No More Cornflakes

by Polly Horvath

Hortense seeks the advice and friendship of her eccentric Aunt Kate when her mother spends her days eating cornflakes and hopping around in public, pretending to be a rabbit

Hardcover

First published August 1, 1990

About the author

Polly Horvath is the author of many books for young people, including Everything on a Waffle, The Pepins and Their Problems, The Canning Season and The Trolls. Her numerous awards include the Newbery Honor, the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature, the Mr. Christie Award, the international White Raven, and the Young Adult Canadian Book of the Year. Horvath grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She attended the Canadian College of Dance in Toronto and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York City. She has taught ballet, waitressed, done temporary typing, and tended babies, but while doing these things she has always also written. Now that her children are in school, she spends the whole day writing, unless she sneaks out to buy groceries, lured away from her desk by the thought of fresh Cheez Whiz. She lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and two daughters.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/pollyh...

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorites.

[Rick Stuckwisch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another literary offering from Polly Horvath, this being one of her earlier books. A slice of family life from the perspective of the adolescent narrator, a younger daughter whose Mom and Dad are expecting a new baby. Polly Horvath has a way of seeing the poetry and significance of everyday life, and a knack for describing ordinary events from a young person's reflective point of view. Reminds me of the Ramona books, though the young protagonist is somewhat older than Ramona was in any of her books. We can hardly get enough Polly Horvath these days, and this book was no disappointment.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Polly Horvath's books. Always fun. Never dull (and her characters have a knack for using uncommon/rarely used words in their conversation. Four stars.

[Ashley Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Polly Horvath again. This is the second book she wrote and it's actually out of print. It did get off to a slow start but it got better. Horvath writes well the angst that young people feel and this one focused on changes in the dynamics of a family, losing and gaining friend, and realizing in the end, you are where you need to be.

[Bridget R. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hortense has to deal with a pregnant mother and other crazy relatives over the course of a year. Luckily, she survives and keeps things in prespective.