullies don't repeat words like "chicken shit" over and over.
Overall, this was an odd but insightful read.
Great. I liked the view into Quaker life, I liked the opposing viewpoints, I liked the main character's voice. This is a novel I think it is easy to initially overlook, but it really is worth reading. It takes a subject that has been a huge debate for years now and makes you think about it...and that isn't even the main plot of the novel. It's just a means to an end -- to show the growth of Meg.
Apr 23, 2013
Amelia Loken
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
coming-of-age,
young-adult
This was such a wonderful YA book exploring Matt (don't call her Mattie and 'specially not Matilda) and her new foster family. The young couple are Quakers and pacifists during the War in Iraq/Afganistan. There is an awful bully that cusses up a storm who is Matt's bete noir.
This was a really wonderful contemporary YA novel with a prickly narrator that one comes to love and cheer for.
This was a really wonderful contemporary YA novel with a prickly narrator that one comes to love and cheer for.
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Kathryn Erskine spent many years as a lawyer before realizing that she'd rather write things that people might actually enjoy reading.
She grew up mostly overseas and attended eight different schools, her favorite being the Hogwarts-type castle in Scotland.
The faculty, of course, did not consist of wizards, although... how did the headmistress know that it was the wee redhead who led the campaign...more
More about Kathryn Erskine...
She grew up mostly overseas and attended eight different schools, her favorite being the Hogwarts-type castle in Scotland.
The faculty, of course, did not consist of wizards, although... how did the headmistress know that it was the wee redhead who led the campaign...more
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