No Strings Attached (School & Library Binding)

by Kristi Holl (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-7 In this sequel to Just Like a Real Family (Atheneum, 1983), now seventh-grader June Finch and her con valescing mother take a job as live-in caregivers to elderly Franklin Cooper. It seems like the answer to their pray ersinstant home, instant grandfather. June discovers, however, that living with Franklin's well-meaning but intru sive ways is difficult at times. With sup port from her mother and heavy doses of affection for Franklin, June begins to cope. But it is not until the week when she and Franklin are left on their own that she accepts, even somewhat cher ishes, the old man's nurturing presence in her life. No Strings Attached goes easy on charactersonly a handful throughoutand the three principals are well drawn and extremely likable mostly because of the way they interact with each other, roughly at times, but always with genuine concern. What the book unfortunately lacks is a climax. Readers are built up throughout, awaiting that event from which the turning point in June's ambivalence will come. As a result, the book rolls gently along and then ends. More exciting and per haps more tender treatments of child-grandparent relationships exist in Ma zer's Figure of Speech (Dell, 1986) and Byars' House of Wings (Viking, 1972), but this quietly-moving story merits a place in a middle school collection, es pecially one owning its predecessor. Joanne Aswell, Hunterdon County Library, Flemington, N.J.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
June finds sharing a house with her mother and her foster grandfather requires a difficult adjustment to his forgetfulness and his crabby remarks to her junior high school friends, but she also loves him as a family member.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• School & Library Binding: 124 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum; Library Binding edition (April 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689313993
• ISBN-13: 978-0689313998
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,773,883 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Alex, February 10, 2005

A Kid's Review

June Finch and her mother moved into Franklin Coopers house. June was excited about moving in. June and her mother think the six month "trial period" will be fun. when June was in sixth grade Franklin was at Reeds Retirement Ranch. While he was gone the house stood empty. June will ask him questions and tells her to try to except Franklins behavior. Junes mother tells her to try to except Franklins behavior, but June thinks it is unfair that she has to do the comprimising and giving in. She thinks her mother should do something to. It's not long before christmas and then a crisis occurs. This crisis helps June understand that she meeds to replace her vision at a good situation with a real life attitude.