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Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move

Book Summary

Reviewed by Susan Fitzgerald

Never. Not ever. No way. Uh uh. N.O. Could it be any clearer than that? Parents and children have to appreciate the spunky Alexander, who refuses to move 1,000 miles away from everything! Author Judith Viorst doesn't sugarcoat this unlikely hero or his brother one bit; their energetic relationship may be very familiar and funny to children with older siblings.

Is It Any Good?

4

Kids love this book and adults will too, despite one 5-year-old reader's newfound love of the word puke, courtesy of Alexander's brother Nick. Brothers don't always get along -- but they do come through in the end -- as Nick does when he tells Alexander he can sleep in his room if he's scared at the new house. Judith Viorst cleverly shows how Alexander comes around to reality. Still, it's important that he does so on his own terms and not before considering the alternatives.

Sadness, anger, and denial come before acceptance. And it's good for readers to know that these feelings are normal and okay. It's even better that they're expressed with understanding and humor. Robin Glasser's black-and-white illustrations capture Alexander's emotions.

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