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Dot to Dot: A Novel
Dot is a young teenager who witnesses her mother's bloody but accidental death. When she travels to England with her eccentric aunt, Dot unravels messages and lessons her mother left her along a journey that takes her into the mysterious worlds of Frankenstein, Tarot cards, history, literature and ashes.
202 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2011
60 people want to read
About the author
Kit Bakke
6 books13 followersKit Bakke spent the last half of the 20th century as a political radical (SDS and the Weather Underground), a pediatric oncology nurse, and an information technology consultant. In the 21st century, she became a published writer. Her MISS ALCOTT'S E-MAIL has led to further writing adventures, including being a founding member of Seattle7Writers (www.seattle7writers.org) and a chapter in HOTEL ANGELINE. Her next book, DANCING ON THE EDGE, is a story of travel, discovery and possibly magic. Young teens, if they are good readers, like it, and so do adults. Her latest book PROTEST ON TRIAL: THE SEATTLE 7 CONSPIRACY "chronicles a significant, real-life slice of history, but it reads more like a well-crafted novel and reminds us that dissent--now no less than then--is the essence of democracy."
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 3, 2016
The first book I bought for my Kindle.
November 12, 2013
What a sweet tale. The young Dot has quite the adventure after her mother dies and your heart can just ache for this little girl as she grieves her Thea and BT life, but then learns to cope with and enjoy AT life with her Aunt Tab and the help of some gifted writers she was named for. As a Seattle local, I loved reading about places I knew in the beginning. And to learn more about some famous strong female authors and their history, was just fascinating. Great read from Kit Bakke.
December 22, 2013
A Journey of Discovery and Healing
When Dot's mother dies in a tragic accident witnessed by the twelve-year old, the world becomes a place of fear and loneliness. Then bossy Aunt Tab steps in to whisk Dot to the UK, for her own good.
They travel across England to discover more about the lives of the three women Dot's mother holds dear, historical figures that inspired her to name Dot in the first place. The fears and bloody images that haunt Dot's every waking thought remain, but the pace of discovery helps Dot to learn how to cope, sort of.
With the help of some unlikely people, Dot comes to discover what made each of the three notable women, well, notable to her mother. As the origins of her name are revealed, one person at a time, Dot comes to understand, then own, the characteristics each of these notable women embodied in life. And even more important, she realizes that your loved ones may die, but they continue on in other ways after their passing.
This book is a must-read for any tweens and teens that have suffered loss. It is an entertaining and gripping read for all those, adults, YAs and tweens alike who love authentic characters, novels with a strong sense of place, and riveting storyline.
As a volunteer for Providence Hospice, I appreciate the author's tender, but realistic, portrayal of Dot's grief, mourning and slow healing. Bakke's work as an oncology nurse shows in her depth of feeling and realistic storytelling.
When Dot's mother dies in a tragic accident witnessed by the twelve-year old, the world becomes a place of fear and loneliness. Then bossy Aunt Tab steps in to whisk Dot to the UK, for her own good.
They travel across England to discover more about the lives of the three women Dot's mother holds dear, historical figures that inspired her to name Dot in the first place. The fears and bloody images that haunt Dot's every waking thought remain, but the pace of discovery helps Dot to learn how to cope, sort of.
With the help of some unlikely people, Dot comes to discover what made each of the three notable women, well, notable to her mother. As the origins of her name are revealed, one person at a time, Dot comes to understand, then own, the characteristics each of these notable women embodied in life. And even more important, she realizes that your loved ones may die, but they continue on in other ways after their passing.
This book is a must-read for any tweens and teens that have suffered loss. It is an entertaining and gripping read for all those, adults, YAs and tweens alike who love authentic characters, novels with a strong sense of place, and riveting storyline.
As a volunteer for Providence Hospice, I appreciate the author's tender, but realistic, portrayal of Dot's grief, mourning and slow healing. Bakke's work as an oncology nurse shows in her depth of feeling and realistic storytelling.
October 4, 2011
Twelve-year-old Dot is grieving from her mother’s sudden death when her Aunt Tab decides that the two of them need to travel from their home in Seattle to England. Dot would prefer to stay locked safely inside her home, but Aunt Tab believes she needs a change of location to help her focus on something other than her grief.
Dot soon discovers that England is not a random destination choice. It turns out her mother named her—Dorothy Mary Jane—after three well known literary women: Dorothy Wordsworth, Mary Wollstonecraft and Jane Austen. As she discovers more about each of these women, she works to find the strength she needs to carry on in a world without her mother.
Dot to Dot by Kit Bakke is the story of a girl who goes on a journey of distance that turns into a trip where she discovers a lot about herself as well as the people around her. As Dot learns more about each of the women she was named after, she finds out why her mother chose them as heroines. Her own reading of their works also gives her insight into her current situation.
Mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 10 to 13 will be able to talk about many issues, including the nature of grief, finding hope amidst tragedy, and the extraordinary times that produced Dorothy, Mary and Jane.
Dot soon discovers that England is not a random destination choice. It turns out her mother named her—Dorothy Mary Jane—after three well known literary women: Dorothy Wordsworth, Mary Wollstonecraft and Jane Austen. As she discovers more about each of these women, she works to find the strength she needs to carry on in a world without her mother.
Dot to Dot by Kit Bakke is the story of a girl who goes on a journey of distance that turns into a trip where she discovers a lot about herself as well as the people around her. As Dot learns more about each of the women she was named after, she finds out why her mother chose them as heroines. Her own reading of their works also gives her insight into her current situation.
Mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 10 to 13 will be able to talk about many issues, including the nature of grief, finding hope amidst tragedy, and the extraordinary times that produced Dorothy, Mary and Jane.
October 2, 2012
I generally score a book high. I feel generous with a 3 on this book. There was a creative premise of a twelve year old girl struggling with the sudden death of her mother. Her rather quacky aunt takes her on a trip to London to learn more about the importance of her names: Dorothy Mary-Jane. Dorothy Wordsworth, Mary Wollstonecraft and Jane Austen all magically come alive in the book and Dot is able to listen in to their conversations. She gradually starts to heal by learning about the importance of the women whose names she bears and about their contributions to society. She also reads Frankenstein and Pride and Prejudice. There is a strong inference about the potential power of books in the healing process.
While the book was well researched, it over simplified these women's lives. I didn't like the use of Tarot cards to help Dot make an important final decision at the end of the book. This is not a book that I would recommend. The score is because of the creative and historical weaving of interesting and seductive details.
While the book was well researched, it over simplified these women's lives. I didn't like the use of Tarot cards to help Dot make an important final decision at the end of the book. This is not a book that I would recommend. The score is because of the creative and historical weaving of interesting and seductive details.
October 26, 2011
This was an enjoyable read. I think that it fits its YA reader audience, though there might be some explaining to do.
When Dot loses her mother in a tragic accident, her Aunt Tab shows up and drags her off to England in search of the women writers Dot's mother named her for. Dot is pretty well traumatized by her sudden loss and finds her aunt annoying, but helping her come to terms with her grief, the ladies themselves wander in and out of Dot's travels. Their conversations in passing in the countryside or at a London tea table give Dot clues on how she can go on. In the end she steps out and makes decisions on her own.
The history of these famous writers, Jane Austen, Dorothy Wordsworth,and Mary Wollstonecraft are interwoven into the story. Their voices sound authentic. I did wonder about a scene with an English boy and Taro cards seemed a little older than I took him for. And I wanted to see a change in Aunt Tab. Perhaps as it was a kid's POV, that will come later.
When Dot loses her mother in a tragic accident, her Aunt Tab shows up and drags her off to England in search of the women writers Dot's mother named her for. Dot is pretty well traumatized by her sudden loss and finds her aunt annoying, but helping her come to terms with her grief, the ladies themselves wander in and out of Dot's travels. Their conversations in passing in the countryside or at a London tea table give Dot clues on how she can go on. In the end she steps out and makes decisions on her own.
The history of these famous writers, Jane Austen, Dorothy Wordsworth,and Mary Wollstonecraft are interwoven into the story. Their voices sound authentic. I did wonder about a scene with an English boy and Taro cards seemed a little older than I took him for. And I wanted to see a change in Aunt Tab. Perhaps as it was a kid's POV, that will come later.
February 9, 2014
Dot to Dot is a tale of discovery for 12 year old Dorothy Mary-Jane. Finding herself an orphan when a freak accident kills her Mum before her very eyes, Dot's world falls apart. Everything becomes BT (Before Truck) or AT (After Truck) in Dot's grieving life.
Aunt Tab comes to the rescue, and takes Dot on a trip to England in the hope of laying a few ghosts to rest and spreading Thea's ashes in a few memorable places. She explains who Dot was named after and their trip follows 3 famous ladies. Dorothy Wordsworth, Mary Wollstonecraft and Jane Austen. They travel around London, Alton in Hampshire and Keswick in the Lake District.
If you believe in ghosts or not, Dot meets these inspiring ladies and follows her own path of discovery whilst remembering the words of her mother "Be daring, Be inventive, Be loyal". By the end of her week in England Dot finds hope for the future, deciding not to run away but by remaining loyal to her family.
Aunt Tab comes to the rescue, and takes Dot on a trip to England in the hope of laying a few ghosts to rest and spreading Thea's ashes in a few memorable places. She explains who Dot was named after and their trip follows 3 famous ladies. Dorothy Wordsworth, Mary Wollstonecraft and Jane Austen. They travel around London, Alton in Hampshire and Keswick in the Lake District.
If you believe in ghosts or not, Dot meets these inspiring ladies and follows her own path of discovery whilst remembering the words of her mother "Be daring, Be inventive, Be loyal". By the end of her week in England Dot finds hope for the future, deciding not to run away but by remaining loyal to her family.
February 14, 2013
This was an enjoyable read about a young girl named Dorothy Mary-Jane, or Dot for short, who loses her mom in a tragic accident. Her eccentric aunt takes over raising her and persuades her to go on a journey to England to visit the homeland of the three famous women her mother named her after- Dorothy Wordsworth, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Jane Austen. Along the way, Dot begins to find some sense of closure over her mother's death. This book took me back to the days when I was on a study abroad in England so many years ago! It's a short, easy read. I think I would have enjoyed it to be drawn out a little more but I think it's written for a young audience.
January 6, 2015
Having one's mother taken suddenly, traumatically, at age twelve is a horrific thing. But Dot's Aunt takes her on a journey of healing and discovery that is just what she needs to come through to the other side of crippling grief.
Told with heart and a realistic adolescent voice, I know my students will find this a lovely book. Top it off with poetry and history and a bit of whimsy, and you've got the makings of a book I want to share with everyone who loves the classic female writers, Wollstonecraft, Shelley, Austen, Wordsworth.
Told with heart and a realistic adolescent voice, I know my students will find this a lovely book. Top it off with poetry and history and a bit of whimsy, and you've got the makings of a book I want to share with everyone who loves the classic female writers, Wollstonecraft, Shelley, Austen, Wordsworth.
March 21, 2014
This is a wonderful book for mother-daughter book clubs. I wish Bakke had written it when my own daughter was still twelve and we met each month with her friends and their mothers. It is also a great selection for any classroom or school library. It is a book to share and discuss as well as to enjoy; a book that leads to additional shared readings of the prose and poetry of the many authors mentioned, including Austen and Wordsworth.
June 25, 2012
This book is about a girl named Dorothy Mary-Jane. Her mother dies and her aunt comes to take care of Dot. They go to England to teach Dot who she was named for. While there, Dot and her aunt spread her mother's ashes at different places. Dot learns about Dorothy Wordsworth, Mary Shelly and her mother, and Jane Austen.
February 5, 2014
Kit Bakke captures the mercurial moods of teenage girls beautifully. Dot suffers a traumatic loss early in the story, and it's great to watch her move through the grieving process while finding more solid footing in her new life. Dot to Dot reminded me of a classic like Little Women. The females in the story are strong and independent, and offer an empowering message to teenage girls.
October 12, 2012
This seemed like a book written for young adults even though it wasn't in that section of the library. This book is about a girl whose mother dies in an accident in front of her. She and her aunt take a trip to England to work through their grief. Quick read, likable characters.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews