Apartment 1986: A Poignant Middle Grade Novel of Family Secrets, Museums, and Love for Kids

by Lisa Papademetriou

Bestselling middle grade author Lisa Papademetriou is back with a playful, poignant story that will resonate with anyone who’s ever had to learn that love means accepting people—even yourself—for who they really are. Callie never meant to let it go this far. Sure, she may have accidentally-on-purpose skipped a day at her fancy New York City prep school, but she never thought she’d skip the day after that! And the one after that . . . and . . . uh . . . the one after that. But when everything in your real life is going wrong (fighting parents! bullied little brother! girls at school who just. don’t. get. it!) skipping school starts to look like a valid mental-health strategy. And when Callie runs into Cassius, a mysterious and prickly “unschooled” kid doing research at museums all across the city, it seems only natural for her to join him. Because museums are educational, which means they’re as good as going to class. Right? Besides, school can wait. What can’t wait is the mystery of why her grandmother seems to wish she could travel back in time to 1986, or what she wants so much to relive there. As Cassius helps Callie see the world in a whole new light, she realizes that the people she loves are far from perfect—and that some family secrets shouldn’t be secret at all.

Genres: Middle Grade, Family, Fiction, Childrens, New York, Juvenile, Friendship

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 11, 2017

About the author

Bestselling author Lisa Papademetriou is the author of the 'Confectionately Yours' series, 'Middle School: Big, Fat Liar' and 'Homeroom Diaries' (both with James Patterson), and many other novels for middle grade and young adult readers. Her books have appeared on the Bank Street Best Books of the Year list, the NYPL Books for the Teen Age, and the Texas Lone Star Reading List, among others. A former editor, Lisa has worked for Scholastic, HarperCollins, and DisneyPress, and holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. HarperCollins will publish her next novel, 'A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic', in October 2015.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a middle grade book, this one deals with some incredibly relevant issues. The book touches upon themes of racism, homophobia, bullying and disability in a way that its target audience can relate to them. These are things that touch the lives of children at a younger and younger age all the time, and books like this are vital in today's society. Besides that, it tells a highly entertaining story. I was really impressed and will definitely be looking for more from this author.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was an amazing way to escape reality. I loved the characters and how things played out. It made me realize how fun life can be if you make it. The book did feel a little long at parts,but overall I enjoyed reading it.

[Jeimy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The protagonist, Callie, is very immature and lies in order for her new friends at her affluent school to like her. Unfortunately those lies are catching up to her and she decides to skip school instead of admit that she does not have the money for a $250 concert ticket. While cutting school at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she meets Cassius a young African American boy who is homeschooled. The two develop a friendship of sorts and the events of the week--which seem to include everything but the kitchen sink--give Callie a chance to mature and come clean.

[Kelly Hager]

Callie has been taking time off from school. She's been racking up tardies and if she gets one nore, her parents will be notified. So she skips and goes to the museum. She has such a great time that she does it the next day, too. And the next. (To be fair, she lives in Manhattan and there are a lot of great museums.) And she even has a friend: Cassius. He's unschooled and is her new museum-buddy. Obviously she'll have to head back to school eventually...but maybe tomorrow.

My synopsis has left a lot of stuff out. There are a lot of subplots (all handled well) and if I started on them, I'd never stop.

So here's what else you need to know: Callie's family is awesome. And I love that she's doing great things while skipping school. She's not hanging out at a mall (or the Manhattan equivalent) or watching daytime TV. She's spending time in a museum, looking at art. I want to do that! And I like Cassius, and I especially like the fact that they are so clearly just friends.

I need a sequel/companion novel from her little brother Desmond's perspective. Like, NOW PLEASE.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up at the local library bc I was captured by the excerpt on the back cover. I did like a LOT of things about this book: the voice of the main character, the humor that would have gone over my head as a kid, and the incredibly lifelike/round feeling of all the characters.

Somehow, this book is not quite “it” for me. Everything about this book reminded me of books that absolutely cannot be beat in my mind: When You Reach Me and Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead as well as all the other stellar middle grade books set in NY, like Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and surprisingly deep MG novel. Protagonist calls herself a semi-philosopher but doesn’t take herself too seriously either.
Grandmother has a neighbor in her building in Apartment 1986 filled with '80s paraphernalia and references.

Liked the title and other parents should enjoy the references to the 1980s. :)

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really funny and interesting story. I've read several of her books, and I love the way she writes as well as her characters. However, I was disappointed that there was language in the book. If this is really intended for middle schoolers, I don't think that should in the book or encouraged among their age group.

[Lorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Callie’s life is imploding as her best friend in her former school hasn’t spoken to her in months, her younger brother becomes the victim of the class bully, her friendships at her new school are built on lies, she is in danger of failing her history class, her beloved grandmother becomes involved in a new relationship with the neighbor in apartment 1986, discovers the truth about her father’s family, and her father’s dramatic loss of his job pushes the family to the brink of financial disaster. It all comes to a head when she decides to ditch school for a week where she meets Cassius who is losing his vision to a progressive disease. As the two go on a quest to soak up the visual art in the museums of New York City, Callie finds the answers to her tween life crisis though they may not be what she expected.

Papdemetrious’s Callie is a complicated character as she unravels the many threads of a large cast of characters and plot twists. With so much going on in the story, it could be in danger of leaving unresolved or implausible threads that coincidentally are resolved, but that is not the case as the ending is done well for its intended audience. The book will have its appeal for middle grade readers looking for contemporary fiction. I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.

This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Papademetriou, Lisa Apartment 1986, 254 pages. Harper, 2017. $17. Content: G.

