Abigail is starting a new middle school, a Catholic school, because shes been expelled from her old one. Shes sure that this place will be just t...
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Jul 31, 2011
Sandy
rated it: 
This was a rather interesting read. However, Kimberly Brubaker wrote it in a way that assumes Christians and Catholics are the same thing. Which of course they aren't at ALL... But I won't even get into that.
***Excuse me while I get into that*** A few people have posted some very rude comments about that opening statement, so I will expand a little what I meant. To see my explanation, FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD! Just kidding, look for the five asterisks at the end. ;)
On More...
***Excuse me while I get into that*** A few people have posted some very rude comments about that opening statement, so I will expand a little what I meant. To see my explanation, FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD! Just kidding, look for the five asterisks at the end. ;)
On More...
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Oct 02, 2007
Roxanne Hsu
rated it: 
The underlying idea is quite interesting and I think the author has quite a bit of integrity in keeping true to the emotional picture of Abby. However, although the feelings are entirely convincing and the events are also entirely convincing, some of Abby's highly sophisticated voice/choices of words does not quite ring true for a girl in the first half of her 6th grade year.
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Oct 15, 2007
Debbie
rated it: 
I felt myself wanting to give the protagonist of this story a great, big hug. Basically, she's bullied throughout 5th grade and finally at the beginning of 6th grade she's had enough and goes after her bullier with a knife. As a result she's expelled from school and sent to a private Catholic school. Abigail starts the new school with the idea that life would be much easier if she was invisible. Soon, she coming out of her shell in drama class. She's also becoming fascinated with Catholicis
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Aug 19, 2009
Kim
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Gr 6-8-Only days into sixth grade, quiet, studious Abby is expelled from school for pulling a pocketknife on a classmate who has been sexually harassing her for a year. Her friends, teachers, and parents will not believe that popular Brett McAvery would do such a thing, and the fact that his father is the principal does not help Abby's case. Her parents, workaholics who cannot fathom the idea of homeschooling Abby, enroll her in a private Catholic school, although they are devout nonbelievers. A
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Apr 12, 2010
Sherry
rated it:
Abby got expelled from public school at the very beginning of sixth grade - and the only place her parents found to put her was Catholic school. The only problem is they aren't Catholic. They aren't anything. Abby doesn't even believe in God. Her parents are workaholics (both lawyers?)and haven't been the best listeners or parents who are present in her life. She is angry - at the boy she defended herself against, thus causing her expulsion, at her parents for not paying attention before t
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Sep 25, 2009
sprinkles_84
rated it: 
Leap Of Faith is a book written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. It is about a girl named Abigail who was expelled after stabing Brett McAvery in her school. After the accident, Abigail is forced to go to a Catholic school and she is supposed to take two new classes: drama and catholic class. At the beggining, Abby is confused about catholic class and angry at her parents for not listening to her about Brett, but as the book gets farther, Abby understands the class and decides to make her p
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Jul 08, 2009
Megan
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Abby was expelled from her public school so her parents enroll her in the local Catholic school. Feeling misunderstood and invisible to her parents, Abby finds a way to rebel by choosing drama instead of an academic elective, and by investigating what it takes to become a Catholic. Abby's family has never been religious, and at first meeting with the priest and attending conversion classes is just Abby's way of getting back at her parents. Eventually, however, Abby starts to feel genuinely at
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Mar 02, 2010
Ms.
rated it:
Abby is expelled from her middle school after she pulls a knife on another student (who just happens to be the son of the principal). Left with limited choices, her parents decide to enroll her in Catholic school. Abby's not very religious. She and her parents don't attend church. Once in her new school, Abby discovers that she loves her drama class and acting in the school plays. Over time, Abby develops faith in God and trust in a friend in order to tell others what happened at her old sc
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Dec 18, 2008
GirlwiththeBraids
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Abby Lorenzo was kicked out of a public middle school for stabbing the principal’s son in the arm, but no one would listen to her explain about why she did it. Abby has to make a choice. She can either be home schooled or go to a private school. To her parents, the decision is pretty clear: she is going to St. Catherine’s, a Catholic private school. Abby’s parents doesn’t want her to become any more religious than need be, they just don’t want her to get in trouble any more. While she is there,
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Jul 04, 2009
Paige Y.
rated it:
I loved this book. Simply loved it. It's the story of Abigail, a girl who has all of sudden been kicked out of school for stabbing a boy. In desperation her parents send her to a Catholic school, even though they are firm non-believers. Abigail is full of anger at everyone, but most especially her parents who are completely disconnected from her and the bullying she has been suffering at school. They listen to nothing she says. When she wants to take art as her elective, they say no, and s
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Sep 13, 2009
splishsplash84
rated it:
Leap of faith by kimberly brubaker was a great book! It was Abby's story of being ignored by her parents which led her to stabbing brett mccavery.She got kicked out of school a week into middle scholl after brett threatend to pull down heer pants so she stabed him in the school caferteria. Herparents sent her to a catholic school where she took to new classes: catholic and drama. One day she decided to be catholic but her parents refused to let her. After fighting back for awhile her paents let
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Oct 05, 2011
Brenda
rated it:
While shelving books at our school library I was told this was pulled from our list of "battle of the books". I had to read it to see why there were complaints from parents about the book. A very good read for a student, maybe middle school or so, that is struggling with belief in God.
I felt it was very good at explaining reasons why someone would doubt, or even wonder. The characters answered questions that even my own
son has pondered over time. Thought it was fi More...
I felt it was very good at explaining reasons why someone would doubt, or even wonder. The characters answered questions that even my own
son has pondered over time. Thought it was fi More...
May 13, 2010
Julie
rated it:
Abigail was kicked out of middle school for assault. Her parents had two options for her education. Either send her to a private school or home school her. Being busy lawyers homeschooling was not an option for her parents. They enrolled her in St. Catherine’s Catholic school.
Abigail feels that her parents do not listen to her, that she doesn’t exist. They are both busy with their careers and cannot be bothered by Abigail and her needs. When Abigail was kicked out of her middle schoo More...
Abigail feels that her parents do not listen to her, that she doesn’t exist. They are both busy with their careers and cannot be bothered by Abigail and her needs. When Abigail was kicked out of her middle schoo More...
Feb 21, 2008
Kellyn
rated it:
After being expelled from the public middle school, Abby finds herself beginning at the local Catholic school two-weeks into the term. She is not thrilled to be the new kid and determines to just fade away. Abby however finds herself intrigued by the Catholic practices surrounding her and begins to explore becoming a Catholic. She also finds her drama class a welcome respite from the other classes. The reason Abby was expelled from school is a mystery that is revealed slowly through the st
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Nov 04, 2011
Great book! Basically the main character Abby was bullied throughout all of fifth grade by this boy, and after she stabbed him in the hand one day she was expelled.She starts middle school in a Catholic school and there she meets another boy, Cris.Chris is friendly kind and is Catholic.In this story it shows how Abby tries to convince her parents, who has no religious views to let her become a catholic.It also shows how important it is to forget bad things in your life and live on.
May 28, 2009
carissa
rated it:
Recommended Ages: grades 5-8
Abigail is kicked out of her middle school at the start of 6th grade for attacking the principle's son with a knife. She has limited choices where to go, so her parents choose Catholic school. Abigail tells her parents she wants to become Catholic, just to make her parents angry. However, the more she learns, the more she questions everything about her life.
Good coming-of-age and a good look at religion, from a non-Catholic standpoint.
Abigail is kicked out of her middle school at the start of 6th grade for attacking the principle's son with a knife. She has limited choices where to go, so her parents choose Catholic school. Abigail tells her parents she wants to become Catholic, just to make her parents angry. However, the more she learns, the more she questions everything about her life.
Good coming-of-age and a good look at religion, from a non-Catholic standpoint.
Apr 21, 2010
Lizzie
rated it: 
it was just an ok book. very predictable ending. I guessed it was written for guileless minds. But what's special about this book is, i bought this book not knowing that every pages of it is perfectly in time with the holy week 2010. Maybe it's God's way of telling me to hold on a little tighter even if the ship rocks like crazy. It's message centers on forgiving, and even of a multitude of reasons not to believe confront you, there is always that one truth that embraces humanity, and that was t
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May 13, 2010
This book is about a girl who got expelled from public school because she stabbed a boy with a knife and now she has to go to private school. At private school she has 8 classes and she has 2 electives. So she ends up choosing drama and likes it. She makes new friends and when she is going to audition for a big part she ends up getting the really easy part. lucky, for her because on her last play she gets the part she really wanted and ends up lliking it a lot.
Jun 06, 2010
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Oct 22, 2009
Prairie
rated it:
A young girl is bullied and all but invisible to her parents, so-called friends, and teachers. The parents are your typical self-absorbed workaholics who find raising a child inconvenient and annoying. Abby finally retaliates in big way, earning an expulsion. She is transferred to a private catholic school and there undergoes a spiritual transformation that helps her find her place in the world.
Jun 11, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
A young girl is bullied and all but invisible to her parents, so-called friends, and teachers. The parents are your typical self-absorbed workaholics who find raising a child inconvenient and annoying. Abby finally retaliates in big way, earning an expulsion. She is transferred to a private catholic school and there undergoes a spiritual transformation that helps her find her place in the world.
Jul 01, 2009
Helen
rated it:
I really liked this book, but I think that's because I could appreciate the Catholic aspects of it since I grew up Catholic. I'm not too sure how the kids will react to all the religion in the story, but the rest of it will really pull them in! I liked the mystery of why Abby attacked the boy but was kind of disappointed once it was revealed. Overall though, this one was a winner for me.
Jun 08, 2009
Judy
rated it:
Lots to think about with this book. It is about a conversion of a young girl to Catholicism. She asks lots of questions and gets good answers about her doubts. I think students will be able to relate to this book. It is runs a parallel story about an incident that happened to her and her relationship with her parents who are a bit self absorbed and don't listen to their daughter.
Jan 12, 2012
Taylor
rated it:
This book was outstanding!!!! A true 5 stars!!! It had a lesson that all kids could learn. The main charater was not the best girl at first but she turned out to be a girl that was good. She got closer with faith/god which wouldn't kill any out us, learns a amazing lesson, and was a great girl!! Truly a GREAT book!!!!!!!!! I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!
Jan 16, 2009
Josephine
rated it:
I picked this up, knowing absolutely nothing about it, because it was a finalist for a recent Young Adult National Book Award. I did *not* expect to find a startlingly honest and real depiction of a middle-schooler's struggle with and discovery of spirituality and faith in a Catholic school. It was unusual, engaging, and lovely.
Dec 17, 2009
Kate Hastings
rated it:
When 6th grader Abby assaults another student, she is expelled from her middle school and sent to the only school that will accept her-- a Catholic school. Her parents are self-absorbed with their careers, and she figures out one way to really get under their skin-- she's going to become Catholic.
What she doesn't expect is that she will meet people and learn things that will lead her to actual faith.
I liked this book in that Abby asks a lot of questions that I wish I had More...
What she doesn't expect is that she will meet people and learn things that will lead her to actual faith.
I liked this book in that Abby asks a lot of questions that I wish I had More...
Jan 15, 2010
Sophia
rated it:
I read this for church, 'cause I had to.
It's just about this girl who did somethin' bad so she went to like, a Catholic school and learned about God. It's kinda lame but I decided to put it up here anyway. Like, if there was literally nothing to read I might read it. But otherwise... Yeah, no.
It's just about this girl who did somethin' bad so she went to like, a Catholic school and learned about God. It's kinda lame but I decided to put it up here anyway. Like, if there was literally nothing to read I might read it. But otherwise... Yeah, no.
Sep 27, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
Wonderful book - one of my 6th-grade son's mandatory literature books. Read it so we could review together and discovered a gem of a book. Very honest and real. So glad I read it, even if it made me cry. Troubled and misunderstood girl finds herself, her inner strength, forgiveness and God.
Jun 03, 2010
Odette
rated it:
A positive book about Catholics? A positive not preachy book about Catholics? I'm so there.
This was actually more middle grade than YA, but it dealt with good issues and was presented well. And it wasn't condescending.
This was actually more middle grade than YA, but it dealt with good issues and was presented well. And it wasn't condescending.
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Apr 15, 2009
MusicalMarian
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I learned more about the Catholic faith from the perspective of a 6th grader. The story was well-written; perfect for a girl. Deals with bullying and how young girls can get help from sources other than parents.
