Will You, Won't You? [Library Binding]

Jessie Haas (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

Mad Parker has just graduated from eighth grade, where she had nearly perfected the art of becoming invisible, unnoticed, gone-to teachers, to classmates, to her mother, almost to herself.  Now she is spending the summer ( a summer of Three Rs: riding, reading, rotting) with her grandmother, the Powerful Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. The Powerful Chair thinks that dancing-Scottish country dancing, to be exact-will help Mad get over her shyness. Torture.  That's what Mad thinks.  Is she really any point in going to the Chair's weekly dance class?

In the meantime Mad has other things to worry about.  Her horse has developed cow-phobia, e-mail indicates she may be losing her best friend, and being in her parents' hometown brings back thoughts of her father-L.G., he's called, for Long Gone, or G.R., for Good Riddance.

But when the Chair gets involved in a highly publicized environmental controversy, politics and, yes, Scottish dance show Mad the way courage grows.  And the surprising places new-grown courage can take you.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Though not as psychologically involving or as subtly crafted as her Unbroken, Haas's contemporary novel will likely amuse readers as it educates them on the topical issue of backroom politics. When 13-year-old Madison ("Mad") Parker heads to her grandmother's house in Vermont for the summer (while her mother is working in Washington, D.C.), she hopes some of the woman's confidence will rub off on her. Deemed "the Chair" (because she serves as chair of the Senate Finance Committee), her grandmother seems self-assured, principled and forthrightAeven as she finds herself in the middle of a dispute over clear-cut logging. Ironically, only when Mad discovers that her grandmother suffers moments of doubt does the heroine begin to take risks of her own. The author convincingly weaves together what at first seem disparate strands (Scottish dance lessons and showing horses) and introduces gutsy, wise women (Morag, the dance teacher; and Jane, who runs the stables in Mad's hometown). As the story unwinds, the heroine discovers some painful truths about the father she never knew, which the author balances with humor and insight. The conclusion wraps things up a bit quickly, but Haas offers no pat solutions; instead she allows readers to examine life's complexities. Ages 10-up. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-Madeline (Mad) is packing to spend the summer with her grandmother (Gam) when her mother finds her Language Arts journal and reads an entry. "I have set a record-three consecutive school days without speaking a single word to anyone. No one meets my eye. I have actually become invisible!" Her concerned Mom threatens summer camp or a psychologist to help the 13-year-old overcome her shyness, but Gam, the Powerful Chair of Vermont's Senate Finance Committee, has a more effective plan. She takes her granddaughter along with her to her Scottish country-dancing group. Mad sees the difference between Gam's private life and her public persona and learns that her grandmother is also a shy person who has found her voice in politics. The passage of a controversial bill to ban clear-cut logging concludes the legislative term and Mad finds the courage to screen Gam's phone calls, to speak out at a public meeting, and to survive embarrassing mistakes. The girl's insightful thoughts and observations drive this first-person narrative, tempering fear and panic with a humorous voice. Mad keeps in touch with her best friend and her mother via e-mail, typing out her thoughts and deciding which ones to share or delete. She teaches her horse to overcome his fear of cows so they can ride the country trails surrounding Gam's house. Haas creates a large cast of well-rounded characters to weave engaging details about political life, Scottish country dancing, horse training, and personal growth. A lively and engaging coming-of-age story.
Laura Scott, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 176 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Greenwillow; 1st edition (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060291974
• ISBN-13: 978-0060291976
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,442,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars big content, thin book, November 24, 2000

By 

michelle stiennon (Southfield Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Will You, Won't You? (Hardcover)

This book covers so nmuch in a short space. Horses,email, shyness, the feeling of not belonging, the political system, standing up for what you believe in, trust, absent parent and Scottish dance. Whoa, did I forget dealing with a chronic medical condition and ecology? But the book doesn't zigzag all over the place - in fact , all the themes tie together in a way to demonstrate that people aren't always what they seem and that confidence can be created.