Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis

Most of them do not offer young readers such fine writing and real characters. * 'There are many books that offer adventure and twists and unusual story lines. 'Internal drama, compelling characters, and Matties strong voice propel the story of learning to do 'a small brave thing.'- Booklist Mattie's growing trust of others and her attempts to be 'bold and friendly' lead to gratifying rewards for Mattie and poignant moments for readers.'- Publishers Weekly, starred review Always school had made her feel skittish and small') while expressing the quiet yet significant moments in her day-to-day life.

Urban's understated, borderline naïf narrative gives voice to Mattie's many uncertainties ('Always Mattie has been shy. * 'Urban ( A Crooked Kind of Perfect) traces a highly self-conscious child's cautious emergence from her shell in this tender novel about new beginnings and 'small brave' acts. (Mar.* 'This outstanding, emotionally resonant effort will appeal to middle-grade readers.'- Kirkus, starred review Readers will cheer on Emma-Jean as she begins to see more clearly and enter more fully the world around her, messiness and all. Other fully realized characters who show compassion and understanding to Emma-Jean include her mother, a wise and kind custodian, her teacher and especially Vikram, a doctoral student and the Lazaruses' boarder, who takes on a special significance to both mother and daughter.

(The narrative occasionally shifts to Colleen's perspective, offering insight into how the heroine comes across to her classmates.) Emma-Jean takes her cue from the philosophy of Jules Henri Poincaré (a French mathematician whom her late father revered), who believed that 'even the most complex problems could be solved through a process of creative thinking.' Her well-intentioned efforts with Colleen and with others don't always hit their mark, but this slightly socially awkward, big-hearted outsider learns from her experiences. She does not always understand her 'often irrational' peers and finds their lives 'messy.' She 'thus made it her habit to keep herself separate, to observe from afar.' One day, however, she discovers kind, sensitive Colleen in the girls' bathroom and decides to come to her aid. Emma-Jean Lazarus misses her father, who died two years ago and from whom she inherited an analytical mind. Through a compelling third-person narrative, first novelist Tarshis completely inhabits the character of an eccentric seventh-grader who will quickly win over readers.

Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis