Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Roadside Attraction
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S): Higgins, Melissa
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.melissa-higgins.com/
CITY:
STATE: AZ
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
http://www.melissa-higgins.com/fiction.html * http://www.melissa-higgins.com/about.html
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: n 2011039229
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/n2011039229
HEADING: Higgins, M. G.
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035 __ |a (OCoLC)oca08883459
040 __ |a DLC |b eng |e rda |c DLC |d IOrQBI
046 __ |f 1953 |2 edtf
100 1_ |a Higgins, M. G.
370 __ |a Los Angeles (Calif.) |e Arizona |2 naf
374 __ |a Counselors |a Authors |2 lcsh
500 1_ |a Higgins, Melissa, |d 1953-
670 __ |a Higgins, M. G. Power hitter, 2012: |b ECIP t.p. (M.G. Higgins)
670 __ |a Melissa Higgins web site, viewed Aug. 29, 2016 |b (Melissa Higgins was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Southern California; now lives with her husband in Arizona; before becoming a full-time writer, Melissa worked as a school counselor and had a private counseling practice; Fiction by M.G. Higgins; Nonfiction by Melissa Higgins) |u http://www.melissa-higgins.com/about.html
953 __ |a xc09
PERSONAL
Born 1953, in Los Angeles, CA; married.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Has worked as school counselor and run private counseling practice.
AVOCATIONS:Reading, hiking, photography, drawing.
MEMBER:Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
AWARDS:Medals from Independent Publisher Book Awards and the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.
WRITINGS
Author of additional novels and nonfiction books.
SIDELIGHTS
M.G. Higgins, a former school counselor, writes novels for young people, often addressing challenging issues. She also writes nonfiction for a juvenile audience under the name Melissa Higgins.
Falling out of Place
Falling out of Place deals with a teenage girl who suffers because she does not measure up to her family’s expectations. Gabby Herrera has two sisters who seem to be perfect at everything, while she excels only at basketball. When she brings home a report card with a C-minus average, her parents order her to quit the basketball team and take a part-time job at a warehouse. There, Gabby, who is already deeply depressed, drifts into using alcohol and drugs with her older colleagues. The one person who offers her emotional support is her uncle Mike, but he is relying on her for support as well. She is the only member of the family who knows he is gay, and he is wrestling with whether to come out to the others. Gabby’s problems eventually become so serious as to threaten her life.
The novel, tailored to teens who find reading challenging, received some positive critical response. Higgins’s “many-layered tale” is “unusually expressive for its simple vocabulary,” related a Kirkus Reviews contributor. Alicia Abdul, writing in Voice of Youth Advocates, recommended Falling out of Place but added: “The biggest disappointment is the sanguine ending.” An online reviewer at Manga Maniac Cafe noted that the conclusion is “probably too upbeat and not realistic, but I liked it.” This reviewer further commented that the story “is told with so much heart that I couldn’t put it down. It’s a fast, powerful read with so much emotion stuffed into its short length.” In Booklist, Heather Booth remarked that with its “compelling first-person narrative” and “brisk pacing,” the novel “should have significant appeal to struggling readers.”
Bi-normal
Bi-normal focuses on bisexuality, a subject not often featured in teen literature. Brett Miller, a high school football star with a beautiful girlfriend, Jillia, is puzzled by his simultaneous attraction to a male classmate, Zach. Unsure how to react, he pressures Jillia to have sex with him, but he also seeks advice from a gay student, Nate, even though at times Brett and his friends have made Nate a target of their homophobic bullying. Thanks in part to his supportive family and a bisexual adult he meets through Nate, Brett is eventually able to accept himself and his feelings.
Several critics deemed Bi-normal sensitive and well-written. The novel is “compact yet thoughtful,” and “the first-person point of view enables the reader to empathize with Brett’s confusion,” observed Kara Dean in Booklist. An online reviewer at Broke by Books found the protagonist “well developed” and “really authentic,” and the book “an excellent novel that dealt with a delicate subject.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor termed it “a short but nonetheless expressive coming-out story” that will give readers “plenty to think about.” A commentator at the Bisexual Books Web site concluded: “This is the book bisexual teens have been waiting for.”
Offside
The main character in Offside, Faith Patel, has a lot for a teenager to handle: her studies, playing on her high school’s soccer team, and often taking care of her three younger siblings while their recently widowed mother works night shifts as a nurse. Faith has been finding soccer a challenge lately, but when her coach switches her to a new position, her performance and attitude improve. Faith develops a crush on the coach, though, and some of her teammates think he reciprocates, so they begin to resent Faith and tease her. The story explores the complex dynamics of teen loyalties and misunderstandings along the way to a positive resolution for Faith.
Some reviewers termed Offside another appealing, thoughtful novel from Higgins. Her “briskly paced tale, skillfully alternating the drama with the sports, will capture readers’ attention,” remarked a Kirkus Reviews commentator. The author, added a Publishers Weekly contributor, offers “sharp, authentic dialogue and engaging soccer action” while dealing with “a range of issues.” Adriana Garcia, writing at a Web site called She’s Got Books on Her Mind, praised the portrayal of Faith, saying: “The book may have been just a little over one hundred pages but I really got a sense of who Faith is and what her story was telling me.” A blogger on the Phantom Paragrapher Web site summed up Offside as “a nice, quick and easy read” that highlights the hazards of becoming infatuated with a teacher or coach.
I'm Just Me
Higgins addresses religious discrimination and other contemporary problems in I’m Just Me. At a high school in Iowa, a friendship forms between two outsiders. Nasreen is the only Muslim girl at Arondale High School, and she has long felt isolated. Mia, newly arrived from Chicago, is the only African-American student, and she befriends Nasreen and helps defend her against bullies. There are some obstacles to their relationship; Nasreen’s parents are a bit bothered by the fact that Mia is a Christian, while Mia is keeping a secret — she has moved in with her grandmother in Iowa because her mother has gone to jail. Their friendship is strong nonetheless, but as they stand up to Nasreen’s tormentors, the harassment only intensifies. They try to persuade adults to intervene, without success, so finally they devise a creative plan to combat the bullying. Higgins tells the story by alternating Nasreen’s and Mia’s points of view.
Several critics considered I’m Just Me a powerful and relevant story. With its “engrossingly realistic plot” and Higgins’s “fluid and accessible” writing style, the novel “will appeal to reluctant and ravenous readers alike,” reported Kim Carter in Voice of Youth Advocates. A blogger at Book Worm Insider thought the characters and some aspects of the story were rather underdeveloped but praised the work overall, saying: “This is a great novel to teach students about accepting people as they are.” In an online review at Prezi, Cynthia Maravilla commended the book without reservation. Higgins, she related, “did an amazing job in explaining these two teenage girls’ stories.” I’m Just Me, Maravilla continued, “is great for anyone who enjoys books about people coming together.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, April 15, 2012, John Peters, review of Power Hitter, p. 68; February 1, 2013, Heather Booth, review of Falling out of Place, p. 61; July 1, 2013, Kara Dean, review of Bi-normal, p. 66; September 15, 2015, Kara Dean, review of Rodeo Princess, p. 64; February 15, 2016, John Peters, review of Iggy, p. 75.
Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2012, review of Falling out of Place; March 1, 2013, review of Offside; May 15, 2013, review of Bi-normal; August 15, 2014, review of The Soldier.
Publishers Weekly, April 22, 2013, review of Offside, p. 57.
Voice of Youth Advocates, February, 2013, Alicia Abdul, review of Falling out of Place, p. 564; June, 2014. Kim Carter, review of I’m Just Me, p. 59.
ONLINE
Bisexual Books, http://www.bisexualbooks.com/ (March 30, 2017), review of Bi-normal.
Book Worm Insider, http://librarianscoop.blogspot.com/ (July 7, 2015), review of I’m Just Me.
Broke by Books, http://brokebybooks.com/ (December 6, 2014), review of Bi-normal.
Capstone Publishing Web site, http://www.capstonepub.com/ (March 30, 2017), brief biography.
Manga Maniac Cafe, http://www.mangamaniaccafe.com/ (November 5, 2012), review of Falling out of Place.
M.G. Higgins Home Page, http://www.mghiggins.com (March 30, 2017).
Phantom Paragrapher, http://thephantomparagrapher.blogspot.com/ (December 27, 2012), review of Offside.
Prezi, https://prezi.com/ (April 3, 2015), Cynthia Maravilla, review of I’m Just Me.
Progressive Pupil, https://progressivepupil.wordpress.com/ (January 28, 2014), review of The Night Dad Went to Jail: What to Expect When Someone You Love Goes to Jail.
She’s Got Books on Her Mind, http://shesgotbooksonhermind.blogspot.com/ (January 26, 2013), Adriana Garcia, review of Offside.*
• Melissa Higgins was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Southern California.
• She now lives with her husband in Arizona.
• Before becoming a full-time writer, Melissa worked as a school counselor and had a private counseling practice.
• She is a proud member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
• Besides reading, her favorite hobbies include hiking, photography, and drawing.
Melissa Higgins
Melissa Higgins has written more than 100 fiction and nonfiction books for children, including titles for the Capstone imprints Pebble, Pebble Plus, Picture Window, Snap, and Stone Arch. Her books have received medals from the Independent Publisher Book Awards and the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. Before becoming a full-time writer, Melissa worked as a school counselor and had a private counseling practice. When not reading or writing, she enjoys hiking and taking photographs in the Arizona desert where she lives with her husband and two shy kitties. You can visit Melissa’s website (www.mghiggins.com) to learn more about her books.
Quoted in Sidelights: engrossingly realistic plot
fluid and accessible
will appeal to reluctant and ravenous readers alike.
Higgins, M. G. I'm Just Me
Kim Carter
Voice of Youth Advocates.
37.2 (June 2014): p59.
COPYRIGHT 2014 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
5Q * 4P * S
Higgins, M. G. I'm Just Me. Saddleback, 2014. 204p. $9.95 Trade pb. 978-1-62250721-4.
As the only Muslim girl at Arondale High, Nasreen is used to keeping her head down on the bus and at school, but when she suddenly finds
herself befriended by new student Mia, the only African American at the school, she no longer feels so alone. When this AP student from
Chicago comes to live with her grandmother in Iowa because her mother is in jail, Mia has no intentions of putting up with any of the bullying,
including Kyle's sexual advances to Nasreen on the bus or the trio of girls who are nasty at school and nastier online. United in their academics,
as well as in the face of abuse, Nasreen's and Mia's friendship strengthens despite Nasreen's parents' concerns about Mia's Christian background
and Mia's reluctance to share the truth about her mother with Nasreen. Nasreen becomes bolder--and angrier--as she watches Mia's refusal to
accept the bullying even as the taunts and threats escalate. When the girls' attempts to solicit adult intervention fall short, Nasreen has an idea, and
she and Mia launch a campaign of their own, with help from an unexpected source.
The two engaging main characters narrate alternate chapters, unfolding an engrossingly realistic plot that pulls no punches in its tale of an all-too pervasive
problem. The prose is fluid and accessible, making I'm Just Me an excellent selection for literature circles, book clubs, and
intergenerational book groups, as well as a book that will appeal to reluctant and ravenous readers alike.--Kim Carter.
This book has much meaning to it. The main characters are two strong teenage girls, different from other students in their school because of their
skin color, religion, and beliefs. Nasreen gets bullied to the point of considering suicide. Now that Mia is a new student at Arondale High School
and is the only person who talks to Nasreen, she begins to get bullied too, but the two girls start to fight back. This book teaches an important
lesson: to always be strong and keep your head up, and never let anything get to you. This book would be perfect for high school girls because it
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describes the main batdes that girls fight in school almost every day. The author does an amazing job with details and explaining how teenage
girls really feel. 5Q, 4R--Jazsmin Randall, Teen Reviewer.
Carter, Kim
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Carter, Kim. "Higgins, M. G. I'm Just Me." Voice of Youth Advocates, June 2014, p. 59. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA375949299&it=r&asid=780be5b3cd302724e6c4de658090c5e7. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A375949299
---
Quoted in Sidelights: the biggest disappointment is the sanguine ending.
