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I Would Rather Be a Turnip
Twelve-year-old Annie gradually begins to understand the bigotry of the small town that makes her an outcast when her illegitimate eight-year-old nephew comes to live with her and her father.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
About the author
Vera Cleaver
34 books19 followersAfter her first book, The Nurse's Dilemma (1966), most of her magazine articles and 16 novels for children were written with her husband, Bill.
Together, they produced more than a dozen novels for young adults. Their subject matter reveals a particular interest in mountain children who have both physical and mental problems. The Cleavers were three times nominated for the National Book Award, and their novels made multiple appearances on the American Library Associations list of "Notable Books." Settings often mirror the Cleavers' place of residence.
After Bill's death, Vera Cleaver wrote Sugar Blues (1984) and Sweetly Sings the Donkey (1985).
Together, they produced more than a dozen novels for young adults. Their subject matter reveals a particular interest in mountain children who have both physical and mental problems. The Cleavers were three times nominated for the National Book Award, and their novels made multiple appearances on the American Library Associations list of "Notable Books." Settings often mirror the Cleavers' place of residence.
After Bill's death, Vera Cleaver wrote Sugar Blues (1984) and Sweetly Sings the Donkey (1985).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 8, 2021
I am 48... and this book has haunted me since grade 6.
It was the first book I ever DNR'd amidst a reading marathon competition in which you simply did NOT DNR because it cost you points.
Looking at the ratings, I think I have forgiven myself for my decades old failure.
It was the first book I ever DNR'd amidst a reading marathon competition in which you simply did NOT DNR because it cost you points.
Looking at the ratings, I think I have forgiven myself for my decades old failure.
April 10, 2012
I re-read this one recently. Alas, it did not hold up. At all.
Edit April 10, 2012: Ok, I just started reading Carson McCuller's A Member of the Wedding, and I was saying to myself as I was reading, "Hm, have I actually read this book before? It seems so familiar." And then it hit me: I Would Rather Be a Turnip is absolutely, 100 percent ripped off from A Member of the Wedding. Slightly weird pre-adolescent protagonist who speaks in an oddly mannered way? Check. Domestic who functions as an exasperated mother figure? Check. Much younger, sort of other-worldly boy who's the protagonist's only companion? Check check, right down to the wire-rimmed glasses.
And the plot points so far are also taken right from Member of the Wedding: Tension between Frankie and her brother because her brother is marrying; tension between Annie and her sister for having a child out of wedlock. Annie is ostracized by neighborhood girls she was once friendly with; so is Frankie. Even specific scenes are ripped off, like the scene in Turnip where Annie works for her father and imagines what people say about her as they watch. And that's only in the first half of the book.
Sheesh. Really, the two books are so similar I'm surprised the McCullers estate didn't make an issue of it.
Edit April 10, 2012: Ok, I just started reading Carson McCuller's A Member of the Wedding, and I was saying to myself as I was reading, "Hm, have I actually read this book before? It seems so familiar." And then it hit me: I Would Rather Be a Turnip is absolutely, 100 percent ripped off from A Member of the Wedding. Slightly weird pre-adolescent protagonist who speaks in an oddly mannered way? Check. Domestic who functions as an exasperated mother figure? Check. Much younger, sort of other-worldly boy who's the protagonist's only companion? Check check, right down to the wire-rimmed glasses.
And the plot points so far are also taken right from Member of the Wedding: Tension between Frankie and her brother because her brother is marrying; tension between Annie and her sister for having a child out of wedlock. Annie is ostracized by neighborhood girls she was once friendly with; so is Frankie. Even specific scenes are ripped off, like the scene in Turnip where Annie works for her father and imagines what people say about her as they watch. And that's only in the first half of the book.
Sheesh. Really, the two books are so similar I'm surprised the McCullers estate didn't make an issue of it.
June 16, 2020
Annie's character was extremely annoying at first. So annoying that I really didn't want to continue reading. However, I told myself it was a short book and I hate leaving things unfinished. Glad I did, because it was quite touching to see Annie grow, awkward as it was. Her character blossomed without her even realizing it. It was worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews