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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Dallas Public Library | + FICTION - MAHONEY | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Newberg Public Library | J FICTION MAHONEY | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Salem Main Library | J Mahoney, K. | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
For Annie, lists are how she keeps her whole life in order. And there is a lot to keep track of! Do you love Anastasia Krupnik, Ramona Quimby, and the Penderwicks? Then you will love Annie!
Annie's a shy fifth grader with an incredible memory and a love of making lists. It helps her keep track of things when they can seem a little out of control, like her family, her friends, and her life in a new place.
Annie has-
1. An incredible memory (really, it's almost photographic) that can get her in trouble.
2. A brother who is mad at her because he thinks she is the reason they had to move to Clover Gap, population 8,432.
4. A best friend who she is (almost) certain will always be her best friend.
5. New classmates, some of whom are nicer than others.
6. A rocky start finding her place in her new home.
From the author of The 47 People You'll Meet in Middle School, Annie's Life in Lists finds that even amid the chaos of everyday life, it's important to put things in order.
"Perfect for anyone who's ever worried about starting a new school, saying the wrong thing, dying of embarrassment, or losing a best friend. I loved getting to know Annie through her lists!" --Kelly Jones, author of Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer
Author Notes
Kristin Mahoney is a former magazine editor and elementary school reading teacher with a master's degree in elementary education and teaching literacy from Bank Street College of Education. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Learning Network Blog, McCall's Magazine, and the SCBWI "Write This" Gallery. Kristin has lived in both Brooklyn and in a small town that resembles Clover Gap. She now lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters. Follow her on Twitter at @KMcMahoney.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-Annie, who feels out of the ordinary due to her exceptional memory and shyness, loves making lists so much that she keeps a notebook full of them with her all the time, organized by month. Annie's family moves from Brooklyn to Clover Gap, population 8,432. As Annie's parents adjust to home ownership and her father to a new job, Annie must find her place at her new school and learn how to get by without her best-and only-friend, Millie. Over the course of the novel, Annie uncovers the real reason her family moved, struggles to find her place in a new group of friends, and earns herself a bit of celebrity during the town's annual Clover Fest. Mahoney's novel is literally written in lists, all of which have their own titles, some with a sentence or a few paragraphs of explanation after. Annie's humor, empathy, and frankness shine through in her engaging narrative. Every character has its own distinct presence on the page, and the individual conflicts help each one feel fully developed and unique. The plot moves at a steady pace and a subplot addresses racism. While the ending is almost too neat, readers will find themselves cheering for Annie, her friends, and her family. VERDICT Even with its imperfections, the format, featuring illustrations throughout, will make it a great choice for reluctant readers.-Liz Anderson, DC Public Library © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Ten-year-old Annie loves to keep lists, and along with dynamic spot drawings, they make up this creative and engaging debut. The topics include "Five things about my memory," which demonstrates Annie's ability to recall seemingly insignificant details about the people she meets, and "Three ways my family reacted to the news about the move," which addresses the responses of Annie's parents and older brother as the family relocates from Brooklyn to the small town of Clover Gap just before Annie begins fifth grade. Annie is worried that the move is her fault; she accidentally revealed to her former principal that the family lied about their address to get her into a better school. Then, however, she finds a severance-agreement letter to her father that suggests another reason for relocating. The family's financial struggles are realistically wrought, and their adjustment to small-town life results in some very entertaining lists, such as "Five ways my parents and I looked out of place at our first Clover Gap High football game." Readers will sympathize with Annie's struggles to make new friends and adapt to a new life in this coming-of-age story that's filled with humor and heart. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Sarah Burnes, the Gernert Co. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
After Annie's family moves from Brooklyn to rural Clover Gap, quiet Annie hides her quirks, including her amazing memory and orderly thinking. But soon the fifth grader makes new friends and learns to be--and speak up for--herself. Decorated with simple yet lively spot illustrations, the story is primarily told in a series of lists (e.g., "Four reasons I'm quiet"), which emphasizes Annie's perceptive and clever personality. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
When fifth-grader Andromeda moves from Brooklyn to a small town, she must deal with all of the issues a move like that could create.She's pretty sure she caused the move by accidentally revealing to her school principal that she didn't live in the correct school district. Her older brother, Ted, blames her for his loneliness now that they've arrived in tiny Clover Gap. Her parents, apartment dwellers, have lots to learn about maintaining a house. Annie is sure that she should conceal her fabulous memory from her new classmates and does everything she can to melt into the background. New classmate Zora reaches out to Annie, but that leaves Zora's other friend, Amelia, feeling angry, vindictive, and very unwelcoming. (Zora is also one of the only black characters in both the book and Clover Gap, a fact that is addressed matter-of-factly and with sensitivity.) Meanwhile, Annie's best friend from the city gradually loses touch with her. All of these deftly interrelated plotlines are related in the lists that Annie keeps--lists of just about everything--and it's these, and the fun twist they create, that elevate the tale over the pack, adding an amusing dimension to a well-worked trope. Annie's slightly tongue-in-cheek voice, revealed in the lists and occasional narrative paragraphs, breathes life into the many characters around her, adding believability.1. Fresh. 2. Fun. 3. Entertaining. (Fiction. 8-11)
Booklist Review
There's nothing worse than having to move though, actually, the worst is knowing it's all your fault. That's how sixth-grader Annie feels when her family leaves their beloved Brooklyn behind for middle-of-nowhere Clover Gap, population 8,432. Annie's almost photographic memory exposes the fact that their tiny apartment is not in the district for her school, forcing her and her older brother out at the end of the school year and prompting the move. Annie's delightfully detailed lists chronicle her first year in Clover Gap, a year full of changes, new friendships forged, old friendships tested, and new truths discovered regarding the actual cause of their move (hint: it isn't actually Annie's fault). The structure of Mahoney's clever debut it really is all told in lists makes for a breezy, engaging read with wide appeal and accessibility for a range of reading abilities. In turns humorous and touching, its themes will resonate with many readers struggling to break out of their shells and find a home in new places. Simply charming.--Barnes, Jennifer Copyright 2018 Booklist