She captures the sense of being an outsider at school and the embarrassment of going out to special education classes. Schmatz does an amazing job of capturing the feelings, emotions and immense frustration of having a learning disability and being different from other people. As someone who grew up with a learning disability, a dual form of dyslexia, reading this book was much like reliving some of my own childhood. She also captures how Few books have as immediate an impact on me as this book. It's safe for all ages, and I would recommend it for any school library, book club, or reading list.Īlso, I listened to this book on audio and the narration was exceptional.moreįew books have as immediate an impact on me as this book. Just three kids living life as it comes at them. There is no sex, no drugs, no rock & roll. You're not alone, even when you are completely alone. Kids don't often see what's going on in the lives of anyone else but themselves, and that is the point to this book. The great thing about this book is that we watch each of the characters live through their own problems without realizing that everyone else has problems, too.

But, this book really captures the feel of being an outsider without screaming about the main characters being outsiders. It's a feel-good novel about hard luck and hard lives in the school years, which is pretty common these days. It's aimed at a high school or middle school audience.or at teachers. Adults might be bored, unless they are trying to get into the mind of a school aged kid. The great thing about this book PERSONAL REVIEW: I LOVED this book! PERSONAL REVIEW: I LOVED this book! LIBRARIAN REVIEW: It's not for everyone. With sympathy, humor, and disarming honesty, Pat Schmatz brings to life a cast of utterly believable characters-and captures the moments of trust and connection that make all the difference.more And it’s before Travis is noticed by Velveeta, a girl whose wry banter and colorful scarves belie some hard secrets of her own. McQueen, who doesn’t take 'pass' for an answer-a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking a book on the natural world. Now there’s just the cramped place he shares with his alcoholic grandpa, a new school, and the dreaded routine of school. McQueen, who doesn’t take 'pass' for an answer-a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking a book on the natu Travis is missing his old home in the country, and he’s missing his old hound, Rosco. Travis is missing his old home in the country, and he’s missing his old hound, Rosco.

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