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Tall Tales
Meg's family has moved a lot because of her father's drinking. Meg arrives in her town longing to find a real friend, someone she can talk to and write stories with. When she and Grace join forces to write a book, she's thrilled that she has finally found someone who likes her for who she is, who trusts her and confides in her.
But she can't tell Grace about her father. Even though she hates to lie, Meg can't resist telling tall tales about her family and her life to Grace and other kids.
For Meg, friendship turns out to be the key to telling the truth, and also to a better life for her family.
But she can't tell Grace about her father. Even though she hates to lie, Meg can't resist telling tall tales about her family and her life to Grace and other kids.
For Meg, friendship turns out to be the key to telling the truth, and also to a better life for her family.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published May 8, 2007
7 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 2, 2015
"Tall Tales" is a great book for middle schoolers, especially girls in my opinion. The main character is struggling with being accepted by her peers and it is very relatable. Throughout the book the main character continues to tell lies- or tall tales- to feel accepted. This book is rich is vocabulary and imagery. This book reminds me of Gilly Hopkins in the sense that the main character is either loved or hated by the reader due to her constant lying. Also, the main character in "Tall Tales" has just moved, as did Gilly. I enjoyed Gilly Hopkins and I am enjoying "Tall Tales" which could say something about the books I enjoy. I feel sympathy for the main characters and enjoy reading about how they change for the better.
May 28, 2013
This is my very favorite book in the whole entire world. The first time i read it was in the 4th grade. Now, i am in 7th. I have read this book over 12 times, and i still love it.
I cry at the end every time. It is just so sad, but definitely RECOMMENDED.
I cry at the end every time. It is just so sad, but definitely RECOMMENDED.
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March 21, 2009my level:x
book level:y
pages:230
the book tall tales is about megan and her family who move. she tells lies/tal tales because she's scared no one will like her when she goes to school she makes lies about that she had malaria and had livedin India, Australia, and Africa.the setting takes place in indiana. the characters of the story are megan: a liar, her dad : an alcoholic abby:7 year old sister teddy: 15 year old brother. grace: megan's best friend.her dad torments her and her family because he hurts them physically and emotionally.
megan came to indiana from michigan and she was always moving becasue her dad is never happy where he works or where they live.when she got to her first day of school no one noticed her. she started talking to roxanne and ariel no one talked to them because roxanne had taken jennifer's boyfriend when she was on a vacation.she had told them that she had a grandpa that had a day named after him becasue he killed a shark. she was lieing she just wanted people to like her. her dad was a bad dad i considered . he was alwys fighting with teddy. once he broke his arm and they were going to start an investigation because he said that he had fallen down the stairs and his dada had grabbed him hard from the hand.the doctors knew that you didn't get broken blood vessels from falling down the stairs that's why grace found out that megan's dad was hurting them.before teddy broke his arm megan had become very close to grace. grace was a very nice girl that was never mean or angry at anyone. then at the end when megan told her that what she had said about her grandpa having a day named after him and other lies grace got mad at her for not trusting her and telling her lies. once Grace had told megan that she desopised lies and that's why she got mad but they became friends again and they were happy and promised their selves to trust and not lie to each other.
i liked this story even if it's long.i would give this story a 5 star because it's very good and it teahces you valueable lessons like don't lie and more
book level:y
pages:230
the book tall tales is about megan and her family who move. she tells lies/tal tales because she's scared no one will like her when she goes to school she makes lies about that she had malaria and had livedin India, Australia, and Africa.the setting takes place in indiana. the characters of the story are megan: a liar, her dad : an alcoholic abby:7 year old sister teddy: 15 year old brother. grace: megan's best friend.her dad torments her and her family because he hurts them physically and emotionally.
megan came to indiana from michigan and she was always moving becasue her dad is never happy where he works or where they live.when she got to her first day of school no one noticed her. she started talking to roxanne and ariel no one talked to them because roxanne had taken jennifer's boyfriend when she was on a vacation.she had told them that she had a grandpa that had a day named after him becasue he killed a shark. she was lieing she just wanted people to like her. her dad was a bad dad i considered . he was alwys fighting with teddy. once he broke his arm and they were going to start an investigation because he said that he had fallen down the stairs and his dada had grabbed him hard from the hand.the doctors knew that you didn't get broken blood vessels from falling down the stairs that's why grace found out that megan's dad was hurting them.before teddy broke his arm megan had become very close to grace. grace was a very nice girl that was never mean or angry at anyone. then at the end when megan told her that what she had said about her grandpa having a day named after him and other lies grace got mad at her for not trusting her and telling her lies. once Grace had told megan that she desopised lies and that's why she got mad but they became friends again and they were happy and promised their selves to trust and not lie to each other.
i liked this story even if it's long.i would give this story a 5 star because it's very good and it teahces you valueable lessons like don't lie and more
June 15, 2016
The tension in Meg's home is palpable.
