Mostly Michael [Paperback]

Robert Kimmel Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1988 | Age Level: 9 and up

When Michael Marder receives a diary for his eleventh birthday he's disappointed. What a dumb present! But as he starts to write in it, Michael comes to like his diary very much. It's the one place where he can put down his private feelings. Gradually his feelings begin to change and Michael discovers a love for his family he never felt before!



But the biggest change is yet to come!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6 Most of us have attempted to keep a diary at one time or another, only to abandon it in short order. Michael Marder, who is otherwise unexceptional, keeps it up for at least a year. What's more, some of his entries run to two or three pages and include full conversations. Or so author Smith would have us believe. Oh well, once we grant Smith that license, he has written an unexciting but not uninteresting story. Nothing out of the ordinary happens to Michael during the year, his twelfth: he visits relatives, gets braces, recognizes the existence of girls, watches his parents argue, and gets into some hot water at school. The big event of the year is the birth of his brother, which is made to be the climax of the story. Readers do see Michael mature a bit: he begins to realize his responsibilities and he comes to appreciate the role his parents play in his life. Some readers may enjoy, and profit from, the recognition of themselves and their problems in Michael's well-kept and well-written account. Robert E. Unsworth, Scarsdale Junior High School, N.Y.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

When Michael Marder receives a diary for his eleventh birthday he's disappointed. What a dumb present! But as he starts to write in it, Michael comes to like his diary very much. It's the one place where he can put down his private feelings. Gradually his feelings begin to change and Michael discovers a love for his family he never felt before!

But the biggest change is yet to come!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (September 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044040097X
• ISBN-13: 978-0440400974
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,321,988 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 A Great Book for Boys between 10 and 13!, February 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mostly Michael (Library Binding)

Mostly Michael is a book about a boy who is eleven-years-old. He recieved a diary for his birthday and felt it was a stupid gift. Everyday he tries to write in it telling all of his thoughts and feelings. He goes through some very rough times. He dad works a lot and he has to help his pregnant mom with the housework and a little sister who can be a pain. Michael is pretty close with his grandma. He loves it when she comes to visit. She teaches him all sorts of way to make Mindy, his sister, behave. When the time comes for his mom to have the baby, his dad is out of town and it is Michael's responsibility to help his mom. How will he do it? Read to find out what he does for her.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, June 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mostly Michael (Paperback)

This is the best day by day account of a young boy that I have laid my hands on. We learn about the daily events that shape eleven-year-old Michael's life, from the trite stuff like weather and what was for dinner, to the wonderful, heartwarming events like welcoming in a new sibling. By the end of the book, you will feel like you have gotten to not only know Michael very well, but will also have become his friend. A must read for children of the junior high school age.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mostly Micheal is an awesome story!, October 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mostly Michael (Paperback)

Mostly Micheal is so good. I would recomend it to peoplefromfifth grade and older because some parts kids would be very imbarassedabout.(I'm age 11)