Skinny Melon and Me - Hardcover

Ure, Jean

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0001856375 ISBN 13: 9780001856370

Publisher: Collins, 1996

Synopsis

This is the first title in Jean Ure’s acclaimed series of humorous, delightful and poignant stories written in the form of diaries and letters which make them immediately accessible to children.

Cherry's mother has just re-married, much to Cherry's disgust. The worst thing about her step-father is his name: Roland Butter. Can you imagine?

Cherry's best friend, Skinny Melon, is a sounding board for all Cherry's angsts - Roland's allergies for one - who wants a wimpy step-father, all sniffly and red-eyed? All this and curried compost school dinners to contend with.

But when Roland starts sending Cherry coded messages, her curiosity is aroused. Will she ever learn to live with, and even like, Roland Butter?

About this title

About the Author:

Jean Ure was born in Surrey and, when growing up, knew that she was going to be a writer or a ballet dancer. She began writing when she was six years old and had her first book published while she was still at school. Jean is a vegan and animal lover. She lives with her husband, seven dogs and four cats in a 300 year old house in Croydon

From School Library Journal:

Gr 3-6-Cherry Waterton is miserable. She hates her new stepfather, a skinny, bearded man who illustrates children's books for a living and is always trying to win her over by slipping silly coded messages under her door. She is especially upset when his allergies cause her mom to break her promise to buy a dog. Worst of all, her mother suddenly announces that she is expecting a baby. Cherry misses her dad, who lives miles from London with his new wife and has a job that keeps him busy. She complains about her problems to her best friend, Melanie, aka Skinny Melon, but Melanie thinks that Cherry is lucky to have someone like Slimey Roland for a stepfather. The story is told through Cherry's diary entries and sketches, supplemented by Roland's notes and occasional letters written by her mother to a friend in Texas. Ure does a wonderful job of capturing the misunderstandings that come between the 11-year-old and her mother, Roland's well-intentioned attempts to win the love of his new stepdaughter, and Cherry's growing appreciation for her quirky and compassionate stepdad. Although some of the British words may make Roland's rebus messages difficult to decipher, they are eventually explained. The title is a little misleading, since the story focuses more on Cherry's relationship with Roland than on her friendship with Skinny Melon. A wonderfully entertaining, humorous, and thoughtful novel.-Ashley Larsen, Woodside Library, CA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Collins
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0001856375
• ISBN 13: 9780001856370
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 156
• Illustrator: Fisher Chris & Bailey Peter