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The Heights, the Depths, and Everything in Between
It's the 1970s, and Lucy can’t imagine anything worse than being a giant with the last name of Small . . . unless it’s entering junior high: a whole new set of kids with the same old jokes. Even worse, her dad has headed out of town to “find himself.” At least she still has Jake, the friend she’s been with since forever. And when school begins, they get each other through everything, from the humiliation of stinking at basketball (Lucy) to the agonies of Mom’s new boyfriend (Jake). Then Jake starts hanging out with resident bad boy Gary Geary. Lucy can’t help worrying about Jake, but somehow her heart races every time Gary looks her in the eye.
Despite everything, Lucy and Jake know they can count on each other . . . until their friendship is tested in an unexpected way. Will they be able to stick together? Or is junior high when things change for good? This fastpaced, entertaining, humorous story about friendship and loyalty vividly captures the highs and lows of growing up.
Despite everything, Lucy and Jake know they can count on each other . . . until their friendship is tested in an unexpected way. Will they be able to stick together? Or is junior high when things change for good? This fastpaced, entertaining, humorous story about friendship and loyalty vividly captures the highs and lows of growing up.
- GenresYoung Adult
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 18, 2012
Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Lucy says that when they were little, she and her best friend, Jake, were the same size. But as the years passed, she grew and he didn't. At the beginning of their first year in junior high, Lucy is five foot ten, and Jake is a dwarf. Junior high is bad enough when all goes well, but imagine this odd pair spending time in the company of junior high's best, or should I say worst.
Complicating matters for both Lucy and Jake are family problems on the home front. Lucy must deal with the fact that her father has left to "find himself." Jake is adjusting to his mother's newest boyfriend. But at least the two friends can count on each other.
As often happens in junior high, new friendships form. Jake begins hanging out with a less desirable crowd. Lucy is furious when she hears about his new relationship with Gary Geary. But speaking of relationships, Lucy seems to get a funny feeling whenever Gary is around. She can't understand what the attraction is or what she should do about it.
Sally Nemeth's quirky characters, sense of humor, great settings, and clever plot twists make THE HEIGHTS, THE DEPTHS, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN a book well-worth reading. All readers will find something or someone to identify with in the pages of this fun book.
Lucy says that when they were little, she and her best friend, Jake, were the same size. But as the years passed, she grew and he didn't. At the beginning of their first year in junior high, Lucy is five foot ten, and Jake is a dwarf. Junior high is bad enough when all goes well, but imagine this odd pair spending time in the company of junior high's best, or should I say worst.
Complicating matters for both Lucy and Jake are family problems on the home front. Lucy must deal with the fact that her father has left to "find himself." Jake is adjusting to his mother's newest boyfriend. But at least the two friends can count on each other.
As often happens in junior high, new friendships form. Jake begins hanging out with a less desirable crowd. Lucy is furious when she hears about his new relationship with Gary Geary. But speaking of relationships, Lucy seems to get a funny feeling whenever Gary is around. She can't understand what the attraction is or what she should do about it.
Sally Nemeth's quirky characters, sense of humor, great settings, and clever plot twists make THE HEIGHTS, THE DEPTHS, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN a book well-worth reading. All readers will find something or someone to identify with in the pages of this fun book.
February 21, 2020
This is an absolutely delightful middle school-level book about two friends—Lucy, a girl who is very tall for her age, and her best friend, Jake, who is a dwarf. Right away, you can see that Nemeth has chosen rather hazardous territory to explore, but she does so with great compassion and warmth. She never presumes to know what the lives of these children must be like, choosing instead to describe their experiences and let their physicality and the contrast between them simply be another fact among many of their lives.
The two are entering a phase when great changes are on the horizon. They are moving toward high school and the transition to young adulthood with all the grace they can muster but, as we can all attest, this is a most difficult time to life for anyone to go through, nonetheless those who stand out in any way. Nemeth does not shy away from the confusion inherent in these circumstances, nor does she have the arrogance to believe she has all the answers. She lets these children be who they are and muddle through the best they can in a very real-feeling way.
Enter Gary, a rough-seeming boy a bit older then they are but in the same grade in school because he has had difficulties, both familial and otherwise, with his education. He is an interesting character, though my only significant criticism (and a minor one at that) is that the cliche of the tough kid with a heart of gold is a bit overdone. But Gary has his own challenges that go beyond cliche and are handled with the same compassion and kindness Nemeth displays throughout.
Perhaps my favorite aspect of The Heights...is the fact that things do not get wrapped up neatly at the end. Not everyone gets what they desire or deserve, and even though there is a bit of the deus ex machina in Gary's story, even that does not feel saccharine or unrealistic. It's a good ending, but not an easy one. Give this one a try; I think you will enjoy it.
A disclosure and a caveat: Sally is a friend from college, so my objectivity should probably be called into question. And: this book is out of print, but available from resellers. Happy reading.
The two are entering a phase when great changes are on the horizon. They are moving toward high school and the transition to young adulthood with all the grace they can muster but, as we can all attest, this is a most difficult time to life for anyone to go through, nonetheless those who stand out in any way. Nemeth does not shy away from the confusion inherent in these circumstances, nor does she have the arrogance to believe she has all the answers. She lets these children be who they are and muddle through the best they can in a very real-feeling way.
Enter Gary, a rough-seeming boy a bit older then they are but in the same grade in school because he has had difficulties, both familial and otherwise, with his education. He is an interesting character, though my only significant criticism (and a minor one at that) is that the cliche of the tough kid with a heart of gold is a bit overdone. But Gary has his own challenges that go beyond cliche and are handled with the same compassion and kindness Nemeth displays throughout.
Perhaps my favorite aspect of The Heights...is the fact that things do not get wrapped up neatly at the end. Not everyone gets what they desire or deserve, and even though there is a bit of the deus ex machina in Gary's story, even that does not feel saccharine or unrealistic. It's a good ending, but not an easy one. Give this one a try; I think you will enjoy it.
A disclosure and a caveat: Sally is a friend from college, so my objectivity should probably be called into question. And: this book is out of print, but available from resellers. Happy reading.
October 14, 2008
Wonderful story!! So many special characters and each has a GREAT personality. This is a book ALL YA readers will enjoy. Lucy and Jake have an unusual friendship - she is overly tall for her age and Jake is a dwarf. During this school year, their circle of friends start to grow - Gary, Billy, Bebe, Charlene and Kwame and each form a special bond. The adventures and trials these kids share are very realistic.
June 24, 2008
There are not many who would willingly relive their first few days of junior high. Add to that experience an obvious "I am different" quality and things would be worse. You can gain strength in a story where things are not perfect. It was obvious that Lucy, Jake and Gary were not the norm at their school. Together they made being different not just ordinary, but special.
July 8, 2009
Yay! This book was good, GO READ IT!
February 21, 2014
it was cute and a easy read but I really hated the ending like a lot and I'm a snob when it comes to endings
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews