What do you think?
Rate this book
Ask Me Something Easy
Seventeen-year-old Addie cannot understand why she seems to do everything wrong and why her mother considers her the "bad sister" and her sister Dinah, "the good sister." By the author of The All-New Jonah Twist. Reprint.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
10 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 24, 2013
Emotionally Terse.
February 7, 2020
2005 reading log notes: "Fatherless girl's reflection on life; spans 10 years. 4.5 stars."
January 11, 2022
Read this book if you were ever misunderstood as a child. It's one of the most powerful and touching books I have ever read.
Set in the San Francisco area, the book follows ten years in the life of Addie Dillon, beginning with the night when she was seven when her parents have their biggest argument yet, leading to their separation and divorce. Learning to survive without their father, Addie's mother raises the four girls on her own, and Addie struggles to be accepted for who she is. Things go from bad to worse for Addie over the years, as she faces misunderstanding, lack of acceptance, and verbal and physical abuse. While Addie has her failings, you cannot help but identify with her in all her struggles. Yet interspersed with all the pain are episodes of beauty and joy, which give a sense of structure to the story.
This book has no easy or trite answers, no "it-was-all-a-dream" or knight-in-shining-armour ending. But through it all, it ends with a real sense — even if it is not explicitly spelt out — of Addie offering hope, forgiveness, and above all, love for her family.
As this is a very emotionally gripping and powerful book, I do advise taking breathing space while you read it. Take a step back, let go of any rage you feel towards any of the characters, and realise that Addie, too, sometimes acts out of pride and selfishness. Sometimes we, as readers, have to learn to forgive. I found, too, that reading this book helped me to remember and deal with some traumatic events from my past, and I trust that I will not be alone in this experience of the book.
You will love this book if you liked the Tillerman series by Cynthia Voigt, Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, or any book by Torey Hayden.
Set in the San Francisco area, the book follows ten years in the life of Addie Dillon, beginning with the night when she was seven when her parents have their biggest argument yet, leading to their separation and divorce. Learning to survive without their father, Addie's mother raises the four girls on her own, and Addie struggles to be accepted for who she is. Things go from bad to worse for Addie over the years, as she faces misunderstanding, lack of acceptance, and verbal and physical abuse. While Addie has her failings, you cannot help but identify with her in all her struggles. Yet interspersed with all the pain are episodes of beauty and joy, which give a sense of structure to the story.
This book has no easy or trite answers, no "it-was-all-a-dream" or knight-in-shining-armour ending. But through it all, it ends with a real sense — even if it is not explicitly spelt out — of Addie offering hope, forgiveness, and above all, love for her family.
As this is a very emotionally gripping and powerful book, I do advise taking breathing space while you read it. Take a step back, let go of any rage you feel towards any of the characters, and realise that Addie, too, sometimes acts out of pride and selfishness. Sometimes we, as readers, have to learn to forgive. I found, too, that reading this book helped me to remember and deal with some traumatic events from my past, and I trust that I will not be alone in this experience of the book.
You will love this book if you liked the Tillerman series by Cynthia Voigt, Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, or any book by Torey Hayden.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews