The Education of Ivy Blake

by Ellen Airgood

In this uplifting companion to Prairie Evers, shy, introverted Ivy must find her footing when her reckless mom turns her world upside down.
 
Ivy has loved living with her best friend, Prairie, and being part of Prairie’s lively, happy family. But now Ivy’s mom has decided to take her back. Ivy tries to pretend everything is fine, but her mom’s neglect and embarrassing public tantrums often make Ivy feel ashamed and alone. Fortunately, Ivy is able to find solace in art, in movies, and from the pleasure she finds in observing and appreciating life’s small, beautiful moments. And when things with her mom reach the tipping point, this ability gives her the strength and power to push on and shape her own future.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Friendship, Family, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2015

About the author

I grew up on a small farm, the youngest of four children. My father was a blacksmith and a schoolteacher. For the last nineteen years I’ve been a waitress in Grand Marais, Michigan. I was twenty-five when I came to this tiny, Lake Superior town, on a camping trip with my sister, and fell in love with the man who made my cheese sandwich and chocolate malt at the local diner. We met, exchanged assessing, almost challenging gazes, and six months later we got married. I told my sister we would, on the way back to our campsite that first day. “You’re crazy,” she said worriedly. But pretty soon she grinned, shook her head, started getting into the spirit of it. “Well,” she said. “This is going to be interesting.” And it has been.

I’ve never been sorry. My husband Rick and I run a diner together, a job which is always consuming, often punishing, and hugely fulfilling. Most of what I know about maturity and compassion, not to mention story, I’ve learned from waiting tables. We work eighty to a hundred hours a week together almost year around, and one way or another we’ve faced the constant barrage of setbacks and frustrations and equipment failures that restaurant work is, the high stress and long hours. There is so much satisfaction in it, though: the goodness of hard work, the joy of feeding people a meal they love, the delight of long friendships, the pride in a job well done. All kinds of people come here from all kinds of places, and we get to meet them, to hear their stories, and pretty often we get to make them happy for the time that they are here.

This is the route I took to becoming a writer. I didn’t get an MFA or study writing in school. I could have learned about life anywhere, but fate brought me here, to the end of the earth and a tiny town that time forgot. My customers have given me good practice as a storyteller, too. It’s a matter of survival. If I can entertain people, draw them over to my side, they won’t murder me when I’m the only waitress of the floor and the cook is swamped and the wait is long and we’re out of silverware and I didn’t know the fish was gone when I took their order.

Reviews

[Library Lady 📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this book...

From the very start, I was hooked. Lately it seems like I never have time to read, and when I do, I find the books boring me and I set them aside. Seriously, I have 30 books on my "currently reading" list. And the ones I've finished have taken months. This one took me three days.

It was SO, SO good. Ivy captured my heart from the beginning, and even when she was being incredibly dense & frustrating, you understood why she'd make those choices. She grabbed my heart and didn't let go. The voice, the atmosphere, and Ivy's quiet strength were captivating and refreshing.

Loved it.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read the first book, but Ivy's voice was so irresistibly charming in the excerpt on the back that I couldn't wait. And that charmed feeling stayed with me, cover to cover.

The writing was so evocative -- particularly chapter 7, "New Schedule," in which Ivy details her entirely lonely day after school, taking responsibility for her own care until her mom comes home from work at 11:30. My heart ached in the best possible way as she talked about studiously doing her homework while pretending her mom was just in the next room, lighting a candle and making macaroni and cheese to evoke scents that remind her of the Evers household, and trying to put herself to bed on time despite the scary sounds of night.

Another great chapter is the one where she randomly gets on a bus and finds herself wandering around on a college campus for a couple of hours, the setting a romantic and idealized future dream for a 10/11-year-old.

I loved her friendship with Prairie and the other Evers folks, a homestead so warm that I am definitely going to go back to read the first book now. There are hints of things that happened in said book that I'm interested to find out more about, but if you have read that one, it must be cool that now you can see more of what Ivy was thinking.

