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My Mom and Other Mysteries of
the Universe Gina Wilner-Pardo Houghton Miffin Company © 2004 |
Arlie's mother is what you would call a neat freak. If you leave one thing out
of its spot or if she finds a speck of dust you get in trouble. Arlie's dad on
the other hand does not really care. After Arlie came back from babysitting
Jesse Sweeny, her parents told her and her brother Michael that they were going
on a road trip. Her dad played the drums and was going to play an opening for a
band. Arlie and Michael were to stay at their Aunt Isabelle's apartment.
About a week after Arlie's parents left, Arlie's class received a new
student, and was to put on a play. The new student's name was Casey Lane. Arlie
immediately started comparing Casey to her mom. She found lots of things out,
they both collect glass fish, if you switch around the initials of Casey's name
you get Lacy Caine, Arlie's mother's name. Casey acted extremely mature for her
age, Arlie's mother did the same. There were many more but these ones bothered
Arlie the most.
Arlie eventually found out that her parents had gotten into an extremely
bad car crash. Arlie was depressed for a little while, considering her mother
was in a coma, and her father were always asleep. Then they had the auditions
for the play, Who's Minding The Store? Arlie auditioned for the lead
part, Petey, and got the part. They practiced the play everyday, and they still
practiced hard when they found out Casey was moving again. They gave her part to
someone else and went on. Arlie found out that on the day of the play she was to
go and see her parents. Isabelle and Michael came to watch the play then they
went to the hospital. They all were speechless.
I really enjoyed reading this book because it was emotional, it showed love
and hatred and was very well written. I would recommend this book for fifth to
eighth graders.
~ Ashley Aldan, grade 6, Boardman Center Middle School