Drawing Lessons

by Tracy Mack

Rory is an artist, like her father. Through years of drawing lessons, he has taught her about light and color, perspective and form. The great thing about art, Rory thinks, is you can bring back something you've lost and keep it forever. But when her father leaves the family, it's Rory who is lost.

With the color and light gone from her art--and her life--Rory must find her own way of creating, her own way of being.

Genres: Young Adult, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Tracy Mack is an award-winning and bestselling children’s author. She has written dozens of books, most notably the World Fantasy Award-nominated Shadow Magic series, the Kate McGrath Adventures, and the illustrated Ripple and Flow series. She has degrees in both writing and children’s literature, and when she isn’t writing, she is usually out exploring the world. A traveler at heart, she’s been all across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. She loves camping, rock-climbing, and anything with animals.

Reviews

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tracy Mack's debut novel is about Rory, a young girl whose world is turned upside down when her father leaves her and her mother. Rory shares her father's love of painting, but after he leaves she is unable to draw or paint. Blaming herself, she retreats into a world of anger, hurt, and frustration, not talking to her mother or her friends. The emotions in this book fairly oozed out of the pages. I felt sorry for Rory and wanted to reach into the book and tell her that her parents splitting up really had nothing to do with her. I think this book was ultimately about a young girl discovering that her parents are people and not just mom and dad. I couldn't put the book down and read it in one sitting. Highly recommended for middle schoolers and up.

[soccersupperstar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I personally thought this book was amazing. I ended up reading it for a class project and i was glad i did pick it. It is about this girl named Rory and she is an excellent artist. Her father has taught her many stuff about art but one day he leaves her and her mother. She is devistated and she stops talking to her best friend and her mother. She gets letters from him every once in a while but that's not good enough. When her mother goes on a trip, she stays with her grandmother. She ends up leaving the house without anyone knowing and visits her father. Her father makes her even more sad and mad.

[Colleen Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adolescent book very appropriate for young people facing the split of their parents. It explored the various stages that, in this case, a young girl goes through in dealing with her internal feelings toward both parents, how she attempts to hide what is happening from her best friend, caring art teacher and her own love of art until she finally confronts her father who left the family for reasons that were not divulged to her or to the reader. She accepts the new relationship with her father, an artist who nurtured the love and talent for art in her and released her to share her emotions with those dear to her and permitted her to freely express herself in her art again.

[Scott · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not sure how Drawing Lessons, by Tracy Mack ended up on our bookshelf, but there it was. I wanted to check it out to see if it might be a good book for our grandchildren. It is not! Young adults deserve better. I did not find the characters believable or likable. They were not even interesting enough to hate or fear. They were just boring people living a rather boring life. Young adults deserve better. The only mystery of the entire book, is how did it get on my bookshelf in the first place.

[Anna Shiverdecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoyed it but I'm not sure who the right audience is. The main character is 12-13 but some material seems like it is for a bit older/mature teen. I suppose it would be good for those tweens in a similar situation, but even then, it still seems too mature for a 12 year old. Then again, I don't know any kids that age and it's been more than two decades since I was that age. That being said, I did enjoy watching Rory come to terms with her world being turned upside down. I liked the characters and while we weren't given all the answers, it gave enough.

[Juliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I thought this was about actual drawing lessons, with fundamentals and tips, but it was about a young kid trying to face the reality of her parents' separation. I think it shows the anguish feeling of a child, who (at a young age) starts to absorb reality. It is hard to face a passion that reminds you of a great betrayal.

[Dena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this character but this was a difficult topic. Well handled but difficult. I loved how the Rory worked through her anger and found her space. I also love how the author wrote about her artistic brain processing the world in colors.

[Mary L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when everything that you know dissolves! A wonderful little book that shows what happens when life really gets hard emotionally--and how sometimes we humans manage to blunder through and find a way out of the mess we are in.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book I listened to. I was drawn to the title. It was a sweet story with some good thoughts.

[Danni Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

(my book club might read this, so I'm holding off on reviewing it for now, this is a placeholder for myself)

[Kata · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it, tugs at the heart and really made me feel the emotions the MC was dealing with during those hard times.

[Margaritalafortune · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be a grate book for people that's going through family split ups , this story is about a girl named Rory she got abandoned by her father she felt that if her father abandoned her because he didn't call her. Her mom and dad split up because he cheated on her mom so Rory didn't talk to her dad ever since that day her and her dad was so close they used to always draw , so Rory gave up on drawing cause her dad wasn't going to be there to help her. her family , bestfriend , and teachers are trying to get her back into drawing but she doesn't do it she tried but failed .

[Tawny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author: Tracy Mack
Title: Drawing Lessons
Genre:
Publication Info: Scholastic. New York. 2000.
Recommended Age: 10 and up

Plot Summary: Rory Forrester is an artist. She is just beginning the 8th grade, and is considering entering a painting or drawing into a local art contest. Her father, also an artist, has taught her everything she knows about colors and shapes. They are planning on painting a large mural together inside their barn for Rory’s mother’s birthday. Rory came home from school one day to find her father kissing his live female model. He tries to talk to Rory about it and explain himself, but she will not let him. A few days later, he had moved out of the house. Rory felt guilty and wished that she had let him talk to her. Rory stops painting and even destroyed one of her sketchbooks. She was distant to her friends at school and gave up on trying to create a painting for the art contest. Rory and her mother struggle through things for a few weeks, and finally are able to start talking about what happened. Rory’s mom decides to take a vacation to Puerto Rico to clear her head. Rory stays with her grandmother during this time, but when she is left alone, she decides to catch a taxi to go see her father a few towns away. The visit goes badly and Rory runs away, catching a train back to her own house. Hours later her father shows up and lectures her for not telling anyone where she went. Rory tells him that he did the same thing. An understanding grows between them and they promise to begin painting together again on a regular basis.

Personal Notes: I am torn as to whether or not this book would be a good one to share with the class. My parents were divorced when I was 12, so it was definitely a tear-jerker for me. I didn’t realize my feelings were still sensitive to this issue. I would imagine that this book could help a lot of kids want to cope with their parents’ breakup and get their lives back to normal.

Evaluation: I have never really read a book quite like this one. It was a very easy, clean read and I enjoyed the colorful, artistic imagery. It was the emotions it brought that really spoke to me. I wish more books would deal with the initial shock of a parents’ breakup and how one can go about dealing with it.

Other comments: This is the author’s first novel. She studied art history and literature, so I assume she knows what she’s talking about when she writes about paintings and such. This novel is one of Booklist’s Top Ten First Novels of 2000. It is also a Teen People Book Club NEXT Award Finalist.

[Dreamergirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book today and I couldn't believe how much the author-Tracy Mack is talented!

Characters:
I could never before relate so much to the main character as I did in Drawing Lessons. She is like,... a replica of what I think is important and everything I believe in... Also if that isn't enough, the author shows her awesomely good! The father was also a good character and this is the first time that I could imagine every person so clearly in my head in apparance and in personality and everything else that I felt I had known them my whole life... What painting is to her... is what music is to me. She is such an inspiring character, I can't help it but put Tracy Mack as my all time favorite author!!

Writing:
I don't know what to say... the writing was so splendid and there was so much description but this time it wasn't just coming out of a big thasaurus book but actually made me see everything through the main character's eyes and truly understand what the author wanted to say. It was one of the best written books I've ever read, because the author's goel wasn't to use as many adjectives as possible but to make me see the world the way she does.

Plot:
Of course the plot kept me at the edge of my seat. Every sentence was written with such care and dignity it made me really keep on reading... Even though there wasn't much drama in this book it was still one of the most exciting books I've ever read... Fantastic plot! I can't believe I haven't heard of the author for so many years till now.

Great work!! I would recommend.

Interest level: Medium-high
Reading level: Easy

[Gracie T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rory is the main character. She is very inspirational. Whenever you read about her, if makes you want to get a piece of paper out and draw like she does. She is a smart girl but very shy at some points of the book. When Rory walked in on her dad making out with another woman, she was so angry. Her dad tried to explain but couldn't because she ran away and didn't talk to her dad for a while. Rory isn't good with challenges. The character learns that life isn't the way she wants it to be and that she can't make people do certain stuff that she does like. My character teaches the reader that you should be thankful for what you have and not wish you had more because God wanted you to be just like this.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book starts slowly and didn't ever hook me. It is a very fast read, so it has that going for it. There are some important life lessons about friendships and relationships. The figurative language is a little heavy handed - at times it paints a picture but other times it bonks you over the head.

I found the meeting between Rory and her Dad in NYC very contrived and predictable. Let's have the young girl get mad and run away and not go where she is supposed to go, and have everyone worry - yeah - that hasn't been done before.

I had a hard time liking any of the characters with the exception of her art teacher at school and her dog. Her aunt was likable as well.

[Naomi Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this. I picked it up at the library sometime last year and didn't finish it. I saw it again and tried to read it again. And I finished it. This is quite amazing, because I have never finished any other book once I have returned it to the library. No matter how hard I try.

Anyway.

It was one of those books you pick up at just the right time. I was having a very difficult day and read this before I went to bed. I sucked me in and gave me an emotional release that I dreadfully needed. I liked the way Ms. Mack explained things through colors, as an artist would. It made Rory more real to me. Quite enjoyable.

[Xing · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Rory’s life, her father is a very important person for her, as a father and especially as an art teacher. Rory is an artist just like her father. When Rory’s father leaves the family, she lost her mind, she can’t paint anymore. At the end, Rory finally relieved from the depression. “Pay attention to the light”, it is what Rory her always tell her. Her father’s words help Rory in her painting and also the way of looking at the world around them differently.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A touching story about a girl trying to figure out her relationships with her family, her best friend, and herself. It is simply-told with a feel-good ending. Mack's art background brings a unique touch to the narration as seen through the eyes of a young artist who thinks in colors. Because of this, some beautiful images unfold. Mack is very talented in creating simple, but attractive imagery. Overall, a nice read, especially for a young audience.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This may be the only book I own that puts a lump in my throat. It's amazingly well written; the emotion comes through. I read it mainly because it's so well written. The story is good, too, but you see what's more important to me here.

[Maggie Bryngelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it had well planned characters that made it seem much more realistic and beautiful writing. 'Drawing Lessons' also had a great message hidden in the text, about being yourself and people will love you just for that. I overall really liked it and wished it was longer.

[Nan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for teachers to recommend to middle-school students whose parents are going through a divorce.

[Karyssa]

You would think this book would just be about drawing, but it is a whole lot more than that! It takes you on an adventure through this girls life.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! The story line is very unexpected

[Madelyn Downs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very good, a troubled girl catches her dad having an affair on her mom. Will she keep it a secret?

[Elsa D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a pretty easy read, but very interesting. If you need a quick book then this one is really good!

[Amaya S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good, but at times, it was really sad. It is a good easy and quick read.

[Maddie Rose]

It was a really great book!!! I loved it!!!

[Samuel]

It is a truly beautiful book