I also cried at least once because I so, so understand unintentionally punishing yourself and withdrawing to deal with things on your own because you don't want to be a burden or intrude on a happy life that isn't rightfully yours to enjoy. I would totally be the girl trudging back to live with Mom because it's my duty, and I must accept my lot in life.

That said, even though her home life isn't a great situation, I never got the sense that Ivy's mother didn't love her. She just seemed like she became a mom too young to be good at it, and it also seemed like mental illness might be in play, given the manic bursts and unusual impulsiveness. I felt sorry for both of them. (OK, maybe a little less sorry for the mother who kept getting justifiably visited by police for harassment and vandalism.)

As for the ending, I actually gasped alongside Ivy when she realized that for her new foster home, she was going to get to stay in the very house she'd often admired from the street and idealized as a comforting home. Complete with a turret bedroom!!

I'd have a hard time deciding between that and going back with Prairie myself. But even though part of me is like WHY WOULDN'T YOU LIVE WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND and is worried that they're going to drift apart in high school or even the latter half of middle school, maybe it's also true that if they'd continued to live together, a few years down the road they would have started to fight more in the manner of real sisters and it would DRIVE them apart, and then where would Ivy go?

All in all, one of the best children's books I've seen in a while. The way I know that it's truly good is that I want to keep thinking about the characters growing up and what their lives will be like in the future -- I am this close to making up fan fiction here. The chapters are so nice and brief that I feel like you could easily write a short story or two and slip them in.

[Aleta · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to read this, since I LOVED Prairie Evers, and this was a good book. Though I didn't it enjoy as much as Prairie Evers, I enjoyed Ivy's personality, and how she dealt with her problems in life. This book takes a slightly more serious tone, because of Ivy's abusive/unstable mother. I felt a bit disappointed, because this book left out some of my favorite elements of Prairie Evers, like the farming aspects, and the plucky attitude Prairie brought to the first book. It was definitely worth the read though.

[Samara · Rating 2 out of 5]

4/10

I found this to be rather uninteresting. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't amazing either. So yeah....not much to say about it.....Also I haven't read the first book (Prairie Evers) so that might have something to do with it?

[Emily Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

JFIC

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite so many odds stacked against her, this sweet character perseveres. So many of our kids will see themselves in Ivy Blake.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely need to have a talk with the folks at Penguin Young Readers. Why do they keep picking books to highlight through their Author Live Chats that make me cry? (This and others such as The Secret Hum of a Daisy, Nightingale's Nest, and The War that Saved My Life have all made me keep the tissues close.) Actually Penguin can't take all the blame, because a friend had already recommended Prairie Evers, which is the book that first introduces the character of Ivy Blake.

Why all the tears? Because Ivy's life is a mess, or her mother is anyway. Ivy has been living with Prairie's family, but her mother shows up and wants Ivy to come back to live with her in the rental house she has found. Even though she would rather stay with the Evers family, Ivy decides it is the right thing to give her mother a chance. As you might guess from the crying, things do not go well. The police come to the house several times, Prairie gets her feelings hurt because Ivy is hiding things (ashamed of the trouble her mother is in), and Ivy begins to feel hopeless.

But this is not a depressing book, there are just sad parts. As Grammy Evers knows, Ivy is determined and curious, good at waiting, independent, a survivor - just like the heron Grandmother nicknames her for in Cherokee, "Knasgowa." And there are more people than just the Evers who care about her; some are kids and some are adults, but when Ivy finally realizes what she wants to do, they all pull together for her.

This is a wonderful story of resilience, of trying to see the best in people, of rising above your circumstances, and of following your dreams. It shows the power of friendship and love. For readers who enjoy realistic fiction, perhaps books like Faith and Hope and Ivy June, this is a title they should try.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

