Saving Montgomery Sole in Mock Printz 2026

May 26, 2016 Barbara rated it liked it

Shelves: bullies, body-image, friendship, facing-fears, sports, community, families, identity, school, social-justice

This one is a 3.5 as I waver between a 3 and a 4. In her own way, teen Montgomery Sole is just as much an outsider to the high school society at Jefferson High as are the protagonists in The Outsiders, the book her class is reading and the play the school is staging. But she does have two good friends: Thomas and Naoki, both of whom are members of her Mystery Club. Thomas endures daily harassment because he's gay while Monty is teased because she has two moms and once rejected a popular new boy. ...more

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Nov 01, 2016 Terri rated it really liked it

Mariko Tamaki, 2015 Michael J. Printz Honor winner for the graphic novel "This One Summer," is back with another interesting read. "Saving Montgomery Sole" has appeared on several "best" and "to watch" lists for 2016, and has received a star review from "Publisher's Weekly."

Sixteen year old, Montgomery Sole, is an explorer. She and her two best friends, Thomas and Naoki, explore many of the mysteries of the universe as members of the Jefferson High Mystery Club. As the only members, they are fr Mariko Tamaki, 2015 Michael J. Printz Honor winner for the graphic novel "This One Summer," is back with another interesting read. "Saving Montgomery Sole" has appeared on several "best" and "to watch" lists for 2016, and has received a star review from "Publisher's Weekly."

Sixteen year old, Montgomery Sole, is an explorer. She and her two best friends, Thomas and Naoki, explore many of the mysteries of the universe as members of the Jefferson High Mystery Club. As the only members, they are free to explore freely, and discuss openly, such phenomena as "remote viewing." They see themselves as "explorers of the unknown." So, when Montgomery discovers the mysterious "Eye of Know" while searching the Internet, she orders it. It arrives several days later with the mysterious message: "In sight not see - black light not be." She ponders the meaning of the message and the power of the "Eye of Know" amulet. Meanwhile, in her personal life, she feels maligned by classmates like Matt Truit because she has two moms, is unconcerned about her appearance, has gay friends, and has unusual interests. She says, "Basically, for as long as I've lived in Aunty, I've always been like, this inexplicable thing, a mystery object that's not like anyone else at this school. I guess it's possible that that's part of why I'm so obsessed with other inexplicable things. With other unsolved mysteries." Then the Reverend White and his son, Kenneth, arrive and begin putting up anti-gay signs all over Aunty, California, that read "WE WILL SAVE THE AMERICAN FAMILY TOGETHER." Montgomery begins to believe that she is being personally targeted from all sides and begins making poor choices as a result of her angst and anger. When the pressure is enough to break her, the "Eye of Know" appears to begin exhibiting powerful qualities, and strange things begin to occur.

Montgomery's story arc is messy. She isn't always likable and makes many poor choices. However, she LEARNS from the events that occur in the story and, as a result, changes. The message that had the most impact for me was the idea that we ALL have prejudices and judge others without truly knowing them. Montgomery assumes that all evangelical Christians spread the same prejudice and evil that Reverend White and Mama Kate's parents do. She also believes that most of her classmates, and the citizens of Aunty, are mean and cruel anti-gay bullies. However, she learns that this is not necessarily true. Yes, some of her classmates, and some evangelical Christians, are anti-gay and spread hatred, but this isn't necessarily true. What she perceives as the prejudices of others reflect back to her her own prejudices. We learn that we must get to know a person as an individual before we make judgments about them. As Momma Jo tells Montgomery, "'People. People who live in Aunty, who live in big cities, who grow up religious or gay or what-have-you. People are complicated. Sometimes it's more than just 'they don't get it.' Sometimes there's more to people than you can see.'" That is a very powerful message. The whole question of organized religion and praying in general is thought-provoking as well. (The current political election has had me thinking about these things again and again.) Tamaki quotes T.S. Elliot at the opening of the book:

"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."

Montgomery explores the unknown and ends up seeing for the first time what has always been right in front of her.

"Saving Montgomery Sole" also explores the questions of what a real hero and a real villain are - in life and in literature. Is the hero the "person who saves the day," or the person with "superpowers," or the "person who overcomes evil," or "the person who fights back?" Are villains, "...people who are pissed off and who get enough power to do something about it. And then do that thing even though that thing is hurting someone?" We can ask these questions about many of the characters in "Saving Montgomery Sole." Are Montgomery, Thomas, Naoki, the moms, and Kenneth all heroes in their own ways? They certainly are all quirky, unique characters who are interesting additions to the story. Do any of them have the qualities of a villain?

A few issues that I had with the book include the fact that the story's antagonists are pretty stereotypical, characters I have read a hundred times in Young Adult Literature. Also, the inclusion of Montgomery's adult "friend," Tiffany, is unclear. Yes, she brings up some interesting ideas about the significance of appearance in our world. However, she is pretty harsh, definitely doesn't have it together, and ends up just walking out of Montgomery's life. What her purpose in the story is is just another of the book's mysteries. The plot itself is a little messy as well. I felt that certain threads were left hanging. Did the author intend for the reader to make all of these leaps on his or her own? Or was the writing just sloppy? Because her intentions in this regard are unclear, I'll chalk it up to messy writing.

"Saving Montgomery Sole" is a good read for teens who love a character-driven story that is heavy on the angst. Recommended. ...more

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Jan 07, 2016 Elisabeth rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya, fiction, 2016

I really enjoyed Saving Montgomery Sole, I think in part because I identified so much with the title character's struggles. It can be hard to be judged for your beliefs, your lifestyle, your family, and not become judgmental in the exact same way your "enemies" are. This is Monty's journey in SMS. She has a great support group in her family and friends, who sort her out in the sweetest of ways when she needs it and call her out on her crazy crap. I really enjoyed some of the turns of phrase, lik ...more

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May 12, 2016 Mary rated it really liked it

There are a lot of things to like about this quiet YA novel. The friendship between Montgomery Thomas and Naoki is heartwarming, the presentation of the two moms family is thoughtful and the school setting realistic. What I liked most of all was Montgomery - her intensity and curiosity. There was a serenity to the novel that created a pleasant reading experience.

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Dec 23, 2016 Jen rated it liked it

Shelves: ya, bullying, lgbtq, audiobook, two-moms

I wasn't invested in this book in the beginning. eh. can be a discussion starter for topics of judging people before you get to know them and bullying and many other high school issues. ...more

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Apr 12, 2016 Carrie rated it liked it

Shelves: realistic-fiction, young-adult, lgbtq

Montgomery has a strong voice here that feels justifiably angry and raw, and I enjoyed her character's evolution, but I found the plot a tad thin. ...more

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