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The Private Thoughts of Amelia E. Rye
"All a person needs in life is one true friend." So says Grandpa Thomas, the only member of Amelia's family who cares about her one bit. That true friend finally arrives when Fancy Nelson, the first Negro kid Amelia has ever seen in person, walks into her fourth grade classroom. As Fancy's special sort of magic rubs off on Amelia, she slowly comes to understand her trainwreck family and her place in it―and Fancy discovers a surprising secret about her own past.
234 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 8, 2010
Just one true friend... That's all Amelia E. Rye's grandfather says she needs, and when Fancy Nelson comes to town, Amelia knows that it's true. Fancy is the first black person Amelia's ever seen, and she seems to have everything that Amelia lacks...courage and no-holds-barred confidence...and unconditional love from her family. With Fancy beside her, the world looks a little different to Amelia, a little brighter, and a little braver.
This is a fantastic, fantastic upper middle grade novel - great for ages 10 and up - and really, it's one of those titles that adult book clubs should pick up, too. The characterization is as close to perfect as I've seen in a novel for kids, vivid and rich and never stereotypical, and the writing is just brilliant -- laugh-out-loud funny one moment and heartbreaking the next. I'm so thankful to have spent some time in Amelia's world and can't wait for the book to be released so I can share her with my students.
(Reviewed from an ARC that I was lucky enough to pick up at NCTE... and due out from FSG in April 2010)
This is a fantastic, fantastic upper middle grade novel - great for ages 10 and up - and really, it's one of those titles that adult book clubs should pick up, too. The characterization is as close to perfect as I've seen in a novel for kids, vivid and rich and never stereotypical, and the writing is just brilliant -- laugh-out-loud funny one moment and heartbreaking the next. I'm so thankful to have spent some time in Amelia's world and can't wait for the book to be released so I can share her with my students.
(Reviewed from an ARC that I was lucky enough to pick up at NCTE... and due out from FSG in April 2010)
November 25, 2010
Amelia has had a hard life. It seems her mother didn't really want her. Her Grandpa Thomas loved her and took care of her. Amelia is a loner and the reason is because her mother dresses her in her older sisters old clothes. Everyone make fun of her, that is until Fancy comes to town. Fancy is the only colored girl in her class. She has learned how to stand up for herself and immediately sees inside of Amelia and becomes her friend. Amelia loves Fancy's life and would like luck to shine down on her just a little. As her friendship with Fancy grows she discovers a lot of things about her family she'd never known before. She also learns what real love from a mother is. I didn't think I was going to like this book at first but found I really did enjoy it. It made me look at Amelia's family and think that hidden inside the mess was something that people on the outside couldn't see. Maybe it is that way with some of my students who live in just as big a mess and so therefore maybe there is hope for happiness for them too.
March 1, 2018
A great middle school read! Didn't realize it was historical fiction but was very happy that it was! A really great story with constant character evolution. I'm not a teacher but I would totally have my kids read this book!
March 17, 2016
Amelia lives in a small town during the 1960s. All she has is her Grandpa Thomas, the only person Amelia thinks actually loves her. Her father left before she was born, and Amelia thinks her mother is really mean. She has three older siblings, all of them far away with problems of their own. But one day, Amelia finds her one true friend, Fancy. After meeting Fancy, Amelia's life changes. She starts to discover more about her family and where she belongs.
June 5, 2010
Another 60s story! Well developed characters with exception of mom. That could have been deliberate. As Amelia matures, mom becomes more multilayered. Great ending. (suggested for 10-14y)
August 29, 2011
Amelia's mother neglects her, makes her wear her older sisters clothes, and doesn't want anything to do with her. On the other hand amelia's grandfather loves her, and takes care of her. Amelia has a tough time at school because the other girls make fun of what she's wearing. Amelia was always shy, so she just ignored them. One day a new girl came to school. Fancy Nelson. She was a colored girl who was independent and tough. She wouldn't take any crud from anyone. Immediately Amelia loved her and the two became friends instantly. While at fancy's house, someone came to visit. Margo LaRue, the woman amelia's father ran away with. She had been selling Avon products. At first amelia was cold to her, but after awhile she started to like her. Margo had given fancy and Amelia an offer to deliver some prey ts to customers. Willingly they decided to do it. They got some money for the volunteering also. At a part of the book, Amelia's mother takes her to see her older sister Charlotte, whos in an asylum. Charlotte had screamed at Amelia so amelia ran outside. After awhile her mother came out and they got on a bus to go home. Amelia had fallen asleep, but when she woke up people were all around her. Then someone informed her that her mother died. Amelia was shocked, so shocked she couldn't cry. Later her other older sister, and her older brother had come to see her. Her sister was pushy, and her husband was a sleaze. Her brother had gone to jail for awhile but seemed ok to Amelia. At her mothers funeral, Amelia saw her father. He wanted to take her, so did her sister, but in the end Amelia decided to stay with her brother. This book was great and touching, I would love to read it again.
April 24, 2011
Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com
In a small town in New York in the 1960's lives Amelia Earhart Rye. She has no friends, her mother's mean, her father is MIA, her brother is in jail, and her sister is in an insane asylum. Her only bright piece of hope is her grandfather.
Her grandfather tells her all the time that she only needs one true friend to make her life better. When Fancy Nelson moves into town, the first African-American that Amelia has ever seen, the two become friends and Amelia begins to take a serious look at her home situation. As the two spend more and more time together, however, Amelia begins to see bullies cutting off Fancy's braids to insult her and other racial acts that are cruel.
Instead of being knocked down and offended by them, though, Fancy stands tall and looks on the bright side of things. Can Amelia take a page out of Fancy's book and rise above her situation, as well?
THE PRIVATE THOUGHTS OF AMELIA E. RYE is a touching coming-of-age novel. The characters are multi-dimensional and memorable. The plot is well-developed and engaging, and the message in the novel is timeless. Those who like historical fiction, coming-of-age stories, and friendship tales will all enjoy reading this book.
In a small town in New York in the 1960's lives Amelia Earhart Rye. She has no friends, her mother's mean, her father is MIA, her brother is in jail, and her sister is in an insane asylum. Her only bright piece of hope is her grandfather.
Her grandfather tells her all the time that she only needs one true friend to make her life better. When Fancy Nelson moves into town, the first African-American that Amelia has ever seen, the two become friends and Amelia begins to take a serious look at her home situation. As the two spend more and more time together, however, Amelia begins to see bullies cutting off Fancy's braids to insult her and other racial acts that are cruel.
Instead of being knocked down and offended by them, though, Fancy stands tall and looks on the bright side of things. Can Amelia take a page out of Fancy's book and rise above her situation, as well?
THE PRIVATE THOUGHTS OF AMELIA E. RYE is a touching coming-of-age novel. The characters are multi-dimensional and memorable. The plot is well-developed and engaging, and the message in the novel is timeless. Those who like historical fiction, coming-of-age stories, and friendship tales will all enjoy reading this book.
October 5, 2011
Set in 1960s in New York, this is a wonderful story of real friendship and how one true friend is enough to give you gumption and not feel so alone in the world.
Amelia never felt loved by her mother, her father split before she was born, her mother tried to 'take care of her' by throwing herself out of a window while pregnant, and her siblings are all out of the house either in jail, in an asylum or living in crazy town. All Amelia has is her grandfather and the new girl in town Fancy. Fancy is tough as nails and lives with her mother and the town judge.
Amelia faces trials - her grandfather has a stroke, her older sister forces her mother to sign a will leaving the house to her and Amelia without any 'decent' family, Fancy is 'attacked' while all Amelia can do is look on, and through much of her life Amelia is teased and treated poorly by her mom.
The wonderful thing about Amelia is her personality. She is very real from her jealousy of Fancy, the only African American at her school, to her turmoil over how to treat the woman who took her dad away from the family.
I really loved this book until the end. It felt rushed and too neatly tied up. I still highly recommend this book and can't wait to discuss it with others to hear what they think about the end.
Amelia never felt loved by her mother, her father split before she was born, her mother tried to 'take care of her' by throwing herself out of a window while pregnant, and her siblings are all out of the house either in jail, in an asylum or living in crazy town. All Amelia has is her grandfather and the new girl in town Fancy. Fancy is tough as nails and lives with her mother and the town judge.
Amelia faces trials - her grandfather has a stroke, her older sister forces her mother to sign a will leaving the house to her and Amelia without any 'decent' family, Fancy is 'attacked' while all Amelia can do is look on, and through much of her life Amelia is teased and treated poorly by her mom.
The wonderful thing about Amelia is her personality. She is very real from her jealousy of Fancy, the only African American at her school, to her turmoil over how to treat the woman who took her dad away from the family.
I really loved this book until the end. It felt rushed and too neatly tied up. I still highly recommend this book and can't wait to discuss it with others to hear what they think about the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2010
"All a person needs in life is one true friend." For everyone who ever suffered the slings and arrows of bullying and being an outsider during their childhood (that would be most of us), this book is a wonderful treat.
Amelia starts out life as an unwanted child, unloved by everyone but her grandfather. School is a torment as she's the scapegoat for everyone's childhood frustration, until the day that Fancy Nelson arrives in her classroom. Fancy is the first African American kid that Amelia has ever seen in person, and in the first five minutes she threatens to pulverize anyone who crosses her. Fancy has everything that Amelia doesn't - beautiful clothes, a mama who dotes on her, and the courage to stand up to anyone, including the worst bullies and bigots. Amelia loves her from the start. As Fancy's special sort of magic rubs off on her, Amelia slowly comes to understand her train-wreck family and her place in it. I loved this book.
Amelia starts out life as an unwanted child, unloved by everyone but her grandfather. School is a torment as she's the scapegoat for everyone's childhood frustration, until the day that Fancy Nelson arrives in her classroom. Fancy is the first African American kid that Amelia has ever seen in person, and in the first five minutes she threatens to pulverize anyone who crosses her. Fancy has everything that Amelia doesn't - beautiful clothes, a mama who dotes on her, and the courage to stand up to anyone, including the worst bullies and bigots. Amelia loves her from the start. As Fancy's special sort of magic rubs off on her, Amelia slowly comes to understand her train-wreck family and her place in it. I loved this book.
October 6, 2010
Amelia Earhart Rye is in the fifth grade and things aren't easy. For starters, her father ran off before she was born, her older brother is in jail, and her mother doesn't seem to like Amelia all that much (She makes Amelia wear her sister's old clothes that don't fit and refuses to fix Amelia's front tooth when it breaks.). And if that weren't bad enough, Amelia is a social outcast at school, sitting alone in the corner of the playground reading old books. But with a new girl at school, Amelia learns that you may only need one good friend.
Historical fiction: takes place in upstate NY. Lots of racial tension in Amelia's community as well her family. Also issues in her family include: mental illness, neglect, and alcoholism. Only three stars as I thought the ending wrapped up a little too easily/quickly, but Amelia is a plucky character and I liked her voice.
Historical fiction: takes place in upstate NY. Lots of racial tension in Amelia's community as well her family. Also issues in her family include: mental illness, neglect, and alcoholism. Only three stars as I thought the ending wrapped up a little too easily/quickly, but Amelia is a plucky character and I liked her voice.
January 26, 2012
I loved this story. Amelia was such a likeable character that it is impossible not to root for her throughout the story.
