Toothpick

by Kenneth E. Ethridge

Jamie Almont, who has a crush on Ginger Gregson, the most popular girl in eleventh grade, befriends a scrawny new girl nicknamed Toothpick, who has a terminal disease, even if it means alienating the in-group

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1985

Reviews

[Ranelle Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I haven’t read it since I got it in ‘97. Reading it years later still hits the same. It’s not a big book, but I like the simplicity of it.
My copy is signed by the author as a graduation gift. Mr. Ethridge was my HS geography teacher and he was my favorite. That year we also lost a girl with cystic fibrosis that I was in band with. I treasure this book.

[Julie Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written for young adults/teenagers, but it was written in such a way that anyone with an open mind would come away moved after reading it. I know I did.
Janice is the new girl in school. Jamie and his three friends are all sort of misfits, or they don’t really fit in with the popular kids anyway, and they each have a nickname that makes fun of them in some way. Jamie is Needle because he’s so skinny, but when Janice comes to school, she’s even skinnier than he is, and the kids take to calling her Toothpick.
Janice has a reason for being so skinny though, and becoming her friend changes Jamie in ways he could have never expected. I think it would probably be safe to say he did a lot of growing up in the short time he knew her.
You almost always know how books like this are going to turn out and I was in tears when it ended, but it was a good book with characters I could relate to.

[katyjanereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. This book was written in 1985 and the words in it definitely would not be tolerated today: faggot, retarded, and just general name calling.
2. The book reminded me of Bridge to Terebithia and Me, and Earl, and the Dying Girl, but not as good.
3. While drinking a coke Jamie said he was enjoying a glass of pimple pusher. So weird.
4. Really creepy when someone's dad was drooling over Ginger.
5. A part that made me laugh out loud was when Harvey and Jamie were at the hospital visiting Janice. They were in the elevator and Harvey said, "The doc said I got herpes, so we gotta burn all the furniture."
6. The book finally got good at the end when Jamie wrote in the notebook: Jamie loves Toothpick.
7. The book would have been good if Jamie spent more time with Janice. It just fell flat.
8. Not my favorite.

[Kiara Montgomery]

The book toothpick was ok a new girl that go to gluewood hight and 3 boys calling her name and the name is toothpick and she feels like they are bolling here and she meet tnis boy and they notice they both are geting picked on so they begin to be come friend the reason the 3 boys pick in thim they are skinny and tall and the girl is new..

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book.

[haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

my dad has had this book since middle school. it was signed and one of my favorites growing up. i’m pretty sure i still have it <33

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read. Be ready to cry.