The Naked Mole-Rat Letters - Hardcover

Amato, Mary

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0823419274 ISBN 13: 9780823419272

Publisher: Holiday House, 2005

Synopsis

When her father begins a long-distance romance with a Washington, D.C. zookeeper, twelve-year-old Frankie sends fabricated e-mail letters to the zookeeper in an attempt to end the relationship in this story about family, friendship, and growing up.

About this title

About the Author:

Mary Amato is known for her comic middle-grade novels. She is the author of the popular seller "The Word Eater", which appeared on many state lists, and the recent "Snarf Attack", "Underfoodle", and the "Secret of Life", which Library School Journal called "hilarious". She is also a storyteller, poet, puppeteer, mask-maker, and quilt-maker. Ms. Amato makes her home just outside of Washington, D.C. This is her third novel.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 5-7–Frankie Wallop is shocked when she reads an e-mail sent to her widowed father by a woman he met recently. Not only does it sound as though the two have spent time together, but also that there was a kiss involved. Immediately taking the situation in hand, the 12-year-old responds to Ayanna with the sound advice to never write her dad again–he is much too busy with his family, especially Frankie's two younger brothers who have some sort of horrible disease. Now that she has sorted that out, she can turn her attention to the upcoming audition for the school play, convinced that the lead will be hers. Frankie is about to find out that life does not always follow one's plans. Not only does Ayanna keep writing back, asking Frankie about her life and describing her own job as the keeper of the naked mole-rats at the National Zoo, but unhappy thoughts that her father might remarry also keep creeping into her mind. Not getting the part in the play is also a deep blow, and she does not know how to cope. The straight-A student finds herself ditching school, lying to her teachers, shutting out her best friend, and ignoring the needs of her younger brothers. Through the e-mails to Ayanna and her own diary entries, readers follow Frankie's struggles with disappointment, anger, loss, and growing up. Only after a family crisis does she finally talk with her father and begin to work things out. A fairly predictable story, but one with solid relationships and refreshing characterizations.–Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA
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About this edition

• Publisher: Holiday House
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0823419274
• ISBN 13: 9780823419272
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 208