After All, You're Callie Boone

by Winnie Mack

"Oh, fishsticks, tartar, and a side of fries!" Runaway ferrets, former BFF drama-trauma, and one GIGANTIC (and very, very public) belly flop. No doubt about it, Callie Boone's summer is CRUMMY. The only things keeping her afloat are dive practice with her dad and a top-secret Olympic dream. Then a boy named Hoot--who is NOT her boyfriend!--moves in next door and turns her world upside down and right-side up. Just when things start looking up, real disaster strikes and Callie feels like she's stuck at the top of the high diving board with no way down. What if she can't fix all the things that need fixing? She'll just have to try! With a little luck, a solid plan, and a whole lot of teamwork, she just might make it through. After all, she's Callie Boone! After All, You're Callie Boone is a 2011 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile, Chapter Books

176 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2010

About the author

Winnie Mack was raised in Vancouver, B.C. but now lives in Portland, Oregon. She also writes as W.C. Mack.

Reviews

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books ever. It is so motivational, and I always use Callie's sayings to myself. Through the whole trauma and hectic book, it prevails a great message and tells the best story.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book I truly loved reading to my 9 year-old daughter. What makes this book so appealing is that its themes are just as valuable to a parent as to a child—friendship, family values, doing your best is just as good as winning. What a bonus! Written with insight, humour, and lots of family interaction, author Winnie Mack—a writer of many adult novels under another pseudonym— has given us a great debut novel for young readers.

Callie Boone is a likable kid, almost twelve, and experiencing the worst summer of her life. Her best friend ditches her for someone more “awesome”, her family is the weirdest on the block and she may never live down her recent humiliation at the community pool. But then a boy named Hoot moves next door and teaches her the true meaning of friendship and family appreciation.

Callie has a great relationship with her Dad who takes her regularly to diving practice and nurtures her dream to one day perform at the Olympics. But her Mom is an ex-drill-sergeant and always seems to be on her case. As the summer comes to an end, Callie will learn that relationships are two-way and require time and effort. Unlike some middle grade books that introduce boys and dating, in this story meeting Hoot is not about discovering the opposite sex but rather discovering a true friend. His friendship becomes important to Callie, especially when she has a hard time dealing with some family issues. For me, as a parent, this was a great message to a generation that begins to discover their sexuality too early.

My daughter told me she also liked this book because it was about her favorite topics: friends, swimming and family. We really liked Callie’s family. Through them we were able to see that all families have some dysfunctional aspects, but loving and respecting one another is paramount. The book comes to a satisfying conclusion, and Callie learns to be proactive in dealing with the things she struggles with. This book is perfect for mother and daughter book clubs or as a gift for that growing girl in your family.

[A. Mickey Perkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book frustrated me. I'm conflicted. I enjoyed it but i didn't. I would read some, and enjoy it, but then something would happen that would make me angry at the book. This is a children s book, and i don't like that if a child were to read it, the cliche "you're not like other girls" trope. I don't know. This is an awful review, sorry. I'm just not sure how to organize my thoughts. Would not recommend.

[Penny Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS. BOOK. Y'ALL. This book is absolutely incredible!!! The plot, the characters, the POV, it was all amazing, touching without being sticky sweet, and completely perfect. This is the kind of book you want to read over and over again. I love you, Callie Boone.
(P.S. Hoot is the most incredible friend ever. I love him so much.)

[Taija Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was awesome! Some parts were boring but it showed love and Friend loss

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

After All, You're Callie Boone is a fairly typical book for the younger end of the MG range. Nothing particularly extraordinary, though the ferrets are funny.

[Liora Malla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really good because, it taught me that whenever someone makes you feel bad, find a way to make yourself happy again .

[Gamze Golden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely written tween book. Very easy to read. Humorous.

[Paradigm Shift · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I really loved it. It's a little shorter than the books I usually read but it kept me interested the whole time. Definitely five stars.

[Melissa Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Rating

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved it thank you so much i was going to get it but in was to much money i loved reading it though so thank you so much again

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Callie Boone is devastated when her best friend, Amy, drops her for another girl – without any kind of sign or warning leading up to it. It’s even worse that she overhears them talking about her (and you can bet they don’t have anything good to say). She’s just had one of the worst days of her life (banned for the summer from the pool for going off the high dive when the lifeguard told her not to) when Hoot (her new next door neighbor) introduces himself and talks her into showing him around town. Even though she’s initially embarrassed – now what are people going to say? – she ends up liking Hoot so much (as a friend!) that they spend the whole summer together. They have a lemonade fundraiser to try to save her uncle’s illegal ferret operation (they’ve been impounded by Animal Control), and they support one another through some difficult things (Hoot’s parents are getting divorced and Callie’s very much beloved father has a heart attack). Hoot also encourages Callie to try out for the diving team (even though she’s younger than most of the kids/teens on it) and to be her own person. It’s a much better friendship than the one she had with Amy.

Filled with funny, interesting characters (full of their own quirks), this story will have you laughing and cringing and crying along with Callie Boone, who is quickly learning what real friends are made of. Great for the tween set who are going through lots of changes themselves – in friendships and interests as well as hormones. They’ll relate to Callie’s fears and woes. Short and entertaining.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Callie Boone is having a tough time transitioning from 5th grade to middle school. Abandoned by her best friend and banned from the community pool, Callie isn't sure what a best friend is or how she fits in with her slightly crazy family.

While this book features a strong girl, I think that boys will enjoy this novel as well. Callie enjoys swimming, forms a strong friendship with Hoot, and tackles her problems in a gender-neutral way. She's definitely not a girly-girl and many of her problems are shared by both girls and boys.

*Spoiler* Throughout the book, Callie makes references to her father's weight problem and inability to stick to his diet. He ends up surviving a serious heart attack at the end of the story, which surprised me a little bit since this is an almost-but-not-quite YA novel. It's handled in a way that's appropriate for 5th/6th graders but may be upsetting for kids worrying about their parents' health.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Book Summary
She loses her best friend. She makes a new best friend called Hoot. She tries out for the diving team SEAL, but doesn't make it. Later, her dad gets a heart attack. He survives, and afterwards she makes goals to change her life.

Justify Your Rating
I loved the book because of how it was so realistic. I could really put myself in Callie's shoes. Everything was so real and could easily happen in my life. I loved the author's style as well. She made evrything so realistic and believable, but it wasn't boring! It was just as intense and exciting as any other action-packed book. I enjoyed how I could easily make connections with the book. Whether it was a connection with my life, my friends, or just an everyday person. I would recommend this book to my classmates because it is a very interesting book. It's great because then they could put theirselves in Callie's shoes as well.

[Matraysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is called after all you're callie boone, written by winnie mack.

the book is about a girl named callie boone who lives with her parents uncle grandmother her brother and along with 12 ferrets who is finishing her last year in elementary school. her summer has just begun after her best friend amy has dumped her for someone way more cool than callie. callie is someone who loves to swim and after being banned from the swimming pool she forms a strong friendship with a boy named hoot. later on in the book her father survives a heart attack .)

i would for sure reccomend this book to anyone who loves books about adventure and drama. to be honest this is my favorite book i have ever read. i absouloutly loved this book. the reason why i loved this book so much was because of how it was written. i love any young adult books especially this one. i loved how it was about a young girls life and how it turned out.

you should read it ms. bees!!

matraysa

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific book for middle-level readers. Callie Boone is having a terrible summer following fifth grade. Her best friend Amy has suddenly decided not to talk to her any more. Then she is banned from the public pool for diving off the high board. Her uncle Danny moves in with them bringing twelve cages of ferrets! Her grandma watches soap operas or Oprah, when she isn't walking around outside in her nightgown. And to top it off, a skater named Hoot moves in next door, and people think he is her boyfriend! Callie's dad coaches her in diving, and Hoot becomes an unexpected ally. Mr. Boone's mantra as he encourages her is, "After all, you're Callie Boone." The book is extremely real, crazily eccentric, and a bit painful, but it is also heartwarming and uplifting. Great read for kids!

[Girl Named · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean it was okay. yes it was very interesting, I'll admit that. but I would have liked to see more of the friend drama more than the diving. the ending eh.. wasn't that great I really would have liked to see what happens with Callie at school with her ex BFF and her new BFF. but you never know maybe there will be another book coming out. when I finished the book I was so angry because there was no "omg" type ending or shocking ending. I would give this a 3.5 rating if goodreads had half stars

[Addison Children's Services · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice coming of age story, I thought the ending was a little abrupt. Callie is eleven and has been dumped by her lifelong BFF for no reason at all. Things pick up when she meets the new boy next door who is way more put together emotionally than any real twelve-year-old boy and most forty-year-old boys. He helps Callie beocme a better person and she shares her sometimes crazy family with him. Check it out.

[Susan Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a great message without being preachy--if there is something in your life that could be better, it's up to you to change it. Though the main character is Callie, boys as well as girls will enjoy this book. A great read aloud for teachers in grades 3-5. This book is a 2011-12 Mark Twain Award nominee in Missouri.

[StorySnoops · Rating 3 out of 5]

This great story for tween girls has a positive message about perseverance, and the importance of friendship and family. After All, You're Callie Boone is a wholesome, quick read which covers friendship troubles, making new friends, managing a platonic boy/girl relationship, and family drama. Callie dreams of... (click for full review http://www.storysnoops.com/detail.php...)

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic fiction novel about Callie who wants to make the swim team, understand why her best friend has dumped her, and improve her relationship with her mother. She's closest to her father and a new boy in her neighborhood, both of whom support her in everything. Is it possible she's been taking them for granted?

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised. A feel good book for 3-6 grade. Has some slightly heavy issues with her fathers health but does a good job of honestly expressing the feelings of a preteen girl(At least as far as I can remember, after all its been awhile!)

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for girls, especially those dealing with the stresses of entering middle school, losing old friends, and making new ones. Good story about growing up - even when you don't want to.

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I think the main character is very relatable. She goes through experiences that I think a lot of kids go through, especially regarding friendship and family. I would recommend it to preteen readers.

[Dolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, but enjoyable middle grade novel. I think kids will find a lot to identify with in this book. Callie's crazy family will probably strike a chord with plenty of other kids who cringe over the behavior of their own families.

[Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter told me this was a great book, so I decided to read it off her kindle. It was a cute story with a lot to do with growing up and becoming responsible. I highly recommend to all young kids and parents too!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this a year ago, and it was my #1 pick of the Black-Eyed Susans. It was great to rediscover why I loved this book. Great characters, realistic plot, no predictable fairy tale ending, and a great sense of humor.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm trying to be more generous in my reviews, thus the 4 stars. Great book for girls 10+. Kind of a coming of age book (although the main character is only 11) with likable, if a bit crazy, characters.

[Ecila · Rating 3 out of 5]

IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE FREINDSHIP WAS ROMANCE

[Kathy]

ARC