  | Ivy in the shadows Author: Woodworth, Chris | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
To make ends meet, twelve-year-old Ivy's mother goes to work as a waitress and takes in a boarder, a strange boy named Caleb who Ivy is sure is a liar.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.00 Points: 6.0 Quiz: 157171 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 6-8 Reading Level: 3.70 Points: 11.0 Quiz: 60401 | |
Common Core Standards
Grade 3 → Reading → RL Literature → 3.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 3 → Reading → RL Literature → Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Rang
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Rang
Grade 5 → Reading → RL Literature → 5.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 5 → Reading → RL Literature → Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Rang
Grade 6 → Reading → RL Literature → 6.RL Craft & Structure
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (12/15/12)
School Library Journal (03/01/13)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (04/13)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 03/01/2013 Gr 5–7—A character-driven novel situated in a small Indiana town. After her stepfather leaves, 12-year-old Ivy feels like she's bickering all the time with her Mama, who is trying to keep the family afloat. First her mother makes them join a church to ask for help, and then she lets weird kid Caleb board with them when his guardians move to a town three hours away. Meanwhile, Ivy can't fathom her best friend's sudden desperation to befriend a popular girl and wear new clothes and makeup. Ivy comes across as a strong but genuine seventh grader voicing her legitimate worries without devolving into angst. The characters feel true and the story line never lags. Woodworth anchors the mystery surrounding Caleb's obsession with telling stories about missionaries in Haiti between the adults' ongoing drama and Ivy's friendship ups-and-downs so that questions about the strange boy's background persist, nagging Ivy (and readers) until the conclusion. This is a book with a memorable cast that can be recommended to readers who don't mind adults holding prominent roles in their fiction, e.g., fans of Hilary McKay or Wendy Mass.—Rhona Campbell, Georgetown Day School, Washington, DC - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Bulletin for the Center... - 04/01/2013 Twelve-year-old Ivy is none too pleased with her mother as of late: recently divorced, Mom has landed a job as a waitress (putting Ivy in charge of her little brother JJ for the first time), befriended their church’s single pastor, and agreed to provide room and board for Caleb, the son of traveling missionaries. In addition to the turmoil brought by her mother’s new job and Caleb’s presence in her home, Ivy is also struggling with her best friend, Ellen, who’s beginning to chase the popular crowd at Ivy’s expense. When Ivy’s mom’s best friend, “Aunt” Maureen, swoops in to help care for Ivy, JJ, and Caleb while Ivy’s mom works, Ivy is both relieved and angry at Maureen for usurping Ivy’s newly found familial authority. This is pleasantly meaty stuff for a middle-grade novel, and Woodworth’s characters are wonderfully and credibly complex, especially the adults. Kids going through their own friendship woes will sympathize with Ivy as she wrestles with her relationships with Caleb and Ellen; in a refreshing and realistic twist, Ellen doesn’t see the error of her ways but in fact chooses mean popular girl Alexa over Ivy. Readers who gravitate towards family drama and friendship stories will find plenty to appreciate here. JH - Copyright 2013 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.
