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The Ashwater Experiment (by Amy Goldman Koss)

common sense media says

A sharp take on junior high relationships.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is an uncommon story and a sharp, realistic take on junior high relationships.

Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
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What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about forging friendships. Why does Hillary create her fantasy experiment? Once she begins to set that aside, how does her life change? She manages to befriend people in different cliques. How do you think she's able to do that?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Pretending she is part of an alien experiment helps Hillary adjust to life in the town of Ashwater, and then she relaxes enough to taste the joys of friendship for the first time. Twelve-year-old Hillary, a loner whose family frequently moves, is realistically and sympathetically presented.

 

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Hillary's way of coping -- creating a fantasy experiment -- allows her to maintain an emotional distance from her own life, and to make some pretty sharp observations of both her parents and peers. She is quickly able to get beyond the stereotypes of the popular girl and the angry outsider to see the complex humanity in each.

Hillary's alien-observation fantasy may be off-putting for some readers, though she clearly abandons the pretense by story's end. When she tells her new friend Cass about it and asks, "Do you think I was crazy?" Cass responds, "No. I think you were lonely"--the perfect response from an understanding friend.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Amy Goldman Koss
Publisher: Penguin Group
Publication date: January 1, 1999
Number of pages: 153
Paperback price: $5.99
This review was written by Cindy Kane
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

Swimmingkid96
teen, 16 years old
 
It was the best book EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think it was the best book EVER!!!!! I read it and thought it was alot like ME!!!!!! Peace out!!!!
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helped me decide (1) | had useful details | read my mind (2)

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