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Freak
For Miriam Fisher, a budding poet who reads the Oxford English Dictionary for fun, seventh grade is a year etched in her memory "clear as pain." That's the year her older sister, Deborah, once her best buddy and fellow "alien," bloomed like a beautiful flower and joined the high school in-crowd. That's the year high school senior Artie Rosenberg, the "hottest guy in the dr...more
Hardcover, 144 pages
Published
September 18th 2007
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
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I seriously laughed out loud while reading this book.
None of that happens, EVER. In seventh grade? Yeah, for shit. No sophmore guy would ever do stuff with some skinny ass seventh grader.
And the fact that she describes people as being pretty because they have 'boobs'.
No girl, ever, that I know of at least, sees a girl and says, hey she's gorgeous. I mean, look at those tits.
No. You look at their face.
And the thing is, that guy that she loves? Whatever his name is, i can't remember it. But it's...more
None of that happens, EVER. In seventh grade? Yeah, for shit. No sophmore guy would ever do stuff with some skinny ass seventh grader.
And the fact that she describes people as being pretty because they have 'boobs'.
No girl, ever, that I know of at least, sees a girl and says, hey she's gorgeous. I mean, look at those tits.
No. You look at their face.
And the thing is, that guy that she loves? Whatever his name is, i can't remember it. But it's...more
1 like · like · see review
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I loved this book because, crazy though it may sound, I can totally relate to Miriam. I understand how it feels to have people especially family members, you used to be close to just not want you anymore. I understand how it feels to be the kid who everyone just loves to hate. And I see myself in Miriam because at times she was ready to give in and to be just like everyone else but then she remained true other self after all.
The character of Miriam is both unique and engaging. Speaking for mys...more
The character of Miriam is both unique and engaging. Speaking for mys...more
Better than expected portrayal of a sensitive girl who's bullied by the popular (watermelon-scented) clique of girls in 7th grade. The better than expected part was the ending--how she ultimately deals with the problems all on her own, not relying on parents (clueless), teachers, the sister she used to be close to, the boy she has a crush on, or her best friend. She takes action based on her own inner strength and moral compass.
I found the book “Freak” by Marcella Pixley a little painful to read. This book made me look at how I treat others. It also made me more aware of the feelings that bullied kids tend to experience. Although I feel like the author reached her goal by making me realize how much bullying can affect someone, this book was hard to finish. It seemed like I was forcing myself to read the last few chapters. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting story. This book is pr...more
A bright, creative 7th grader; Miriam is relentlessly tormented, humiliated and bullied by a crowd of popular blonde barbie dolls and their middle school sheepish henchmen. Miriam's parents and teachers are typically self-absorbed and MIA and oblivious of Miriam's increasing duress and emotional trauma. Miriam struggles to persevere while remaining true to her own ideals and individuality. Meanwhile her situation reaches an astonishing and ugly climax where she is forced to reach her breaking po...more
If you know what it's like to "Be on the Outside" then you can relate to Miriam (The Main Character). But all in all this was very far fetched, as well as an awkward and embarrassing. Did any of the characters think though their actions at all? (view spoiler)...more
THe main character has issues that she really needs to talk about. SHe is kind of weird. She is not one of the people who I would talk to. I can see he other side, the people that hate her. THey think she is amusing. She needs to protect herself. Not wait until she gets suspended. I don't know. THis author had issues when she was a chold, and they ame through to strong. SHow both sides. Son't just condemn the popular kids. In this book, there is never the nice popular kid, they are always mean....more
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It's a good book that can make you cry. I hurt so bad for Miriam in this book. I hate what bullies do to others, and I don't understand why people have to be so mean to each other. Especially kids. I don't remember kids being so mean when I was young but I suppose they were. Maybe I was just blessed that they weren't that mean to me.
This book will make you laugh; it will make you mad; it will make you cry; and in the end it will make you proud. It took guts to be Miriam and I wish I could be mo...more
This book will make you laugh; it will make you mad; it will make you cry; and in the end it will make you proud. It took guts to be Miriam and I wish I could be mo...more
My teacher wrote that book!!! i Feel like a proud mama! LOL just kidding
1 like · like · see review
"Freak," written by a middle-school teacher, Marcella Pixley, tells the story of Miriam Fisher, a protagonist we can all identify with, as she deals with the "new world" otherwise known as middle school. Whereas, at the end of sixth grade, "everyone still had eyebrows that God meant for them to have," now all the girls have "movie-star eyebrows"; instead of caring about poetry, girls care about parties and brushing their hair; instead of being cool for being different, now kids "don’t respect yo...more
Reviewed by JodiG. for TeensReadToo.com
In school there are a number of social groups and nicknames that define you and your achievements. There are others that just haunt you. Miriam Fisher is well-known throughout her middle school; however, she is known as "Freak."
Miriam is no ordinary seventh-grader. She reads the dictionary for fun, writes poetry, and doesn't really mind that she doesn't fit in with the popular kids. Until this year she has had the friendship and support of her older sister...more
In school there are a number of social groups and nicknames that define you and your achievements. There are others that just haunt you. Miriam Fisher is well-known throughout her middle school; however, she is known as "Freak."
Miriam is no ordinary seventh-grader. She reads the dictionary for fun, writes poetry, and doesn't really mind that she doesn't fit in with the popular kids. Until this year she has had the friendship and support of her older sister...more
Miriam Fisher is a seventh grade freak. It wasn't always this way. Miriam can remember long hours spent playing Star Trek with her sister and being happy with being who she was. But now her sister Deborah's in high school and she's suddenly gotten popular and stopped caring about music and school. And Miriam is left to deal by herself. When the artsy Artie comes to stay with their family because his parents are going on sabbatical in India, Miriam's dreams are coming true. She's been in love wit...more
This book hurt to read. Miriam's experiences with the mean girls in her 7th grade class made it hard to keep turning pages, as well as easier to understand how some kids just "snap" and act out violently at school. Almost worse than school was her growing alienation from her parents, her older sister, and her childhood self. The passiveness of her parents (educated, interesting, but self-centered) was especially frustrating to read.
Fortunately, Miriam's breaking point is not the beginning of a d...more
Fortunately, Miriam's breaking point is not the beginning of a d...more
This was written by a colleague of mine, the 8the grade language arts teacher in my school. The book is delightfully written with great language and visuals. It is, and you may consider this unfortunate if you have lived through it, a perfect example of bullying in middle school and how one girl is coping with it. A very quick (less than 3 hour) read that gives you a good, yet bitter look into the life of the 'freaks' of school. Of course, for me, that wasn't a very hard leap!
A bright, intelligent, and artistic 7th grader named Miriam is always being tormented, humiliated and bullied by a crowd of popular blonde barbie dolls and their middle school boyfirends. Miriam's parents and teachers are typically self-absorbed and MIA and don;t notice any of this that is going on. Her emotional trauma increases and starts to have really bad self-esteem. Miriam struggles to be have fun with the other kids, while remaining true to her own ideals and individuality. Meanwhile her...more
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Cover to cover sadness, trouble, anger, mean sisters, clueless teachers/parents and cruel middle school events. This story is about a unique person and some of her experiences. She's not trying to fit in and she doesn't - at home or school.
I wish this had been better balanced. I like Miriam and her message - the overly sad package was hard to take.
I wish this had been better balanced. I like Miriam and her message - the overly sad package was hard to take.
To be honest I don't usually go for this type of book but one day I was at the library and I need to leave early so I grad any book..I hardly had time to read the back but I got it anyway. This book was amazing! the story and plot were perfect, it was a little bit of everything, Drama and sisterhood and mean girls. This also inspired me.
Mixed feelings. I remember 7th grade, and I remember feeling much like Miriam does, with all the abuse of classmates heaped on. But she brings so much of it on herself (as I almost certainly did, I'm sure) and it's hard to like her
Realistic portrayal of girl-on-girl bullying, but ultimately I don't think the 8th graders will respond to it.
Realistic portrayal of girl-on-girl bullying, but ultimately I don't think the 8th graders will respond to it.
I thought it was going to be just another book about losers being bullied, but it completely exceeded my expectations. The characters weren't particularly memorable, but they made an impression on me because of their subtle flaws. The plot was pretty predictable, but I liked it anyway, because the dialogue made me angry, uncomfortable, and awkward, which is good because well-written books should provoke emotions.
This book was about a girl named Miriam who was bullied by a girl named Jenny who got held back into the 7th grade, the same grade Miriam was in. And Miriam and her sister Deborah used to be close, but then Deborah got older and went up to the High school. Then a very close friend of the family named Artie moved in so he could finish his last year of high school, doing plays. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Mar 01, 2009
Mindy Donohue
added it
I'm encountering a lot of bullying at the middle schools where I work, and have been looking for good books, fiction and nonfiction. This one is GREAT, especially for girls. Convincingly written in first person, with poetic interludes. Loved it -- now looking for its "equivalent" for boys.
Miriam is starting 7th grade and is a bit different, as constantly being pointed out by her classmates. She is actually harrassed to a point where she becomes depressed and it quite unbelievable that her parents or teachers see whats happening -ok
an extremely well written and lyrical book. the poetic aspects of the book (the whole thing had a very good show-not-tell theme going on)were absolutely beautiful and well-thought out. simply amazing.
I finished my 15 page graduate research project on bullying, and wish I had simply photocopied this book and handed it to the professor. (Excellent work in answering that survey, by the way, Mr. Nelson!)
This book was very good in my opinion. I love how Marcella talked/ related everything to what is happening to some teens right now. I definately encourage people to read this book.
I enjoyed this book about bullying. Quick read at only 130 pages. Appropriate for mature readers but too girl-oriented to appeal to many boys.
i thought this book was one of the best books i have ever read. it was full off suspense and you always wanted to know what was going to happen next.
i has more than one conflict in the book. when i was reading the book i had to go back and review what was going on to keep every thing straight. but over all i love the book.
i has more than one conflict in the book. when i was reading the book i had to go back and review what was going on to keep every thing straight. but over all i love the book.
Ages 11+ (a near sexual-assault at the end of the story)
vox tags: poetry, art, writing, middle school, outcasts, bullying
vox tags: poetry, art, writing, middle school, outcasts, bullying
Quick read ......but intense. You have to sympathize with the main character, but in the end you admire her strength.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolutlety Fabulous! | 2 | 13 | Mar 08, 2010 03:55pm |