The sadness of her brother and sister makes me want to give them a "mom" hug.
Meg's hopefulness, her quest for friends and a better life for her family are inspiring and help to overcome the despair in her home and her story.
Meg's friendship with Grace makes her realize it was wrong to start her "tall tales" and they become harder and harder to explain. She longs for an honest relationship with Grace - but can she take that chance?
The most encouraging part of the book is that the family (everyone without the dad) works together, especially near the end, toward a positive future.
The sadness of her brother and sister makes me want to give them a "mom" hug.
Meg's hopefulness, her quest for friends and a better life for her family are inspiring and help to overcome the despair in her home and her story.
Meg's friendship with Grace makes her realize it was wrong to start her "tall tales" and they become harder and harder to explain. She longs for an honest relationship with Grace - but can she take that chance?
The most encouraging part of the book is that the family (everyone without the dad) works together, especially near the end, toward a positive future.
January 22, 2012
This book taught a lesson to not lie to try to impress your friends. A.T.
May 1, 2012
i love this book very much all though some of it was sad i enjoyed it very much.
August 29, 2015
WORST. 2. HOURS. SPENT. EVER.
Or at least one of the worst 2 hours I've spent ever.
The only reason why I started reading this was because I wanted to immediately get out of mourning. One of the worst things I've done in my life.
Meg was such a baby.
An excuse for a twelve-year-old, eccentric, full-of-herself, dumb baby.
All people could say was "Omigod, MEG IS SUCH A GOOD WRITER AND her imagination is SO VIVID."
The "good" writing could easily be accomplished by a seven-year-old in my school and she has the imagination of a preschooler and she has the brains of a flea and the audacity to lie of a kid who hasn't learnt any values.
She keeps on saying that's she's been moving to many places... BLAH BLAH BLAH... and she's made many friends from different places. While when she moves to Lake Haven, she can't make a friend. She doesn't understand the value of friendship. She basically doesn't know what a friend is.
Whattttttt??
I wanted to hurl a flame at everything in this book. I wanted to reduce each letter, each word, each paragraph, each page, each chapter into ashes. Everything.
The drama was so cliche, I knew the ending wayyyyyy before the thing ended.
The writing is so bland. I had to read multiple times just for it to settle in (in a bad way).
THAT's IT??
Uuuuuuuughhhhhhhh.
One thing Karen Day could've done was change Meg.
This story is about telling lies, making friends, loving family.
I'm questioning how Meg's mom raised Meg so much. Abby & Teddy grew up cleanly. MEG?!??
Meg has her repertoire of friends from many schools, she should know how to make friends. How to treat them. What it is to be a friend and the commitment. MEG?!??
Suddenly I forget how to write like a civilised person doing a review. BECAUSE OF THIS WICKED BOOK.
In a nutshell, I don't even think 7-year-old me would enjoy this book, given the attitude Meg displays, acting like a total baby in comparison with her two, more mature siblings, one of which is younger than her.
It will be all appropriate to end off like this:
*FACEPALM*
Or at least one of the worst 2 hours I've spent ever.
The only reason why I started reading this was because I wanted to immediately get out of mourning. One of the worst things I've done in my life.
Meg was such a baby.
An excuse for a twelve-year-old, eccentric, full-of-herself, dumb baby.
All people could say was "Omigod, MEG IS SUCH A GOOD WRITER AND her imagination is SO VIVID."
The "good" writing could easily be accomplished by a seven-year-old in my school and she has the imagination of a preschooler and she has the brains of a flea and the audacity to lie of a kid who hasn't learnt any values.
