Pinterest

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern


Maggie is an 11 year old who lives in Atlanta, has two older sisters, a mom, and a dad with multiple sclerosis.  She is brilliant, plans to become the president of the United States someday, loves candy and sweets and has an hilarious sense of humor.  Her father's MS disease progresses and Maggie sets out to figure out what is happening to him and what is a solution.

This book is really hilarious! The writing is snappy, funny, insightful and impossible to stop reading. Maggie describes situations and people in her life in her own unique and bold way. The story isn't a comedy and as you can imagine it includes the trials of family life, especially with someone who has an incurable disease.  Yet, there is a hope and positive outlook from Maggie's viewpoint.

There are a few swear words, and the parents refer to their hippie days and the music of the era.  They also mix up cocktails occasionally and mention a special "weed" from their scrapbook. The teen daughters talk of dating and sex as well.  The setting is in the 80's...and so even though it seems like it could happen today, the lack of technology, and the references to 80's clothing and lifestyle pops up.

This is definitely a story with girl appeal.  There are only daughters in the book and the only main male character is the father.

I give this book a 4 out of 4.  It was great.  Maybe not for every reader though. This is more appropriate for a middle school reader. I probably won't vote for it for MHL even though I loved reading it.  The reading level is 4.3

  • Age Range: 8 - 12 years
  • Grade Level: 3 - 7
  • Paperback: 232 pages
  • Publisher: Chronicle Books; Reprint edition (May 12, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1452128766
  • ISBN-13: 978-1452128764

No comments:

Post a Comment