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Higgins, M.G.: Falling Out of Place: Gravel Road
Alicia Abdul
Voice of Youth Advocates.
35.6 (Feb. 2013): p564.
COPYRIGHT 2013 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
3Q * 4P * S
Higgins, M.G. Falling Out of Place: Gravel Road. Saddleback, 2013. 192p. $9.95 Trade pb. 978-1-62250-021-5.
The Herrera household prides itself on succeeding*through hard work. Sisters Celia and Rosie are seemingly perfect, while Gabby is now banned
from basketball. Family is important, so Gabby follows the terms of punishment, but is a casualty of it as well. Her depression is fueling her
anger and estrangement from friends, and is leading her to abuse alcohol. Exacerbated by her lack of control, Gabby's understanding of right and
wrong is confused by a shady male coworker who provides alcohol and sexual tension. Her only outlet is communication with her Uncle Mike,
but he too is dealing with personal strife: whether or not to come out to their religious Hispanic family. Subsequently, his decision is suicide.
While this might seem like the intense problem-novels of Chris Crutcher, Higgins simplifies the characters enough to make the drama messy and
uncomfortable while not adding to the page count, thus enticing reluctant and urban readers to ask for similar books. Even Gabby's drug-fueled
slide into near-lethal suicide is gritty, and, while symbolically touching, the biggest disappointment is the sanguine ending. Teens would
appreciate some comeuppance for those who kept their silence or encouraged Gabby's destructive behavior, though the unhappy ending with her
loyal boyfriend is a realistic casualty of her plight. The Gravel Road series by Saddleback should be purchased, with Falling out of Place a go-to
recommendation.--Alicia Abdul.
Abdul, Alicia
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Abdul, Alicia. "Higgins, M.G.: Falling Out of Place: Gravel Road." Voice of Youth Advocates, Feb. 2013, p. 564. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA342468261&it=r&asid=3bc60e52a1422159fcee7963d17c94cd. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A342468261
---
Quoted in Sidelights: briskly paced tale, skillfully alternating the drama with the sports, will capture
readers' attention.
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Higgins, M.G.: OFFSIDE
Kirkus Reviews.
(Mar. 1, 2013):
COPYRIGHT 2013 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Higgins, M.G. OFFSIDE Darby Creek (Children's Fiction) $27.93 4, 1 ISBN: 978-1-4677-0305-5
As a soccer player, student and frequent baby sitter, Faith feels beset with responsibilities. Higgins' story, a title in the Counterattack series
featuring members from the Fraser High Copperheads soccer team, focuses on junior Faith. Her father's death a few years previously has
profoundly affected Faith's family, both emotionally and economically. Faith often cares for her three younger siblings during the afternoons and
evenings when her mother works late-night shifts as a nurse. Until recently, playing on her school's soccer team has been a refuge for Faith, but
lately she has been feeling increasingly disconnected from her teammates. When her coach suggests switching her position on the team to playing
midfield, it invigorates Faith's game. Faith also appreciates the additional instruction she receives from her coach during this transition, but this
also leads to resentment from Caitlyn, an envious teammate. When Faith secretly develops an inappropriate crush on her coach, Caitlyn takes
notice, taunting Faith. Higgins adeptly reveals Faith's solitude: Isolated from her peers, struggling academically and with weighty family
obligations, Faith is bereft of confidants. However, the swift resolution to the escalating troubles between Faith and Caitlyn and the tale's
conclusion leave readers hopeful about Faith's future. Higgins' briskly paced tale, skillfully alternating the drama with the sports, will capture
readers' attention. (Fiction. 12-18)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Higgins, M.G.: OFFSIDE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2013. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA320397522&it=r&asid=53f3ea4a0b2f529e0f0637ec23555d47. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A320397522
---
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Higgins, M.G.: THE SOLDIER
Kirkus Reviews.
(Aug. 15, 2014):
COPYRIGHT 2014 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Higgins, M.G. THE SOLDIER Saddleback Educational Publishing (Children's Fiction) $7.95 9, 1 ISBN: 978-1-62250-901-0
In a village torn apart by war, 12-year-old Leyla makes a very brave choice. Leyla loves to draw. Drawing takes her to another world. But lately,
she draws pictures of army trucks, broken buildings and broken people. These are the images that are seared in her mind. She needs to draw, in
order to let them out. War has ravaged her home. Her school is destroyed, her best friend has left, and American GIs patrol the streets. Her father
tells her never to speak to the soldiers, never to trust an American. But one stands out and has captured her attention. She is a woman GI, with
friendly eyes and a friendly smile. Leyla can't help but draw a portrait of her. It is her best drawing yet. When local tensions mount and villagers
try to overthrow the American troops, Leyla is caught in the middle. She has a chance to help save a life, but it goes against everything her father
has ever taught her. With this very simply told tale set in Iraq in 2004, Higgins lets younger readers glimpse the realities of war. Yet there is also
an important spark of hope, showing that conflict can--sometimes--give way to compassion. A slim volume, filled to the brim. (Fiction. 7-11)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Higgins, M.G.: THE SOLDIER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2014. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA378247359&it=r&asid=419719d9a4e02aa0ea30d7f466966b57. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A378247359
---
Quoted in Sidelights:
many-layered tale
Unusually expressive for its simple vocabulary
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Higgins, M.G.: FALLING OUT OF PLACE
Kirkus Reviews.
(Dec. 15, 2012):
COPYRIGHT 2012 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Higgins, M.G. FALLING OUT OF PLACE Saddleback Educational Publishing (Children's Fiction) $9.95 1, 1 ISBN: 978-1-62250-021-5
Unusually expressive for its simple vocabulary, the latest from the Gravel Road series sees high schooler Gabby Herrera coping with depression,
strict parents and her own impulsive decision-making. When Gabby earns a C-average on her report card, her parents' response is swift and harsh.
