United Tates Of America - Softcover

Danziger, Paula

3.63

201 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0590692224 ISBN 13: 9780590692229

Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks, 2003

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Best-selling children's book author Paula Danziger brings us the perfect novel for middle grade readers--a touching story incorporating the themes of friendship,loss, love and perseverance.

Skate Tate hates change. But her whole life is changing at once. It's just not fair! Sixth grade is tough. Her new school is bigger, the classes are harder, and Skate's group of close friends is growing apart.

Only her Great Uncle Mort (GUM for short) can help her deal with it all. He's not afraid of anything. When tragedy strikes, GUM sends Skate and her family on a road trip that will change their lives forever--starting with Plymouth, Massachusetts. Skate is taking it all down in her scrapbook, but will she ever learnhow to handle what lies just around the corner?

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Review:

Sarah Kate Tate, otherwise known as Skate Tate, has mixed feelings about middle school. Her best friend, Susie, seems to be undergoing a sea change, causing her to hang around with a girl named Kiki ("I think that Kiki is a silly name. It sounds like a choking sound, Kiki."), dye her hair blue, and lose interest in The Happy Scrappys, the scrapbook-making club they've been in since third grade. Fortunately, Skate's favorite person in the world, GUM (Great Uncle Mort), is always helping her remember not to be afraid of what's "around the corner." But when tragedy strikes, how can Skate find the courage to go on, let alone see what's around the corner?

Paula Danziger (Snail Mail No More, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, the Amber Brown series, etc.) has her finger directly on the pulse of sixth-grade life in this authentic novel about the very normal, bubbly Skate. Her scrapbook insert could be out of any middle-school girl's world, with happy faces, goofy photos, silly captions, and mementos from vacation spots. Readers will probably want to go out and start "cropping" their own scrapbook right away! (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

From the Publisher:

United Tates of America is a multi-voiced recording narrated by Carmen Viviano-Crafts and the talented Full Cast Audio family of actors. Author Paula Danziger makes her acting debut in this production as sixth-grade teacher Mrs. Lipschitz. Seventeen-year-old Carmen Viviano-Crafts' brilliant portrayal of a young girl dealing with the family, friends, school and the loss of a favorite uncle will make you laugh and cry. Reminiscent of classic radio drama, this wonderful audiobook is even better because it contains the full, unabridged text. Special Feature: An exclusive interview with author Paula Danziger who talks about what inspired her to write this story.

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