Matisse Osgood is a New York City girl through and through. She buys her clothes at Andy's Cheapies, watches indie films at the Angelika, and wo... read full description
reviews
Jul 12, 2010
Ash
rated it: 
I really wasn't sure how many stars to give this book. The ending was very satisfying and I really got into the book during the last few chapters, but for most of the book Matisse just annoyed me. She hates Prague, she loves New York, there's nothing to do, my dad has Parkinson's and I have to make sure no one finds out because I don't want their pity. That is about the extent of her thoughts. Oh, wait! She also talks about her clothes. I found myself being more interested in her new friend Vio
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Aug 10, 2008
Lauren
rated it:
Matisse Osgood's natural habitat is the Upper West Side of Manhattan. However, when her father's Parkinson's Disease symptoms worsen, her parents make the executive decision to move to Prague, New York, a small town where the local teens take football pep rallies and annual hayrides very seriously. Far too seriously, in Matisse's opinion. While she appreciates her new friendship with offbeat poet Violet, she spends much of her time trying to resist assimilating into Prague life, and trying to ig
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Aug 01, 2009
Tasha
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Matisse Osgood is a full fledged city girl. She loves everything that the city has to offer and can't even imagine what life would be like without the the bustle of New York City and all the art galleries. When Matisse's father is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and just can't handle the city anymore her family moves out to Prague, New York. Prague is the complete opposite of city life. Matisse is awoken by a rooster every morning and the main event of the season is a hayride. Obviously Matis
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Jun 05, 2011
Karen
rated it: 
Matisse Osgood is the daughter of two well-known artists: a sculptor and a painter. She has grown up in New York City, with all of its cultural events and fast-paced life. When her father is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and can no longer control his muscles enough to sculpt, Matisse's parents decide to leave the bustling city for the small town of Prague, NY. Matisse can't stand her mother pretending that everything is fine, and her increasingly silent father retreating into his bedroom
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Apr 24, 2009
Miriam
rated it: 
This book was disappointing, and not because I am from upstate New York and resent the suggestion that everything upstate of Westchester is farmland and hicks. There is rather a divide between New York the city and New York the state, and I do think it would be a difficult transition for a highschooler to move from NYC to rural upstate, particularly when the move is prompted by her father's worsening Parkinson's. The problem is that the narrator didn't feel real, or open-minded or interesting, n
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Jul 26, 2011
Wisteriouswoman
rated it:
Alive and well in Prague, New York is a heartwarming story of a girl dealing with a family crisis and being up-rooted as the family resettles in a small town. She tries to keep the fact that her dad has Parkinson’s disease a secret but nasty rumors start flying. As with many books in the teen reality genre the book explores the meaning of friendship as well as the challenges of coping with parents in denial. The other teens are not well fleshed out but they do have their own family problems th
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May 15, 2008
Melissa
rated it:
A good look at a girl dealing with her father's Parkinson's Disease as well as a move from New York City to a small town in upstate New York. Vivid characters, and Grab does a good job portraying anguish and hurt.
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Oct 16, 2011
Jean
rated it:
Matisse's father had Parkinson's Disease and her family moved from New York to a small town called Prague. This book reminded me of the situation I had with an exchange student from a big city who moved to our small town. She dressed "funny" and ate "healthy" food and the other girls avoided her. As with Matisse, there was one girl brave enough to befriend her. Matisse had to slowly come to terms with her father's illness and the changes it brought to their family. Aesop's fa
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Sep 26, 2010
Sara
rated it:
I liked, but didn't love Daphne Grab's debut novel. I felt that it had a lot of really good aspects, but overall it fell a bit flat.
I really liked the deeper, more serious aspects of the book, like Matisse's struggle with her dad's fight against Parkinson's and her realization that the people she is meeting in the slow town of Prague, NY are truer than anything she's ever known. I felt that she did have significant growth throughout the novel.
It was good that the novel w More...
I really liked the deeper, more serious aspects of the book, like Matisse's struggle with her dad's fight against Parkinson's and her realization that the people she is meeting in the slow town of Prague, NY are truer than anything she's ever known. I felt that she did have significant growth throughout the novel.
It was good that the novel w More...
