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Quaking (Hardcover)

by Kathryn Erskine (Author) "Families come in all varieties but with no warranties..." (more)
Key Phrases: peace club, blue pot, Meeting House, World Civ, George Fox (more...)

5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Fourteen-year-old Matt (short for Matilda) arrives at her latest foster home and discovers that her new guardians have personalities--and convictions--as strong as her own. Unwillingly at first, Matt eventually accompanies foster parent Sam to Quaker Friends' meetings. She also learns to cope with a new school, where she likes most of the classes but fears a bully and her world civ. teacher. A series of attacks on area houses of worship--presumably by locals angered by antiwar sentiments espoused by the Quaker congregation members--builds to a heavily foreshadowed climax. In spite of Matt's rather quick adjustment to family life after years of fear and emotional deadening, this is a compelling story, which enfolds the political issues into a deeper focus on the characters' personal stories. Idealistic teens will be interested in Matt's growing acceptance of her new family, of Quaker values, and of her need to take action, rather than simply observe. Francisca Goldsmith
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
Don’t call her Matilda. Her name is Matt. And don’t even think about getting close to her. She doesn’t need anyone. Can’t you tell by looking at her, dressed all in black with a spider painted on her face and her ice-cold stare? But most of all, do not bully her. She has been through it all already.

But everything changes for fourteen-year-old Matt when she moves in with peaceful Quakers Sam and Jessica Fox, who are active in the movement against the war in the Middle East. Soon, conflict arises in town over the war, and suddenly, no one is safe. Matt fears for her safety and the safety of her new family. Could the boy who terrorizes her at school be behind it all? And how can she save the family she is actually growing to love when her fear always leaves her quaking?

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Product Details

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Philomel (June 21, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399247742
ISBN-13: 978-0399247743
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #461,273 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#26 in Books > Children's Books > Issues > Tolerance
#80 in Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Issues > Dysfunctional Relationships

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
Families come in all varieties but with no warranties. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
peace club, blue pot

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Meeting House, World Civ, George Fox, Maggie Mahone, Casa Quaker, Selective Service, Middle East, Little House, Quaker Cloak, Sam Fox, Michelin Man, Our Lady of Peace, United States, Alpha Quaker, Franklin High, Inner Light, Rabbi Sterns, United Nations

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews

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5.0 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An awesome debut novel! Entertaining! Educational! Explosive!, January 9, 2008

By	Betty L. Dravis "BettyDravis@gmail.com, autho... (Silicon Valley, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

When I saw "Quaking" reviewed on the TeensReadToo web site, I mentioned it to my best friend who is a Quaker. She said she'd read it and found it very moving, and encouraged me to read it too. I'm certainly glad I did.

What she failed to tell me is that it's a kid's book--and I love to read kid's books. Actually, Amazon has it listed in the 9-12 age range, but since the protagonist is fourteen, it should be listed as Young Adult (YA). Personally, I think it's one of those books that's a cross-over, written to appeal to adults as well as kids ... like so many YA books are.

Kathryn Erskine's debut novel tells the story of Matt (and DON'T call her Matilda!) who is an abused fourteen-year-old shunted from one foster home to another. Matt dresses Goth and memorizes the floor, hiding from the trauma of her past, spurning all offers of kindness and care. What a culture shock for her to end up in the home of Quakers Sam and Jessica Fox!

The story builds in intensity as Matt begins to care about her foster parents and becomes involved with the Quaker peace testimony. Feelings about the war in the Middle East run high in her school and her town, with the school bully ("the Rat") and a teacher ("Mr. Warhead") leading the charge against local pacifists.

Matt tries to hide her fear of the Rat and his gang, but as the town begins to erupt with violent attacks against houses of worship, she knows it's only a matter of time until the Quaker Meeting House and her foster father are victims. Eventually, in an explosive ending, Matt finds her voice and the strength to face her fear and stand up for her own convictions.

The author challenges herself by telling the story in Matt's own voice and does a masterful job of bringing the strong, loving girl out of her protective shell. She uses icons of a happy childhood to expose cracks in Matt's armor. The mesmerizing rhythm of Dr. Seuss's "Green Eggs and Ham" find the first chink: <<"And then I remember how dangerous it is to go to that place. The place you think is safe. Because it is not.">>

Jessica's homemade soup dissolves the last of Matt's defenses: <<"I love this soup. I want to hide in this soup, among its carrots and potatoes and celery and chicken and warm breath ... I want to fall asleep in this soup, wrapping myself in its wide noodles and using a soft lima bean for a pillow.">>

That last passage is like magic to me; a marvelous image that may be my favorite in the entire book!