Gabby is forbidden to use her phone, required to start an after-school job at the Grocery Mart warehouse and, worst, forced to quit the basketball
team. Angry and powerless, Gabby lashes out at those closest to her. That Gabby's fighting, drinking and unkind comments are disproportionate
to the situation and alarming to those who care about her is made apparent to readers through subtle detail and the words of well-drawn
characters. Gabby's relationships with friends and family are similarly complex. Camaraderie develops among Gabby and her new friends from
work, but readers can observe ways the older co-workers treat Gabby poorly: sending her home from a party with a drunk driver; flirting with her
but, confusingly, hooking up with other girls. Most poignant is Gabby's relationship with her favorite uncle, Mike, who only she knows is gay,
and the way Gabby's mental stability unravels when her family rejects Mike is both believable and heartbreaking. A many-layered tale, simply
told. (Fiction. 12-18)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Higgins, M.G.: FALLING OUT OF PLACE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Dec. 2012. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA311828674&it=r&asid=3078a5bdce6f10aa26f97fa0105fa974. Accessed 5 Mar. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A311828674
---
Quoted in Sidelights: a short but nonetheless expressive coming-out story
plenty to think about
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Higgins, M.G.: BI-NORMAL
Kirkus Reviews.
(May 15, 2013):
COPYRIGHT 2013 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Higgins, M.G. BI-NORMAL Saddleback Educational Publishing (Children's Fiction) $9.95 7, 1 ISBN: 978-1-62250-004-8
In a short but nonetheless expressive coming-out story, a teen football player with a girlfriend discovers he has feelings for another boy. When
Brett first notices his attraction to Zach, a boy who sits next to him in art class, he wants to push it away. Brett and his friends are the kind of guys
who ogle girls' bodies and pick on boys they perceive as gay. As his feelings intensify, however, Brett is torn between acting on his attraction and
acting out of his denial. Although the book is relatively short, it handles a variety of issues gracefully. Readers see Brett repeatedly ask his
girlfriend Jillia to have sex, in part to distract himself from thoughts of Zach, and Jillia's explanation that she ultimately says yes because Brett
pressures her is both nuanced and poignant. Brett's lashing out at Nate, the target of his teammates' homophobic bullying, even after asking him
for advice, is believable, though Nate's willingness to help one of his bullies is slightly harder to swallow. The storyline with Zach resolves
somewhat abruptly, but readers still come away with plenty to think about. A welcome addition to the still-small field of teen books about
bisexual characters. (Fiction. 12-16)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Higgins, M.G.: BI-NORMAL." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2013. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA329455453&it=r&asid=51a4575146b782bf91f4691ff0b24ebf. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A329455453
---
compelling first-person narrative
brisk pacing
should
have significant appeal to struggling readers
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Falling Out of Place
Heather Booth
Booklist.
109.11 (Feb. 1, 2013): p61.
COPYRIGHT 2013 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Falling Out of Place. By M. G. Higgins. 2013. 191 p. illus. Saddleback Educational, paper, $9.95 (9781622500215). Gr. 7-10.
Gabby is a solid C student and star basketball player, but that's just not enough for her family members, who are proud of their achievements and
expect similar success from her. When she is grounded from basketball, her boyfriend, and her phone, and forced to get a job, Gabby's only
sounding board becomes her young uncle Mike, who also feels like an outsider in the family--he's gay and Gabby is the only one who knows it.
As Gabby sneaks out to get involved in the social life and dangerous habits of her older coworkers, she also becomes increasingly angry, defiant,
and alienated from her friends. Her drinking, hookups, and pill popping spiral out of control after a family tragedy, leaving Gabby more alone
than ever. The compelling first-person narrative focuses on moving the plot first and foremost, though Gabby's quick recovery after hitting rock
bottom somewhat belies the difficulty of such an endeavor. Still, the brief chapters and brisk pacing of this entry in the Gravel Road series should
have significant appeal to struggling readers.--Heather Booth
Booth, Heather
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Booth, Heather. "Falling Out of Place." Booklist, 1 Feb. 2013, p. 61. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA317308642&it=r&asid=7e84d1bec6f8af9188b4ec8a4a329a9c. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A317308642
---
Quoted in Sidelights: compact yet thoughtful
The first-person point of view enables the reader to empathize with Brett's confusion
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Bi-Normal
Kara Dean
Booklist.
109.21 (July 1, 2013): p66.
COPYRIGHT 2013 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Bi-Normal.
By M. G. Higgins.
July 2013. 191p. Saddleback Educational, paper, $9.95 (9781622500048). Gr. 9-12.
High-school social dynamics and issues of sexual identity combine in this compact yet thoughtful entry in the Gravel Road series. Brett Miller is
a high-school sophomore who knows exactly who he is: he is a football star; he is the boyfriend of the fantastically hot Jillia; he is popular. He is
normal and 100 percent not gay. Then he meets Zach in art class. Brett's attraction is undeniable, and suddenly he doesn't know who he is
anymore. The first-person point of view enables the reader to empathize with Brett's confusion as he struggles to come to terms with his
bisexuality, which--in his most honest moments--Brett acknowledges he has tried to deny for some time. Brett's relationship with classmate Nate,
whose unwillingness to hide his homosexuality makes him the target of bullying (often at Brett's hands), is simultaneously antagonistic and
helpful. Despite the pitfalls that Brett's struggle lands him in, he takes steps to get the support he needs from his family, and the reader comes
away with the impression that, in time, Brett will find his way.
Dean, Kara
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Dean, Kara. "Bi-Normal." Booklist, 1 July 2013, p. 66. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA338036725&it=r&asid=2e361a47e63738d77b71519dda91e8e6. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
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Rodeo Princess
Kara Dean
Booklist.
112.2 (Sept. 15, 2015): p64.
COPYRIGHT 2015 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Rodeo Princess. By M. G. Higgins. Sept. 2015. Saddleback Educational, paper, $9.95 (9781680210613). Gr. 8-12.
Jade Dobbs just wants to barrel race her horse at the annual rodeo, but she is responsible for the household in place of her mother, who is serving
in Afghanistan. Feeding and cleaning for her father and older brothers while they manage the family's ranch are unrewarding and unappreciated.
