This book is so good on so many levels - from dealing with the very topical issue of horrific bullying; to revisiting the Viet Nam war with both humor and gravitas; to the beautiful magical realism of the wise and wise-cracking ants. The writing is concise and lyrical, like a poem, and every character grows in some unique and not predictable way. I mean in spite of all her faults, don't you end up rooting for Aunt Jodi?! Loved this book - anyone else?
Hi Mary - thanks for the comment. Please Ignore Vera Dietz won a Printz honor just last year. Everybody Sees the Ants is just as good. The author addresses bullying and abuse in both books, which is very topical now. In Ants, Lucky is bullied by a boy at school, and has been for years. He has told his parents and others, but nobody believes how serious it is, until something drastic happens. In Vera, the main character lives next door to a boy who, along with his mother, is abused by his father. Vera's parents don't do anything to stop it in spite of her pleas. So both books address the avoidance and denial that take place in the face of physical abuse.
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This book is so good on so many levels - from dealing with the very topical issue of horrific bullying; to revisiting the Viet Nam war with both humor and gravitas; to the beautiful magical realism of the wise and wise-cracking ants. The writing is concise and lyrical, like a poem, and every character grows in some unique and not predictable way. I mean in spite of all her faults, don't you end up rooting for Aunt Jodi?! Loved this book - anyone else?
I loved Please Ignore Vera Dietz. I can't wait to read this one.
Hi Mary - thanks for the comment. Please Ignore Vera Dietz won a Printz honor just last year. Everybody Sees the Ants is just as good. The author addresses bullying and abuse in both books, which is very topical now. In Ants, Lucky is bullied by a boy at school, and has been for years. He has told his parents and others, but nobody believes how serious it is, until something drastic happens. In Vera, the main character lives next door to a boy who, along with his mother, is abused by his father. Vera's parents don't do anything to stop it in spite of her pleas. So both books address the avoidance and denial that take place in the face of physical abuse.
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