Surviving Aunt Marsha

by Sofie Laguna

Mary Poppins meets Mrs. Doubtfire in this hilarious story about three kids whose aunt is in charge while the parents are away.

Families are strong enough to survive a little separation-- aren't they? For Bettina, Vince, and Aidan it's a testing time. They have to find a way to survive Aunt Marsha for three weeks while their parents take a much-needed vacation. It won't be easy. Aunt Marsha wants the dog outside. NOW. And the comic books MUST go. And just to cheer them up, how about a nice big slice of kidney pie?! Aunt Marsha seems very much in control, until a near-tragedy bares her deepest fear, and ends up bringing her closer to the kids than any of them could ever have imagined.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Sofie Laguna originally studied to be a lawyer at the University of New South Wales, but after deciding law was not for her, she moved to Melbourne to train as an actor. Sofie worked for a number of years as an actor at the same time as completing a Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Sofie is now an author and playright writing for both adults and children.

Her many books for young people have been named Honour Books and Notable Books in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards and have been shortlisted in the Queensland Premier’s Awards. She has been published in the US and the UK and in translation throughout Europe and Asia.

Her picture book, On Our Way to the Beach, was included in the White Raven 2005 annual selection of outstanding international children’s books by the International Youth Library (Associated Project if UNESCO)

In 2008 Sofie released her first novel for adults, One Foot Wrong, to international acclaim. It was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and long-listed for the Miles Franklin Award. Screen rights for the book have been optioned and Sofie has recently completed the screenplay.

Sofie continues to write for a wide readership, from picture books for very young children, to series for older readers, to novels for adults.

Sofie lives in Melbourne with her partner and their young son.

Reviews

[Chris Waterford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narrator was an 11 year old, and I'm guessing the target audience was a similar age group.
6/10

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bettina, known as Tina or Tine, is almost 12 years old. She has two younger brothers ages 9 and 7. Mom and Dad all of a sudden are off on a 3-week trip to Paris to recapture the romance of their marriage, leaving the kids with Dad's sister Aunt Marsha. Aunt Marsha is a tyrant who doesn't get along with anyone in the family, including the kids' father. She's rude, domineering, and mean and her only saving grace is that she's not physically abusive toward the kids. The kids are miserable. Tine has become the peacemaker, but all the kids will do practically anything to get time away from Aunt Marsha. And then, in a typically overbearing and and unkind way, Aunt Marsha drives the 7-year old to seek refuge in the kids' treehouse, a treehouse much higher up than other kids' treehouses. There is a tremendous storm, the tree is threatened, the boy refuses to come down, and Aunt Marsha (who has a secret fear of heights) climbs the tree to try to rescue him. She ends up needing rescuing by the two older kids and, once she's down on the ground, changes her personality completely and becomes the fun, loving aunt every child might want. I liked the book up until then but Aunt Marsha's transformation is too abrupt, too complete, not well enough developed. And what are the kids' parents doing leaving their kids with Aunt Marsha whom even her own brother can't get along with? Still, an 8- or 9-year old reading the book might not be so critical and Tine especially provides an excellent example of how to get along despite a tyranical Aunt Marsha.

[Faterider · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written journal-style, so while this is good in capturing all the standout moments where Bettina and her two younger brothers clash with their Aunt Marsha, it kinda meanders along until it abruptly arrives at the climax and gallops off towards the conclusion. Still, the way the siblings band together to save Aunt Marsha makes for some exciting reading. All in all, a thought-provoking book about what it means to live with someone who comes from a different world and holds different beliefs from you.

[Chrisinny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fair to middling story of 11 year old Bettina and her younger brothers who are left in charge of her scary, rigid, childless Aunt Marsha- who only wants to do what is best for them (but is clueless of course). Not sure the voice of the main character was true, but think younger kids may be amused at times. All is well after a crisis in which the kids save the aunt. Ho hum.

[Audrey Breen · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was definitely a book to remember it had so much going on it kept you reading it and never getting boring.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiction
Published February 1st 2005 by Scholastic Press
ISBN 0439644852
Ages 9-12

Three siblings find out their parents are going on a three-week vacation to Paris, which is bad news for them because their not-so-favorite aunt is coming to stay with them. Will they survive her orange lipstick, kidney pies, and strict rules? The children will go from surviving Aunt Marsha to saving Aunt Marsha.

Strengths:
-- Tina is an engaging, and round character that students will relate to
-- Learn about Sydney, Australia
-- great sense of sibling camaraderie and adventure
-- Situations allow kids to understand multiple points of view

Weaknesses:
--The end wraps up too quickly and children may lose interest before the last page

Uses:
-- International literature- Australia
-- First Person Narrative
-- POV
-- Realistic Fiction
-- Read aloud or independent reading


Awards:
USBBY Best Books 2006 for Australia

Read Alikes:

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
Mary Poppins
Ginger Pye

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunt Marsha moves in. Children don't like Aunt Marsha. Throughout 3 weeks they grow to love her. :.)

[Lexxus]

i loved it

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not really learned much so far about this book because i am only on page 26, but I will add more later.

[Kate Hastings]

RL 890

[Anna Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story about the bonds of family and getting to know one another.