Red Polka Dot in a World Full of Plaid

by Varian Johnson

When she learns that her mother lied and her father is still alive, sarcastic, witty, eighteen-year-old Maxine sets off with her best friend on a cross-country quest to meet him.

Genres: Young Adult

199 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the beginning, i thought this book had the makings of a five due to the fantastic charachters. Once i finished the book, however, there was a tear i was unaware of rolling down my cheek. Very, very, sad.

I, personally do not like depressing, thrilling endings, but i do realize this was a rating of the BOOK not my emotional preferences. Given that, this is definitely a 4 and a half as a book. Fantastic despite my complaints.

[Deb · Rating 1 out of 5]

one star might be a little high for this book. I know it written from a 18 year old girl's perspective but it truly sounds as if it were written by a child. The 'plot' is also terrible.

[Gail Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is semi Christian. I found it 100% unbelievable - teenagers without cell phones? However good narrative. Is the protagonist the most clueless person on earth? Very obvious plot male/female friends are in love with each other. Predictable but good book.

[Reving · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://revingsblog.blogspot.com/2019...

[Angelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I last read this book in 5th grade and its still a book I'd continue to pick up and read over and over again. Just read it

[✧･ﾟangelina ✧･ﾟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i literally loved this book so much and even though i read it a while ago, it had so much humor in it and was so well written.

[Chloe Schlachter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Polka Dot In A World Full Of Plaid was about a girl named Maxine who is 18 years old. She gets a call from her father who was thought to be dead but he left his mother and Maxine. He says that he lives in Oklahoma and Maxine goes to find her father. Her mother forbids her going but she goes any way. Her best friend Deke are like peanut butter and jelly. He goes with her to find her father to be with her and help her make the right decisions. When Maxine meets her father, he is not what she thought he was, he was white. Maxine's mother is already at her fathers house and explains everything. You can tell she was taking all of this too hard. But Deke was there to help her through it. Maxine and Deke both meet someone and Maxine is jealous. Everyone knows but her that she has feels she never even knew about for Deke. Deke also sees it and feels the same. When you read this book you can see that Maxine is very stubborn and close minded. Since Deke is religious and they are now dating and Maxine considers "accepting" the Lord to be with Deke and to make him happy, and that doesn't seem much to you but that is like winning an oscar for Deke. They are driving home very happy and they get into a car crash. The chapter ends and the next chapter starts off describing Deke's death and funeral. Now I was taken back a little bit so I had to reread it, but it was true. Deke died in the car crash and protected Maxine to save her life.

I really like this book because it was very realistic but happy but not too happy. I liked how the author wrote the story and you never really value life till you or someone else you know looses it. It also tells a story that I thought was true it seemed so realistic. I even recommended this book to one of my friends, I read this book in about 2 days but I am a fast reader so it might take her a week. I couldn't put it down!

[Jasmin]

Red polka dot in a world full of plaid is about a 18 year old girl named Maxine and her friend Deke. Maxine wants to find out what really happened to her father so she goes out to find him. Her mom does not allow her to go but she goes anyways. She goes to Deke's house to ask him if he would help her find her father. Later on in the book she calls a number and a man answers saying that he is Maxine's father and she hangs up.

Then she see's a guy calling her name and saying that he is her father after she see's her mother with the guy. She saw that the guy was white and her mom told her that he was her father. But Maxine denied it she also found out that the reason he had left her mother and Maxine was because he was in jail for killing a man.Later on in the book Maxine can't except that she is black and half white. But Deke make's her want to think that it doesn't matter being black and half white.But he also tells her that if she really want's to forgive her father for what he did.

It was a really great book.But also sad because of what happens at the end of the book. I also think that it kinda gives advice somehow.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

At 17, Maxine finds out that her father is alive and well living in a small town in Oklahoma. She has been told all her life by her Mother that he was dead. So she sneaks off with her best friend, Deke, to visit him. She is so surprised to find that her father is white! Maybe that explains why she has always seemed to be different than her other African American family and friends. This is a clever, inspirational book that deals with all sorts of issues.... interracial dating, peer pressure, sex and religion. A great read for all readers... not just young adults.

FTC disclosure: I bought my copy of this book.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and I can't put my finger on why, exactly. It touched on some interesting racial topics that I never would have thought to explore. All of the main characters were easy to empathize with though they didn't necessarily agree will each other. It really helped me to think about life from different perspectives.

[Gail Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think her mother should have told her her father was dead. I think the friendship between her father and herself was interesting.I hated that one she knew who loved her and that she found God that her boy friend had to die.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this author. Although this book is geared more towards a YA audience I enjoyed it and totally did not see the end coming. I like that! I'd read more books by this author just to see what she's really all about.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the characters, especially the main character, with her sarcasm,difficulty facing her emotions, and growth as a person. I got a new perspecitve on race relations and appreciated the insight.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book ,just a little sad on the ending .

[Laura Biesecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another $store find that blew my mind. Read it cover to cover in less than 4 hours!

[Kevin]

I was listening to the audiobook and just lost interest.

[McKinlay]

this book is definitely not written for me. like, yeah. i think if you're mixed race, you should check it out. i had to DNF because of reasons.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but didn't flow very well.