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Main Street #9
Coming Apart
When Nikki's father left her family, she thought all the trouble would be over. No more screaming. No more fighting. No more rages. But now he's coming back one last time, and Nikki isn't sure what's going to happen. Luckily, she has good friends like Flora, Ruby, and Olivia to stand behind her -- and a mom who cares about her kids enough to pull them through a hard time.
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2010
9 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Ann M. Martin
1,113 books3,057 followersAnn Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer.
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 29, 2020
A lot of people would be wondering why I read a middle grade/children's book and still enjoyed it so much.
I used to love the main street series soooo much, as a kid from when I was 8 years old to 12 years old I used to reread this entire series over and over again.
and it's such a good series! I mean honestly, it's better than most middle grade series out there right now!!
This is the ninth book in the series but in the start of the book, we are introduced to Flora and Ruby (age 8 and 10) whose parents have just both died in a car accident and hence the sisters are forced to live with their grandmother in her house, who lives in a very suburban "middle of nowhere" kind of town.
Throughout these 10 books, we follow them as both of them find different ways to heal, how they make friends in this town called Camden Falls. We follow a huge cast of characters of all the people living in Camden Falls and their lives. It's just sooo simple yet sooo beautiful.
This book is also great to introduce kids to topics like death, racism, poverty, child abuse, divorce, having diseases like Down Syndrome or Alzheimers, and so so much more.
So please, if any parent out here is reading this review, give your child this series to read!! And even if your kid doesn't like it, he/she will definitely have learnt something from it.
I used to love the main street series soooo much, as a kid from when I was 8 years old to 12 years old I used to reread this entire series over and over again.
and it's such a good series! I mean honestly, it's better than most middle grade series out there right now!!
This is the ninth book in the series but in the start of the book, we are introduced to Flora and Ruby (age 8 and 10) whose parents have just both died in a car accident and hence the sisters are forced to live with their grandmother in her house, who lives in a very suburban "middle of nowhere" kind of town.
Throughout these 10 books, we follow them as both of them find different ways to heal, how they make friends in this town called Camden Falls. We follow a huge cast of characters of all the people living in Camden Falls and their lives. It's just sooo simple yet sooo beautiful.
This book is also great to introduce kids to topics like death, racism, poverty, child abuse, divorce, having diseases like Down Syndrome or Alzheimers, and so so much more.
So please, if any parent out here is reading this review, give your child this series to read!! And even if your kid doesn't like it, he/she will definitely have learnt something from it.
March 12, 2021
3.5
idk maybe i just got too old but the fight being teased was very anticlimactic hshahdb
idk maybe i just got too old but the fight being teased was very anticlimactic hshahdb
November 7, 2018
“Coming Apart” is a wonderful read. Martin did a great job of making the characters react and grow naturally. What I love about this book is that the protagonists have to maneuver difficult, real life situations. The situation that most stuck out to me was Olivia’s having to decide if she was ready to have a boyfriend, and if not, if she could set limits on the relationship without losing the friendship. I think this is an excellent book, and especially recommend it for 4th-6th grade girls.
June 28, 2020
One of the more intense books in the Main Street series, definitely. I enjoyed it so much I read it in one day. Loss of special characters is sad but I believe it adds to the development of the story as a whole. Can’t wait to read book #10!
December 18, 2020
This book was pretty good.
April 21, 2022
flora being annoying was like second hand embrassment ugh she's always my fav too
November 16, 2012
Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com
The ninth installment of Ann M. Martin's MAIN STREET series, this is Nikki's story.
Her father comes back to finalize the divorce between himself and her mother. She is very anxious about his return, and the chapters dealing with her and her family were very compelling.
To go along with Nikki's problems, Olivia is feeling peer pressure to have a boyfriend, Flora wants to help everyone, and Ruby is trying to decide who is lying and who is not. This all makes for a very interesting story.
I love this series. These are such sweet stories that would appeal to contemporary girls in a very innocent way. They deal with problems that all girls tend to have, such as boys, divorce of parents, mental illness, and people dying. I would hope that all girls would read these wonderful books.
The ninth installment of Ann M. Martin's MAIN STREET series, this is Nikki's story.
Her father comes back to finalize the divorce between himself and her mother. She is very anxious about his return, and the chapters dealing with her and her family were very compelling.
To go along with Nikki's problems, Olivia is feeling peer pressure to have a boyfriend, Flora wants to help everyone, and Ruby is trying to decide who is lying and who is not. This all makes for a very interesting story.
I love this series. These are such sweet stories that would appeal to contemporary girls in a very innocent way. They deal with problems that all girls tend to have, such as boys, divorce of parents, mental illness, and people dying. I would hope that all girls would read these wonderful books.
Read
March 28, 2014When Nikki's father, Mr.Sherman left the family Nikki thought everything will be fine. No more fighting. No more screaming. No more rages. But the things were not the way she expected it to be. Mr.Sherman is returning home one last time to take his things and to sign the divorce papers. Luckily she has friends like, Ruby, Flora and Olivia who care about friendship. And, a mother who has the courage to pull her kids through a hard time. Will Mr.Sherman's return change things from bad to worse?
Read Main Street #9: Coming Apart, to find out.
Read Main Street #9: Coming Apart, to find out.
September 23, 2010
Although this is probably my least-favorite in the Main Street series, I still enjoyed reading it. I think I liked it less because several characters spend a majority of the book upset or worried or sad. Also, I think this is the first time Martin has closed a Main Street book with an unresolved issue, which is kind of a pet peeve of mine. I'm sure she'll pick the story up in book 10 right where she left off here, but I like a neatly-wrapped ending. Still, a solid read.
October 23, 2010
Martin continues to follow the lives of people living in Camden Falls in a gentle & cozy way. This book includes the tying up of Nikki's family situation when her Dad comes to town to complete divorce proceedings, Olivia's struggle with whether or not she's ready to have a real boyfriend & an introduction to the the moodiness that comes with teenage years, & Ruby's becoming more responsible because of a bad choice. A great escape book.
February 17, 2011
This was not my favorite of the Main Street series, I love Ann M Martin but this book was kind of dull. Too sad and a little depressing for a kids book but it was still interesting, definitely a quick read!
August 25, 2013
I liked this one, and it was interesting to read about Nikki's dad and how horrible he was, even at the end...what a mess. Perfect Flora is about to set me over the edge, though, even though I see so much of myself in her!
October 3, 2010
Another book in a series (Main Street) for girls who have graduated from Judy Moody and Junie B. Jones. All the characters are realistic and these books warm the heart.
Read
November 25, 2010Read almost all the Main Street books. Good for ages 8-11 girls
February 16, 2011
I love this series!! <3
March 23, 2011
This is the latest book in this series I read recently. It was really good. I liked how it focused on one of the characters that they usually dont in this series.
Currently reading
March 30, 2011Great - I am currently reading it. I have read the whole series and they all have been spectacular! Thanks... :) I guess.
July 12, 2015
love how she added the twist of the dad come back in the picture
January 23, 2014
My favorite book of Ann m Martin!
June 3, 2015
AMAZING book, but.......
This book truly is great but there are some issues in the book that some kids should not be exposed to. Boyfriends. Custody battles.
This book truly is great but there are some issues in the book that some kids should not be exposed to. Boyfriends. Custody battles.
September 18, 2019
Great book and series. Definitely worth a read.
January 5, 2017
Ninth book in the Main Street series. Nikki's abusive dad returns to town as the divorce is finalized, and Nikki, Tobias, and Mae are shaken by his angry and unpredictable behavior.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews