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Summary
Summary
Sticks & Stones by Abby Cooper is a feel-good middle grade debut with just a dash of magic...
Ever since she was a baby, the words people use to describe Elyse have instantly appeared on her arms and legs. At first it was just "cute" and "adorable," but as she's gotten older and kids have gotten meaner, words like "loser" and "pathetic" appear, and those words bubble up and itch. And then there are words like "interesting," which she's not really sure how to feel about. Now, at age twelve, she's starting middle school, and just when her friends who used to accept and protect her are drifting away, she receives an anonymous note saying "I know who you are, and I know what you're dealing with. I want to help." As Elyse works to solve the mystery of who is sending her these notes, she also finds new ways to accept who she is and to become her best self.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-What if everything others said about you became visible on your body? This is the reality for new sixth grader Elyse. Elyse struggles with issues common to most middle schoolers: navigating the popular crowd, unrequited crushes, and changing friendships. But she also has to deal with cognadjivisibilitis, or CAV: a disease that causes words to appear all over her body whenever they're spoken aloud. It's not so bad when people say nice things about her, but the mean ones are big and itchy and compete for space. As if that's not embarrassing enough, Elyse has just discovered that anything she thinks about herself (positive or negative) shows up, too. Now somebody at her school is sending her secret notes, claiming to want to help her with her predicament. Elyse sets out to learn the identity of the mysterious letter writer, all the while working through her own issues of identity and self-acceptance. Cooper does an excellent job using the imagined CAV to explore self-esteem issues, which are so prevalent at this precarious time in life. Middle grade readers will enjoy Elyse's wry observations about school and family life, and most will relate to the agony of dealing with being different, especially during those awkward -preteen and teenage years. Fans of Wonder by R.J. Palacio will enjoy this book for its similar writing style, compelling characters, and upbeat tone. VERDICT A quirky, clever, and lighthearted look at what it means to accept oneself. Highly recommended for most middle grade collections.-Tabitha Nordby, Red River College, Manitoba, Canada © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Sixth-grader Elyse was born with "cognadjivisibilitis," a disorder in which the words that anyone uses to describe Elyse appear on her body for weeks at a time. While nice words like "awesome" or "cool" are soothing, unkind words such as "dork" or "loser" itch a lot, and they're more prevalent now that Elyse's protective best friend has abandoned her for the mean popular girls. When someone starts leaving Elyse notes encouraging her to participate more in school, she learns to overcome her fears, make new friends, and become a leader. Self-acceptance is the key in Cooper's debut, but Elyse's struggle to get there is painfully realistic. Her interior thoughts and monthly letters to herself reveal a healthy sense of humor ("Holy high heels, he had eyeballs! That was a surprise considering he was such a furry guy"), but it's Elyse's kindness, perseverance, and smarts that help her rebuild her self-esteem. Cooper's stance on bullying is clear: words can-and do-hurt, but their power over you is only as strong as you allow them to be. Ages 10-12. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Elyse has a rare medical condition that she just can't hide: when people say things about her, the words appear on her arms and legs. How can a sixth grader shake off insults like "LOSER" and "PATHETIC" when they're right there on her body? Perfectly pitched for the tween audience, this poignant, hopeful book explores how to be comfortable in your own skin. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Due to a rare condition called cognadjivisibilitis, anything people say about 11-year-old Elyse appears on her arms and legspart temporary tattoo, part eczema. Good words soothe, while bad ones itch "more than a thousand mosquito bites." Her friend Jeg has always protected her from mean comments, but the pressure of a new clique draws Jeg away, leaving Elyse to flounder and fend for herselfas if starting middle school weren't hard enough already. Soon, rashes like PATHETIC and WORTHLESS break out: words Elyse thinks about herself. When mysterious notes challenge her to try out to lead the sixth-grade class trip, she reasons that winning will net her enough positive comments to cure the itch. But as she awkwardly makes new friends, chronicling her progress with (very careful) self-deprecating humor in short chapters and notes to her future self, she realizes, "You couldn't just read them; you had to feel them, too." The unsteady emotions of middle school are palpable in Cooper's debut, from trying on identities to believing moments that pass like a blush will last forever; even teachers learn to grow. CAV is both a gentle dig at anti-bullying platitudeswords can and do hurtand a reminder that words can heal. Elyse's struggles toward self-confidence will resonate with fans of R.J. Palacio's Wonder (2012) and all readers learning how to be comfortable in their own skins. (Fiction. 9-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Sixth grader Elyse suffers from a bizarre (and fictional) disease: cognadjivisibilitis, or the visual appearance of words on one's skin when someone levels a compliment or insult. In addition to all of the expected perils of middle school, such as dealing with mean girls, coping with a failed romance, and relating to parents, Elyse must live with itchy skin rashes that spell out the adjectives that others use to describe her. When she receives a mysterious offer to help with her condition, she discovers just how powerful words can be, especially those that are hurtful. Throughout her daily dermatological irritation, Elyse manages to maintain an insightful humor. Cooper's debut novel is sweet and sincere, offering up a fantastically far-fetched metaphor that reminds readers why they must be kind to themselves and to others. Without being heavy-handed or sad, the book encourages resilience and addresses the pervasive self-esteem issues that plague so many young people today.--Anderson, Erin Copyright 2016 Booklist