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Angie
Sixteen-year-old Angie is bright, funny, cute . . . and learning disabled. She feels alone and different from her family and fellow classmates. Then Steven, the best-looking guy in shcool, begins to pay attention to Angie. She can't believe he's really interested in her. Yet he never talks much about himself -- which makes Angie wonder what secrets he's hiding behind that cute smile . . .
- GenresYoung Adult
170 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 29, 1994
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 6, 2009
So I'm wandering the aisles at my local library, looking for that perfect read, when I stumble across this little gem. I know, I know, the picture to the left is small and blurry, but do you get the gist? The title is what caught my eye first, for the obvious reason. Just a short while ago I was lamenting the sad lack of leading ladies with my name and then--BAM! Here one is. Right on the heels of the title, my senses are assaulted by the awesome font, the pleasantly blurry mid-90s art--an innocent girl leans against a trellis as a mysterious, yet surprisingly clean-cut young man brushes back her hair in order to...what? Whisper in her ear? Bite her neck? Who can tell? I immediately snatch the slender volume off the display shelf in happy anticipation. It's when I read the cover blurb, though, that I almost expire with joy.
"Angie had a problem that made her shy."
Oh my word. The mockability factor is simply too good to be true. I check it out then and there, determined to read and review it on my blog.
So here's the basic rundown. The problem that makes Angie shy is that she has LD, which stands for learning disabilites or, as Angie prefers, learning differences. School is hard. In fact, school is an absolute nightmare. Every minute of every day revolves around just getting by. She spends hours every night on her homework, if she can remember what was assigned to begin with. She's got a mother who's determined to see her successful, a father who'd rather not think about her issues too much, and two sisters who are ashamed of her. The one good thing in her life is her two dogs who she walks faithfully every day. They're the only ones who don't seem to judge her for her shortcomings. Then one morning her next door neighbor Steven catches up with her on her way to school. He asks her questions and actually seems interested in her answers. He wants to walk home with her. And things go rather the way you might expect them to from there.
The thing about this book is that it really has no mockability factor whatsoever. It's a simple, very sweet story about a girl who struggles to get by and is ignored by all her peers. And it's a story about the one boy who takes the time to get to know her and falls in love with what he finds. There is, of course, something Steven isn't telling her. But the whole thing's so darn genuine and thoughtful that it's hard not to simply let yourself sink into the simplicity. Most of all I enjoyed Angie's thought processes. A favorite passage:
I just like how her mind works and I agree. Triangles are dangerous things. I have always thought so. Angie reminded me of Madeleine L'Engle's And Both Were Young. Another book I pull out and read whenever I'm feeling a distinct lack of hope or need to be reminded things are beautiful and people are too. So even though it wasn't what I expected (or wanted), it was lovely.
"Angie had a problem that made her shy."
Oh my word. The mockability factor is simply too good to be true. I check it out then and there, determined to read and review it on my blog.
So here's the basic rundown. The problem that makes Angie shy is that she has LD, which stands for learning disabilites or, as Angie prefers, learning differences. School is hard. In fact, school is an absolute nightmare. Every minute of every day revolves around just getting by. She spends hours every night on her homework, if she can remember what was assigned to begin with. She's got a mother who's determined to see her successful, a father who'd rather not think about her issues too much, and two sisters who are ashamed of her. The one good thing in her life is her two dogs who she walks faithfully every day. They're the only ones who don't seem to judge her for her shortcomings. Then one morning her next door neighbor Steven catches up with her on her way to school. He asks her questions and actually seems interested in her answers. He wants to walk home with her. And things go rather the way you might expect them to from there.
The thing about this book is that it really has no mockability factor whatsoever. It's a simple, very sweet story about a girl who struggles to get by and is ignored by all her peers. And it's a story about the one boy who takes the time to get to know her and falls in love with what he finds. There is, of course, something Steven isn't telling her. But the whole thing's so darn genuine and thoughtful that it's hard not to simply let yourself sink into the simplicity. Most of all I enjoyed Angie's thought processes. A favorite passage:
Have you ever noticed once you decide not to think about something that that very something pushes everything else from your mind?
It's like not thinking about food when you're on a diet. I only have to contemplate losing five pounds to be absolutely overrun with visions of food. What it looks like, what it tastes like, the aroma, the texture, how many calories are in each tiny serving. Meal planning rises so high in the hierarchy of ideas that everything not related to food pales and wanes away. Certainly the underlying causes of the Revolutionary War are incapable of overthrowing even one imaginary banana split.
Maybe I should consider dieting. Maybe my mind will fill with thoughts of food, leaving no room for worries about Steven. Why should I worry about him anyway? He's no different a person today than he was yesterday. So he walked to school with me. So he asked me to walk home with him. What's the big deal?
I feel better. French class goes well. Chorus goes well. Math. We're studying trigonometry. I might as well think about Steven. Triangles are dangerous things.
I just like how her mind works and I agree. Triangles are dangerous things. I have always thought so. Angie reminded me of Madeleine L'Engle's And Both Were Young. Another book I pull out and read whenever I'm feeling a distinct lack of hope or need to be reminded things are beautiful and people are too. So even though it wasn't what I expected (or wanted), it was lovely.
