The Absolute Value of Mike

by Kathryn Erskine

Mike tries so hard to please his father, but the only language his dad seems to speak is calculus. And for a boy with a math learning disability, nothing could be more difficult. When his dad sends him to live with distant relatives in rural Pennsylvania for the summer to work on an engineering project, Mike figures this is his big chance to buckle down and prove himself. But when he gets there, nothing is what he thought it would be. The project has nothing at all to do with engineering, and he finds himself working alongside his wacky eighty-something- year-old aunt, a homeless man, and a punk rock girl as part of a town-wide project to adopt a boy from Romania. Mike may not learn anything about engineering, but what he does learn is far more valuable.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fiction, Family, Childrens, Humor

256 pages, Hardcover

First published June 9, 2011

About the author

Kathryn Erskine spent many years as a lawyer before realizing that she'd rather write things that people might actually enjoy reading.
She grew up mostly overseas and attended eight different schools, her favorite being the Hogwarts-type castle in Scotland.
The faculty, of course, did not consist of wizards, although... how did the headmistress know that it was the wee redhead who led the campaign to free the mice from the biology lab?
Erskine draws on her childhood and her second childhood through her children for her stories. She still loves to travel but nowadays most trips tend to be local, such as basketball and tennis courts, occasional emergency room visits, and the natural food store for very healthy organic chocolate with life saving flavonoids.

Reviews

[Juliefrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this book needed one more pass through the revision process. The potential was really there. I loved the kooky people of Do Over and their community spirit, and how Mike found his "absolute value" through his project with them. However, a lot of it just rang false and dead horses were beaten. For example, Mike's CONSTANT freak-out about Patch's "homelessness" bordered on obnoxious, as did his treatment of his grieving great-uncle. It seemed like Erskine couldn't be subtle about anything in this book. Also, some plots (Gladys, for instance) just went nowhere and left me wondering what they were doing there in the first place. I also admit to having been really interested in the fact that Mischa looked just like Mike- something Erskine emphasized to the point where I thought there would be some Big Reveal involved. But no- it was just an overly obvious way to create a connection between him and the orphaned boy. I also wasn't very comfortable with the treatment of the adoption process. Why have the potentially adoptive mother just walk off stage in the middle of the effort to raise funds, never to return to the narrative? Why not finish the adoption story? It felt weirdly unfinished.

Let's not even go into the clunky cultural references, such as Mike's band t-shirts or Gladys's piercings, which (cliche alert) indicate she's "trying to hold the world at arm's length."

The more I write, the more I think I might give this one two stars instead of three, but I do think it will appeal to middle-grade readers, especially due to the kookiness of the characters. Let's say 2.5

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mike Frost is 14 years old, and ever since his mother died, he has been almost solely responsible for the care of his father, a brilliant math & engineering professor, who's fantastic with numbers, and terrible at managing life. Mike's own dyscalculia (a math disability) proves a sticking point between he and his father. To help solve this, Mike's father announces that while he will be teaching overseas for the summer, Mike will go to stay with relatives in rural Pennsylvania, to help build an artesian screw. This project, in the eyes of Mike's father, will help Mike build the necessary skills to enter a prestigious math/science high school. Upon arrival in the town, though, Mike discovers that Moo and Poppy (his relatives) are in their 80s, grieving the death of their adult son, and that the "artesian screw" Moo described to his father is really an "artisan's crew," working to raise the funds necessary for the town's minister to adopt a Romanian orphan. Mike quickly gets involved in the plan, despite his ongoing protests that he's too young to help, and the town's unusual residents all pitch in to make the adoption work.

Oh, how I hated to give this one 3 stars . . . Erskine's previous book, _Mockingbird_, is one of my favorites, and perhaps I expected another book in that vein. Besides the disability angle (which isn't nearly as pronounced in this novel), this book is much different from the other. Erskine writes this novel with a strong sense of humor, and a clear message about finding your own path in life, regardless of what others expect from you. Still, the characters and their situations are pretty contrived, and there are a lot of plot holes left unfilled. There were definitely some funny moments; Moo, for one, has some tremendous lines, due mainly to her hearing loss. I do think many readers will enjoy it, though, because it is paced very well, and manages serious and humorous moments with skill.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too hyper for me. Also, too much like a sappy Kate DiCamillo story. Or a Hallmark movie. And the portrait of Moo is ridiculously disrespectful. Little old ladies are not children, they are Elders.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son and I are reading this together

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of books with quirky odd characters as you may or may not know, and this book definitely delivers. The story is set in a small PA town. Mike moves in with his elderly (octogenerian) aunt and uncle when his socially awkward overweight father goes to Romania for the summer. They are not your typical seniors. Moo is a very active woman with awful eyesight and a lot of great one liners. Poppy doesn't move. He sits in the same chain in his duck slippers and only will eat scrapple. Both of them are recovering from the death of their only son, Doug, who died in a car accident. The other inhabitants of the town are equally quirky, including Past, a homeless guy obsessed with health food, Gladys, an 18 year old punk rocker, and many others. This book was quick to read, but had a good storyline, and a good message.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://elleisforliterature.blogspot....

This was a delightful quirky story with so many fun characters. Sometimes it felt a bit 'much' but if you get in the spirit of it, it really was so cute.

[Stewie's Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an upbeat story filled with likable characters. This story is aimed at preteen readers, but I enjoyed it just the same.

[Melisa]

tabii ki okumak istememin tek nedeni halamın çevirmesi değil

[Ian A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave the absolute value of mike a 3 star rating because... it is about a 14 year old named mike who has autism. He struggles to learn things but is still a likable person who is pretty popular and everything. He does not really have a good relationship with his dad because his dad is a genius, who is also kind of impatient and because he does not think mike really stands out and models what his father wants him be like. I thought the book just talked a little to much about his relationship with his father and I do prefer fantasy/dystopian or mystery books as well over books like this, which are more of a realistic fiction. His dad sends mike away with his aunt and uncle who he had never met for a summer and mike just feels neglected. He feels like his dad doesn't want him and is just sending him away to get a break from him or get rid of him. I thought mikes emotions were shown pretty well for this part, but it. was dragged on for to long. He wanted to prove himself as well when he was send to his aunt and uncles house, it was for an engineering project, which he wanted to show he could do for his dad. I thought that when he got himself to have him and his town adopt a boy from romania it got a little far-fetched, and just lost my interest. Overall. I thought the book was well-written, though had a bit to much talk about mikes emotions regarding his father, and was a little far-fetched at times which is why I gave this book a 3 star rating.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike takes care of his father, who is a rather absent-minded mathematical genius. But Mike is definitely not mathematical, despite his father’s hopes. When Mike’s father decides to send him to spend the summer with distant relatives in rural Pennsylvania to work on an engineering project, Mike sees it as a way to finally prove himself to his father. Mike discovers far more than an engineering project when he arrives. In fact, there is no engineering project at all. There is his wild-driving nearly-blind aunt, his uncle who is so deep in mourning over the death of his adult son that he can’t move, a homeless man who has good business sense and is willing to give the shirt off his back, literally, and a tattooed and pierced girl who needs a family. He finds a town that is working on a project to adopt a boy from Romania, a boy that Mike realizes is very connected to him in a personal way. Mike has a lot to learn this summer, just not about engineering.

Erskine is a chameleon of an author, changing her tone, her writing style to match this lighter novel that has a strong, meaningful core. The humor here ranges from subtle to laugh-out-loud funny observations and asides. At its heart, this is a book about a boy who doesn’t know his own strengths or his own worth, because it can’t be measured mathematically. It’s a book that is steeped in math down to its chapter titles, but at the same time speaks to the knowledge that humans and their abilities sometimes don’t add up logically.

This is also a book about loss and grief. It’s a book about handling what the world has given you either by giving up altogether or by continuing on. It’s a book about connections, building them, creating them. And about how the hardest connections to create can be the closest ones.

This is a funny, light book that reads quickly and will stun readers by being far deeper and more meaningful than they would have ever expected. Appropriate for ages 11-14.

[Ella Boleynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me awhile to get into it; I felt like Erskine might have struggled with the start as well, but once the story got going, it took me away. The biggest challenge was understanding some of the more bizarre characters. Their conversations were just difficult to follow. As I came to understand them, though, they became more interesting, and I was able to appreciate them more fully.

I really enjoyed the story; it was definitely in the feel-good category. I loved the premise and enjoyed seeing Mike deal with his struggles. I did feel at times that the dyscalculia was not woven seamlessly into the story. Still, the organization of the book (each chapter has a heading with a math term and definition that relates to the chapter - not in a mathematical way of course) was incredibly interesting, and I liked the title of the book and the lessons Mike learned. I just wish that the dyscalculia had been a larger part of his struggles somehow.

Violence: None, though there is some yelling.

Language: I do not remember any language.

Sex: There are a couple of times that he is checking women out and describing them, but they are pretty tame.

Drugs/Alcohol: Nope.

There is one warning that does not fit in anywhere. At one point, the main character drives without a license. It did not bother me at all, but some people need every warning spelled out - so there it is.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book, it is the perfect middle grade boy book and really quite different from Kathryn Erskine's National Book Award winning Mockingbird in that it features a boy character and has a lighter, funnier tone.

Mike has a hard time relating to his mathematical genius father, especially since he did not acquire the math genius gene and has dyscalculia, a mathematical disability. When his father leaves the country to teach for 6 weeks, Mike is left to the care of his elderly Great Aunt and Uncle and that's where the story really begins. A Moo who drives around in a movie theater, a homeless man with a cooler and wi-fi, a town called Do Over, and an unexpected mission to raise $40,000 in just three weeks. The result = hilarious + heartfelt, sprinkled with some escapism, calculation, and ultimate self-discovery.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was laughing from page 1! Mike's genius father is teaching a 6-week class in Romania, and so 14-year-old Mike has to go to Pennsylvania with his great-aunt and -uncle. His relatives are in their 80s, their son recently died, and Poppy hasn't moved out of his armchair since. Moo's eyesight is failing, and she trusts her car Tyrone to drive her where she needs to go. Mike is at first alarmed by this environment he's been dropped into, but he soon rallies to help the community raise $40,000 in 3 weeks to help adopt a boy from Romania who looks eerily like himself.

[Moira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another "gotta read" from Kathy Erskine. This book is lighter than MOCKINGBIRD, with quirky and sometimes very funny, characters. It shows her ability to write in a lighter mode, but with the same strong prose as her earlier works. And there are some great messages here: for kids--it's important to find your unique gifts; for parents--don't mold your children to be replicas of yourself. And for all of us, a great reminder that few people are what they appear to be on the surface!

[Marianne Robin-Tani · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a hard-core noir police procedural with lots of murder and gore, look someplace else. If you want a funny book about quirky people who are living wacky lives and being nice to each other, dig right in and enjoy. Well written, caring and lots of fun. And the audiobook reader did a terrific job--the voices he used for all the characters and his comedic timing were excellent. Bravo!

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Credulity-straining but oh-so-cute. Clever bits are designed to appeal to middle grade boys, I think. And I think they will do so. This is compulsively readable, nearly impossible to put down. Dyscalculia, a dad on the spectrum, acres of dead people and an improbably competent kid all combine to make a really fun, really engaging story.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't stop thinking about how Mike "cures" two deeply depressed people (both dealing with overwhelming grief) by basically yelling at them to get over it. That is not how people get over depression and it is sending the wrong message to students. I loved parts of this book, but some parts are just so wrong that I'm changing to 2.5 stars.

[Erika · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Mockingbird and had hoped this book would be as good but I was quite disappointed. If I'd read this one first, I doubt I would have picked up another Erskine book. Filled with quirky characters, everyone is feeling sorry for himself until Mike yells at them.

[Kendal S · Rating 1 out of 5]

let’s have a little chat about this book . first of all it’s very boring . the characters aren’t interesting and neither is the concept . like honestly this is one of three worst books i’ve ever read . i guess i could see other people enjoying it but this is definitely not a book for me

[Clay]

Gary Schmidt's review: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/boo...

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story, written very well. There ARE different ways to excel.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Do Over is a second chance. Sometimes we need a second chance.” (20)
And many people in Mike’s new life need a second chance.

There is Great Uncle Poppy who has barely moved since his son’s death. And Great Aunt Moo who can barely see calls things by unusual names, but is in charge of the house, the shopping, getting Poppy his scrapple, trying to make ends meet by siphoning gas for her car Tyrone, and is the heart of the community. There is 18-year-old Gladys, with her multiple piercings and tatoos, who has been rejected by her parents and has a boyfriend, Numchuck, who everyone says is no good for her and takes the cash she earns working in the bank. There is Past who is homeless, having put his past behind him. There is Mike’s own father, a “genius,” who is grieving the death of Mike’s mother, not able to show any love, eats unhealthy food and, ultimately, has a heart attack. There is Karen who has had multiple miscarriages and now her husband has died and all she wants is to adopt a child.

And there is Misha, the child who lives in an orphanage in Romania and wants a family. And the town, Donover, called Do Over when the “N’ went missing, who wants to raise $40,000 and bring Misha home to Karen.

Mike’s father leaves for a business trip abroad, sending Mike to live for the summer with his great aunt and uncle and work on the Artesian screw, planning on Mike becoming an engineer. Mike hates math, has dyscalculia, and is not at all unhappy to find that there is no such project. His uncle is supposed to have an “artisan’s crew” to help him make wooden boxes to sell to raise money for the town project, but has not left his chair to do so. It turns out the not much has been accomplished with a date for a change in Romanian foreign adoption laws looming, and when Karen herself has to leave town, The Bring Misha Home project appears to be up to Mike. “What was the kid saying with those eyes? It was like he needed me.” (80)

But Mike has come to believe his father’s low opinion of him and his non-math-related talents. “I looked at the other sign on Gladys’ desk: We Promise You Absolute Vale. Absolute value? That was the only math term I understood. It’s when you take something that’s worth less than zero, a negative—kind of like me—and it becomes positive. I always liked that idea. It was as if there was hope, even for me.” (72)

From the community members—Moo, Past, Gladys, Karen, the Three Stooges, Mike receives clues about his strengths and talents. [Past and I] shook hands. “You are nothing if not resourceful, Mike.” (94) [Gladys] looked at me…not like I was a dumb kid, but a guy…a guy who was pretty cool, capable, even clever. A guy who could actually save Misha and bring him home. (135)

Past also leaves town, and it appears that fourteen-year-old Mike, who has already started a website, an advertising campaign, posted videos of Gladys singing and of Misha, and sales of the towns people’s products on eBay, is completely in charge of Do Over Day and raising the needed funds. “IDIOTS! All of you! Don’t you know what really matters? Not running away! Not hiding from things! Not covering things up! But doing what you know is right! For Misha!” (203)

Powering through with, it turns out, the help of a town, Mike (and his father) discover his absolute value. It may take a village to raise a child; in this case it takes a town to save two children.

While the plot may seem like it is a little confusing, the writing makes it easy to follow, offering a bit of tension and a bunch of mysteries. I read it too fast, disappointed that I was nearing the end and would miss these quirky characters as Mike completes his Hero’s Journey. Not a newly-released novel (2011) but one I somehow missed from Kathy Erskine, one of my favorite authors and creator of heroes—adolescents who learn that things—and people—are not always as they seem: teens Mike (THE ABSOLUTE VALUE OF MIKE), Red (SEEING RED), Matilda (QUAKING), and tweens Lily (LILY’S PROMISE), Julian (THE INCREDIBLE MAGIC OF BEING), Caitlin (MOCKINGBIRD)

A novel that can be included in a STEM interdisciplinary curriculum, the chapters titles are mathematical terms. Readers can be asked to analyze how each title relates to the plot and characters in the chapter as a refection response or small-group discussion: parallel lines, transversal lines, skew lines, place value, compatible numbers, common factor, formulas, evaluate, mixed numbers, reflection, dependent event, order of operations, adjacent angles, zero property, difference, regroup, problem, slide, outliers, chaos theory, argument, function, attributes, variable, transformation, defective numbers, interval, tessellations, endpoint, and, of course, absolute value.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

General Comments: Yay! I quite liked this book, it's great for people of any ages to read, topics of loss and power.

Cover- yeah, it's ok I guess. I feel like some of the miniature pictures on the cover didn't really make any sense or connect to the story, but some of them reflected great symbolism. 4/5

Characters- OOOO this was like, my favorite part of the story. I loved the characters and their different perspectives and actions, and some of their actions surprising. Kathryn Erskine did reallyyy well at conveying how Mike reacted in different situations and scenarios, but I feel like some of him wasn't built quite fully. Come to think of it, we don't really know much about Mike's traits in general situations, which I feel made Mike feel a bit unrelatable. However, I did love some of the characters, Moo and Past were my two favorites, their characteristics are unique and lovable. 4.5/5

Plot- hmmm.. I found a few loopholes in the major plot, even though the general idea of the plot was well thought out. Ok. One of the weirdest things in this book? Misha. I loved how this side character that we really don't know anything about, was able to make his way into the center of the plot and Mike's heart. Except for one thing. What are the chances that you find a Romanian orphan who looks exactly like you, dresses exactly like you, and plays with the exact same things? Starting to get it? I feel like it was completely unrealistic for this to happen, and this was probably the taste that stayed in my head after I finished the book. 4/5

Suspense- idk. I didn't feel ANY sort of urgency in this book, partly because of the Misha loophole. I didn't feel the panic that Mike felt about Misha's deadline. Honestly, the only part that was really suspenseful for me was probably Mike's dad and his depression. 3/5

Comparisons to similar books- The only other Kathryn Erskine book I've read is Quaking, and I feel like these two books were quite similar. The suspense is quite low, as is the urgency, but compelling stories none the less.

Theme- As usual, the theme got me. I didn't really understand what the theme was, maybe that sometimes you need to accept things that you cannot change in life? I'm prettyy sure that this is COMPLETLY my problem and how I'm blinded to see the theme, but I feel like the theme should have been pointed out clearer. 4/5

Did It Leave a Scar?- Nope. I simply plonked on my bedside table in relief when I finished it, and never thought about it again. 3/5



Overall Starred Rating: 3/5

[Jaqueline Marcos]

The main character in this book his name is Mike he lives with his father who constantly forgets stuff and isn't good at taking of himself. Mike loves math and engineering he helps his dad get by in everyday life since his mother died in car accident. This book is about , Mike's father teaches/works at a University teaching engineering and needs to go to Romania for 6 weeks for an important work project. Mike cant go with him and doesn't believe Mike isn't ready to take care of himself yet. His dad (James) suggests that he has family that he hasn’t met before that will take care of him. Later in the book he stays with his grandparents “Poppy and Moo” but poppy isn't a real person Moo shows Mike that Polly is a wax figure of her dead son “Doug” . She insist him to talk to him and get to know each other . Mike doesn't enjoy staying there for 6 weeks although his father sends him math worksheets to work on. A quote demonstrated my thoughts was "Romania ? You cant cant go away I mean, by yourself . How are you going to survive ? Dude you cant even find your car keys without me." This meant to me that some parents cant find stuff without the help of their children some parents may forget stuff easily . My thoughts on this was were good this really connects and relates to a lot of kids when going away with family for 6 weeks without any electronics . This book is interesting to read similar to a diary . I would recommend this book to readers who read diary like books.

[Jennifer Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a cute story and has a couple of endearing characters, no argument there. But award winning? It's crap literature - sloppy writing full of slang and cultural references that kid's won't even understand. Constant references to "Bono-like" eyes and "Oprah" - today's kids don't know who these people are. But most surprising is the unbelievable crass language.

Page 70 – Gladys had six earrings, a pierced cheek, a tongue stud, spiked hair and a leather skirt so short, I couldn't take my eyes off it and the parts of her it wasn’t covering.

Page 70 – “Well, if he tries any stuff on you, remember what I told you about where to kick him.” She grinned and nodded, “Right in the crotch!”

Page 151 – I discovered what sultry meant. Hot. Sweaty. The way I felt watching Gladys. When she moved on to “Love for Sale” and sang, “Who would like to sample my supply?” it was all I could do to keep from lunging at her.

Page 156 – “Okay, she’s about my height, great body, big lips, perky ____” I cupped my hands in from of my chest.

Page 168 – She was a blond bombshell in red spiky heels and a short, tight beige dress that made her look naked until you took a second looks. And you wanted to take a second look. At least at the chest area, which was, shall we say, abundant.

And this is supposed to be for ages 9 - 12 years old?! No thanks.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highly recommended, this book didn’t quite live up to the expectations I had for it. My son read it first and loved it, which gives it value to me as he’s not an easy reader to please.
The pace of this book about a boy trying to Find his own path in life is good; the characters are fun; the storyline sweet. Almost cloyingly. However, it will strike a chord with middle grade readers for sure.
Mike is sent to live with his older relatives for a special time working on an “artesian screw,” an engineering project Mike’s Dad is a little too eager to foist upon him. Mike isn’t good with numbers and dreads disappointing him. However, just a few minutes into the book, and we know Mike will have plenty to keep him busy in this small town, with an almost blind/deaf old lady, her grieving husband, a punk rock, beautiful teenager, a homeless man and some other characters, including three stooges. Everyone is coming together to help one of their own adopt a boy from Romania, and Mike realizes that he has more in common (in a figurative sense) than he expected.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently went to Highlights Foundation Summer Camp where Kathy was one of the faculty and mentors. Her worshop was on getting to know your characters. With good reason. This book is all about the characters. Mike is sent to spend the summer with Poppy and Moo his great uncle and aunt he doesn't even know. Just like at home, Mike needs to take charge of a whole lot of stuff 14 year old boys don't usually need to be in charge of. But, we are who we are, and even when we resent the responsibility, we do it anyway. In the process, we learn about others and ourselves. We learn about the true meaning of loving others.

Kathy has a way with humor that makes you chuckle out loud. Her moments of drama can make you cry and see a part of you and your relationships with the richly built characters of this story.

And a Pringles Can Antenna? Look it up, it's real. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if she made one while writing this book. Actually, I'd be more surprised if she didn't.

[Chandler Corpus · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be completely honest, this book was a bit boring. It was nice to read something new but there were lots of things that I just did not like. The plot was soooooo slow to advance. I love to read the plot and story line to a book but this book just did not have the potential. The characters were a bit funny but I feel like this book should be taken more seriously. It was extremely boring to read. There wasn't really any action involved and the details were poor and straight forward. This book could use lots of work as it has so many flaws. It wasn't very enjoyable to read really. It just didn't have the things a book should have. A climax. I'm not sure what the author's idea of a climax is but it was very disappointing. Other than that, if you're into slow boring books, go right ahead.

[Jen Traub · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the crazy characters, and Mike’s journey to learn his own value. The perspectives of the Dad were good- how mike sees him versus how Moo does. Interesting characterization across the board- three stooges, Past, Moo and Poppy...

I didn’t like the stereotypical ness of some, such as Gladys (tattoos and piercings means she wants the world at an arms length). I was disappointed that she stressed how Misha looks like Mike but that was super unimportant (no big reveal). I also was disappointed they didn’t finish the story- what happened with Gladys? The adoption? It felt unfinished, and not in a ‘I’m left wondering so I can think about it’ kind of way... in a ‘wait that’s the end?!’ Kind of way.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I was reading this book I kept wanting different things to happen instead of what DID happen, so it may be my fault, but I didnt love this book. It wasn't bad and it had a lot going on, but yet it still felt slow. I liked the absolute off-the-wall ways about several of the characters and enjoy the bit of mystery around some others. I was also able to feel the frustration Mike had at several points in the story, but it felt bad, annoying, frustrating to be feeling like that too, so it wasn't that enjoyable reading those parts and I didn't feel like I learned a whole lot. So yeah, it wasn't great but it was okay. I really really liked Mockingbird and am going to go read Quaking, because I hear it is really good.