Are You Alone on Purpose? [Hardcover]

Nancy Werlin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 1994

Harry and Alison are the worst of enemies. But when Harry suffers a paralyzing accident and his father, a rabbi, begins to tutor Alison's autistic twin brother for his bar mitzvah, the two begin to find comfort from each other.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Alison Shandling and Harry Roth would seem to have nothing in common. "Queen Nerd" Alison sticks with one close friend and stays out of trouble; her parents have enough worries dealing with her autistic twin, Adam. Harry, a bully, runs with the popular crowd and delights in embarrassing his widowed father, a not terribly intelligent rabbi. But a bitter set of coincidences draws Alison to Harry: her mother, infuriated by the rabbi's insensitivity to Adam, tells the rabbi that she wishes his son were handicapped too. When Harry is paralyzed in a diving accident, the rabbi sees it as divine punishment and tries to atone by showering Adam with attention. First-novelist Werlin compensates for the unlikely plot and the even less likely romance that develops between Harry and Alison by investing her characters with rich, strong personalities. She alternates between Alison's and Harry's perspectives to round out the reader's understanding of both families. Her novel has a few too many revelatory moments and too neat a resolution, but her skill in sketching out family dynamics and probing the difficult issues of adolescence mark her as a writer worth watching. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-10-Harry Roth has been Alison Shandling's tormentor for years, taunting her about her autistic twin brother and her own academic brilliance. When the Shandlings decide to introduce their children to their Jewish heritage, Alison and Harry-the rabbi's son-are thrown together under circumstances neither could have imagined. Harry becomes a paraplegic in a diving accident that, Alison feels, may have happened because of her mother's wish that Rabbi Roth's son might become "even more handicapped" than her own child. She forces Harry to accept her friendship, and the two discover that they have both been emotional cripples for years, at the mercy of their dysfunctional parents. This binds them together, permitting each to let go of the pain of isolation. Alternating chapters related by Alison and Harry carry the story month by month over the course of a year, weaving other aspects of teenage angst into the tapestry of the narrative: Alison's loss of her best friend; the convoluted machinations of the freshman dating scene and, in an exceptionally sensitive episode, Harry's anxiety and Alison's curiosity about his ability to function sexually. The author has taken care to flesh out even minor characters while totally involving readers in the lives of the two main players. While the beginning of a reconciliation between Harry and his father seems a bit facile and the confrontation between Alison and her parents is partially carried out by letters rather than through Werlin's wonderfully strong dialogue, this first novel is a moving portrayal of two remarkable teenagers ably coming to grips with their unhappy circumstances and, one is convinced, triumphing in the end.
Sharon Grover, Arlington County Department of Libraries, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (October 24, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039567350X
• ISBN-13: 978-0395673508
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,315,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nancy Werlin was born and raised in Peabody, Massachusetts, USA and now lives near Boston. She received her bachelor's degree in English from Yale.Since then, she has worked as a technical writer and editor for several computer software and Internet companies, while also writing fiction. She is a National Book Award finalist.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story, July 4, 2002

By 

Aleisha (Lake Mary, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Are You Alone on Purpose? (Mass Market Paperback)

Alison Shandling has always been the good child, the nerd, never causing her parents any trouble. They have enough to deal with with her autistic twin brother Adam. Harry Roth has always been a rude, cool kid who had his kicks by teasing Alison and her brother and torturing his father. But then one day at camp an accident leaves Harry in a wheelchair and even more bitter than usual. Alison recognizes that in a different way her family ignores her too and she procedes to try and be friends with Harry despite his protests. But slowly he starts to except her and they start to fall in love.

Great story. Alison and Harry are alike in many ways and that's what draws them together. You can really relate to them.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A moving story, December 14, 2000

By 

"libraryjessica" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Are You Alone on Purpose? (Hardcover)

Are you Alone, On Purpose is a telling story of how deeply grief settles in the heart of teenagers, especially when adults are unable or unwilling to listen. Both Allison and Harry harbor feelings of grief, resentment, isolation and desparation. Both want to "feel" loved. Ms. Werlin has tapped into the teen heart for this one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From two different worlds..., April 29, 2009

By 

Sincerely Me "J.L" (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Are You Alone on Purpose? (Mass Market Paperback)

This was a great read. I really enjoyed finding the similarities and differences between the characters, but appreciated how they carried along the plot perfectly. It was a book that demonstrated acceptance and inevitable change in one's life. I recommend this book to any young adult.