Eleven and Holding audiobook

Great YA book-a mystery along with life lessons. Told by a great character named Macy-who is funny and adorable and persistent in her almost 12 year oldness!

3.5-4 stars. My 11-year old loved it. It’s a simple easy read but deals with big real life issues. It’s a story that makes you wonder as a parent when is the right time to talk to kids about big issues and how much info to give while giving the child’s perspective of being left in the dark.

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Normally I go into books hesitantly when the main character is 11 going on 12 years old, but this one was done beautifully. I’ve seen so many that are written very immaturely and I can tell you, working at a school that’s 6-8th graders, that’s seldom the case. This book is about loss, friendship, family struggles....it covers so many emotions. I loved that it was based around a military family and the struggles they go through-that topic seems a little rare for this age bracket. A beautiful and very quick read. I know I read on another review that it’s too sad and none of their students seek sad books. I have a list a mile long that would love this one!

A charming young reader book about accepting change. Macy has little foibles, that make her more realistic and relatable. A little mystery tied in with a major life change, set Macy on a journey of learning. Diverse cast of characters well portrayed, I especially liked the respect paid to mothers and grandmothers.

Found this book at my local Costco a couple years ago and thought it looked interesting. It was but feel this type of reading genre is for early middle school aged children hence it being in the children's section. Overall great book.

Loved this story. My only critique would be that the character sounded young for her age. This story address the effects of PTS on the war vet and their families and is a good read for young readers who may be experiencing the same feelings.

Timely topics, nicely handled.

I loved this book! It's full of warm, endearing characters, and it's got a wonderful storyline.

I'll be recommending this to anyone that liked "The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane "

I really enjoyed this book it is very realstic but I felt like the setting was a long time ago

I think that was a great book it mad me cry a couple of times but other than that it was a very good book!

lol I love this book, mainly cuz the main character has the same name as me, but parts of it were fun to read too.

Good

Macy has always thought of her military dad as her hero. This latest job though has kept him away from home longer than ever - not even coming home for her birthday - so she decides that she needs to go bring him home. As she deals with the loss of grandmother and her missing father, she learns that growing up isn't all it's cracked up to be. Not everything is the way that it looks or seems.

“eleven and holding” by Mary Penney addresses change and loss as filtered through the eyes of a young girl who is daunted by the absence of her beloved military father as well as the potential absence of her best friend Tui (who lets herself be known as Twee for pronunciation efficacy) while dealing with the permanent absence of her beloved grandmother, Nana. There are some things she can’t do anything about, like the creep who has bought her Nana’s coffee shop, or her annoying baby brother who adores his big sister, but there are other things she is not willing to give up without a fight, and she works diligently at finding a solution to other problems in her own inimitable style. This children’s story is a wonderfully deceptive story that starts with a simple premise and slowly becomes increasingly more poignant and emotional. I love the way the author invested me with Macy’s perspective and the reason for her frustration at her father’s absence, her antipathy against the man who purchased Macy’s grandmom’s coffee shop, and disinclination to advance to a new school without her best friend. The simple is combined with the complex as a lost dog, irritating boy, and apparently disloyal actions on the part of her mom evolve to a life-changing series of events that I believe would overwhelm anyone, let alone an almost-twelve-year-old. The contrast between the events and the town’s name is a nice allegory for the entire story. The phrasing of the story is whimsical and tilted just enough that I was able to see events through her eyes and become fascinated by her approach to challenges. I was very touched by this story and think that young and old alike will appreciate it, but warn readers to have the tissue box close at hand.A copy of this title was provided to me for review, a version of which has been submitted to Night Owl Reviews.