Tallahassee Higgins (Avon Camelot Book) (Paperback)

by Mary Downing Hahn (Author)
Key Phrases: Aunt Thelma, Uncle Dan, Richard Gere (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In Hahn's sensitive and witty story, Talley learns that she will always love her flighty mother, even though they may never be able to live together. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8 Twelve-year-old Tallahassee Higgins, raised by her free-spirited single mother Liz, has lived a life without cufews, study times, and well-balanced meals. Except for curiosity about her father's identity, it is a life Tally loves and a life she is about to lose. Liz is moving to California with her current boyfriend to chase a Hollywood acting dream, leaving Tally in Maryland with an uncle and aunt whom she has never met. Aunt Thelma is a critical strict woman who is determined to keep Tally from following in Liz' irresponsible footsteps. Tally isn't much more welcomed by other townspeoplesomething she can't understand until she learns who her father was and the truth about her parents' relationship. Torn between love and loyalty for her mother and the increasingly obvious realities of Liz' nature, Tally vacillates between anger and fantasy until a crisis forces her to confront and accept her life and loved ones as they are, not as she wishes they were. This novel is memorable for its realistic portrayal of human vulnerabilities and the careful balance of humor and heartache. Hahn writes about contemporary issues with all of the necessary elements of good fictionan interesting story with a beginning, middle, and end; sympathetic main characters who grow through experience; and a cast of well-rounded supporting characters. There are no weak links in this literary chain. Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, Wis.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380705001
• ISBN-13: 978-0380705009
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,823,586 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book is pretty good..., May 9, 2005

A Kid's Review

This book is pretty cool. It is about this 12-year-old girl, Tallahassee Higgins[named after the place she was born]and her Mom, Liz. Her mom leaves with her boyfriend to go to California to become famous. Tallahassee has to stay with her phsycho Aunt and awesome uncle. While she stays with her aunt and uncle, she learns alot about her family's history and her mom's past. I gave this book 4 stars because the story plot rocked, but the main character was weird. She wouldn't stop crying through the whole story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine book, though it could have been much better., July 12, 2002

By	Meaghan Good "meggilyweggily" (Venedocia, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Tallahassee Higgins reckon's she's got to be the unhappiest twelve-year-old in the world when her free-spirited, unconventional, flighty young mother Liz leaves her at an aunt and uncle's house while Liz goes off to Hollywood to hit it big. She does poorly in school, her only friend's mother hates her guts, and she has to have things like bedtimes and is made to do her homework. Tallahassee, who is not used to following rules, constantly argues with her Aunt Thelma over them. Every day she hopes Liz will hit it big and send for her.

There are two principal conflicts in the story. The first and most realistic in my opinion is Tallahassee's longing for her mother, longing to be with her. It is obvious to the reader and all the characters except Tallahassee herself that Liz is not going to pick her up anytime within the near future. Quite conceivably Tallahassee will be living with her aunt and uncle for years. Liz, like Kathy in Rainbow Jordan, loves her daughter in her own way but is not capable of taking care of her. And, like Rainbow, Tallahassee doesn't see this and regards her mother as something close to an angel. She's got a lot to learn.

The second conflict is Tallahassee's pondering as to who her father was. Liz never said. Tallahassee only knows that she isn't blonde and beautiful like her mom; she has freckles and big teeth and red hair. "You take after your father," Liz always said. Tallahassee never gave the matter much thought till she saw a photograph of Liz's long-dead childhood sweetheart who used to live in the neighborhood...and he looks just like her.

The young man, who was killed in Vietnam, does in fact turn out to be Tallahassee's father. However I think it would have been a better literary device if (a) Tallahassee hadn't been so sure and (b) Maybe he wasn't her real father after all, maybe it was coincidence. But she asked Liz when Liz came for a very short visit, and Liz told her the truth.

While the book does a good rendering of complicated family relationships and a child's love for her mother, I think it could have used some work...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book for all girls!, November 16, 1999

By A Customer

It's a wonderful book for girls of all ages. It was very sadbecause her mother has left her several times. She has to stay withher Aunt Thelma and Uncle Dan. She meets a new friend, Jane, but Jane's mother does not like her. She meets a woman named Miss Russell and she walks her dog every Saturday. She doesn't know who her father is, but has a suspicion. You must read the book to find out more! It's wonderful!