The Encyclopedia of Me

by Karen Rivers

Overview

A is for "Tink Aaron-Martin," "Aardvark," and "Amazing" in this wonderful alphabetical novel!

Tink Aaron-Martin has been grounded AGAIN after an adventure with her best friend Freddie Blue Anderson. To make the time pass, she decides to write an encyclopedia of her life from "Aa" (a kind of lava--okay, she cribbed that from the real encyclopedia) to "Zoo" (she's never been to one, but her brothers belong there). As the alphabet unfolds, so does the story of Tink's summer: more adventures with Freddie Blue (and more experiences in being grounded); how her family was featured in a magazine about "Living with Autism," thanks to her older brother Seb--and what happened after Seb fell apart; her growing friendship, and maybe more, with Kai, a skateboarder who made her swoon (sort of). And her own sense that maybe she belongs not under "H" for "Hideous," or "I" for "Invisible," but "O" for "Okay."Written entirely in Tink's hilarious encyclopedia entries, The Encyclopedia of Me is both a witty trick and a reading treat for anyone who loves terrific middle-grade novels.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545469517
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	09/01/2012
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
Lexile:	760L (what's this?)
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Karen Rivers writes rich and funny novels for middle-grade readers, young adults, and the occasional grown-up. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her two children and a noxious-smelling dog. Visit her online at http://www.karenrivers.com and @karenrivers.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 5–8—Diminutive, biracial, freckled Isadora "Tink" Aaron-Martin is grounded for most of the summer after an incident with her best friend. She decides to write an encyclopedia, and in spite of the artificiality of the alphabetical format, Rivers has created a warm, funny, fast-paced story about an endearing middle schooler who keeps her cool and sense of humor when events spin out of control. Tink explains her role as the "Peacemaker" in a dysfunctional family whose lives tiptoe around the moods and rages of Tink's autistic older brother, Seb. As the summer progresses she finds friendship and a tender and diffident love interest in the boy next door, is humiliated in a disastrous photo shoot for a magazine article about families living with autistic children, and becomes good at skateboarding, an activity that replaces the detested ballet classes she has been taking at her mother's behest. When Seb becomes violent, leaving his twin brother badly hurt, Tink finally decides she has had enough of her peacemaking role. "Z" finds her in the arms of her boyfriend at the Zetroc Prom. Rivers delivers an appealingly heroine in Tink. She is original and authentic, and her story flows easily in spite of the tricky format.—Jane Barrer, Steinway Intermediate School, Long Island City, NY

School Library Journal

Rivers (What Is Real) uses a clever format—the story unfolds in encyclopedia entries instead of chapters—to introduce Isadora “Tink” Aaron-Martin, a candid, biracial almost-13-year-old who has some time on her hands while she’s grounded over the summer. Inspired by her father’s set of “ancient” encyclopedias, Tink sets out to write her own version (complete with footnotes), inviting readers to examine the people, places, and significant events in her corner of the universe. From Aa (“Almost always the first entry in any encyclopedia”) to “Zetroc Prom, The,” Tink recounts her tumultuous family life (one of her older brothers is autistic), her vacillating frustration with and loyalty toward her BFF, and her crush on “Boy, Blue-Haired, Who Just Moved in Next Door.” Tink lives up to her early claim of being an “unstoppable force of encyclopedia-writing brilliance,” providing pearls of adolescent wisdom, dazzling accounts of adventure, and one near brush with fame. Tink’s first-person narrative is vibrant and exuberantly opinionated, whether she is describing life with her hairless cat or pondering the meaning of her first kiss. Ages 10–14. Agent: FinePrint Literary Management. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

“Rivers has created a warm, funny, fast-paced story about an endearing middle schooler who keeps her cool and sense of humor when events spin out of control.” -- School Library Journal, starred review



“Cleverly woven through the titular encyclopedia–with entries as seemingly mundane as 'Apple' and 'Oxen'–is the touchingly real and often humorous story of a preteen's struggles with family, friendship and first love.” -- Kirkus Reviews



“The book is refreshingly up front about Tink's biracial heritage, Seb's autism, and the Aaron-Martin family dynamics, but it's also nuanced and sympathetic in its treatments; character interaction is observed with a particularly keen eye, while Tink's narration is a credible blend of perception and cluelessness…This sparky and engaging account will satisfy readers.” -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books



"The A–Z encyclopedia framework (complete with footnotes!) gets an A for effort… Tink is a charming, smart, and honest young protagonist, and this makes for a heartfelt, light, but not-quite-breezy read." -- Booklist



“Moving through the alphabet with Tink is an amusing, emotional journey…. Through the alphabet, the summer, and the start of the new school year, Tink remains true to herself, but her personality and confidence grow stronger, creating a light but sincere and spirited story.” -- Horn Book



"Rivers uses a clever format–the story unfolds in encyclopedia entries instead of chapters–to introduce Isadora “Tink” Aaron-Martin, a candid, biracial almost-13-year-old who has some time on her hands while she's grounded over the summer…. Tink's first-person narrative is vibrant and exuberantly opinionated, whether she is describing life with her hairless cat or pondering the meaning of her first kiss." -- Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

Cleverly woven through the titular encyclopedia--with entries as seemingly mundane as "Apple" and "Oxen"--is the touchingly real and often humorous story of a preteen's struggles with family, friendship and first love. Isadora "Tink" Aaron-Martin, nearly 13, means to make the most of her recent grounding by using her time on house arrest to write an encyclopedia, heavily annotated with footnotes. Frustrated by her reputation as the peacemaker, Tink's entries about life with an autistic brother are fresh and painfully honest. Rivers doesn't tiptoe around the destructive impact the syndrome can have on a family. Rather, through Tink, she explores what it's like to grow up in a house where everyone is constantly walking on eggshells, waiting for the next violent outburst. But family isn't the only place where Tink feels invisible. She also walks in the shadow of her "best friend," Freddie Blue Anderson, who seems to care more about being "pops" (popular) than about Tink. It isn't until a blue-haired skateboarder named Kai moves in next door that she gradually finds the strength to put herself first, both at home and at school. Though the footnotes feel gimmicky and distracting, readers will likely be able to look past them (or just skip over them) and cheer for Tink as she comes into her own. (Fiction. 12-14)

Kirkus Reviews