Always treated as an outcast at school and horribly mistreated by her miserable mother, Amelia seeks solace in her companionship with her grandfather. Having no friends, she is intrigued by Fancy, the new girl in her class. Fancy is the first black student to attend Amelia's school (in 1960's upstate New York). Amelia is fascinated to see the way that Fancy does not back down to the other students bullying and the two end up becoming friends.
The story quickly spans a few years of Amelia's life and you see her as an amazing young adult who perseveres in spite of constant mis-steps in her life.
Luckily, a story that has a great deal of sadness peppered in has a happy ending.
This is a great one to recommend to younger YA readers.
Always treated as an outcast at school and horribly mistreated by her miserable mother, Amelia seeks solace in her companionship with her grandfather. Having no friends, she is intrigued by Fancy, the new girl in her class. Fancy is the first black student to attend Amelia's school (in 1960's upstate New York). Amelia is fascinated to see the way that Fancy does not back down to the other students bullying and the two end up becoming friends.
The story quickly spans a few years of Amelia's life and you see her as an amazing young adult who perseveres in spite of constant mis-steps in her life.
Luckily, a story that has a great deal of sadness peppered in has a happy ending.
This is a great one to recommend to younger YA readers.
October 27, 2010
THe Privaite thoughts of Amelia E. Rye was a truly amamzing story of a girl whos mother tried to kill her when she was in her stomach. What really stood out to me was that Amelia actuclly put up with her mother that hated her Amelia had 3 older sibilings a brother that went to jail (read to find out why) ,a sister named charlotte (her mothers golden golden child her mother cared for no other child went to a mental hospital)and a normal child who grew up had a kid and a job (but a horrid husband) I reccomend this to any one who loves realistic fiction. also Amelia makes a new freind that helps her through thick and thin!!! Igave this book 5 stars becuase It was soo good and soo fun to read I felt like it was a prvilage to read it!!! (You will understand wat I mean if you read it.)
July 24, 2010
The scene starts out with Amelia in fourth grade, an outcast with no friends and a harsh mother. Amelia gains a one true friend when Fancy moves to town, but loses her grandfather to a stroke. Over the course of the story, Amelia learns to stand up for herself and her friend, and she finds out who her family really is.
There aren't many historical details in this book. While it's set in the sixties in upstate New York, Amelia is a girl from anytime, and really, anywhere. Her private thoughts are worth reading!
There aren't many historical details in this book. While it's set in the sixties in upstate New York, Amelia is a girl from anytime, and really, anywhere. Her private thoughts are worth reading!
April 6, 2012
A book about a dysfunctial family (with a capital "D")living in a town populated with flawed characters. Shimko is a bit heavy-handed with the issues she touches on: bullying,alcoholism, emotional and physical abuse, fractured families, infidelity, racism, hollocaust survivors, mental illness, religious hypocricy, sibling rivalry, greed...to name a few. If you want to "find yourself" in a book you shouldn't have much difficulty here. Told in the first person, Amelia draws the reader into her story with her likeable and straight-forward narration. 3+
October 16, 2010
When she was a fetus, she was resented by her mother; when she was born, she was loved only by her aged grandpa; when she grew up, she was often treated by prejudiced and cruel people around her., but ever since she made her one and only friend in the fourth grade, her life changed; at the end, Amelia realized that she was actually loved by many people.
This is a touching and well developed story.
-- Shih-Mei
This is a touching and well developed story.
-- Shih-Mei
September 13, 2011
I enjoyed reading this. I liked the friendship between Amelia and Fancy. Sweet and cute, though it was sad sometimes. Especially the way her mother interacted with her. I thought she deserved better, but I love the way she handled everything.
It's clean enough for younger tweens to read.
*Longer review to come soon* It's cheating, I know, I'm sorry! *and it likely means that I won't have a long review coming. I've been trying to think of something to say, but I just can't!”*
It's clean enough for younger tweens to read.
