Fig Pudding (Hardcover)

by Ralph Fletcher (Author) "My full name is Clifford Allyn Abernathy III, after my father and grandfather, but I leave off the III, the Allyn, and the ord..." (more)
Key Phrases: Uncle Billy, Grandma Annie, Aunt Pat (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Twelve-year-old Cliff, the eldest of the six Abernathy children, looks back on a year that feels like "five years crammed into one. With plenty of stuff I want to remember forever. And stuff I wish I could forget." In a style reminiscent of Cheaper by the Dozen, this warm story (unobtrusively set in what seems to be the '70s) neatly blends the humor and frustrations of growing up in a large family headed by two sanguine parents. Each chapter, while centering around a particular child, subtly weaves together household events, large and small. In the first vignette, the youngest child is hospitalized just before Christmas and asks only for a "yidda yadda" from Santa; the family eventually interprets the demand as a "little ladder" and everyone works all night to build one. The episodes smoothly move forward to the family's ultimate crisis: Brad, the gentlest of the children, is killed while riding his bicycle. With remarkable restraint and understatement, Fletcher (I Am Wings: Poems About Love) conveys the bewilderment and grief as each of the Abernathys reacts to this loss. A hopeful ending implies that Brad's memory will live on in the family's exchanges. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Gr. 5^-7. Twelve-year-old Cliff, the oldest of six children ("Abernathys always overdo everything" ), recalls the past year in episodes focusing on his brothers and his sister. The year was bittersweet. There were good times, but there were also ones he'd like to forget--among them, the death of one brother, an event that will move readers to tears. Fletcher captures perfectly the humor, irritations, and sadness of life in a large, close-knit family and makes Cliff a sympathetic and thoughtful narrator, occasionally bewildered by his siblings' antics but always a completely believable older brother. The comedy in the final chapter will leave readers recalling hilarious family disasters of their own. Chris Sherman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: Perfection Learning (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0780768183
• ISBN-13: 978-0780768185
• Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What's the secret ingredient in the Fig Pudding?, May 29, 2002

By	Jay - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fig Pudding (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book! Told as a story by the narrator, we experience a little bit about each of his 4 brothers and 1 sister. Each one is a true character in every sense of the word, but at the same time, is very realistic. This is a very real family with characters that I just fell in love with. They are not always as nice as can be and they make mistakes - even the adults. We follow the family through a year in their lives (all from the point of view of the oldest child). There are ups and downs, but in the end everyone does love each other and is there to support each other.

This is a wonderful book about the enduring strength of family and the love and support that can be found in them. There are moments that will make the reader laugh at loud and others that will bring a tear to the eye of even the hardest individual. I truly wish this book had gained more recognition.

The opportunities for writing activities and discussions based on the book are endless with a little creativity. I fully intend on using this book in my classroom and hope others will as well. Like other Ralph Fletcher books, this is quality literature for students and adults - not simply a kid's book.

Why 5 stars?:
This book is incredibly well written with very real characteristics. It brings the reader through a variety of emotions as the narrator tells us about his family and the events that occur over the course of a year. The chance to engage students in sharing and discussing literature are excellent. I highly recommend this book for school libraries, and literature circles in the classroom. Parents should be encouraged to read this book with their children as a bonding experience of the discussions about family that will undoubtedly come out.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fig Pudding, December 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fig Pudding (Hardcover)

I just finished the book Fig Pudding. It is a great book. I was sad when Brad died because it touched my heart and all of the character's hearts too. My favorite part is when Uncle Eddie said,"Did you add a new ingredient?". It was funny. I wonder what book Ralph Fletcher likes the most? I wonder if this book was based on his real life? I wonder if he had a brother that died? The mood kept on changing in the story. That is why I liked it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fig Pudding, December 15, 1999

By	Rhianna (Lynbrook, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fig Pudding (Paperback)

Fig Pudding made me feel like reading more. In each chapter there was a new feeling. I wonder how Mr.Fletcher thought of these brilliant ideas to put in the chapters? I would love to read the sequel to Fig Pudding because I know that Mr.Fletcher will have some great ideas. I would like to know, were some of the characters in the story in his life, like Uncle Eddie? It was really sad when Brad died because everyone really cared about him and loved him. I thought it was funny when Uncle Eddie said,"Did you put some new ingredients in the Fig Pudding?" because Josh's shoe fell in it. I'd like to know if Mr. Fletcher is writing a new book and what is the title? This is one of my favorite books I've read because it changed my mood and that's what I like about reading. I wonder how Mr. Fletcher thought of writing this nice book? If I were Brad I would have told my father that I can't give away the tackle box. I've only read two books by Ralph Fletcher and I know I will enjoy reading more and more books by Ralph Fletcher. Fig Pudding is in my top three favorite books. This book is one of my classes favorite books!