In fact, her brother Seth ensures her servitude through blackmail: he knows that she is gay and threatens to out her. Their small Montana
community would not be accepting, so Jade suffers in lonely silence, hiding behind the facade of a heterosexual relationship. When Jade's horse
is injured, she is compelled to accept the offer of a loaner horse from Amy McNair, her combative, former best friend and the other person who
knows the truth about her sexuality. This insular high/low story is told in a terse text that successfully conveys Jade's claustrophobic existence.
Though the book ends on a hopeful note, the author resists an easy fix, requiring the reader to absorb the unsatisfactory reality of Jade's situation.-
-Kara Dean
Dean, Kara
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Dean, Kara. "Rodeo Princess." Booklist, 15 Sept. 2015, p. 64. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA430801184&it=r&asid=ccbd26a854567eb96cb80cb07d94eb47. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A430801184
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Power Hitter
John Peters
Booklist.
108.16 (Apr. 15, 2012): p68.
COPYRIGHT 2012 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Power Hitter. By M. G. Higgins. 2012. 128p. Lerner/Darby Creek, paper, $7.95 (9780761385394); lib. ed., $27.93 (9780761383246). Gr. 4-6.
Almost entirely devoid of any element that isn't baseball related, this entry in the Travel Team series is just the ticket for readers who prefer their
sports fiction distraction-free. His Las Vegas team's switch from aluminum to wooden bats leaves talented slugger Sammy Perez suddenly unable
to hit a lick--and this with a big tournament coming up in Texas. His main problem is his fixed self-image as a power hitter, but as he struggles to
control outbursts of temper--and even begins to give serious thought to his father's suggestion that steroids might be the way to go--he continues
to practice, practice, practice. When the tournament comes, that work ethic pays off, but not as he expects; instead of putting on a power display,
Sammy provides spectacular defense and heady team play that draw a major-league scout's admiring attention. Except for one date--and that to a
ball game--it's all baseball all the time, with some genuine character development by the end.--John Peters
Peters, John
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Peters, John. "Power Hitter." Booklist, 15 Apr. 2012, p. 68+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA287956788&it=r&asid=dd5fb126b05bc66afcb2ff6533ece777. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
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Iggy
John Peters
Booklist.
112.12 (Feb. 15, 2016): p75.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Iggy By M. G. Higgins. Mar. 2016. 106p. Saddleback Educational, paper, $8.95 (9781680211115). Gr. 4-6.
Though she's in Las Vegas to stay with her father and new stepmom, Tiffany, over Christmas break, Ignacia Suarez's high hopes of visiting the
Strip are dashed when her dad turns out to be a self-absorbed workaholic and Tiffany an agoraphobic. But what promises to be a truly boring
vacation takes an exciting turn when Iggy meets Lucas, a young neighbor with a cute puppy--and a father who is an Elvis impersonator. The
latter's offer to sneak her and Lucas into a casino to see his New Year's Eve show sets the stage for a thrilling night of brushes with both the high
life and the low. And, amazingly, it's the repressed Tiffany who climactically comes to the rescue when Iggy and Lucas have a close call with
casino security. Higgins enriches the story through Lucas' borderline spectrum disorder, Tiffany's unsavory past, and Iggy's poise and willingness
to bury her resentments toward her new stepmom. Uncommonly good high/ low fare.--John Peters
Peters, John
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Peters, John. "Iggy." Booklist, 15 Feb. 2016, p. 75. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA446933302&it=r&asid=001cba4660743070f18a5f798ae3d5e2. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
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Quoted in Sidelights: sharp, authentic dialogue and engaging
soccer action
a range of issues
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Offside
Publishers Weekly.
260.16 (Apr. 22, 2013): p57.
COPYRIGHT 2013 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Offside
M.G. Higgins. Lerner/Darby Creek, $7.95 trade paper (112p)
ISBN 978-1-4677-0720-6
In this entry in the new Counterattack series, written at a fourth-grade reading level and starring members of the Fraser High girls' soccer team,
Higgins brings readers into the world of Faith Patel, a junior balancing the demands of schoolwork, the team, and a complicated home life. Faith
already feels like a social outcast because helping out her mother and siblings takes up any free time since her father died. But things get
particularly tricky when both Faith and a jealous teammate misinterpret their coach's interest in Faith's progress as romantic in nature. This sliceof-life
story touches on a range of issues facing teen girls, while maintaining a breezy pace and delivering sharp, authentic dialogue and engaging
soccer action. Simultaneously available: Archenemy, The Beast, Blow Out, Out of Sync, Under Pressure. Ages 11-up. (Apr.)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Offside." Publishers Weekly, 22 Apr. 2013, p. 57. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA327725558&it=r&asid=ea0cf82dfd812fd8aa6ad9aff4fcfd0d. Accessed 5 Mar. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A327725558
Review – Melissa Higgins’ The Night Dad Went to Jail, What to Expect When Someone You Love Goes to Jail
dad-jail-1
Melissa Higgins’ The Night My Daddy Went to Jail, What to Expect When Someone You Love Goes to Jail is a children’s book that tells the story of a young bunny nicknamed Sketch. Sketch is a young boy whose father, whom he loves deeply, is taken to jail and sentenced to six years in prison. Sketch must deal with the painful reality of witnessing his parent being taken away in handcuffs, dealing with peers mocking his pain and a major change in his family dynamic. Higgins uses a book full of colorful pictures to explain the steps that a child goes through when their parent has gone through prison. The book covers most topics (arrests, social workers, bullying, visiting prison, etc.) as honestly as possible while remaining sensitive to the age of the reader. While using a bunny to remain neutral to race and ethnicity, it also helps the child empathize with a character that they can relate to in the form of fantasy.