[Lydia H. Deetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book. I liked it, as you can see from the five star rating.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aspiring movie director Ivy Blake sees the world through a lens. Through her lens she sees the foster family and farm she has grown to love and find comfort in. She sees her mother return from time spent in prison and opts to leave the Ever's family and move back in with her mother. Ivy's lens begins to crack as she is forced to change schools and her mother grows increasingly unstable. But Ivy is resilient and her time with the Ever's family and particularly the wisdom garnered from Grandma Evers come to her aid as she sets out to make her first movie, with a little help from some new and wonderful friends. This is an inspiring story of courage, friendship, and resourcefulness. Ivy Blake's strength and determination will stick with readers long after the final page.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story tugged at my emotions, and I always made time to get a few chapters in at a time. Ivy Blake is a smart teenager that has a great future ahead of her, but she has a mother that is not letting her believe in high expectations due to her own failures. She only feels at home when she is around her other family, and she eventually lets herself be at home with that family after a lot of heartbreak and pain. I believe that this is a great read for junior high/middle school students that are facing a tough upbringing or students with family problems. Educators could use this book to teach students that come from sheltered homes about the other side of hospitality while also comforting children that come from that side of the world.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivy hs been staying with her best friend's family for a while, but now her mom is in a different situation and wants to take her back. Ivy gives it a go, but her mother's temper is horrible and gets her in trouble. Ivy and Prairie's (her best friend) suffers because Ivy does not want her to know how bad things are.

Great characters in this book.

[MinaG · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very compelling book. I tried to sneak in a page or two whenever I could, it was so interesting! I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a good story about how things aren't always easy.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved everything about this and Prairie Evers!!! Two great books for my 6th graders.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a wonderful read-- an odd yet sweet mixture of cozy, sad, and heartfelt. I really loved how relatable Ivy is. Her problems with her mother are portrayed in a way that's realistic. The feelings that you get when a loved one, especially your own mother, are shown in this book perfectly. The author of this book didn't need to tell me the shame, anger or hurt Ivy felt, because I felt it with Ivy. I love that, so, so much. I also love how, by the end of the book, Ivy stands up to her mother, and decides to make a life for herself. I find it so cathartic when characters stand up for themselves, especially in this case, Ivy's mother is a TERRIBLE mother. Sorry, but I had to say it. Not only does she hurt her daughter constantly, but she puts her in dangerous situations too!
Exactly like my mother did to me! And as someone whose live was very similar to Ivy's, I can't help but feel happy that emotional abuse/ neglect was represented in a way that SHOWED that this behavior wasn't expectable, and that nobody should be having to go through this. It also showed that there are people out there who are more than willing to help, and that just made me love this book even more.
Ivy is a realistic character, and so is her story, I can't wait to read from this author again! I heard her other book is good, so I might give that a try. I also have to say, I love how oddly cozy certain settings in this book are, such as Ivy's home(s) (I'm trying my best not to spoil anything lol) and I love how the setting around her is cozy too, and also beautiful. The way Ivy sees the world is brilliantly written in this book, and she has such a unique vision. You can tell that this author knows her characters well, and loves them dearly. The way that Ivy is written is again, realistic, and you feel her pain of wanting to not only speak up about how she feels, but also the pain she has about said feelings, you also feel the optimism that she has about the future, and seeing her grow more and more determined to make something out of herself throughout the book is amazing! I just love her character! I'd definitely read this book again, it was a total tear jerker, full of well written and emotional moments. It was a wonderful read that I couldn't put down, and I'd definitely recommend it.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars/5 stars. I did not read "Prairie Evers" to which this book is apparently a companion book. (Also, although I got this book from the local library book sale shelf, it is marked as Advanced Uncorrected Galleys.) There's a lot that goes unexplained in this book (for an adult reader anyway) that maybe has been covered in Prairie Evers. Ivy's living situation for example--she starts out living with the Evers family (and seems to be enjoying it) but then her mom pops back into her life to see if she wants to come live with her. I would have thought that for Ivy to be living with a friend's family there would have been a court order or child/family services involvement--that it wouldn't have been so easy for her mom to reclaim her.

Ivy seems to feel that she has to conceal how she feels. Maybe it's a learned reaction from they way her mother responds to life? She doesn't want to be a burden to the Evers family so instead of telling them about life with her mother, she distances herself from them. Instead of going back to them, she allows the social worker to place her with Beryl (which doesn't turn out to be a bad thing).