*Longer review to come soon* It's cheating, I know, I'm sorry! *and it likely means that I won't have a long review coming. I've been trying to think of something to say, but I just can't!”*
March 5, 2012
This was an OK title, but I didn't find it "couldn't put it down" good. I kept reading the book thinking I was going to get hooked, but that didn't happen. I enjoyed Amelia's perspectives on life and her friendship with Fancy, but I have read better historical fiction books than this one. The ending was a good one, but I can see teens giving up on this book way before making it to the closing pages.
May 27, 2024
Amelia is a girl who never seemed to be discourage although her mother didn't show her love. She found a best friend who was supportive. Her grand-pa was the one she talks to and laugh. Fortunately she realized that her mom loved her because before her mama died she signed a paper that says the house is for Amelia and her mom also saved her some money for college and she happily live with her reunited brother because he seemed to be the one who wanted a family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 16, 2016An important lesson in this story is to not judge people because of their skin color. In this book Amelia didn't have any friends before Fancy came. Nobody liked Amelia and Fancy was the only colored person so they became friends. The other kids picked on Amelia but when Fancy came she taught Amelia to defend herself. Amelia's mom is raicicst so Amelia avoided bringing Fancy to her house. In the end they became good friends. Together they helped each other through difficult times.
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September 22, 2010So says Grandpa Thomas, the only member of Amelia’s family who cares about her one bit. That true friend finally arrives when Fancy Nelson, the first Negro kid Amelia has ever seen in person, walks into her fourth grade classroom. As Fancy’s special sort of magic rubs off on Amelia, she slowly FIC Shimko 334343
October 5, 2010
This is the book that I was gifted when I won the Elementary level Literacy Teacher of the year award from the Portland Reading Council and it was truly a pleasure to read! Very full book and satisfyingly if quickly tied up at the end. Insights into difficult households and how love is still present.
December 8, 2010
Amelia, born in the 50s I presume, has a difficult relationship with her horrible mother which makes her life pretty miserable. Amelia is a bit too apt to wallow in self pity, and her complaining got on my nerves after a while. But then, this IS supposed to be a personal memoir after all. Well written otherwise, and a good story.
November 29, 2011
This was an OK title, but I didn't find it "couldn't put it down" good. The friendship between Amelia and Fancy is nicely portrayed but the whole scenario was far fetched and I don't think many teens today would have enough historical background to understand a lot of the tension, cultural references, etc.
October 7, 2015
Loved it! This was recommended to me by one of my sixth graders. Am I ever glad I read it. There are many themes such as racism, infidelity, greed, repentance, aging...so many handled beautifully in this easy to read novel. Perfect for pre-teens, teens and even aging school teachers. Highly recommend.
June 24, 2010
This is a great YA2 book. Unfortunately, the protagonist begins the book as a 4th grader. This may deter some middle schoolers. The author does move Amelia forward through grades quickly though if the reader will just hang in there a few chapters! :)
August 19, 2010
I loved this book!!!!! It's about a girl living in the 1950s. She thinks that her mother doesn't love her, but over 4 years of suffering she finally realizes some things about her daddy, mother, and siblings. I would recomend this book to girls 5th grade and up. I hope you read this book!!!!!
August 2, 2010
Remids me of Richard Peck - humor and insights Amerlia is real and so are her mom, the dad she's never met, her sisters and her brother, her grandpa and her best friend Fancy BUT none of them are who or what they really seem Well done!
October 11, 2010
Fancy Nelson jumped right off the page and immediately became one of my favorite characters in the whole world. I love you, Fancy, you sassy, beautiful girl.
PS This is totally children's fiction, not YA.
PS This is totally children's fiction, not YA.
February 20, 2017
I absolutely adored this book! The author took what could have been a sickly-sweet narrative and turned it into a sharp, fresh and thought provoking novel. It was poignant, charming, and left me thinking about it for a long time after. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone ages 10-13.
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September 20, 2010Thanks for all the kind words.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews