A Place Called Ugly [Paperback]

Avi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1995

There'sno reasoning with Owen.The island cottage where he and his family have spent the last ten summers must be preserved.And he's going to do it. Never mind that bulldozer stands outside, ready to move in and level the place for a modern hotel. Never mind that summer's over and Owen's family is hurrying to catch the last ferry -- or that school is starting -- or that nobody sees it his way. Alone, fourteen-year-old Owen is going to stay and save the beautiful place others call ugly.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Termed "compelling" by PW, this early novel by the two-time Newbery Honor author concerns a boy who learns valuable lessons as he battles to save his family's summer cottage. Ages 12-up. (Mar.)q
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Avi is the author of more than sixty books, including Crispin: The Cross of Lead, a Newbery Medal winner, and Crispin: At the Edge of the World. His other acclaimed titles include The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle and Nothing But the Truth, both Newbery Honor Books, and most recently The Seer of Shadows. He lives with his family in Colorado.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: HarperTrophy (March 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380724235
• ISBN-13: 978-0380724239
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,264,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Avi has published more than sixty books. Among them is Crispin: The Cross of Lead, winner of the 2003 Newbery Medal. Other novels with nineteenth-century settings, like The Traitors' Gate -- his grand nod to the work of Charles Dickens -- are listed before the title page, and include the Newbery Honor Book, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Avi and his family live in Denver, Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review of A Place Called Ugly, February 28, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A Place Called Ugly (Paperback)

A Place Called Ugly by Avi

Book review by Seth of N.Y

Owen's family stayed in a beach house for twelve years and now construction workers want to tear it down and build a hotel in the house's place and Owen won't stand for it. Owen hid in the beach house in mid fall and survived on $10.00 a lighter and some friends from a department store. And Owen has to convince the landowner to stop the construction and keep the beach house for future use. Miss Devlin (The landowner) isn't convinced and she thinks the hotel is a better investment. Some older kids started a fight and Owen got badly hurt. (He felt that in the morning)!!!

If you like realistic fiction with a twist of madness you'll love this book and I think Avi has made a good decision in making the novel A Place called ugly. I would recommend this book to anyone. Will Owen save his summer rental house? Find out in this great novel by Avi! On a scale of 1-5 I would rate this book **** 4 stars for best creativity. This book is great for any age. Enjoy!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A boy's first leap into the adult world, December 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Place Called Ugly (Paperback)

Throughout all the changes going on in his adolesence, Owen is trying to hold onto the one "constant", the family summer home. But now that is at risk of being taken away. Owen makes some risky choices, and keeps the reader spellbound as his life may be in danger. The author uses flashbacks to help the reader understand why Owen is taking so many risks.

1.0 out of 5 stars Grating, August 18, 2009

By 

Evan the Dweezil (A Place-Sort Of, Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Place Called Ugly (Paperback)

I found Owen to be a sullen little snot, making it impossible for me to have any sympathy for him or his plight. His story became one I could care less about. As with all of Avi's books, this one was well written, pity the main character was intolerable.