Almost Home [Hardcover]

Nora Raleigh Baskin (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 5 and up

welve-year-old Leah Baer has been shuffled to and from various households for years, but now she is back at her father's house with his new wife. Although this move seems as if it might be a lasting one, Leah feels out of place both at home and at school. Then an unconventional boy named Will befriends her and persuades Leah to try acting to express her emotions. As Leah begins to learn more about herself she also gradually finds out what it means to be home.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-Sixth-grader Leah's sense of self is badly shaken when she learns that her mother's weeks-long silence has been hiding a cross-country move that doesn't include her. The fact that her "mother" is actually her stepmother is only gradually revealed to readers. As Leah starts to let go of her bitterness, she makes tentative progress toward a solid relationship with her father and a restored sense of who she is. The strengths of the book are Leah's well-developed character and the realistic nastiness she displays as an outlet for her misery. Her inability to focus on schoolwork and her purposeful attempts to wound her father's new wife both help to capture the extent of her loss. The close friendship she forms with a boy is less convincing, given sixth-grade social norms. In addition, her father is drawn as a puzzlingly positive character, which seems at odds with her previous lack of relationship with him. Readers who enjoy quiet stories of personal growth will likely overlook these slightly implausible plot elements and respond to Leah's journey as she seeks a place to belong.
Faith Brautigam, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Sixth-grader Leah is stunned when she is suddenly thrust into her father and new stepmother Gail's life after her mother suddenly leaves. New in town, she's an outsider at school until Will throws her a lifeline and tries to be her friend. As the two lonely kids secretly explore the darkened auditorium to get away from the cafeteria crowd during their lunch period, they start to build a trusting relationship. At home, though, Leah's anger and feelings of abandonment make for difficulties with distant Dad and overcompensating Gail. Cautiously, Leah finally begins to confront all that has happened to her, and with Will's steadfast encouragement, she takes some positive steps: she tries out for a play and stands up to a girl who harasses her. Will's wisdom and manner belie his age, and Leah's growing strength and self-knowledge evolve a little too quickly as the story spins toward a happy ending; but the characters are very appealing, and the plot will hold readers' attention. Anne O'Malley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers; 1st edition (May 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316093130
• ISBN-13: 978-0316093132
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,510,002 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review of Almost Home, June 16, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Almost Home (Hardcover)

I really liked this book. I read it in one sitting, because I didn't want to put it down. I recommend this book to any girl around the age of 11 or 12. It is a really good plot with realistic characters. I really liked it.

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost Home, March 25, 2007

By 

CatS "Ladies Reading Society" (NH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Almost Home (Paperback)

I read this book as an adult, but gave it to my 13-year old granddaughter when I was finished because I thought it would be a good book for her. Although it was simply written, it had a strong message that I thought would be better heard coming from one young person to another. An easy, yet enjoyable read.

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost Home reveiw, November 16, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Almost Home (Paperback)

This is a great book about finding a place to call home. Leah has lived with her stepmom for her whole life, visiting her father every other weekend because they are divoced. But now leah has to live with her dad and his new wif Gail. How will leah cope when she would really rather be with her mom? To find out read the book, it's a great book filled with feeling and laughs, enjoy!