The only real true criticism lies in the gray area that this book finds itself settled in. How much is too much to share with a child, especially a child who has seen and experienced so much already? While Higgins’ walks this gray area beautifully through the majority of the book, there were certain spots where I think she could have gone a step farther. The best example of this was when Sketch saw his dad placed in handcuffs. While the explanation for what was happening was kind, it isn’t true to reality. Most children are left without any commentary from police when these incidents happen as they are trained to wait for a social worker. I am glad she mentioned Sketch being fearful of the police arresting him and explaining what is happening, the idea that one of the officers would stop in the middle of an arrest is not realistic. I applaud her attempt to help the child not fear the police, addressing this part of what happens could have been more useful it if was more in-line with reality.
A note of caution to adults hoping to use this with young children, one slight issue I have with this book is some of its use of vocabulary, especially in its definitions section. While I believe challenging a child’s reading comprehension skills is crucially important, I do not believe this book was the forum to try and introduce words that young readers may find challenging. A 7-year-old who is given this to help cope with the new realities of their life and/or family dynamic shouldn’t have to stop and ask “what does the word ‘enclosed’ mean?” This book has a higher purpose then promoting language skills, and I think it would help the child to read from beginning to end so they can be fully engrossed in the experience. An easy resolution to this is reading this with a child can help by explaining to them certain words beforehand.
by Alina Requena
Quoted in Sidelights:
is told with so much heart that I couldn’t put it down. It’s a fast, powerful read with so much emotion stuffed into its short length. The ending is upbeat, probably too upbeat and not realistic, but I liked it.
Review: Falling Out of Place by M G Higgins
November 5, 2012 Julie
Title: Falling Out of Place
Author: M G Higgins
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
Gabby Herrera is not like her perfect sister, Celia–straight-A student, obedient, responsible. Her parents don’t get it. They don’t get er C-average report card. Her love for basketball.
"The three of them think anything is possible if you just try hard enough. Well, I’ve tried. It’s not possible."
She can’t be who she is unless she is just like them. And if she’s not like them, she’s not a real person. She’s a broken person. A broken Herrera. And that is unacceptable.
Review:
Falling Out of Place was an unsolicited review copy, and when I pulled it out of the envelope, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I have had a few issues with other Saddleback publications, and while I have found them all compulsively readable, I wasn’t always impressed with the quality of writing or the presentation values. I started reading this book because it was short, it looked like a fast read, and I wasn’t really in the mood for anything else. I am so glad that I did start it, because by the third chapter, I could not put it down. This story hit all the right spots for me, and I enjoyed it much more than I was expecting.
Gabby is an angry young woman. Her sisters are perfect compared to her, and her parents keep ragging on her to get better grades and work harder in school. Gabby hates school. What she loves is basketball, and when she’s on the court, she hustles and gives her all. After a series of personal meltdowns, she is forbidden from playing by her father, forced to get a job after school, and she’s grounded for what seems like life. As her life continues to spiral out of control, Gabby finds herself engaging in reckless, dangerous behavior. She is compelled to do the wrong thing, to make the wrong decisions, by the demons that are haunting her. One by one her friends abandon her, leaving her even more angry and isolated. When her Uncle Mike dies, everything comes to a screeching halt. He was the only one who understood her, and now that he’s gone, Gabby hates herself even more. Will anything save her from herself and the rage that threatens to consume her?
When I finished this book, I had one word to say – wow. I had such a hard time liking Gabby, because she is so unlikable. It wasn’t surprising that she was left friendless; she excelled at pushing everyone who cared for her as far away as possible. Her temper is out of control, and after a few too many flare ups, nobody wanted to be near her. What if she came unglued on them? Her unhappiness and self-loathing grew, page after agonizing page. Gabby sucked at everything except destroying her life and all of the relationships that meant anything to her, and it was very painful to read along as she self-destructed.
Gabby is a complete train wreck, and after her Uncle Mike dies, things only get worse. She starts hanging out with people who encourage her to do the wrong thing. She drinks at work, at home, and at school. She parties like a pro, but only ends up feeling even more miserable. With all of the stupid stuff she did, I am surprised she was able to survive from one drinking binge to the next. This girl was hurting so badly, yet nobody in her family was willing to see her misery. There wasn’t anybody for her to turn to for help, and that was heartbreaking. When she finally does go too far, it’s almost too late for her.
I’m not usually drawn to stories with suicidal teens because I find them depressing and difficult to read, but this book is told with so much heart that I couldn’t put it down. It’s a fast, powerful read with so much emotion stuffed into its short length. The ending is upbeat, probably too upbeat and not realistic, but I liked it. Gabby was in complete freefall, when finally, miraculously, she was able to grab onto some hope and finally start to like herself again.
Quoted in Sidelights:
well developed
really authentic
an excellent novel that dealt with a delicate subject.
UNCATEGORIZED
Bi-Normal by M.G. Higgins | Review
Posted On December 6, 2014
Higgins, M.G. Bi-Normal. Costa Mesa, CA: Saddleback Press, 2013.
Genre: Contemporary, LGBT
Intended Audience: 14 and Up
Personal Reaction to the Book:
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I picked it up in a desperate grab for short novels to read in the closing days of this class so I could meet the reading quota, and I was really impressed by Bi-Normal.
Bi-Normal by M.G. Higgins
Bi-Normal by M.G. Higgins
I had not heard of Saddleback Press but the library had a couple books by them. It seems that they specialize in diverse subject matter and contemporary issue novels.
Anyway, Bi-Normal is about Brett, a popular football player who begins to question his sexuality when he notices he’s attracted to a boy in his art class. The problem is, Brett already has a girlfriend he’s in love with, and his many of his friends are extremely homophobic. Brett finds an ally in a classmate who helps him consider if he is bisexual.
It would be easy to peg this as a “gay football player novel,” but I didn’t feel that way at all. Perhaps some felt that way about the character Tiny in Will Grayson, Will Grayson, that he was just given the quirk of being gay and a football player. Here, though, Brett’s character was really well developed, and I totally bought into his conflicting emotions and feelings. I genuinely felt for the guy. He just seemed to be really authentic in his actions and thoughts even though he didn’t always do the right thing. I also liked that it didn’t end the way I thought it would. I liked that it ended with Brett coming out to his dad and not with him getting together with Zach, the art class boy, because he found out Zach had a girlfriend.