She keeps on saying that's she's been moving to many places... BLAH BLAH BLAH... and she's made many friends from different places. While when she moves to Lake Haven, she can't make a friend. She doesn't understand the value of friendship. She basically doesn't know what a friend is.
Whattttttt??
I wanted to hurl a flame at everything in this book. I wanted to reduce each letter, each word, each paragraph, each page, each chapter into ashes. Everything.
The drama was so cliche, I knew the ending wayyyyyy before the thing ended.
The writing is so bland. I had to read multiple times just for it to settle in (in a bad way).
THAT's IT??
Uuuuuuuughhhhhhhh.
One thing Karen Day could've done was change Meg.
This story is about telling lies, making friends, loving family.
I'm questioning how Meg's mom raised Meg so much. Abby & Teddy grew up cleanly. MEG?!??
Meg has her repertoire of friends from many schools, she should know how to make friends. How to treat them. What it is to be a friend and the commitment. MEG?!??
Suddenly I forget how to write like a civilised person doing a review. BECAUSE OF THIS WICKED BOOK.
In a nutshell, I don't even think 7-year-old me would enjoy this book, given the attitude Meg displays, acting like a total baby in comparison with her two, more mature siblings, one of which is younger than her.
It will be all appropriate to end off like this:
*FACEPALM*
May 13, 2011
I loved it! THeir dad went crazy and he asked them to move again for a new job. They were going to, but after he took Meg's sister by her shoulders and shook her until it hurt and she cried they let him go without the. Good for them. He scares me! This great realistic-fiction book about a girl trying to make a new life again is a great story that will be a family favorite forever. In Lake Heavens, Michigan nothing seems happy or fun, but if you have a good friend to get you through tough times then everything can turn out just fine. Luckily Meg has one named Grace. They're writing and illistrating a book together, but their favorite things to do is talk about their feelings and family. Meg has a little problem though. To protect that her dad drinks she must lie to Grace. Will this friendship survive? It's beautiful to feel for someone.
May 2, 2010
Difficult story to read and I would recommend this book to more mature classes/students. Meg Summers and her family are constantly on the move. Every few years she must learn to make new friends but can't seem to make any real friends. In trying to hide her family's secret she finds it easier to make up stories that to tell the truth. When they land in Indiana, Meg finally makes a real friend and begins to talk about her family's problems. When her alcoholic and verbally abusive father tries to move them again to get a fresh start, the family finds the strength to stay put and change their destiny.
May 1, 2008
Jill Makechnie loaned this book to me following our book club in March where we read and discussed another Young Adult book. Jill knows the author, a Newton resident personally. I thought it was a great book for teens. The main character is fun and likeable, the story is compelling. It did drag a bit for me at the end, as I just became annoyed that the mother and the daughter in the story were too scared to remove themselves from the abusive relationship of the dad. I get annoyed with characters who whine and won't take any action. It seemed like it was too long before we hit the resolution. But otherwise, GREAT job!
January 28, 2011
I've been reading this book for the past week while I've had a minute or so here and there. This is a great book for middle school kids. The main character is Meg, a 7th grader, and her family: dad, whose an alcoholic,her mom, older brother Teddy and younger sister Abby. They move around a lot because her dad wants to "start over" so Meg has a hard time making friends. In the beginning Meg seems to embellish a lot of her stories and she has hard time keeping track of what she tells to whom. Then Meg makes a true friend Grace, but will she be able to keep her friend after all the lies she has told?
June 27, 2011
Tall Tales is a gripping book. As a reader, you become so attached to the main character, Meg. I found myself disappointed in her when she told her tall tales to peers and proud of her as she helped her mom stand up to her alcoholic father. Her relationship with her best friend Grace opened her mind and heart which challenged Meg to become a stronger person. This book tugs on your heart strings continually as the story develops. The writing artfully weaves character trait descriptions and short interchanges, subtle actions/thoughts as well as mannerisms. I am excited to introduce this story to my 4th and 5th grade students!
October 15, 2007
Summary:
Meg and her family move to Indiana and for the first time she makes a real friend. After her father breaks her brothers arm, the truth begins to come out. Meg finds comfort from Grace, and encourages her Mom not to move the family with her Dad again.
Reflection:
This is a great book that covers alcoholism and lying to a great extent. This will appeal to many children, and not just those in that kind of family situation.
Themes:
Alcoholism, friendship, family problems, family life
Meg and her family move to Indiana and for the first time she makes a real friend. After her father breaks her brothers arm, the truth begins to come out. Meg finds comfort from Grace, and encourages her Mom not to move the family with her Dad again.
Reflection:
This is a great book that covers alcoholism and lying to a great extent. This will appeal to many children, and not just those in that kind of family situation.
Themes:
Alcoholism, friendship, family problems, family life
April 9, 2008
Texas Bluebonnet for next year. In order to hide the fact that Meg's home life is not the best, she tells "tall tales" in order to make her family seem more interesting. Her father is an alcoholic and can be abusive at times. Meg just wants a normal life, but her family picks up and moves whenever her dad gets upset at his boss or coworkers. Meg finally feels like she might be able to settle in at her new school when she finds the friend she's always wanted, Grace, but she has such a difficult time keeping all her tales straight.
October 23, 2007
This is a tender and innocent look at the dysfunction of a family coming to grips with the father's alcoholism. It is told from the teen girl's POV. The family members keep secrets and think that is what is holding them together but it prevents them making friends. When the narrator makes a friend in the new town, she risks the family secret by no longer telling tall tales. This will be an important book for young people , especially those with similar family issues.
January 13, 2008
Although the main characters are in 6th grade, I feel this book would be more appropriate for a slightly older audience. It deals bluntly but accurately with domestic violence as it affects an entire family, both through emotional and physical abuse. It also tackles how alcoholism can become entwined with this issue. The writing is smooth and the story believable, but it might be too much for an 11 or 12 year old to handle.
April 28, 2008
If you or someone you know has had to deal with an abusive parent, this is a great book that focuses on the emotionally driven choices of the main character without going into graphic detail of the abuse. Kids who have been subjected to various types of abuse (physical or verbal) or a parent with a substance abuse problem will really be able to sympathize with and learn from the characters in this story.
July 24, 2009
Meg’s family moves constantly, trying to accommodate Meg’s alcoholic father’s desire for a fresh start. Meg is tired of moving and is embarrassed about her family. To compensate, Meg tells outrageous stories about her family. For the first time, Meg makes a friend, a very tolerant girl named Grace. Gradually, Grace and others learn the truth about Meg and her family, but Grace turns out to be more than a fair weather friend.
April 12, 2009
This is a wonderful, adventurous book about a girl who just moved, has no friends, tells lies, and has a drunk dad. What will happen when she gets a friend? Will her friend be mad because she has lied so much? Will her friend find out that her dad is drunk? Read this wonderful book and find out!!! :)
August 6, 2013
A story of a young girl looking to fit in and make friends with a messed up dad and a family that she knows is falling apart she hopes to find friendship but in the process she ends up lying to her best friend as well as other people so that they wont know about her father drinking problem and in hope that they will all like her better.
August 4, 2008
Another Bluebonnet about a kid with a sad home life. No worries ... still totally appropriate for kids. A way for kids in similar situations to relate and kids who are lucky enough to be in stable homes to experience empathy.
September 16, 2008
Wonderful book and it presents sensitive content in a palatable way. However, no matter how strong a reader a kids is, I would not give it to anyone below 6th grade. I think it was a poor choice for the Bluebonnet list - way too mature.
November 13, 2010
When you move around a lot and your Dad is an alcoholic it can be hard making friends. And when people want to come to your house it can get even more complicated. Maybe it is easier to make up stories and say everyone in your family is sick...
April 26, 2008
a book to give hope to children of alcoholic parents.
Texas Bluebonnet nominee
Texas Bluebonnet nominee
July 9, 2008
This is probably my favorite bluebonnet book so far! Two friends who both have had struggles in their life become friends, and one has to learn to be honest in that friendship. excellent!
October 2, 2008
this was a bluebonnet book that my third graders were required to read. it was REALLY GOOD!!
not a kid's story at all
not a kid's story at all
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December 11, 2008JF Day
December 13, 2008
Tall Tales is a really unusual story about a girl who spins tales, trying to make friends. Good story about friendship!!!
December 13, 2008
ANOTHER ah-mazing book!
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April 14, 2009This Book Is So Great Now I Really Understand Never Judge A Book By Its Cover Because The Cover Of This Book May Look Boring But I Couldn't Have Been More Wrong
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews