reviews
Feb 15, 2011
Sarah
rated it: 
February pick for Bookworms, my library's after-school book club.
This was a tearjerker of a novel! It has strong emotional resonance based on the events that happen to the Abernathy family, portraying real grief and coping in the face of tragedy. However, the early chapters felt like disjointed vignettes to me - there wasn't a cohesive story, but rather portraits of the Abernathy kids. It's a lovable family for sure, but overall the novel falls short of being great.
This was a tearjerker of a novel! It has strong emotional resonance based on the events that happen to the Abernathy family, portraying real grief and coping in the face of tragedy. However, the early chapters felt like disjointed vignettes to me - there wasn't a cohesive story, but rather portraits of the Abernathy kids. It's a lovable family for sure, but overall the novel falls short of being great.
Oct 29, 2009
Huda
rated it: 
this story is about 5 boys and 1 girl the oldest one,is a boy named cliff and his mom tells him to be very responseble for the kids.one day Brad,(his younger brother)wanted to borrow cliff,s fishing set and cliff did not want to give it to him.then he put old diapers,and clothes for his baby brother Josh and gave it to brad.When cliffs,s dad found out that there was diaper and old cloths his dad had a long talk with him.later on when Brad died by an accident cliff felt bad.
Apr 26, 2011
Carol
rated it: 
Authors should realize that it's hard to read their books when your eyes are filled with tears. Ralph Fletcher, please take note! Being from a family of 6 I could relate to this family (there were 4 boys before I came along, and six years later my sister). We never had to deal with the tragedy in this book, but we certainly had some of the laughs and craziness written about in Fig Pudding. Thank you, Ralph Fletcher for sharing this beautiful story.
Sep 18, 2011
Elyse
rated it:
I recall reading this book a long time ago, when I was in 3rd grade. The teacher read it aloud, and I thought it was pretty good. Then Ralph Fletcher came to our school and talked about his books, and I got my signed copy of Fig Pudding. I found myself reading it over again, which is something I never do, and I loved it. If I'm remembering correctly, I even read it a third time. This was definitely a fantastic, sad, lovable book.
Oct 29, 2010
Vivian
rated it:
This book was one of my 4th grade read-alouds and I really like this book. This book caused my emotions to change so many times throughout the book. I cried when Brad died because of the bicycle incident where he rides into an ambulance and that was just really sad. He was in the hospital and he didn't make it and it made me cry so much. I read this book over and over during the summer because it was such a great book.
Mar 06, 2010
Irene
rated it:
I read this in class and I thought that it was a good book. It was funny and I had a lot of different opinions for each character. I would recommend reading this book to anyone that likes family stories and comedy books. This book isn't all happy, you'll have to get ready to cry a bit because there are very sad parts too.
Sep 28, 2010
Lydia
rated it:
This is a story about a boy who is the oldest child from the family. He doesn't want to take care of his siblings. But his parents are wanting him because he is their oldest child. There are lots of things going on in his family. Even unexpected things.
Jan 03, 2011
Gina
rated it:
Great story about a year in the life of the Abernathy family. Funny at times, very very sad at times, but overall heart-warming story. I loved the way the Dad handled the whole tacklebox issue. Perfect. This would be a great read-aloud and/or novel study book. Great springboard for talking about traditions, differences between families, loss. Also, would be a great model for writing autobiographically.
Nov 25, 2009
Angie
rated it:
I read this to my 5th graders every year at this time. I think it's one of my all-time favorites. The voice in it is wonderful. There are some HILARIOUS situations as well as heartbreaking ones. This a great read for the holiday season.
Mar 23, 2009
Nick
rated it:
I read this book as a possible 3rd grade book club book. It has humor, sadness, tragedy and all sorts of life situations that a family has to get through. Maybe I'll use this one in one of my next go-arounds.
Jun 18, 2009
Hilary
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Follows a year in the life of Cliff Abernathy and his large and little bit chaotic family. Pleasantly surprising. A charming book. A book I would have read over and over again as a kid.
Sep 22, 2010
Kimberly
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I use this book as a read aloud with my students. It makes us laugh and makes us cry and have great conversations about family and life. Great for 5th/6th graders.
Feb 23, 2009
Giggles
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Pretty good book. Not the best. Great messgae throughtout the whole thing. Ready to start crying at the end. haha but it was very sad.
Mar 02, 2011
Ashley
rated it:
I read this a long time ago as a child and it still resonates with me this day. I am happy to own a signed copy of this book.
Nov 04, 2010
713
rated it:
This book is so sad. I love this book. This book had so may good parts. The saddest was when the brother dies. I read it twice. Once with my class and then by myself. I want to read it again.
Feb 02, 2009
Aimee
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A beautiful, touching story. I read it about once a year to remind myself I have a heart. haha.
Sep 22, 2010
Faria.706
rated it:
It was a wonderful book about family! However, it is sad at the end. But still a great book!
Jan 30, 2011
Kelly
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A great story full of laughs and a chunk of unexpected sadness. I'm using this book with my at-risk reading group, I'm curious to see what they will think of it.
Aug 27, 2010
Isaac
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This book is about a family of 8 and there struggles. This is my all time FAVORITE book!
Sep 24, 2011
Kayla
rated it:
Best book in the world wish it was a movie. I've read this around 6-8 times
Jan 11, 2011
Gena
rated it:
This simple story about a family's life experience through one year is very realistically written and easy for a member of a larger family to empathize with. There are a few chuckles and a few sniffs to make it even more engaging. A fun story for the holidays without being "All Christmassy."