And again, a second time, Ivy's mother just shows up expecting Ivy to go with her--but this time child/family services was definitely involved so . . . I can't believe it would just be so easy as to show up and take Ivy. I'm glad Ivy stood up for herself and to her mom and decided to live her best life.

[Dixie Keyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book at an elementary school book fair, and I'm glad I did. It's an ideal upper elementary/middle grade read featuring two friends who become distant then reunite. A more vital part of the plot is the trauma one of them faces as she reunites with a troubled, hot-tempered mother who is aggressive and violent. Reluctant to share her fears, Ivy distances herself from friends until she finally realizes they are the ones who can help her as her mother's situation worsens. This book would be a huge source of vicarious support for young people going through foster home situations or through abusive home issues. Ultimately hope and good people win out, and Ivy's resilience is found. There are parts, at times, that read as heavily edited, but once I was in the middle of the book, I was engrossed.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parental warning: This book is a bit darker than Prairie Evers, considering Ivy's home life. Although to me, the choice to move back with her mom seems ridiculous, having friends who were in similar situations, I know it's actually a very realistic choice. And there is a bit of language, like "Sh--t," "Shee-it," and For God's Sake.

I'm disappointed how little Prairie actually appears, and I didn't necessarily care for Ivy's choice at the end regarding where she lives. I quite like Jacob and wish he had a larger role in the book, same with Tate.

Overall, good story.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this companion book to Prairie Evers where Prairie's best friend, Ivy Blake, stars in her own story. Ivy's pride and independence are on full display as she embraces a new hobby with movie-making, but being back with her volatile and violent mother is a struggle. She is too ashamed to tell the Evers family that she needs help and doesn't want to bother them when they are expecting a new baby. Eventually, she ends up in foster care, and between her understanding foster mother, a caring teacher, and the love of friends both old and new, Ivy is bound to land on her feet.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. The character development is great. It's full of genuine emotions and some tough situations. I felt like some of the troubles Ivy had were caused too much by her inability to communicate with the trusted people around her, and I wasn't convinced that she wouldn't trust them enough to talk about these troubles. That made the conflict of the story feel a tiny bit contrived, but I will forgive that for all the other wonderful things about it.

[Mr. Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

That book was rough to read. I liked it, but I kept wishing for different things to happen to and for Ivy - she really deserved a break. However, the story was more realistic the way it was written - some kids unfortunately have parents who are less capable/willing than others. I love Ivy for the way she dealt with losing the parent lottery.

[Aleeyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is mostly about a girl named Ivy Blake, she lived with her friend most of her life and now she is living with her mom. Her friend moved somewhere else and now when she wants to talk to her she has to call her. I once had a best friend that moved to Arizona, I was so sad. I went to her house all the time. It kinda felt like my second house, but I never lived there.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that Ellen wrote a book exclusively about Ivy Blake. When I finished Prairie Evers I was super curious about Ivy's life with her mother. It did not disappoint. I really felt for Ivy and the hardships she had to endure during this book. It really put things into perspective in a lot of ways, reminds us that we need to put ourselves in other's shoes once in a while.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt less focused than Prairie Evers, which I didn't like (I like a focused story!), but I liked how the story felt so different and so connected. It suited Ivy, just like Prairie's book suited her. I appreciated the happy and hopeful ending, too.

[Chapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

COPIED: Ivy has loved living with her best friend, Prairie, and being part of Prairie’s lively, happy family. But now Ivy’s mom has decided to take her back. Ivy tries to pretend everything is fine, but her mom’s neglect and embarrassing public tantrums often make Ivy feel ashamed and alone.

[Rebekah Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had the bones of something extraordinary, but it was flesh less. It read like an outline or first draft of something brilliant...but part of the issue could be that I read it without reading the prequel.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick YA read. I highly recommend for kids maybe 12 and up. It is the story of a 12 year old girl named Ivy with an interesting, complicated upbringing. She learns about being her true self with dreams and never to give up.

[Lori June · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent companion to Prairie Evers... love the girls and appreciate the bluntness but honesty in their friendships.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book about the power of overcoming family situations and children in foster care. The main character is so uplifting.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plucky girl with believable story line and character development.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to put Ivy in my pocket and be her friend.