Overview

Tink Aaron-Martin has been grounded AGAIN after an adventure with her best friend Freddie Blue Anderson. To make the time pass, she decides to write an encyclopedia of her life from Aa (a kind of lava--okay, she cribbed that from the real encyclopedia) to Zoo (she's never been to one, but her brothers belong there). As the alphabet unfolds, so does the story of Tink's summer: more adventures with Freddie Blue (and more experiences in being grounded); how her family was featured in a magazine about Living with Autism, thanks to her older brother Seb--and what happened after Seb fell apart; her growing friendship, and maybe more, with Kai, a skateboarder who made her swoon (sort of). And her own sense that maybe she belongs not under H for Hideous, or I for Invisible, but O for Okay. Written entirely in Tink's hilarious encyclopedia entries, The Encyclopedia of Me is both a witty trick and a reading treat for anyone who loves terrific middle-grade novels.

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9780545310284

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Reviews

Diminutive, biracial, freckled Isadora Tink Aaron-Martin is grounded for most of the summer after an incident with her best friend. She decides to write an encyclopedia, and in spite of the artificiality of the alphabetical format, Rivers has created a warm, funny, fast-paced story about an endearing middle schooler who keeps her cool and sense of humor when events spin out of control. Tink explains her role as the Peacemaker in a dysfunctional family whose lives tiptoe around the moods and rages of Tink's autistic older brother, Seb. As the summer progresses she finds friendship and a tender and diffident love interest in the boy next door, is humiliated in a disastrous photo shoot for a magazine article about families living with autistic children, and becomes good at skateboarding, an activity that replaces the detested ballet classes she has been taking at her mother's behest. When Seb becomes violent, leaving his twin brother badly hurt, Tink finally decides she has had enough of her peacemaking role. Z finds her in the arms of her boyfriend at the Zetroc Prom. Rivers delivers an appealingly heroine in Tink. She is original and authentic, and her story flows easily in spite of the tricky format. - Jane Barrer, School Library Journal starred review

Diminutive, biracial, freckled Isadora Tink Aaron-Martin is grounded for most of the summer after an incident with her best friend. She decides to write an encyclopedia, and in spite of the artificiality of the alphabetical format, Rivers has created a warm, funny, fast-paced story about an endearing middle schooler who keeps her cool and sense of humor when events spin out of control. Tink explains her role as the Peacemaker in a dysfunctional family whose lives tiptoe around the moods and rages of Tink's autistic older brother, Seb. As the summer progresses she finds friendship and a tender and diffident love interest in the boy next door, is humiliated in a disastrous photo shoot for a magazine article about families living with autistic children, and becomes good at skateboarding, an activity that replaces the detested ballet classes she has been taking at her mother's behest. When Seb becomes violent, leaving his twin brother badly hurt, Tink finally decides she has had enough of her peacemaking role. Z finds her in the arms of her boyfriend at the Zetroc Prom. Rivers delivers an appealingly heroine in Tink. She is original and authentic, and her story flows easily in spite of the tricky format. - Jane Barrer, School Library Journal starred review Rivers has created a warm, funny, fast-paced story about an endearing middle schooler who keeps her cool and sense of humor when events spin out of control. -- School Library Journal, starred review Cleverly woven through the titular encyclopediawith entries as seemingly mundane as 'Apple' and 'Oxen'is the touchingly real and often humorous story of a preteen's struggles with family, friendship and first love. -- Kirkus Reviews The book is refreshingly up front about Tink's biracial heritage, Seb's autism, and the Aaron-Martin family dynamics, but it's also nuanced and sympathetic in its treatments; character interaction is observed with a particularly keen eye, while Tink's narration is a credible blend of perception and cluelessnessThis sparky and engaging account will satisfy readers. -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books The AZ encyclopedia framework (complete with footnotes!) gets an A for effort Tink is a charming, smart, and honest young protagonist, and this makes for a heartfelt, light, but not-quite-breezy read. -- Booklist Moving through the alphabet with Tink is an amusing, emotional journey. Through the alphabet, the summer, and the start of the new school year, Tink remains true to herself, but her personality and confidence grow stronger, creating a light but sincere and spirited story. -- Horn Book Rivers uses a clever formatthe story unfolds in encyclopedia entries instead of chaptersto introduce Isadora Tink Aaron-Martin, a candid, biracial almost-13-year-old who has some time on her hands while she's grounded over the summer. Tink's first-person narrative is vibrant and exuberantly opinionated, whether she is describing life with her hairless cat or pondering the meaning of her first kiss. -- Publishers Weekly

Rivers has created a warm, funny, fast-paced story about an endearing middle schooler who keeps her cool and sense of humor when events spin out of control. -- <i>School Library Journal</i>, starred review Cleverly woven through the titular encyclopediawith entries as seemingly mundane as 'Apple' and 'Oxen'is the touchingly real and often humorous story of a preteen's struggles with family, friendship and first love. -- <i>Kirkus Reviews</i> The book is refreshingly up front about Tink's biracial heritage, Seb's autism, and the Aaron-Martin family dynamics, but it's also nuanced and sympathetic in its treatments; character interaction is observed with a particularly keen eye, while Tink's narration is a credible blend of perception and cluelessnessThis sparky and engaging account will satisfy readers. -- <i>Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books</i> The AZ encyclopedia framework (complete with footnotes!) gets an A for effort Tink is a charming, smart, and honest young protagonist, and this makes for a heartfelt, light, but not-quite-breezy read. -- <i>Booklist</i> Moving through the alphabet with Tink is an amusing, emotional journey. Through the alphabet, the summer, and the start of the new school year, Tink remains true to herself, but her personality and confidence grow stronger, creating a light but sincere and spirited story. -- <i>Horn Book</i> Rivers uses a clever formatthe story unfolds in encyclopedia entries instead of chaptersto introduce Isadora Tink Aaron-Martin, a candid, biracial almost-13-year-old who has some time on her hands while she's grounded over the summer. Tink's first-person narrative is vibrant and exuberantly opinionated, whether she is describing life with her hairless cat or pondering the meaning of her first kiss. -- <i>Publishers Weekly</i>

Author Information

Karen Rivers writes rich and funny novels for middle-grade readers, young adults, and the occasional grown-up. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her two children and a noxious-smelling dog. Visit her online at http: //www.karenrivers.com and @karenrivers.

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