Customer Reviews

Figgs and Phantoms

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Figgs are an odd family and Mona Lisa Figg regrets being one. They have their own special place to go after death (Capri), they are all talented in some bizarre way and they revel in their unordinariness. Mona's not sure she believes in Capri, can find no specific talent and just wants to be like everyone else.

The only Figg she cares for is her Uncle Florence. When he dies, she finds Capri for herself, wanting to stay with him. This journey, naturally, makes her a better person in the end, more understanding and loving of her family and herself, and grants her a peace she hadn't had before.

There are some extremely funny bits and lots of nearly psychedelic incidents. Though it is listed as a juvenile book, I feel that it should be slanted more towards the young adult category as some of it simply too complex for a juvenile book. Some of the word play, situations and themes would be--in my opinion--meaningless or confusion to anyone younger than the late teens. Having said that, I can not give it a blanket recommendation and would recommend that a parent read it first to see if the discussion of death and the afterlife would be appropriate for their child.

I love Ellen Raskin. Like many readers, I searched out this book because of my deep attachment to The Westing Game. Figgs & Phantoms turns out to be something quite different, a moving (and, at times, unsettling) comic fantasy. But I'm *so* glad I read it. F&P is more effective than most adult novels in exploring what it means to belong; to find your path in life; to be a success; and to die. It's really unlike anything else I've read.

One caveat: I first read this book as an adult, and I have no idea how kids respond to it. For a wonderful Ellen Raskin book closer in feel to the Westing Game, definitely look for a copy of the out-of-print classic "The Tattooed Potato and Other Clues." [Barring that, "The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel)" is a good choice.]

Mona Lisa Newton is feeling rather depressed lately. Her family consists of, among others, Uncle Truman Figg, the human-pretzel-turned-sign-painter who always makes exactly one mistake on his signs; Uncle Florence Figg, who later coincidentally added the middle name Italy; Newton ("Newt") Newton, the used car dealer; Sister Figg, baton twirler and tap dancer, named by being raised by one older brother; Gracie Jo, the dog catcher, and her son, Fido Figg the Second (the first was a dog). Mona finds she only feels close to Uncle Flo, a book dealer. After hinting that he may have to leave soon for "Capri" - apparently the heaven for Figg-Newton family members, Mona knows she must unravel the mystery surrounding the place. --Packed with tons of clever wordplays, subtle mystery clues, and funny moments (especially all of Uncle Truman's signs!) this is one book not to miss!! --Marisa

This is an intiguing, funny, and very nicely woven story.

Figgs and Phantoms is about a girl, Mona, who had a very strange family and didn't like it. But, she was very close to her Uncle Florence. When her Uncle died she was very sad. Mona decided to go to Capri where her Uncle was. Capri is the Figgs' heaven. Mona had to learn that things are not always the way you think they're going to be. You should read it! Efrem Carlin 5th grader

I had just read The Westing Game, and I needed more. I checked out Figgs and Phantoms because I thought I couldn't go wrong with the author. I read it in about two days, and when I was done I was very disappointed. I was expecting a wonderful mystery, but instead, I get an interesting fantasy. For about three days, I told people how dumb it was, but then I really thought about it. I realized that the focus was really on the main character, and not much on the plot, which then made me like it more. Then I realized it applied to me, making it much for enjoyable. I really liked the book.

A really odd book [in a good way]. However, I think the targetted age group should be somewhat older then 12-13 as children in this age bracket may not "get" the message this book conveys.

We've been reading Ellen Raskin books the last few weeks after discovering "The Tatooed Potato" by accident. Wow! I can't think of any other children's author quite like her.
In this one, a young girl, Mona, is embarrassed by her flamboyant family (she imagines them mocked by everyone in town) -- it is at once a universal feeling of kids and at the same time quite unusual and specific to her (her family are all former vaudevillians, they have a sort of private semi-religion, etc). Raskin mixes Mona's fierce love for her quiet, shy, uncle, with the thrill of book-collecting (did I mention the shy uncle is a book collector?) and BOOKS themselves -- references to Milton, Conrad, Blake, and others abound. "Heaven is found in books" says the uncle (well, that's not an exact quote but close enough). The girl's growing despair climaxes in a fantastic dream-like trip to a sort of heaven and without giving too much away (perhaps I already have), her growing maturity and sensitivity to her family and friends at the end is nicely done.

After reading The Westing Game, I wanted more. When i read this book i was surprised. At first i thought i would not like it, but i loved it. It is now one of my favorites. Figgs & Phantoms is about a girl, Mona, with a very interesting family. She does not enjoy having such an odd family. Her uncle is the only reletive that she really cares about. I do not want to ruin the ending, but it is great. The entire book comes together beautifully. I recommend it to anyone who wants to read a good book.

This is a bizarre little book - a book focused around Mona Lisa Figg Newton, a teenager living in the town of Pineapple with her eccentric, eclectic and somewhat esoteric family. Her family includes her tap dancing mother, Sister Figg Newton, her uncles, Truman the Human Pretzel, Romulus the Walking Book of Knowledge, Remus the Talking Adding Machine, (Romulus and Remus are of course twins) and her cousin Fido the Second. The only family member Mona gets along with is her uncle Florence, a book dealer. A main concern of the characters is Capri, the Figg family heaven, which involves a ritual passed down through the Figg family for generations. Uncle Florence's greatest wish is to find his Capri. Mona's greatest fear is that her uncle will succeed and leave her alone.

While doing a children's literature course we were informed that this book was often used along with Tuck Everlasting in grief counseling. It deals with questions about what is real, what is reality and what is dream.

It also has string elements of learning to accept self, and growing into who we are to be. Also the acceptance of what we can change and what we cannot. What it really comes down to is learning to live and learning to love. Also it shows that books can be friends and support us in our alone times.

The book will teach about learning to dream, learning to live and ultimately learning to go beyond ourselves.

(First written as Journal Reading Notes in 1999.)

This is a bizarre little book - a book focused around Mona Lisa Figg Newton, a teenager living in the town of Pineapple with her eccentric, eclectic and somewhat esoteric family. Her family includes her tap dancing mother, Sister Figg Newton, her uncles, Truman the Human Pretzel, Romulus the Walking Book of Knowledge, Remus the Talking Adding Machine, (Romulus and Remus are of course twins) and her cousin Fido the Second. The only family member Mona gets along with is her uncle Florence, a book dealer. A main concern of the characters is Capri, the Figg family heaven, which involves a ritual passed down through the Figg family for generations. Uncle Florence's greatest wish is to find his Capri. Mona's greatest fear is that her uncle will succeed and leave her alone.

While doing a children's literature course we were informed that this book was often used along with Tuck Everlasting in grief counseling. It deals with questions about what is real, what is reality and what is dream.

It also has string elements of learning to accept self, and growing into who we are to be. Also the acceptance of what we can change and what we cannot. What it really comes down to is learning to live and learning to love. Also it shows that books can be friends and support us in our alone times.

The book will teach about learning to dream, learning to live and ultimately learning to go beyond ourselves.

(First written as Journal Reading Notes in 1999.)