Meg's family has moved a lot because of her father's drinking. Meg arrives in her town longing to find a real friend, someone she can talk to and w...
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reviews
Mar 20, 2009
my level:x
book level:y
pages:230
the book tall tales is about megan and her family who move. she tells lies/tal tales because she's scared no one will like her when she goes to school she makes lies about that she had malaria and had livedin India, Australia, and Africa.the setting takes place in indiana. the characters of the story are megan: a liar, her dad : an alcoholic abby:7 year old sister teddy: 15 year old brother. grace: megan's best friend.her d More...
book level:y
pages:230
the book tall tales is about megan and her family who move. she tells lies/tal tales because she's scared no one will like her when she goes to school she makes lies about that she had malaria and had livedin India, Australia, and Africa.the setting takes place in indiana. the characters of the story are megan: a liar, her dad : an alcoholic abby:7 year old sister teddy: 15 year old brother. grace: megan's best friend.her d More...
May 13, 2011
Caleb
rated it: 
I loved it! THeir dad went crazy and he asked them to move again for a new job. They were going to, but after he took Meg's sister by her shoulders and shook her until it hurt and she cried they let him go without the. Good for them. He scares me! This great realistic-fiction book about a girl trying to make a new life again is a great story that will be a family favorite forever. In Lake Heavens, Michigan nothing seems happy or fun, but if you have a good friend to get you through tough times t
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Jun 27, 2011
Julie
rated it:
Tall Tales is a gripping book. As a reader, you become so attached to the main character, Meg. I found myself disappointed in her when she told her tall tales to peers and proud of her as she helped her mom stand up to her alcoholic father. Her relationship with her best friend Grace opened her mind and heart which challenged Meg to become a stronger person. This book tugs on your heart strings continually as the story develops. The writing artfully weaves character trait descriptions and short
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Jan 28, 2011
Karen
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I've been reading this book for the past week while I've had a minute or so here and there. This is a great book for middle school kids. The main character is Meg, a 7th grader, and her family: dad, whose an alcoholic,her mom, older brother Teddy and younger sister Abby. They move around a lot because her dad wants to "start over" so Meg has a hard time making friends. In the beginning Meg seems to embellish a lot of her stories and she has hard time keeping track of what she tells to
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Jul 24, 2009
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
rated it:
Meg’s family moves constantly, trying to accommodate Meg’s alcoholic father’s desire for a fresh start. Meg is tired of moving and is embarrassed about her family. To compensate, Meg tells outrageous stories about her family. For the first time, Meg makes a friend, a very tolerant girl named Grace. Gradually, Grace and others learn the truth about Meg and her family, but Grace turns out to be more than a fair weather friend.
Apr 11, 2009
Dana
rated it:
This is a wonderful, adventurous book about a girl who just moved, has no friends, tells lies, and has a drunk dad. What will happen when she gets a friend? Will her friend be mad because she has lied so much? Will her friend find out that her dad is drunk? Read this wonderful book and find out!!! :)
Nov 13, 2010
Stephanie
rated it: 
When you move around a lot and your Dad is an alcoholic it can be hard making friends. And when people want to come to your house it can get even more complicated. Maybe it is easier to make up stories and say everyone in your family is sick...
Mar 23, 2011
Kate
rated it:
I really liked this book. It's kind of hard to explain because it's about so many things. I would recommend this book to anyone in the 4th or 5th grade. A good read if you are looking for one!
Apr 14, 2009
This Book Is So Great Now I Really Understand Never Judge A Book By Its Cover Because The Cover Of This Book May Look Boring But I Couldn't Have Been More Wrong
May 01, 2008
Megan
rated it:
Jill Makechnie loaned this book to me following our book club in March where we read and discussed another Young Adult book. Jill knows the author, a Newton resident personally. I thought it was a great book for teens. The main character is fun and likeable, the story is compelling. It did drag a bit for me at the end, as I just became annoyed that the mother and the daughter in the story were too scared to remove themselves from the abusive relationship of the dad. I get annoyed with chara
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Dec 13, 2008
Mindy
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Tall Tales is a really unusual story about a girl who spins tales, trying to make friends. Good story about friendship!!!
May 02, 2010
Zonia
rated it:
Difficult story to read and I would recommend this book to more mature classes/students. Meg Summers and her family are constantly on the move. Every few years she must learn to make new friends but can't seem to make any real friends. In trying to hide her family's secret she finds it easier to make up stories that to tell the truth. When they land in Indiana, Meg finally makes a real friend and begins to talk about her family's problems. When her alcoholic and verbally abusive father tries t
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Jan 22, 2012
Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge
rated it:
This book taught a lesson to not lie to try to impress your friends. A.T.
Apr 09, 2008
Haley
rated it: 
Texas Bluebonnet for next year. In order to hide the fact that Meg's home life is not the best, she tells "tall tales" in order to make her family seem more interesting. Her father is an alcoholic and can be abusive at times. Meg just wants a normal life, but her family picks up and moves whenever her dad gets upset at his boss or coworkers. Meg finally feels like she might be able to settle in at her new school when she finds the friend she's always wanted, Grace, but she has such
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Aug 04, 2009
Andrew
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This book was about a girl with an alchaholic, mean dad. It is very sad, but it is still a good read.
Oct 15, 2007
Jill
rated it:
Summary:
Meg and her family move to Indiana and for the first time she makes a real friend. After her father breaks her brothers arm, the truth begins to come out. Meg finds comfort from Grace, and encourages her Mom not to move the family with her Dad again.
Reflection:
This is a great book that covers alcoholism and lying to a great extent. This will appeal to many children, and not just those in that kind of family situation.
Themes:
Alcoholism, friends More...
Meg and her family move to Indiana and for the first time she makes a real friend. After her father breaks her brothers arm, the truth begins to come out. Meg finds comfort from Grace, and encourages her Mom not to move the family with her Dad again.
Reflection:
This is a great book that covers alcoholism and lying to a great extent. This will appeal to many children, and not just those in that kind of family situation.
Themes:
Alcoholism, friends More...
Nov 23, 2010
Elizabeth
rated it:
fantastic book. in tall tales meg finally gets a friend but is worried about keeping her from Megs dad when he's drunk which is every day pretty much.
Oct 22, 2007
Becky
rated it:
This is a tender and innocent look at the dysfunction of a family coming to grips with the father's alcoholism. It is told from the teen girl's POV. The family members keep secrets and think that is what is holding them together but it prevents them making friends. When the narrator makes a friend in the new town, she risks the family secret by no longer telling tall tales. This will be an important book for young people , especially those with similar family issues.
Jan 13, 2008
Brynn
rated it:
Although the main characters are in 6th grade, I feel this book would be more appropriate for a slightly older audience. It deals bluntly but accurately with domestic violence as it affects an entire family, both through emotional and physical abuse. It also tackles how alcoholism can become entwined with this issue. The writing is smooth and the story believable, but it might be too much for an 11 or 12 year old to handle.
Apr 28, 2008
Debby
rated it:
If you or someone you know has had to deal with an abusive parent, this is a great book that focuses on the emotionally driven choices of the main character without going into graphic detail of the abuse. Kids who have been subjected to various types of abuse (physical or verbal) or a parent with a substance abuse problem will really be able to sympathize with and learn from the characters in this story.
Sep 16, 2008
Laura
rated it:
Wonderful book and it presents sensitive content in a palatable way. However, no matter how strong a reader a kids is, I would not give it to anyone below 6th grade. I think it was a poor choice for the Bluebonnet list - way too mature.
Aug 04, 2008
Angie
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Another Bluebonnet about a kid with a sad home life. No worries ... still totally appropriate for kids. A way for kids in similar situations to relate and kids who are lucky enough to be in stable homes to experience empathy.
Jul 09, 2008
Lisa
rated it:
This is probably my favorite bluebonnet book so far! Two friends who both have had struggles in their life become friends, and one has to learn to be honest in that friendship. excellent!
Oct 02, 2008
Samantha
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this was a bluebonnet book that my third graders were required to read. it was REALLY GOOD!!
not a kid's story at all
not a kid's story at all
