Claire answers “I've noticed that most teens/tweens appear...”

Amelia asked this question about Fish in a Tree:

I've noticed that most teens/tweens appear to not have enjoyed this book. I mean, I'm in sixth grade, so it sounds like the right age for me. But I'm so sick of the exaggeration of sixth graders. We're not as vicious as people see us. So books like these always offend me. Books that mock middle schoolers. I've noticed it's all teachers/adults enjoying the book. Would I like it?

Claire I'm going to answer this question even though it's really old now:

My 5th grader really liked this book. I read it myself and enjoyed it and I thought …moreI'm going to answer this question even though it's really old now:

My 5th grader really liked this book. I read it myself and enjoyed it and I thought she would like it, but she does like the 'child struggles and succeeds against all the odds' genre as I like to describe it (e.g. Wonder, Insignificant Events in the life of a cactus)

I don't think it represents 6th graders as mean or mocks them. The characters and situations are a little cliched and exaggerated in places. If you are a very critical reader then you might find stuff to pick apart. I don't agree that it's 7-8th grade reading material, more 5th-6th. My 5th grader is young for her year and not a particularly advanced reader. When I was 7th-8th grade, I wanted to read about older teenagers or even adult books (it was all about Forever by Judy Blume and Flowers in the Attic much to our parents disgust). So a book about elementary school kids would not have appealed. (I would probably have read it and pretended I didn't like it at that age!)(less)

flag

Olivia I also like that type of genre as well. Has your child read Out of My Mind? If not I totally suggest it.
Dec 10, 2020 01:16PM · flag

Claire Yes, she read that one since I posted my answer! It's also up there on her favourites! ...more
Dec 11, 2020 08:27AM · flag

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more