| Booktalk
#1
Ant, short for Antonia, just
doesn't fit into her family. Her sisters, "Her Highness Elizabeth" and
"Katherine the Great", are so different from her, and so acceptable, especially
to her mother: blonde, outgoing, excelling at ballet, and constantly successful
in getting their parents' attention. Ant has convinced herself that she
is adopted, and starts to spread this story around school. The only beings
she cares about are her aging Chihuahua Pistachio, her best buddy Harrison,
and her art teacher Carol. Why does she lie all the time? Can Carol help,
or will Ant's constant lies just get her and all her friends in trouble?
This is both a funny story, and an enlightening one: read it and see!
(Jean B. Bellavance for Pennsylvania
Young Reader's Choice Awards, 2003-2004)
Booktalk #2
Antonia, an eleven year old
girl feels that she does not fit in with her family because she has dark
brown hair and dark skin while the rest of her family has blonde hair and
pale skin. She also feels this way because her mother treats Ants sisters
Elizabeth and Kate better than she treats Antonia. Some of the other characters
include Harrison who is Ant’s best friend, Pistachio who is Ant’s Chihuahua,
Elizabeth and Kate who are Ant’s sisters, mom, dad, Just Carol the art
teacher, and caveman ant’s math teacher. The setting took place in the
present day, at Ant’s school, her house, the zoo, and Harrison’s house.
The problem is that Antonia feels like she does not fit in so she makes
up lies telling everybody that she is adopted. The turning point is when
Elizabeth, Ant’s sister helps Antonia and her mom understand each other
and they talk about their lives and her mom says sorry for treating Antonia
badly. Will Antonia accept her mother’s apology?? You will have to read
the book to find out! (Makenna, student) |
