Will You, Won't You? - Hardcover

Haas, Jessie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060291966 ISBN 13: 9780060291969

Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 2000

Synopsis

Mad Parker has just graduated from eighth grade, where she had nearly perfected the art of becoming invisible, unnoticed, gone-to teachers, to classmates, to her mother, almost to herself.  Now she is spending the summer ( a summer of Three Rs: riding, reading, rotting) with her grandmother, the Powerful Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. The Powerful Chair thinks that dancing-Scottish country dancing, to be exact-will help Mad get over her shyness. Torture.  That's what Mad thinks.  Is she really any point in going to the Chair's weekly dance class?

In the meantime Mad has other things to worry about.  Her horse has developed cow-phobia, e-mail indicates she may be losing her best friend, and being in her parents' hometown brings back thoughts of her father-L.G., he's called, for Long Gone, or G.R., for Good Riddance.

But when the Chair gets involved in a highly publicized environmental controversy, politics and, yes, Scottish dance show Mad the way courage grows.  And the surprising places new-grown courage can take you.

About this title

About the Author:

Jessie Haas is the author of numerous acclaimed books for young people, including Unbroken, which was a Publishers Weekly Best Book, a School Library Journal Best Book, a Parent's Choice Gold Award winner, a Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, and CCBC Choice. Her most recent novel, Shaper, won a Golden Kite Honor Award.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 6-9-Madeline (Mad) is packing to spend the summer with her grandmother (Gam) when her mother finds her Language Arts journal and reads an entry. "I have set a record-three consecutive school days without speaking a single word to anyone. No one meets my eye. I have actually become invisible!" Her concerned Mom threatens summer camp or a psychologist to help the 13-year-old overcome her shyness, but Gam, the Powerful Chair of Vermont's Senate Finance Committee, has a more effective plan. She takes her granddaughter along with her to her Scottish country-dancing group. Mad sees the difference between Gam's private life and her public persona and learns that her grandmother is also a shy person who has found her voice in politics. The passage of a controversial bill to ban clear-cut logging concludes the legislative term and Mad finds the courage to screen Gam's phone calls, to speak out at a public meeting, and to survive embarrassing mistakes. The girl's insightful thoughts and observations drive this first-person narrative, tempering fear and panic with a humorous voice. Mad keeps in touch with her best friend and her mother via e-mail, typing out her thoughts and deciding which ones to share or delete. She teaches her horse to overcome his fear of cows so they can ride the country trails surrounding Gam's house. Haas creates a large cast of well-rounded characters to weave engaging details about political life, Scottish country dancing, horse training, and personal growth. A lively and engaging coming-of-age story.
Laura Scott, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Greenwillow Books
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0060291966
• ISBN 13: 9780060291969
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176