March 21, 2008
Author: Pat Bezzant
Title: Angie
Genre: adolescent romance
Publication Info: Ballantine Books. New York. 1994.
Recommended Age: 12 and up
Plot Summary: Angela Lynn Carter is struggling through high school with a learning disability. She does not have any friends, and her sisters are embarrassed by her. Therefore, she is surprised when a cute, popular, next-door neighbor boy begins to show great interest in her. Angie’s family is worried that Steven is playing a practical joke on her by inviting her to the Homecoming dance. They are appeased to see that he really wants to spend time with her and become her boyfriend. Steven helps Angie implement a support group for learning disabled students in their high school. Later on, everyone realizes that Steven’s motivation for getting to know Angie was not innocent. He wanted to use her as a project for his psychology class. He then had to explain that while his motives were deceiving, his feelings for her were real. They had fallen in love with each other unexpectedly.
Personal Notes: I would recommend this book to students for individual reading. I really liked the high school setting, and how the author delicately touched on the issues of learning disabilities. The novel was clear in showing that Angie was a completely normal person outside of her struggles to remember her homework assignments and understanding what was taught in her classes. It also showed how the actions of one person can completely change another person’s life. It is a refreshing reminder that we need to treat everyone with respect, despite our differences.
Evaluation: This novel is a cute and modest romance. I appreciated its simplicity and strong message. It stands out to me as an innocent and pure love story. It would be a good read for anyone having a hard time dealing with their learning disabilities (referred to as “learning differences” in the book) or for anyone who does not know how to treat someone else who is struggling with that reality. It shows how parents can place difficult expectations on their children and how siblings can be so cruel. Those who read it should think twice about how they view and treat others who are not as fortunate as themselves.
Other Comments: I found this novel on the Utah Young Adults’ Book Award Nominees shelf in the library. I think it is significant that it was still there after being published six years ago. Obviously, others have found the same merit in reading this book that I have. There are more and more students who have learning disabilities. It is about time they are shown in a good light.
Title: Angie
Genre: adolescent romance
Publication Info: Ballantine Books. New York. 1994.
Recommended Age: 12 and up
Plot Summary: Angela Lynn Carter is struggling through high school with a learning disability. She does not have any friends, and her sisters are embarrassed by her. Therefore, she is surprised when a cute, popular, next-door neighbor boy begins to show great interest in her. Angie’s family is worried that Steven is playing a practical joke on her by inviting her to the Homecoming dance. They are appeased to see that he really wants to spend time with her and become her boyfriend. Steven helps Angie implement a support group for learning disabled students in their high school. Later on, everyone realizes that Steven’s motivation for getting to know Angie was not innocent. He wanted to use her as a project for his psychology class. He then had to explain that while his motives were deceiving, his feelings for her were real. They had fallen in love with each other unexpectedly.
Personal Notes: I would recommend this book to students for individual reading. I really liked the high school setting, and how the author delicately touched on the issues of learning disabilities. The novel was clear in showing that Angie was a completely normal person outside of her struggles to remember her homework assignments and understanding what was taught in her classes. It also showed how the actions of one person can completely change another person’s life. It is a refreshing reminder that we need to treat everyone with respect, despite our differences.
Evaluation: This novel is a cute and modest romance. I appreciated its simplicity and strong message. It stands out to me as an innocent and pure love story. It would be a good read for anyone having a hard time dealing with their learning disabilities (referred to as “learning differences” in the book) or for anyone who does not know how to treat someone else who is struggling with that reality. It shows how parents can place difficult expectations on their children and how siblings can be so cruel. Those who read it should think twice about how they view and treat others who are not as fortunate as themselves.
Other Comments: I found this novel on the Utah Young Adults’ Book Award Nominees shelf in the library. I think it is significant that it was still there after being published six years ago. Obviously, others have found the same merit in reading this book that I have. There are more and more students who have learning disabilities. It is about time they are shown in a good light.
November 24, 2009
The plot was simple and straight forward enough. Angie is a young lady with learning differences, whose life has been one long struggle to just get by in academics and whose home life at first seems less than sympathetic to her daily difficulties. Then one day the neighbor boy, popular, handsome Steve takes an interest in her. Obviously, she is unclear as to why this is and spends quite some time ruminating over the reasons for this unwarranted attention. Then she decides to just enjoy it. Steven got to know her for his school project and wrote a whole paper on her, but after actually getting to know her, he has decided to come clean to her and rescind his paper. Of course, before he tells her, her sister finds out and is furious with Steve for using her sister like this. That scene is one of the best in the book, as we see Angie's family rally around her. But Angie decides to forgive him and move on.
The writing was not very polished and it seemed like Steve and Angie fell in love waaaaaaay too fast. It felt unrealistic and so I could not really care. Also, we never really understood enough about how Angie's differences actually affected her.
Okay, but not recommended.
The writing was not very polished and it seemed like Steve and Angie fell in love waaaaaaay too fast. It felt unrealistic and so I could not really care. Also, we never really understood enough about how Angie's differences actually affected her.
Okay, but not recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2008
This was a fun, light read from a Utah author (and librarian at my library!) about Angie, a high-schooler dealing with both the normal teen problems (trig, boys, college) and a learning disability.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews