|
Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me |  | Author: Nan Marino
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Category: Book
Buy New: $23.07
as of 9/10/2010 12:53 MDT details
New (5) Used (7) from $14.90
Seller: AZ_Fulfillment
Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 1033849
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Pages: 160
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.8
ASIN: B003F76HGQ
Publication Date: May 12, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
"Muscle Man McGinty is a squirrelly runt, a lying snake, and a pitiful excuse for a ten-year old......the problem is that no one knows it but me. In the entire town of Massapequa Park, only I can see him for what he really is. A phony. It's the summer of 1969, and things are not only changing in Tamara's little Long Island town, but in the world. Perhaps Tamara could stand to take one small step toward a bit of compassion and understanding? A terrific debut novel with truly vivid characters and a wonderful voice.
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
Truly enjoyable tale told by a bully who maybe isn't such a bad person after all May 12, 2009
C. Quinn (Washington, DC)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
What an excellent offering for young adults! This slim book should be an easy read for the 8-12 crowd, and offers some important life lessons about loss and dreams and rushing to judgment.
In this first person account, Tamara speaks with a clear and wonderful voice that really captures the petulant anger and confusion of a young girl whose best friend moved away without advance notice or a forwarding address. As she struggles to understand why everyone in the neighborhood is so nice to the boy now living in her former best friend's room, Tamara finds herself bullying the new kid on the block despite his best efforts to become her friend.
I enjoyed this novel and recommend teachers consider it for possible inclusion in a school curriculum. Highly recommended!
Great tie-in to the moon landing anniversary! May 22, 2009
Library mom (Massapequa)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Tamaira Simpson is a girl who believes in truth and fairness. What could be wrong with that? The kids on Ramble Street could tell you. Tamaira's best friend moves away unexpectedly and is replaced by a new foster child on the block. She tries to compensate for her hurt feelings and sense of loneliness by single-handedly taking down Muscle Man McGinty, right or wrong.
Set on Long Island in 1969, the author incorporates the Vietnam War and the historic Apollo 11 moon landing into her moving novel filled with characters that today's children will easily relate to.
This book will delight both voracious and reluctant readers with its humor and pathos. As a school librarian, I am including this winner on my summer reading list. I hope the Newbery committee reads this one!
The ins and outs of being 10 in 1969 May 28, 2009
D. Quinn (Washington, DC USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Such a rich and entertaining young adult find! This slim novel has a bully for a narrator, a tall-tale-teller for an enemy and the summer of 1969 as its volatile setting. Tamara has a clear and honest voice - she made me feel the frustrations of her ten-year-old self as though they were my own. The story definitely delivers a few life lessons about loss and rushing to judgement, but does so quietly, without an overbearing moral voice. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, for young adults and grown-ups alike.
Wonderful story of growing up June 11, 2009
BermudaOnion (South Carolina)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Tamara Simpson is having a rough summer. Her best friend, Kebsie, was a foster child living with the woman across the street and she's moved back in with her mother. A new boy, Douglas, has moved in - Tamara calls him Muscle Man because he's so scrawny. Tamara resents Muscle Man because he's taken Kebsie's place and he tells lies that no one else seems to notice. Among other things, he claims to be training for the Olympic swimming team and says that Neil Armstrong is his uncle. When he challenges the whole neighborhood to a kick ball game, Tamara won't give him an inch and can't understand why everyone one else will.
When Tamara's brother's best friend, Vinnie, is killed in Vietnam, she discovers something about Douglas that makes her re-think her attitude and understand everyone else's.
Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me by Nan Marino is a middle grade reader, but I loved it. The story line is great, so it kept my interest throughout. I think the author captured the feelings of being 12 years old - you're beginning to feel grown up, yet there's still so much of the world you don't understand. Tamara's feelings of confusion are so typical at that age. Tamara had a strong sense of right and wrong and just couldn't understand why no one else seemed to. This is a great book to share with a young reader.
This book also made me remember where I was when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, almost 40 years ago. I was about the same age as Tamara is in the book and my father drug me out of bed because he didn't want me to miss history in the making. I grumbled at the time, but I'm very glad I witnessed it now.
Nan Marino's Great Story November 15, 2009
MJ Sullivan
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I happened to listen to the audio version while my daughter read the book. Nan Marino is a terrific writer and is a great storyteller. She paints a vivid picture of 1960s Long Island, a time where innocence is lost due to the Vietnam War. Marino allows us inside the mind of the main character, a bully, so effectively.
While trying to understand why no one on her block sees "Muscle Man McGinty" for what he is, a lying snake, she battles her own emotional shortcomings.
I recommend this book to families to read together and understand why bullies may act the way they do. While I do not sympathize totally with any bully, there are reasons, as so accurately pointed out by this brilliant book, for their hehavior.
It's the first book I've read from a perspective of a young, female bully. And Ms. Marino hit a home run.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
|
|
|
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. | |