Overall, I thought this was an excellent novel that dealt with a delicate subject. I look forward to going back to the library and getting more books from this small press publisher.
Quoted in Sidelights: A nice , quick and easy read
Review: Offside - MG Higgins
Are you into sports especially Soccer or depending where you live Football ?
Looking for a Teen Girl novel ?
Review: Offside - MG Higgins - January 2013
Do you remember that movie "Bend it Like Beckham" ? The film where the indian girl got to play soccer as she was amazing at it ? Even though the girl on the cover of Offside is white, I imagine as I read the story of her being Indian as her name is Faith Patel . Faith loves to play Soccer , it is her escape from her life as a babysitter and home-life, it is something she is good at . Though what happens when the coach starts offering Faith advice and she starts to take it the wrong way . Soon Faith has developed crushing feelings on her coach but it seems she's not the only one on the team to feel this way towards the coach. Can Faith get her head back into the game and focus on becoming the best soccer player she can be in order to help her recieve a college scholarship or will Faith soon discover that when someone is in love or in this case infatuation/lust that if you take your eye off the ball , everything else may crumble with it. A nice , quick and easy read that can show teen girls just how easy it can be to fall in love with a teacher or in the case of Offside - how fast it can be and dangerous to develop a crush on a married teacher.
Quoted in Sidelights: this is the book bisexual teens have been waiting for.
Review - Bi-Normal by M.G. Higgins
image
My first thought when I heard about this book was a desire to jump up and down while shouting “FINALLY!”
Young Adult Literature has come a long way with queer teens in recent years, but still continues to suffer a dearth of bisexual main characters. While the LG and T teens in Young Adult novels are evolving beyond simple coming out stories, bisexual teens in YA fiction have yet to reach that first milestone. Empress Of The World by Sara Ryan is about a bisexual woman coming out, and…. um…. yeah that’s pretty much it. Boyfriends with Girlfriends has a bisexual male lead, however Sergio is already out and comfortable in his sexual orientation by the time we meet him in the story.
Enter Bi-Normal by M.G. Higgins. The novel begins with Brett - a conventional popular jock with plenty of friends and a hot girlfriend that he loves. When he meets Zach, a buff artsy boy who makes his heart race, Brett finds himself questioning his sexuality for the first time. Brett’s anguish, rage, and confusion are palpable, creating a solid page-turning contrast between his isolation over his emerging sexual orientation and his alienation from his well-meaning but emotionally distant father. Through Nate, the beleaguered and bullied president of the school GSA, Brett meets Travis, an older out bi man who tries to help him navigate his storm of feelings.
Yep, that’s right. This book has not one but TWO bi males in it. O_O
There are a few weak spots. The story feels a bit rushed, as all Brett’s emotional upheaval takes place over about a week and a mere 191 pages. This book also censors the words shit and fuck to s–t and f–k which is just strange to me. Ass is not censored. I’m unsure if that was a stylistic choice on the part of the author or an editorial decision by the publisher (Saddleback).
In the end it all pays off. Even with those flaws, this is the book bisexual teens have been waiting for. I was sad to see it over so soon and hope we will see more of Brett (or bi guys like him) in the future.
~ Sarah
PS: Thanks to Saddleback for sending me a copy of the book to pre-review. The novel goes on sale on July 1st in the USA.
Quoted in Sidelights: Overall, this is a great novel to teach students about accepting people as they are
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
I'm Just Me By M.G. Higgins
I’m Just Me By: M.G. Higgins
Bibliographical Information
Higgins, M. (2014). I'm just me. Saddleback Educational Publishing.
Published: Saddleback Educational Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 9781622507214
Summary
Mia and Nasreen two girls that are seemingly different end up experiencing the same things. Both girls attend school at Arondale High where they are physically bullied and cyber bullied. One walks around with her head down, while the other is bold and fierce. The girls are treated like outcast because one is a Muslim and the other is African American. After a while the bullying intensifies so much that the girls reach their breaking point. They decide that it is time for a change and the bullying needed to stop, so they devise a plan to gain their respect.
Critical Analysis
I’m just me opens a sensitive wound as it approaches racism, culture, bullying and peer pressure. This Young adult novel reflects common issues that go on every day in High Schools across the nation. When Mia and Nasreen’s diary like narration is alternated back and forth throughout the book the reader can get a glance of how different the two girls are. Mia an African American girl who is bold and Nasreen a Muslim girl who is shy become friends at a high school that is so critical of their reflections. Together these girls form an alliance against the cruel subjects at Arodale High. The plot thickens when these girls eventually stand up and devise a plan to end the bullying. At this point in the story the reader is able to see a brighter side of the situation.
This book fits into the wide spectrum of YA books because it takes place in a High School with all the common issues that comes with being an adolescent. Readers that have been bullied or felt rejected in school can benefit from this story. Nevertheless, even students that have once been bullies should read this novel because it gives a prospective of how bullying feels. The themes in this book are so universal that most people who experienced High School can relate to this novel. This book is a great resource for counselors because it hits home in majority of schools. I’m Just Me is appropriate for middle school students all the way to high school. This Realistic Fiction is relatable and definitely earns a place in young adult literature. Higgins developing two characters that were so different but eventually finding a common ground to survive in a threating environment. It is essential that young adults see the good, bad, ugly that society brings. Everyone will not always be kind and accepting.
The book allowed things to escalate too far, as it lost the chance to be more complex and subtle with the topic. The characters also seemed emotionless and stereotypical. It would have been complimenting to the book if the characters were more passionate and realistic instead of washed out. Overall, this is a great novel to teach students about accepting people as they are and considering feeling of others.
Awards
· 2014 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards silver-medal winner, Multicultural Fiction-Juvenile/Young Adult
· 2015 YALSA Quick Pick nominee
Quoted in Sidelights: The book may have been just a little over one hundred pages but I really got a sense of who Faith is and what her story was telling me.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2013
Offside by M.G. Higgins
Title: Offside
Author: M.G. Higgins
Series: (Counterattack)
Format- ebook
Publisher- Darby Creek (Imprint of Lerner Publishing)
Published- January 1st, 2013
Pages- 116
Source- NetGalley
Between finishing late school projects and looking after her brothers and sister, Faith Patel barely has time to play soccer. And when she's at practice, surrounded by girls who can afford to play in club leagues, she doesn't even feel like part of the team. So when Coach Berg starts to give Faith extra attention, she feels . . . really special. It might be crazy, but suddenly Faith has a crush on her coach. Can she keep her head in the game?
