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I sniffled and cried in front of my class while reading the last 20 pages of this book. When I finished, I immediately passed it to one of my students. A beautiful book with a powerful message about love and forgiveness.
This LaFleur's second novel, and I'm happy to report that it's just as good as her first (Love, Aubrey). Starting middle school is traumatic for Elise. The larger number of students and the busier teachers are intimidating, and she falls behind in her school work almost immediately. Then there's her locker partner - who on the very first day seems to decide that Elise isn't worth her time. Every day Amanda smashes her lunch, calls her names and makes fun of her. Elise tries to tell her homeroom
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I enjoyed reading this book. It was a bit slow until Elise started receiving the 8 keys, but it did set up the background the reader needed to know about Elise losing both her parents, being adopted by Uncle Hugh and Aunt Bessie, and her long-time relationship with Franklin and Lewis. I became really put out with her attitude shift toward Franklin and her loss of academic motivation, but that's not unrealistic as her life changes when she enters middle school...not to mention her hormonal change
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This is a story about Elise, a girl whose parents died when she was very young. She's been raised by her aunt and uncle, has a lifelong best friend in Franklin, and her life is good. Then she starts middle school, and a lot of things begin to change, making her re-examine her friendship with Franklin. Then, she finds a key with her name on it, and begins to unlock a series of 8 rooms that hold messages from her past to help her unlock her future. A lovely sentiment, without getting too sentiment
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Definitely a good story that should be shared with any pre-teen dealing with identity issues, bullying and how to be a good friend. The important part of the story includes a "self-help" theme and "messages" that appeal to readers of any age, all woven into a pretty little "package" in the end ("Question. Believe. Choose to Live, Choose to Love. Know what you come from. Seek to learn. Understand those you love. Treasure your life.") A quick, easy read that I really liked! :)
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I read that someone else compared this book to Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life -- it is a great comparison. Moving to middle school causes angst for many, and this book is a great look at how lifelong friendships can change in that setting as children try to find out who they are. Will be a great read for my 5th graders, especially girls.
Grades (4?) to 7. RL 590. As Elise starts 6th grade/middle school, her whole life seems to be spinning out of control. She shares a locker with a girl that bullies her, kids make fun of her for being friends with Franklin (who is a little odd-- but her childhood friend), and her grades are in the toilet because she's stopped trying. She lives with her Aunt Bessie and Uncle Hugh-- because her parents died when she was young. Every birthday she would get a letter from her late father. After the ar
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Made me cry multiple times so that gets five stars. Not a complicated book, but there was a lot of truth packed in there.
Lovely coming of age novel with a dash of mystery. Liked the idea of the eight keys... very creative.
beautifully written story... i enjoyed it almost as much as La Fleur's first book.
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Jun 14, 2011
Rachel
marked it as to-read
Oct 05, 2011
Megan
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Oct 05, 2011
Laura5
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Oct 06, 2011
Jodi
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Mar 07, 2012
Jen
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Dec 29, 2012
Elisabeth
marked it as to-read
