All the Answers (An Avon Camelot Book) [Hardcover]

Anne C. Lemieux (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 5, 2000 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: An Avon Camelot Book

Jason's father is a compulsively orderly accountant, while Jason, a witty right-brainer, prefers to wing it. Algebra confounds him. His bedroom is a mess, and that's how he likes it. But lately, Jason's father seems to be trying to force good-natured Jason into his mold. Jason's pop has gone from being more or less always on Jason's side to being a despot who's always against him.

An ace at computer solitaire, Jason plays daily to predict his luck. But he can't predict Philip and Phelicia Nevimore, twin children of the new boss who is making Jason's pop miserable. Philip is Dexter Junior High's new star athlete and math whiz. He's also a bully who guards his gorgeous sister as if he were her own private secret service agent. Meanwhile, Jason's algebra teacher has seen through his excuses and wisecracks, and if Jason doesn't shape up, he might fail the class. Will Jason ever have a chance to get close to Phelicia? Will he pass algebra? And just how long can he avoid a serious discussion with his dad?

Anne C. LeMieux has written a poignant, hilarious story about one math-challenged young man's struggle to make it all add up.

Jason's father is a compulsively orderly accountant, while Jason, a witty right-brainer, prefers to wing it. Algebra confounds him. His bedroom is a mess, and that's how he likes it. But lately, Jason's father seems to be trying to force good-natured Jason into his mold. Jason's pop has gone from being more or less always on Jason's side to being a despot who's always against him.

An ace at computer solitaire, Jason plays daily to predict his luck. But he can't predict Philip and Phelicia Nevimore, twin children of the new boss who is making Jason's pop miserable. Philip is Dexter Junior High's new star athlete and math whiz. He's also a bully who guards his gorgeous sister as if he were her own private secret service agent. Meanwhile, Jason's algebra teacher has seen it through his excuses and wisecracks, and if Jason doesn't shape up, he might fail the class. Will Jason ever have a chance to get close to Phelicia? Will he pass algebra? And just how long can he avoid a serious discussion with his dad?

Anne C. LeMieux has written a poignant, hilarious story about one math-challenged young man's struggle to make it all add up.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jason, LeMieux's (Dare to Be, M.E.!) narrator, indeed seems to have all the answers--except perhaps those to his algebra problems. His witty banter, coupled with his impulsive behavior, leads this eighth-grader into some sticky situations. At school, the boy contends with his smarmy, slick nemesis, Philip; flirts (against Philip's wishes) with this bully's fetching but vapid twin sister, Phelicia; pays a friend to copy her math homework; and faces the algebra teacher's penalty when she finds him out. Jason's increasingly strained relationship with his moody and stressed-out father gives this young character dimension and provides the novel's most affecting moments. LeMieux's plotting features some forgivable contrivances (e.g., the new boss who is making Jason's father miserable just happens to be the father of the feckless twins). Readers of both genders will find her protagonist both likable and authentic; his incessant string of wisecracks would make any stand-up comic envious. Ages 9-12. (Jan.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-9-Eighth-grader Jason Hodges is having problems on all fronts. His accountant father is under a lot of stress at work, and the boy's messy room and failing grades in math have become sore spots in their relationship. He is smitten with Phelicia Nevimore, but can't get close to her because of her bullying twin brother. Jason's narration is filled with humor but the dialogue may be over some readers' heads. Mrs. Meehan, the boy's math teacher, tells him he has "shown quite an epistolary talent," and the book is peppered with unfamiliar words such as "the Curly shuffle," "militant-feminist," "picayune," and "Augean." Also, the ending is too pat; Jason resolves most of his problems within a few days. He comes to a sudden appreciation of math when his three-year-old brother swallows an unknown amount of perfume and he has to figure out how much the child has ingested as well as how much he weighs. This incident also sheds light on Phelicia's true personality when she is more concerned about her perfume than about the little boy's health. Still, it's an amusing look at the trials and tribulations of adolescent life.
Karen Hoth, Marathon Middle/High School, FL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380977710
• ISBN-13: 978-0380977710
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,953,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Teen's Life, May 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: All the Answers (An Avon Camelot Book) (Hardcover)

A Review by Ryan

Jason is a semi-average kid in his town. He goes to school, has lots of friends, and has confidence in himself. One day the girl of his dreams comes on to the bus but along with her is her better looking, more athletic, and way stronger brother who doesn't like Jason. That's where it all goes downhill. Jason tries to get the girl while avoiding the bully and is also having problems and home. He starts to lose his friends when he starts deceiving them, but is it worth it just for a girl?

I like how this book can relate to me so well. In the first chapter I knew exactly who Jason was. He has trouble with math, doesn't clean his room, and is very carefree until a special girl comes into his life. I also liked all the humor in this book. This book is full of laughs, hilarious characters, and real life challenges for a teen. This book will definitely get you remembering when you were young. The only thing that I did not like about this book is that I didn't really know what was happening until the 3rd chapter. That's not a real bad thing though because it makes you think about what it could be. Also I wish that the books ending was longer because it ended very suddenly but other than that it is a great book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't want a hard read, wants a few laughs, and wants to remember when they were young. I think that this book is a great book since it related to me so well.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Light weight, but Good, June 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: All the Answers (An Avon Camelot Book) (Hardcover)

This book is a quick read about the trials of a typical 8thgrade boy. He is failing algebra, is in trouble with his father forhis "pig sty" room, has a new basketball rival, and has fallen in love with his new rival's twin sister. The book is humorous and gives a fairly accurate portrayal of these typical problems. No new literary ground is covered here, but I enjoyed it anyway. The most clever part is an expected use for mathematics toward the end of the book.

4.0 out of 5 stars All The Answers, April 12, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: All the Answers (An Avon Camelot Book) (Hardcover)

I liked the book a lot because it is like resent problems I have had with my dad. And also because I like basketball a lot. And my dad is as strict as his dad.

I think that the worst part in the book was when Jason stole Amy's binder. And the best part was when Jason found a letter that one of the girl's wrote about him and it said that they really liked him. And he thought that it was phelicia who wrote it so he started likeing her even more.

I saw the setting the most an the boy running to the bus and jumped over the busches. And all the stuff that happened on the bus. I didn't see the characters very well. As I wished I would have.

Your book was very good and I encourage you to write more.