When things aren’t going well in Callie’s life, she takes a break one day by skipping out on school. Going to one of her favorite NYC museums, she meets a boy and they strike up a conversation of sorts. When skipping school becomes easier than dealing with the drama, the whole week becomes one without school. This gives Callie time to notice that her grandmother is acting strangely also. What is it about 1986 that is so compelling to her? This may be one of the missing clues to help her family heal once and for all.

I was so hoping that this was going to be a time travel adventure, but it was not. While Callie’s family problems and her interactions with her new museum friend are typical of realistic tween girl genre, there is not enough emotional connection to help me fall in love with it.

EL, MS - OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You can't change the past, but you can try to live with it." This is just one of the many Callie"isms" for Apartment 1986. Callie lives in New York and loves to make the most of her life. When she grows up, she wants to put some of her helpful sayings and deep thoughts on mugs and t-shirts. Yet, sometimes life is pretty tough, and Callie has just had it. Her father lost his job, her brother is being bullied at school, and she cannot pay her friends $250 for a concert ticket. Rather than face her friends, Callie skips school, and one day turns into a week, and you know....well..
During her school departure, she explores museums and makes an very interesting friend who has a whole new way of seeing the world.

This is a book for those who like big city life, quirky friends, and a chance to escape reality just a bit.

[ting · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful and moving story about what it means to find your own way in this complicated world. Callie realizes that positive mantras like "live without regrets" may not mean much after all - it's better to live with and embrace those regrets. She's learning how to lead life her way and newfound friend Cassius offers valuable insight on what it means to have a true friend. This book offers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments but underneath it all, the raw and real emotions deeply expressed by Callie are sure to capture your heart.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this quite a bit, though I really wasn't sure if it was going to be magical realism and have some actual time travel in it. As it was, I thought it was a good story about family secrets and lies and so on. I especially liked the story line about her brother Desmond getting picked on and Desmond pointing out to everyone who the problem person was in that scenario and refusing to not be anyone other than who he was.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I picked up this book because this book is funny. Callie, the philosopher, is funny and I love her positivity, or at least she tries her very best to always stay positive. Despite it being a funny story, there are actually a lot of deep and meaningful issues to ponder about. I love everyone in this book (except of course Simon Y.) and I wish the story was longer. I really didn't want it to end.

[Anja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really liked this book. I loved the protagonist and her friends. They're both such interesting characters. I wish that the author could've dived more into Cassius because I want to learn more about him as a person. But, other than that, the plot was solid and intriguing. The way Callie sees things is just so interesting to me because I don't normally read books about young geniuses, and I crave intelligence. I would recommend this book for young readers who like contemporary books.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining middle grade novel that touches on themes of bullying, honesty, family, homophobia, racism, classism, and friendship without being at all pedantic or didactic. Callie is a believable character who gets caught up in a lot of things she isn't sure how best to handle. All her choices aren't great, but she's trying and she's learning and that's so relatable for middle grade readers. This one is definitely recommended to anyone who enjoys MG literature.

[Holli · Rating 1 out of 5]

Parental warnings:

Bogged down with heavy issues such as:
a dead gay uncle and the fall -out because of it
a boy going blind
racial prejudice and discussions
a father involved in a scandal while working for a hedgefund investment group who were swindling investors
girl in an elite school whose family is now broke and her feelings of shame and embarrassment
little brother is bullied in school
I could probably think of more but I am done with this book.

[Tamara York · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story of a girl in NYC struggling to fit in her new school. She’s going through typical tween stuff; impressing new friends, school stress, family financial problems, and a little brother being bullied. Callie befriends an unschooled boy she meets in a museum. There are some interesting themes explored but they seem natural and not too forced. The main character is endearing and inadvertently hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed this middle grade audio book.

[Rosalie Beal · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an amazing book!
I loved the humor in it, and one of my favorite parts was when she convinced her friends that Taylor Swift had shared her family soup recipe with her.
I really enjoyed the deepness of the book, if that makes sense. Like, when Callie found out that Cassius was going blind, and when her and her dad had a conversation about her uncle.
It was an amazing book, and if you haven’t read it, you have to read it RIGHT NOW.

[BarbJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just loved this girl's voice! Wonderful family story of Callie, who has just moved to NYC and is a fancy new school, and having a tough time with friends, as is her adorable younger brother. Plus there's a warm and charming grandmother in an Upper West Side apt. Not to mention her cool friend Cassius. Good for 4-6 grade readers.

[Leona · Rating 3 out of 5]

the author does a lot of telling instead of showing, and the characters and situations aren't very realistic at times, but i think it has some valuable themes about making mistakes and having regrets and learning from them, and the importance of trusting people enough to open up because that's the only way to have close friendships.

[Bookish Devil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the kind of book for a weekend binge. A very well written Humour-Drama Novel.
Callie will forever remain as one of my favorite fictional character.

Lisa, I think you just earned a fan here. :D

[Gaye Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often choose my reading material based on blogs, reviews, and other information I get from fellow writers and readers. But this one I simply picked up off the shelf at my library.

It is a fantastic middle grade read, and the voice of Callie, the protagonist, is priceless! Loved this book.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. It's not a perfect book, but it's fun and sweet.

[Jaymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this! Great characters. At one level the story meanders in several different directions but at the same time it all hangs together with Callie. Terrific!

[Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Unique tale with equally interesting characters. Will read more books by this author.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great humor and a good story with heart. Good, complex characters and a rich setting.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet MG novel with lots of heart that tackles a bunch of issues. For fans of realistic fiction with a dash of humor.

[Tara Ethridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet book with lots of good aspects to it. A lot of storylines happening that didn't quite get as wrapped up. Great for middle schoolers.

[lorien ‧͙⁺˚*･༓ଳ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, but it was just so very slow and boring towards the end

[may regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book, but there was so many unexplained things!! I didn't understand exactly what happened to her uncle. Did he get shot or something? Very confused.