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Monday, October 14, 2013

MMGM-- Lily Alone and iPad Giveaway!

Lily AloneWilson, Jacqueline. Lily Alone
February 3rd 2011 by Doubleday Childrens
Copy provided by publisher

Lily loves her beautiful, vivacious young mother, but when Mum meets a new, younger man and goes off with him "for just a bit", eleven-year-old Lily finds herself in charge of her six-year-old twin brother and sister and her younger sister Pixie. At first, it's rather fun, because they can eat what they want and play in the park, but after a while the situation becomes more complicated. A nosy neighbor lady, as well as Lily's well meaning teacher, investigate too closely, and Lily decides the best thing to do it to live in the park until Mum comes back. The children find a hollow tree to live in, steal food off plates at a posh restaurant, and have a good time until tragedy occurs.
Strengths: This is a great book in the tradition of The Boxcar Children, where children are left to fend for themselves. It is similar to Nobody Knows, but the ending is much happier! Lily's reactions to her responsibility are real and raw. Enjoyed tremendously.
Weaknesses: All of Wilson's books are very British, but this book, along with The Illustrated Mum, is one that translates very nicely. This will get a good work out in February, when all of my seventh grade girls want problem novels.

Watch the really good book trailer and be really intrigued!


For the Jacqueline Wilson Blog Tour, there is an iPad giveaway with the codes for TEN of Ms. Wilson's books! How awesome is that? Entry mechanisms are
a) Answer the question “If you win, which of the new Jacqueline Wilson ebooks will you read first?”
b) Follow @JWilsonebooks on Twitter
c) Tweet “Win a mini iPad +10 ebooks from the UK's bestselling middle grade author Jacqueline Wilson! @jwilsonebooks”

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe and What Are You Reading? day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday, with the Round Up this week at Perogies and Gyoza.  

37 comments:

  1. I don't think I've read any of Jacqueline Wilson's novels as yet - this is an amazing giveaway. Lily Alone sounds like it deals with a lot of big themes that would be great for classroom discussion. :)

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  2. I wish this was being released in hardcover in the U.S. I know it would fly off my shelves.

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  3. When you referenced The Box Car Children, I was immediately interested. I probably read all of the original books and have purchased some of the newer ones for my school library. I would choose Lily Alone.

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  4. Anonymous8:12 AM EDT

    I haven't read her books either. This sounds like a really good one. Glad it has a happy ending. Thanks for the review.

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  5. Looks like you have a very busy week! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

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  6. It's a good start to the tour, Karen. Wish I had more time to read all these books, but will get to them in time! Thanks!

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  7. I'd read Lily Alone first - I used to devour books about kids who had to raise themselves (like the Tillerman books).

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  8. This sounds like a wonderful book - rich themes and interesting characters.

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  9. Why February? I reviewed a "problem" novel today too.

    I love that suspended realism of kids taking care of themselves in MG fiction.

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  10. Sounds like an interesting one. There are so many good books to read. And I was a total reading slacker the past week.

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  11. my girls always used to ask for the really depressing books in February ( the earth having hurtled away from the sun and all!), but this year it has been 6th graders wanting depressing books already. No idea why. the Carlson True Colors books are constantly checked out, and they've not circulated well recently. Rampant 6th grade depression?

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  12. I would read Lily Alone:)

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  13. No doubt, I'd read LILY ALONE first.

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  14. I'd love to read Diamond first!

    Rafflecopter name: Nicole Vosburgh

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  15. Lily Alone sounds great to me. You really got me with the Boxcar Children, because that's one of my favorite series. :)

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  16. I would read Lily Alone

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  17. I would read Hetty Feather first.

    lahlstedt (at) gmail (dot) com

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  18. I'd read Diamond first!

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  19. i think the ebook called the worst thing about my sister would be my favorite to read.

    orange048712@gmail.com

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  20. Great giveaway! I want to read the Longest Whale Song

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  21. i think i would read hettie feather first

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  22. Hettie Feather I think

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  23. ginette4
    I would read Lily Alone

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  24. I want to read My Sister Jodie.

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  25. I would download Diamond first.

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  26. I would read Alone first
    angukena at yahoo dot com
    Angie

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  27. I would love to read Diamond First.

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  28. I would read Diamond first.

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  29. None for me, but if I were to win I'd be gifting the books to a friend, she would probably read Lily Alone first

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