Quaking by Kathryn Erskine
Fourteen-year old Matt (Matilda), has been passed around from relative to relative since her mother's death. She creates a persona of a person that doesn't care since she does not want to get attached and get hurt by being sent away to another relative’s house. She has been sent to live with a Quaker family, Sam, Jessica and their foster child, Rory (a.k.a. The Blob), a disabled boy. She has one last opportunity to make things work, but she doesn't want to let her guard down since she is sure she is a disappointment to them. She hopes that they will tolerate her long enough for her to finish high-school (2 yrs.) and then move to Canada. The only problem now is surviving the high school bully (the Rat and his Vermin), pass World Civics class with Mr. Warhead (he is against Quakers and their belief in peace), and survive the love and affection that is given to her by her Quaker family. She is afraid she is going to crack and start believing in the meaning of family: that their will be someone their no matter what, to take care of her and love her to the fullest. She starts letting her guard down by feeling affection towards the Quaker trio and starts standing for what she believes in, Peace. When the Rat and his Vermin threaten the lives of those she loves, she takes a stand against him and all of those that want to hurt her new family. In the end, Matt saves Sam and the Quaker parishioners from being engulfed in flames and learns to take stand against all of those that have been terrorizing their community. She knows that she belongs to a family and that is something she won't let anyone take away again. I highly recommend this novel to students in Middle School or High-School. I enjoyed reading this book and I know many of our upper and middle grade students will like it. Several students will be able to see themselves in Matt. They have gone through or are still experiencing the same issues that she went through and of course they have also been singled out by the "Rats" and "Vermin" in this world. Students will also be able to view the other side of a person that dresses in goth clothing or maybe is a bit anti-social at school. They can relate with that person in the needs and wants that all young adults have and are craving for without even realizing it.
Fourteen-year old Matt (Matilda), has been passed around from relative to relative since her mother's death. She creates a persona of a person that doesn't care since she does not want to get attached and get hurt by being sent away to another relative’s house. She has been sent to live with a Quaker family, Sam, Jessica and their foster child, Rory (a.k.a. The Blob), a disabled boy. She has one last opportunity to make things work, but she doesn't want to let her guard down since she is sure she is a disappointment to them. She hopes that they will tolerate her long enough for her to finish high-school (2 yrs.) and then move to Canada. The only problem now is surviving the high school bully (the Rat and his Vermin), pass World Civics class with Mr. Warhead (he is against Quakers and their belief in peace), and survive the love and affection that is given to her by her Quaker family. She is afraid she is going to crack and start believing in the meaning of family: that their will be someone their no matter what, to take care of her and love her to the fullest. She starts letting her guard down by feeling affection towards the Quaker trio and starts standing for what she believes in, Peace. When the Rat and his Vermin threaten the lives of those she loves, she takes a stand against him and all of those that want to hurt her new family. In the end, Matt saves Sam and the Quaker parishioners from being engulfed in flames and learns to take stand against all of those that have been terrorizing their community. She knows that she belongs to a family and that is something she won't let anyone take away again. I highly recommend this novel to students in Middle School or High-School. I enjoyed reading this book and I know many of our upper and middle grade students will like it. Several students will be able to see themselves in Matt. They have gone through or are still experiencing the same issues that she went through and of course they have also been singled out by the "Rats" and "Vermin" in this world. Students will also be able to view the other side of a person that dresses in goth clothing or maybe is a bit anti-social at school. They can relate with that person in the needs and wants that all young adults have and are craving for without even realizing it.
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