I Am an Artichoke

by Lucy Frank

Fifteen-year-old Sarah is excited about her summer job as a mother's helper in New York City but soon discovers that twelve-year-old Emily and her divorced parents may be more than she can handle.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Teen, Young Adult Contemporary, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Michelle Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this book was written for young adults, and not 20 year-olds, like me, but I really, really liked this book. I could relate to SO much of it, and the plot was excellent. It was a really quick read, I read it in 24 hours, so if you have the chance, read this book. It truly is amazing, and unlike any non-fiction novel I've read on eating disorders before. The relationship between Sarah and Emily in and of itself is enough just to read this book. There is a second one that follows this one, but they did not have it at my library, so I'm going to have to order it. Once you finish this book, you're really going to want to find out what happens next. I really look forward to reading the sequel, and I hope others out there read this book! Why is there only one review on here guys? This book is great, so get it from your library and read it some afternoon!

[Julie Slayton]

Loved, loved, loved this book! I was so stuck on this book in middle school. Lucy Frank does a great job at capturing a teenage girls life for a summer. The book brings up many issue that teens today struggle with. This is a good read for middle/high school aged female students!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally read this book just because of the title and the picture on my edition was funny. It was actually really good though.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining novel about teeanaged life

[Ashley Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a teenager and loved it and learnt from it. Not sure what I would think of it now.

[kinsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haha, I liked this book.
It seems random, but I think it's a really good book.
It's about a girl who is anorexic and so concerned with her weight that she's always riding this bicycle and barely eats.
Her mom hires a 15 year old girl (Sarah) to be a mother's helper, and Sarah ends up breaking through the younger girl's shell and helping her through her eating disorder.

While still focusing on the serious matter, this book is still funny and it's an easy read.

[Lo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always think of this author as the poor man's Norma Klein. This book isn't especially memorable, but a satisfying read for a tween or preteen. Wait are tween/preteens the same thing?