I particularly enjoyed this book because I learned more about my friend's church. "Quaking" reveals a lot about Quakers and their testimonies, but first and foremost, it's a brilliant YA novel about a young girl who opens her heart to unconditional love. I recommend this beautifully written story for the whole family.

Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quaking - the shaking before the calm, June 30, 2007

By	Moira Rose Donohue "Moira" (Falls Church, VA United States) - See all my reviews

QUAKING is a book about seeking peace. It tells the tale of an exceptionally bright girl named Matt who has been thrown about and bruised by the foster care system so often that she has developed a dark, tough exterior to cover the fears that often find her quaking. When she lands with Sam and his family of gentle, peace-seeking Quakers, she discovers that sometimes you have to face your fears instead of hiding from them. Few readers will fail to identify, down into their innermost core, with the basic terrors that haunt Matt. And no one can help but rejoice as Matt forces herself to rise about them to help her new family in it's quest for a peaceful existence. Erskine writes even the simplest scenes with gut-wrenching emotion. And her masterful treatment of the love that Sam and his family show Matt, such as when Jessica bakes Matt a pie, will leave the reader in tears. But most importantly, this is a must-read for young people left confused by today's enviroment of intolerance and war. A great debut novel (hope there will be more!)and an unforgettable read that will leave you quaking.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, August 20, 2007

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

How can you not love a book that starts like this:

"Families come in all varieties but with no warranties. I have lived with first cousins twice removed, second cousins once removed, and now a third cousin who is removing herself. I call her Loopy. Because of her large earrings. And because she is insane.

Loopy drives like a ten-year-old car thief on a sugar high."

From the very beginning, Matt (not Mattie, and certainly not Matilda) has a chip on her shoulder. She's angry and cynical, and she has good reason to be. Loopy is about to dump her off at "the next hostile takeover."

"I finally found a second cousin of mine, but you need to make it work, Matt. This is the end of the line for you."

The end of the line is the home of Sam and Jessica Fox and their disabled foster son, the Blob. These aren't Matt's kind of people. For one thing, they're Quakers. They believe so strongly in peace that they don't even have the good sense to run and hide when bullies challenge them. They just stand there. That's what Sam calls it--taking a stand. As far as Matt can tell, it's just being plain stupid. Everyone knows you're supposed to run from bullies, and that's just that she intends to do if the Rat decides to make her the next Victim of bullying at her new school.

Kathryn Erskine never underestimates her readers as she allows this story to push the limits and tackle issues that most sweep under the rug when company is coming. I love Matt's sarcastic commentary on the state of the world as she faces the challenge of her own life. There is no doubt that this character is strong and capable--much like the writer who created her.

This is a book I'll keep on my shelf and come back to again and again.

Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!
I love everything about this novel! This is one of the most powerful teen novels I've read so far. It has all the ingredients for a great read: real characters, strong emotions,... Read more

Published 9 months ago by Sandra McLeod Humphrey

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Book of 2007
Kathryn Erskine respects her readers. She tackles subjects that others seem to avoid like the plague. Read more

Published 10 months ago by Julie M. Prince

5.0 out of 5 stars Bush's badlands
Fourteen-year-old Matt (Matilda) is a Goth, but that partially a pose to keep the world away. She uses her look, and her humor - a knife-like sarcasm - to avoid connection and... Read more

Published 21 months ago by Patrick Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars As an Author I am in awe of this book!
If you are mad at the war in Iraq you will like this book. If you wonder how it feels to be a foster kid tossed from house to house, you will love this book. Read more

Published 21 months ago by Beckie Weinheimer

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving story of love and change.
Kathryn Erskine's QUAKING tells of Matt, who dresses in Gothic black and defies everyone until she moves in with a peaceful Quaker family in Pennsylvania. Read more

Published 22 months ago by Midwest Book Review

5.0 out of 5 stars on my top shelf for reading
my mother was fortunate enough to room w/ this author in college so we are fortunate to learn of her latest &greatest accomplishments in writing. Read more

Published 23 months ago by Avid Reader

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping tale
Matt is a fourteen-year-old who's been a victim of abuse. She's be shuttled off to numerous foster homes until she finally ends up with a Quaker family. Read more

Published 23 months ago by Kim Baccellia, YA author

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and Timely
Looking for a young adult book that will engage a young reader and open the door to discussions about peace, tolerance, and true courage? This is the book. Read more

Published on July 9, 2007 by Francesca

5.0 out of 5 stars top-notch debut
So often readers are asked to embrace characters who've been abandoned, and hardened by that abandonement. Read more

Published on July 1, 2007 by A. Vernick

› See all 12 customer reviews...

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