United Tates of America - Hardcover

Paula Danziger

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0744590655 ISBN 13: 9780744590654

Publisher: Walker, 2002

Synopsis

Skate Tate has a good life. She has close friends, a loving family, and her beloved Great Uncle Mort (GUM for short) who lives every day as if it were an adventure. Skate would like things to stay just the way they are. But life doesn’t work that way. For one thing, Skate has to figure out the strange new world of Biddle Middle, where eighth graders rule the roost, old friendships start to change, and a lowly sixth-grader has to struggle to make a place for herself. But other, more painful changes, are also in store for the Tates, and the story of how this close knit family responds to sudden tragedy will move and delight listeners everywhere. Told with her trademark wit and wisdom, filled with big laughs and unexpected tears, Paula Danziger’s newest novel is one of her finest achievements.

About this title

Review:

Sarah Kate Tate, otherwise known as Skate Tate, has mixed feelings about middle school. Her best friend, Susie, seems to be undergoing a sea change, causing her to hang around with a girl named Kiki ("I think that Kiki is a silly name. It sounds like a choking sound, Kiki."), dye her hair blue, and lose interest in The Happy Scrappys, the scrapbook-making club they've been in since third grade. Fortunately, Skate's favorite person in the world, GUM (Great Uncle Mort), is always helping her remember not to be afraid of what's "around the corner." But when tragedy strikes, how can Skate find the courage to go on, let alone see what's around the corner?

Paula Danziger (Snail Mail No More, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, the Amber Brown series, etc.) has her finger directly on the pulse of sixth-grade life in this authentic novel about the very normal, bubbly Skate. Her scrapbook insert could be out of any middle-school girl's world, with happy faces, goofy photos, silly captions, and mementos from vacation spots. Readers will probably want to go out and start "cropping" their own scrapbook right away! (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

From the Publisher:

United Tates of America is a multi-voiced recording narrated by Carmen Viviano-Crafts and the talented Full Cast Audio family of actors. Author Paula Danziger makes her acting debut in this production as sixth-grade teacher Mrs. Lipschitz. Seventeen-year-old Carmen Viviano-Crafts' brilliant portrayal of a young girl dealing with the family, friends, school and the loss of a favorite uncle will make you laugh and cry. Reminiscent of classic radio drama, this wonderful audiobook is even better because it contains the full, unabridged text. Special Feature: An exclusive interview with author Paula Danziger who talks about what inspired her to write this story.

About this edition

• Publisher: Walker
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0744590655
• ISBN 13: 9780744590654
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 123