When her mom runs away from home, Rachel is left behind with her emotionally distant father and many questions she cannot answer. Over time, she le...
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Jan 26, 2008
Claire
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Normally I stay far away from books in verse and from stories about mentally ill parents; as a former-wannabe poetry professor with mental illness in my family history, they spell cringeworthy disaster. The positive reviews from the kidlit world kept this on my list, though, and I'm glad I read it.
The story begins with Rachel's mom leaving, and traces (in her voice) the next year of learning to survive without her mom and building a relationship with her dad. I'm a sucker for storie More...
The story begins with Rachel's mom leaving, and traces (in her voice) the next year of learning to survive without her mom and building a relationship with her dad. I'm a sucker for storie More...
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Aug 18, 2011
Elaine
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Oct 20, 2009
Tim
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Genre: Realistic Fiction/Poetry
Copyright: 2006
"Hugging the Rock" follows a young girl named Rachel, whose mother decides to leave all of a sudden. Faced with numerous questions and feelings, she tries to develop a relationship with her father who, as she sees him, is as hard as a rock.
I thought this book was great! Written in verse style poetry, the author really gives the reader a sense of what Rachel is going through during the entire ordeal. The author More...
Copyright: 2006
"Hugging the Rock" follows a young girl named Rachel, whose mother decides to leave all of a sudden. Faced with numerous questions and feelings, she tries to develop a relationship with her father who, as she sees him, is as hard as a rock.
I thought this book was great! Written in verse style poetry, the author really gives the reader a sense of what Rachel is going through during the entire ordeal. The author More...
Feb 04, 2011
So far I think the book Hugging The Rock is a good book. I'm eager to read this book because I want to know if her mom is going to come back and why she had left. The little girl name is Rachel. Her mom left her and her dad. The day her mom left Rachel was upset and she was mad at her dad because she thought it was hid fault her mom left. A while latter Rachel grandmother came over for a while. Rachel was doing bad in school. Not telling her best friend Sara why she couldn't come over no more. T
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Sep 04, 2010
Kim
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This book is not for people who need sunshine and joy in their books, not that those subjects are EVER in novels-in-verse. I wouldn't even give this to people who loved Sharon Creech's "Heartbeat." This book is basically one emotional punch to the stomach after another after another for most of its length, and even after the constant punching subsides it's still pretty sad. Regardless, I wanted to hug this short little book, with its detailed, sad writing, and I would rank it just a bi
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Oct 30, 2011
Karen
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I love this book. I love this book so much and am so glad a great friend just read it and loved it too. The Mom in this book "goes away." The young girl has never had a very close relationship with her Dad. Before her Mom goes she tells her daughter - your Dad is a rock - you can hug him. The book follows the special relationship of the young girl and her getting to know and hug her Dad. This is a tough sell to young children - maybe more for the 7th or 8th grader.
Mar 26, 2011
Nicole
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This was the first verse book that I have ever read. I really enjoyed it, especially because it was such a quick read. I enjoyed the story line of a father and daughter rekindling their relationship after the bipolar mother leaves. It’s such a sad story, and I ended up shedding a few tears. I am not sure if I would necessarily recommend this book to students to cope with bipolar disorder because it isn’t exactly a happy ending in terms of the mother.
May 07, 2010
Julianne
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Much of this book was very beautiful, although the poems don't stand up well on their own, they have to be read in this sequence. But it had a slight "pro-life" tone to it I didn't like. The father persuaded the mother to marry him and have their daughter, when she never wanted to be a mother or a wife. He says he loved her, and he loved the unborn child - yet he made her, a mentally ill woman, give up her own dreams and take on a role she never wanted, something that would inevitably
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Jan 17, 2011
Catherine
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This is the first non-rhyming prose novel I have read and it is so much easier and quicker to read than a rhyming one! I finished it in almost one sitting. A difficult subject to cover with a nice twist in it and wonderful characters. Poetry aside the dialogue and characters were so natural I feel like I know them. The poetry was subtle and so easy to read (have I said that enough). I cannot wait to pick up another novel in verse. Touching subject. I have a close friend who lives a long way away
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Mar 29, 2011
Nichole
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This was a great book. I have never read a Verse book before and all I could think when i finished the book (after an hour and a half) that I wish they had these kinds of books when I was in school. I think this book is a middle school book for any one who "does not like reading." this is a great story and a great read.
Jun 16, 2009
Anna
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I was surprised by how much this little book made me feel. I didn't expect this story to be so touching and it far exceeded my expectations. There were moments where I felt a lump start to form in my throat and I wanted to cry... and I do not cry easily! The emotions and characters were very honest, real, and well developed. The author shows you how the characters feel without having to actually tell you. I loved this book.
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Jan 06, 2009
Ali
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I liked it. It was quite different from what I had expected. Good reminder to me though to remember what's important and what our kids need and sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference in the relationships we have with our kids. Quick read, I read it in one sitting in the bath.
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Oct 31, 2009
Michelle
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The plot of this story was decent and I enjoyed reading about a strong father figure for a change. I even felt a little emotional.
However, I feel like the poetry form was a sorry excuse for a short, vague novel rather than a device to enhance the storyy. The poetry was not that poetic.
However, I feel like the poetry form was a sorry excuse for a short, vague novel rather than a device to enhance the storyy. The poetry was not that poetic.
Oct 19, 2009
Shelley
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Hugging the Rock is a touching story about a girl whose mother has run away. Unfortunately Rachel finds out that her mom never wanted to be a mother, let alone a wife. Rachel must deal with her loss as she strives to get closer with her dad.
Genre: poetry
Copyright: 2006
Genre: poetry
Copyright: 2006
Apr 04, 2011
Trisha
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This was the first verse novel I have read. I loved the book. It hooked me in from the beginning. It was an easy read and would be great for middle school. It takes real life pain and emotions and brings the reader though it,as if they were the
Apr 11, 2011
Sandi
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This was the first verse novel I have read. I loved the way the story was written and I think this book would be popular among middle school students that have had to deal with thier parents divorcing. The story really makes you feel how much pain and confusion divorce causes children.
Feb 26, 2010
Ann
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There are some very sweet moments in this very quick journal/poetry read. I love it when a dad steps up and becomes important to his child.
Nov 18, 2009
Marcia
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Genre: Realistic Fiction/Poetry: Verse Novel
Hugging the Rock is a verse novel about a girl named Rachel who must live with the fact that her mentally ill mother has abandoned her and her father. It is chronicles her grieving process while also highlighting her deepening relationship with her father. It is very thoughtful and emotional.
Hugging the Rock is a verse novel about a girl named Rachel who must live with the fact that her mentally ill mother has abandoned her and her father. It is chronicles her grieving process while also highlighting her deepening relationship with her father. It is very thoughtful and emotional.
Jun 29, 2011
Julie
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Right before "running away", Rachel's mom tells her, "Your dad is a rock". This novella done in a collection of simple yet powerful poems through Rachel's first year after her mother runs away from home. She and her dad have been so distant for so long, Rachel can't imagine how life will function without her mom there. She is hiding the secret from her teacher, principal, and even her best friend. Then, Doctor Dan starts unearthing secrets her father never wanted her to know.
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Dec 29, 2010
Becky
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This wasn't my favorite verse novel, but I liked it. The characters and the emotions were believable and touching.
Apr 22, 2010
Heather
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AN excellent poetry based description of living with a parent with bipolar disorder.
Jun 17, 2009
Sue
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Honestly told, I felt Rachel's longing and hurt. Had chills many times throughout.
Feb 03, 2009
Kari
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Novel in verse. Father/daughter relationship. One of the best novel in verse books I've read. It goes deep with very few words, has a childlike sensibility, and feels like an artistic whole.
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Apr 07, 2008
Anne
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CIP: Through a series of poems, Rachel expresses her feelings about her parents' divorce, living without her mother, and her changing attitude toward her father.
Written in a charming, poetic style, this book is easy to read even though it covers the difficult issues of abandonment and rebuilding intra-familial relationships.
SLJ says "this is a poignant character study of a dysfunctional family."
Kirkus says "a series of bland verses"
Written in a charming, poetic style, this book is easy to read even though it covers the difficult issues of abandonment and rebuilding intra-familial relationships.
SLJ says "this is a poignant character study of a dysfunctional family."
Kirkus says "a series of bland verses"
Aug 21, 2008
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
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Rachel and her father have to find a way to become a family without her mother, who has left them. This novel in verse was moving and well told. I loved how the characters of Rachel and her father changed and grew during the course of the story. The novel drew me in and kept me reading right through to the end in one sitting. Upper elementary and middle school kids will like this one. Highly recommended!
Mar 04, 2008
Lucia
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Interesting, quick read. Her mother leaves and won't say where she has gone. through counseling she finds out that her mother is bi-polar, never wanted her, and never wanted to be married. She always thought it was her father that didn't want her.
through a year she and her father build a relationship and find they are great together.
Written in poetry form, this reads quickly.
through a year she and her father build a relationship and find they are great together.
Written in poetry form, this reads quickly.
Nov 17, 2008
Connie
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This book is in verse and so it gets right to the feelings. It is not very long and doesn't take much time to read. I do not easily cry and if I do it is mostly that my eyes water a little. But I found tears running down my face a few times. It was just very touching and enjoyable.
Aug 02, 2010
Erin
rated it:
Pretty good book that deals with the topic of mental illness in a parent (in this case, the mom).
