5 stars YA/ Middle School
Twelve-year old Maggie has been to over three different schools and she has come to the conclusion that one wants her. Her parents argue over her and she has no friends. She finds comfort in the tiny world that she has created at home, surrounded by the little critters that welcome her just as she is. School Nurse Nora knows Maggie all too well, for Maggie finds refuge in her office when the time is right. See, Maggie stutters and her disability is not accepted.
I cringed, oh……. did I cringe!! Maggie would do anything and I mean anything to get out of reading. The author got my attention as these words fell across the page:
“ she drove the keenly sharpened
point deep
down
into
the
soft
palm
of
her
left
hand.”
“Shock. Pain. Tears. The pencil protruded from her hand. The blood dripped. Those sweet words. Relief. Her Escape. It had worked. Again.”
As Maggie was dismissed from class, excitement and relief filled her head as again, she had dodged the bullet. She had found her way out of the classroom when it was close to her turn to read out-loud in the classroom. Maggie didn’t register the pain or discomfort that ran through her body for she was used to it, anything was easier than reading out loud.
Her parents feel there are two options for Maggie now: an institute for treatment or her grandfather who she hasn’t seen for years. All I knew was that Maggie would be leaving her tiny world at home. The only place where she felt comfortable, with her little critters, were staying home with her mom. Her grandfather was a doctor who lived in the country so I hoped that Maggie would find some new animal friends in her new surroundings.
We also meet Rumpus in this book. Rumpus was a birthday gift and what a surprise this was to both Rumpus and Anabella. Unprepared for her new snow leopard, Anabella orders Rumpus removed from her home when she returns home to find her home in disarray. Finding himself in another new surroundings, Rumpus is now in Wildoak Forest and he must learn how to survive on his own.
Even though she didn’t know her grandfather very well, I felt that Maggie was relieved and comfortable around him. She seemed to fit right into his world and he accepted her without trying to “fix her.” Maggie and her grandfather create a special bond based on acceptance and love.
Maggie discovers Rumpus inside Wildoak Forest and I loved their relationship. “Something was wrong. He stared at her and they were quiet, saying lots of things without saying anything at all.” It was supposed to be two weeks spent with her grandfather learning to overcome her stuttering yet during these two weeks, I felt Maggie was empowered and she totally forgot about her disability.
This was a fabulous story filled with struggles, emotions, and journeys. I highly recommend this book.
One Chapter 