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Absolutely Almost Paperback – May 5, 2015
| Lisa Graff (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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Albie has never been the smartest kid in his class. He has never been the tallest. Or the best at gym. Or the greatest artist. Or the most musical. In fact, Albie has a long list of the things he's not very good at. But then Albie gets a new babysitter, Calista, who helps him figure out all of the things he is good at and how he can take pride in himself.
A perfect companion to Lisa Graff's National Book Award-nominated A Tangle of Knots, this novel explores a similar theme in a realistic contemporary world where kids will easily be able to relate their own struggles to Albie's. Great for fans of Rebecca Stead's Liar and Spy, RJ Palacio's Wonder and Cynthia Lord's Rules.
Praise for Lisa Graff's novels
Tangle of Knots (nominated for a National Book Award)
* "Combining the literary sensibility of E. B. White with the insouciance of Louis Sachar, Graff has written a tangle that should satisfy readers for years to come."--Booklist, starred review
Double Dog Dare
"Graff's...story is lighthearted and humorous, but honestly addresses the emotions associated with divorce. Her characters' voices, interactions, and hangups are relatable, as they battle each other and adjust to their families' reconfigurations."--Publishers Weekly
- Print length320 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level3 - 7
- Lexile measure750L
- Dimensions5.13 x 0.82 x 7.75 inches
- PublisherPuffin Books
- Publication dateMay 5, 2015
- ISBN-100147508576
- ISBN-13978-0147508577
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Editorial Reviews
Review
" Graff’s gentle story invokes evergreen themes of coming to appreciate one’s strengths (and weaknesses), and stands out for its thoughtful, moving portrait of a boy who learns to keep moving forward, taking on the world at his own speed.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Achingly superb, Albie’s story shines.” - Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“…Albie comes through significant emotional hardship to a genuine sense of self-worth.” – SLJ, starred review
“Beautifully written, Albie’s story is accessible and dignified, with a gentle message that will touch any reader’s heart. Middle-grade readers will love the references to Dav Pilkey’s inexhaustibly popular Captain Underpants series, which has introduced so many children to the fun side of reading. A perfect book to share with struggling readers.” - Booklist, starred review
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
"Not everybody can be the rock at the top of the rock pile.” That’s what my grandpa Park said to my mom once when they thought I was asleep, or just not listening, I don’t know. But my ears work fine. “There have to be some rocks at the bottom, to support those at the top.”
I sat in my bedroom, knocking the army men one by one off my windowsill. Dad said I was getting too old to play with them, so I didn’t play, just knocked them over. Plunk, plunk, plunk, on the bedspread. But I did it quiet so no one would hear. plunk . . . plunk. For some reason, I felt heavy inside, listening to them talk out in the living room. Or maybe heavy on the outside, like something was pressing down on top of me, when really it was nothing but air. plunk. plunk.
If I listened real close, I could hear Grandpa Park’s ice clicking in his glass when he lifted it to drink.
plunk.
It was quiet in the living room, no talking, only ice, for a long time. When I got to the last army man, I didn’t set them up again right away. I stared at them on the bed, knocked over sideways or on their bellies. On some you could see the black marker where I’d marked their feet when I first learned to write my name. A for Albie.
It was quiet so long that I thought my mom must’ve gone to bed, and it was just Grandpa Park out there with his glass, drinking down till the ice melted like he usually did when he came to visit. But then Mom said something, so I knew she hadn’t gone to bed after all. She said it real quiet, but I heard.
“Albie’s not a rock,” she said.
Product details
- Publisher : Puffin Books; Illustrated edition (May 5, 2015)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 320 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0147508576
- ISBN-13 : 978-0147508577
- Reading age : 9 - 11 years, from customers
- Lexile measure : 750L
- Grade level : 3 - 7
- Item Weight : 8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.13 x 0.82 x 7.75 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #158,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #284 in Children's Books on Disabilities
- #677 in Children's Parents Books
- #3,668 in Children's Friendship Books
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Lisa Graff is the author of several middle-grade novels, including THE THING ABOUT GEORGIE, UMBRELLA SUMMER, and A TANGLE OF KNOTS. She enjoys reading, baking, and playing board games. She is exceedingly proud to have twice placed fourth from last at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. A former children's book editor, Lisa now writes full-time from her home in New York City.
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The book is sad but exciting. I was sad when it ended. I was able to imagine everything that was happening so it wasn’t confusing. I wish there was another one!