The situation gets worse after Faith's frenemy Caitlyn decides that Faith's getting special treatment. Will Caitlyn tell the rest of the team and make Faith into a total outcast?
Faith doesn't have the prospects the other girls in her soccer team have. She isn't very wealthy what wither her mom working night shifts to make ends meet without anyone to help her with her four children, well there is always Faith. Faith has been designated as her sibling's babysitter so her mom has some time to get some sleep between her shifts at the hospital. In exchange she gets to play soccer.
Faith is Faith Patel which means she's Indian which makes me oh so happy because hello! How many female Indian main characters have you met reading YA? The only problem is that I wish the book cover reflected her. Don't get me wrong, the girl on the book cover is very "I am woman. Hear me roar." but it would be nice if I can actually see Faith. Faith feels stressed out and like she's got the short end of the stick. Having to take care of your younger siblings - not fun. She's missed a lot of homework too but she doesn't even think she will be able to go to college so why bother?
Although Faith may sound annoyed that she has to take care of her siblings when something happens to one of them she shows a very caring side of her. Faith's very quiet so other on her soccer team may think she thinks she doesn't like them or maybe that she's even better than them. I don't know why the soccer team does this especially Caitlyn because have you never met a reserved person before? They are everywhere. You need to think about where that person's coming from. Caitlyn was her real trouble throughout the story. She would make snide remarks to her face. She's the one who got it in Faith's head that her coach, Coach Berg, liked her because he was letting her try out for another position on the team. When Faith started thinking that her coach liked her I couldn't help to laugh out loud. It was just so ridiculously funny. I mean this all in a good way. It's kind of sad that when someone was actually listening to her she felt that they must like her in a romantic way. It was like no one else had ever cared to bother to learn how she was feeling.
The book may have been just a little over one hundred pages but I really got a sense of who Faith is and what her story was telling me. I liked that it was just about a regular girl and like regular girls we tend to fall in love easily. I also liked it was about soccer which I played way back when. I wasn't good but it was nice to read about the action on the field. It made me reminisce. I don't know why but I think of this as a very "clean" book, one where girls can use to learn lessons from. I've read about the other Counterattack series and their summaries sound like that. I actually don't mind. They're very fun; light reads that I could see myself enjoying like I did with Offside.
For more info about M.G. Higgins and her books go to:
Goodreads/Blog/Twitter
Posted by Adriana Garcia at 11:33 AM
Quoted in Sidelights:
did an amazing job in explaining these two teenage girls' stories.
This novel is great for anyone who enjoys books about people coming together to end something.
I'm Just Me
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Transcript of I'm Just Me
I'm Just Me
Book Overview
The novel, I'm Just Me by M.G. Higgins, is a great story of two high school girls who met their junior year of high school. These two suburban girls are the outcasts of the entire school. Throughout this book they reveal how they deal with the non-stop bullying from the rest of their school. The entire school year they deal with the harassment of the other students without being able to get any help from the adults that surround them, whether at school or at home. After so long, they can no longer take it, and they decide to make a plan to stop all of the ugly comments made by their peers.
Characters
The two main characters in this story are two completely different, high school girls. One of the girls, Nasreen is the only Muslim girl not only at her school but in her entire community. The other character is an African American girl, named Mia, who moved to the suburbs to live with her grandmother. They became best friends shortly after meeting on a bus ride to school. Later, they both have to deal with the same type of bullying from the other kids at their high school, Arondale High School.
Author's Purpose
I believe M.G. Higgins did achieve her purpose, because she did an amazing job in explaining these two teenage girls' stories. The author wanted to show the audience the effects that bullying could have on different people. By showing these stories, she really got to express the struggles of everyday life that people who are victims of bullying could go through. Higgins also made their stories moving and emotional by explaining them in a way the readers could relate to them and clearly understand what she was trying to say.
Critiquing the Book
In my opinion, I believe this book was a strong and eventful story of how these young women had to deal with their everyday lives.
I'm Just Me
is full of different moments which really show how the characters connected and shared a strong bond. Although there were great moments, I thought there were some points in the novel that were somewhat irrelevant to the entire story. They could have been left out all together to make the novel and the emotion a bit stronger.
Weaknesses
The book has very few weaknesses, but if I had to name one it would be that there are some points that does not really go with the main point of the book. The book mainly focuses on the bullying and how the girls are only trying to be themselves. There is one part where Mia faces something other than the bullying. Even though the event does show how she has been hurt, it does not have anything to do with the rest of the events that occur during the story. They could have showed how she had been hurt in a different way.
Strengths
The novel,
I'm Just Me
, has many different strengths throughout the book. For example, one of the strength from the novel would be the fact that it is written in first person point-of-view, and the two girls actually get to share their own stories. Also, the things both girls mention are great things, which so many other people could relate to. Everyone in society today is either a victim or the bully, and
I'm Just Me
shows what could most likely happen to the people who are victims of bullying.
By M.G. Higgins
Would I Recommend It?
If anyone were to tell me to recommend them a book, I would definitely tell them to read
I'm Just Me
by M.G. Higgins. This novel is great for anyone who enjoys books about people coming together to end something. The book is also great for those people who are really into being themselves and not going along with the crowd.
I'm Just Me
does an amazing job in showing how great it is to be an individual and not let others put you down for being different.
Overall Response
My overall response to this book was really surprising. Usually, I am the type of person to only read novels involving some type of mystery or just something that really catches my attention. In the beginning, I figured this novel would be so boring, but I enjoyed how the two girls became best friends and how they did not care about how different they were. Throughout the book, I also saw many things, which I could relate to and made me even more interested in the story of these two teenage girls.