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Library | Call Number | Format | Status | Item Holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... Duxbury Free Library | J FIC PENNEY | J BOOK | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Searching... Quincy Adams Shore Branch | PENNEY | J BOOK | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Searching... Quincy Wollaston Branch | PENNEY | J BOOK | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Searching... Sharon Public Library | PENNEY, M. | J BOOK | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Searching... Walpole Public Library | J FIC PENNEY | J BOOK | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
Acceptance, understanding, and hope shine through in this heartfelt coming of age story by Eleven and Holding author Mary Penney, perfect for fans of Lindsey Stoddard and Lisa Graff.
After a lifetime of being homeschooled, Ham Hudson is hoping that a new year in a new school will help make him a whole new Ham. Instead, he's saddled with an archnemesis to avoid, a confusing and exhausting social sphere to navigate, and a whole host of insecurities to add to his old ones.
But then Ham meets Micah. Sympathetic and effortlessly cool, Micah quickly becomes a lifeline in a strange world. Ham wants Micah to think he belongs--to want him around as much as Ham wants to be around him.
The more that Ham tries to fit in, the less he recognizes himself. When things start to unravel, Ham has to decide--is fitting in worth changing who he wants to be
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5 Up--Penney continues her heartfelt exploration of the middle grade years from her first novel, Eleven and Holding, in this new coming-of-age chronicle. Abraham "Ham" Hudson is the source of much local gossip in his small hometown of Muddy Waters, CA. As an infant he was abandoned inside a decorative Nativity scene, only to be adoptedby the beloved parson at the parsonage. For the next 13 years the church is his home and his school, but a sudden "cardiac event" makes it clear that Ham's mother can no longer devote herself to her congregation and his education. Even with the support of newly arrived Fey and longtime parental figure Deuce, Ham dreads the return to public school. The awkwardness and taunting is soon leavened by the introduction of Micah, a charming and self-assured boy who immediately ignites Ham's admiration. But the desire to pursue this wonderful new relationship and parse out his feelings for Micah leads Ham to lose the sense of himself in the process. Written in clear and graceful prose, this novel will immediately spark pangs of recognition and sympathy. Penney is adept at showing the facets of the adolescent experience like a diamond: a beautiful thing to behold, but one with sharp edges. While there are screwball hijinks like cats on the loose to lighten the mood, Penney doesn't hold back in examining the complex lessons inherent in growing up. Before the story's end, Ham is forced to confront new and mystifying truths about himself, his family and friends, and the fickle nature of life itself. VERDICT A recommended purchase for public and school libraries serving readers who crave books that have all the feels and that reflect their own lived experiences with just the right touch of whimsy.--Jose Cruz
Booklist Review
Left as an infant on a church doorstep and raised by the woman pastor who takes him in, Ham has been sheltered and homeschooled his whole life. But this idyllic existence comes to an abrupt halt when his adopted mother's health tanks and he finds himself thrust into a world for which he's unprepared--middle school. Ham doesn't know how to make friends or deal with bullies, and he must work through a series of interpersonal challenges. The most prominent of these involve running cross-country with his nemesis and feeling drawn to a boy who can wiggle his way out of any situation--the green-eyed Micah. Penney's characters are memorable as are the early-teen feelings and situations that they face. As Ham navigates rough waters, he gains a better understanding of himself and the path he wants to follow. A quick, satisfying piece of realistic fiction that smoothly incorporates one boy's exploration of dawning identity.