Mar 27, 2011
Amber
rated it:
More in likely if this book didn't hit home for me, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. There are so many stories about a girl from the big city that stumbles into the small town trying to find her place. No, I never lived in the city and had to move to the middle of no where. I acutally grew up in the middle of no where. But in this story Matisse's father has Parkson's Diease. And in my own life, my father has Multiple Sclerosis. Not the same thing obviously, but the effects it has on a fami
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Jan 16, 2009
Anna
rated it:
I had high expectations going into this book since I had read a lot of good stuff about it so I think that was partly why I felt somewhat disappointed in the beginning few chapters. I expected the font to be smaller (it's rather big, probably a size 14 or so) and I thought the physical book would be bigger, meaning more text. It's actually a very quick read. I guess I felt like the beginning was not as solid and well-developed as it could have been. But as I kept reading, the really did redeem
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Oct 07, 2008
Kathy
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Alive and Well In Prague, New York is a story about 16 year old Matisse Osgood who recently moved to a rural community from New York City. The transtion from city to small town is more than Matisse can handle; people dress weird, act weird, and basically have no culture or appeal. In addition to moving, Matisse's dad,an artist/sculptor is battling Parkinson's Disease. The family dynamics between Matisse and her parents has taken a complete shift since her father's diagnosis. Mom pretends nothing
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Dec 16, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Matisse Osgood is the daughter of two well-known New York City artists. Life is good for Matisse. She's a city girl through and through. Then her father gets diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and is told that he should avoid working on the sculptures that he loves, for fear that he may fall off of a ladder at some point.
After much consideration, Matisse's parents decide that the best thing for the family is to get out of the city. More...
Matisse Osgood is the daughter of two well-known New York City artists. Life is good for Matisse. She's a city girl through and through. Then her father gets diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and is told that he should avoid working on the sculptures that he loves, for fear that he may fall off of a ladder at some point.
After much consideration, Matisse's parents decide that the best thing for the family is to get out of the city. More...
Apr 10, 2008
Rachael
rated it:
Matisse Osgood is the daughter of a painter and a sculptor, so it’s no wonder she’s named after an artist. But tragedy strikes her family when her father topples from a ladder and gets a concussion. It turns out that he has nerve damage and is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. That prompts the family to move from New York City to small town Prague, which breaks Matisse’s heart because she has to leave behind the city she loves. And moving doesn’t seem to help anything at all. Her father is sti
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Mar 08, 2008
Ealaindraoi
rated it:
Matisse is the daughter of two artists, who is definably a city girl. She loves everything about living in New York City. Then her father becomes ill and seemingly overnight the whole family's life changes. They move to a small town in upper New York State and neither parent is really working anymore. No one is talking about the changes.
Matisse reacts by withdrawing from everyone, her old friends in New York, her parents, her potential new friends in Prague.
This book is rea More...
Matisse reacts by withdrawing from everyone, her old friends in New York, her parents, her potential new friends in Prague.
This book is rea More...
Mar 05, 2009
Joni
rated it:
This is a book about a girl whose father has Parkinson's Disease and how she handles his worsening condition after they move out of NYC to upstate NY. She feels isolated and alone and misses her dad even though he's living with her and her mom. She makes some friends and discovers some surprises about friendship along the way as well.
I was a little disappointed. I thought the author could have gone deeper with some of the things she was exploring. It was a very fast read though.
I was a little disappointed. I thought the author could have gone deeper with some of the things she was exploring. It was a very fast read though.
Aug 26, 2009
Cory
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The thing about a "fish out of water" story is that the main character (the fish, if you will) must be at least a little likeable. The interesting part of the story is that they don't fit in and they are trying to, not that they think they are better than everyone else and they are mean and horrible. Granted, the main character changed a lot as the story progressed, but that's largely because she started out being so unappealing. There was no place to go but up.
Jan 14, 2012
BookChic
rated it:
Grab's debut is absolutely riveting and is told with such emotion and tenderness, which made it an absolute joy to read this book. The characters are very realistic and complex, especially Matisse, and it's just fascinating to read about her. She felt very real to me as a reader, and it's great when an author is able to convey and make that connection. Filled with wit, realism, and warmth, this is another debut book you do not want to miss.
Dec 21, 2008
Rishara
rated it:
The dust jacket to this book told the whole story - beginning, middle, and end. I hate that! Spoilers make me grumpy. Oh well, I didn't care for this much regardless. It was trying hard, but just wasn't very compelling. I probably wouldn't have finished it, except that it was short.
I think I am going to read to read some books that were written for and marketed towards adults next. Novel concept, I know.
I think I am going to read to read some books that were written for and marketed towards adults next. Novel concept, I know.
Nov 20, 2008
Becky
rated it:
Grab, Daphne. 2008. Alive and Well in Prague, New York.
Matisse Osgood is our struggling narrator. She's unhappy that she's had to move from New York City to Prague, New York. She's upset that her father has Parkinson's disease. She's frustrated with having to start a new school and make new friends. The truth is Matisse has very little control over her own life, and everything is changing so quickly. Too much is going on at once. It's too hard for her to absorb, to accept. But life h More...
Matisse Osgood is our struggling narrator. She's unhappy that she's had to move from New York City to Prague, New York. She's upset that her father has Parkinson's disease. She's frustrated with having to start a new school and make new friends. The truth is Matisse has very little control over her own life, and everything is changing so quickly. Too much is going on at once. It's too hard for her to absorb, to accept. But life h More...
Nov 12, 2011
Jacqueline
rated it:
Although Prague, NY is a fictional place, I can certainly see a resemblance to Granby or Frewsburg or any of the many other rural upstate NY towns I have visited or lived in. This book story of city girl learning to live in the country while coming to terms with her father's illness and deteriorating condition felt true to life and was a worthwhile read.
Jul 20, 2009
Whitney
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jun 30, 2009
Afton
rated it:
After a long stretch of so-so books, finally one I couldn't put down! A little angsty in spots, but overall, a completely enjoyable read. Matisse is well developed, but Hal could have used a bit more face time and Violet seemed to be too much of a device for periodic info dumps. Other than that...I loved it.
Jul 12, 2008
Jennifer Marie
rated it:
At 100 pages into the book I'd have to say this is the YA equivalent of the Middle Grade book Rules, but not done quite as well.
No it's not the same story, but it deals with the same issue of a sick family member and how the family deals with the trials, joys, pains of it. So far it's been an easy read, it does flow very well, but it's lacking that "wow" quality that made me love Rules.
Another thing that bothers me at times is Violet doesn't ring true to me - t More...
No it's not the same story, but it deals with the same issue of a sick family member and how the family deals with the trials, joys, pains of it. So far it's been an easy read, it does flow very well, but it's lacking that "wow" quality that made me love Rules.
Another thing that bothers me at times is Violet doesn't ring true to me - t More...
Sep 20, 2010
Léna
rated it:
Lovely debut novel showing a teen's anger at circumstances in her life that she can't control - like moving upstate and her father's diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. I rooted for Matisse all the way to get to the other side of her pain and to see the glass of her life as half-full.
Feb 20, 2009
Andrea Jean
rated it:
Matisse Osgood is one of those kids who grows up in Manhattan and can't imagine life outside the city. But when her father's Parkinson's Disease gets to be too much, the family moves away from all that hustle and bustle (and the site of dad's now-stagnant art career) to the upstate town of Prague. It's the kind of place where people wear overalls and go on hayrides. Not so cool to Matisse.
Alive and Well in Prague, New York conveys complicated feelings through simple words. It's a lit More...
Alive and Well in Prague, New York conveys complicated feelings through simple words. It's a lit More...
Oct 12, 2008
Gwen the Librarian
rated it:
This is a typical fish out of water story that follows Matisse, a sarcastic teen from Manhattan who moves to a country town in upstate New York because her father wants to live at a slower pace after he is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. As a novel, it's almost too painfully realistic; without the glimmers of humor and warmth that normally make a painful story rewarding to read. Matisse struggles against reverse culture shock while trying to keep her feelings about her father's disease bur
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May 14, 2009
Kacper
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It's a very fluffy book and it's like all the characters are the same -- and I liked it ;-)
Mar 15, 2009
jenny lynn
rated it: 
Good main character. Slightly predictable plot. Slightly sappy ending. Quick read.
Jun 17, 2008
Tracie
rated it:
Matissse has a hard time adjusting to life in a small town after being forced to move there from NYC. Not only has she made an enemy of the head cheerleader but this town thinks the idea of a fun night is...a hayride? To top it off, there is Matisse's hidden fear that someone will see her father. He has Parkinson's Disease and he's just not the same Dad he used to be.
Lots of stock characters in this story, but Matisse is likable and her feelings, thoughts and reactions to he More...
Lots of stock characters in this story, but Matisse is likable and her feelings, thoughts and reactions to he More...
