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All The Answers
"A charming, moving, funny, and ultimately very surprising story." --Wendy Mass, New York Times bestselling author of 11 Birthdays
What if your pencil had all the answers? Would you ace every test? Would you know what your teachers were thinking?
When Ava Anderson finds a scratched up pencil, she doodles like she would with any other pencil. But when she writes a question in the margin of her math quiz, she hears a clear answer in a voice no one else seems to hear.
With the help of her friend Sophie, Ava figures out that the pencil will answer factual questions only--those with definite right or wrong answers--but won't predict the future. Ava and Sophie discover all kinds of uses for the pencil, and Ava's confidence grows with each answer. But it's getting shorter with every sharpening, and when the pencil reveals a scary truth about Ava's family, she realizes that sometimes the bravest people are the ones who live without all the answers . . .
What if your pencil had all the answers? Would you ace every test? Would you know what your teachers were thinking?
When Ava Anderson finds a scratched up pencil, she doodles like she would with any other pencil. But when she writes a question in the margin of her math quiz, she hears a clear answer in a voice no one else seems to hear.
With the help of her friend Sophie, Ava figures out that the pencil will answer factual questions only--those with definite right or wrong answers--but won't predict the future. Ava and Sophie discover all kinds of uses for the pencil, and Ava's confidence grows with each answer. But it's getting shorter with every sharpening, and when the pencil reveals a scary truth about Ava's family, she realizes that sometimes the bravest people are the ones who live without all the answers . . .
272 pages, Library Binding
First published January 27, 2015
237 people are currently reading
4169 people want to read
About the author
Kate Messner
131 books1,652 followersKate Messner is an award-winning author, TED 2012 speaker, and former middle school English teacher. Her books for kids include THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.,SUGAR AND ICE, and EYE OF THE STORM (Walker/Bloomsbury Dec. 2010) the MARTY MCGUIRE series (Scholastic), SEA MONSTER'S FIRST DAY, and OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW (Chronicle, Books). Kate also wrote SPITFIRE and CHAMPLAIN AND THE SILENT ONE, both Lake Champlain historical novels published by North Country Books.
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 599 reviews
February 5, 2017
5 Stars!
This was really cute book for middle school level. I really enjoyed reading it. I loved how it was written and everything. I can so related to Ava when she gets worried and nervous about test even though she study's every night. I totally the same way. One thing about this book is that I wish there was actual pencil that would tell you all the answers to anything you asked it. I want one like Ava's so bad. I am really jealous!
This was really cute book for middle school level. I really enjoyed reading it. I loved how it was written and everything. I can so related to Ava when she gets worried and nervous about test even though she study's every night. I totally the same way. One thing about this book is that I wish there was actual pencil that would tell you all the answers to anything you asked it. I want one like Ava's so bad. I am really jealous!
January 18, 2015
4.5 stars
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
Whether or not I would read All the Answers wasn't even up for debate. It's a new Kate Messner MG and those are always a popular commodity among the kids I work with. I always enjoy them myself too.
Ava has a math test and needs a pencil. Grabbing one old blue one from a junk drawer, she is on her way and can focus on worrying about how she always forgets what she needs when taking a test no matter how much she studies. But a strange thing happens when she takes the test. She writes down a question and a voice answers. Soon Ava realizes the voice is coming from the pencil itself, but only the person holding the pencil can hear it. With her best friend Sophie, Ava begins to explore exactly what the pencil knows and what it can do. The girls decide to use the pencils powers to help others like the people who live with Ava's grandfather at the nursing home. Ava's worries about her family soon begin to consume her and she uses the pencil as a way to address them and soon learns things she rather wished she didn't know.
Ava is a worrier. She worries excessively. She worries so much has turned it into an art form where she is able to dodge any activity that scares her too much. What Messner has created with Ava is a picture of what anxiety looks like in a young person and I think it is one that many readers will understand and relate to. Because a lot of the things Ava spends her time obsessing over are at least passing worries for most kids her age: parents' marriage, parents' health, money issues, friend issues, school issues, fear of failure. This book touches on all of these and does so with exactly the right touch. Ava is such a real person and I truly felt everything she was feeling as I read the book. Her relationships with other people bring out crucial parts of her character. Messner does an excellent job of portraying intergenerational family life and the everyday squabbles, victories, joys, and defeats a family shares together. Ava's journey with pencil and what she discovers is realistic and I loved what happens to her when she goes on her adventure field trip.
Most especially, I love the idea of the pencil itself. It's the perfect hook for a book. Who wouldn't want a pencil who would give them answers to life's questions? How would you use it? What would you ask? The mechanics of the pencil and all the things the girls attempt to do with it make for a quick paced story with plenty of pitfalls and highlights. The pencil teaches Ava, but only because she is willing to learn and grow. She learns just as much from opening her eyes and seeing what is around her. It's a really great journey.
All the Answers is a story about family, love, and learning to take risks. It has some twists. It contains laughter and tears. Like all of Messner's books, I suspect it is one that will be read often. (At least in this house-my daughter loves all her books.)
I read an e-galley made available by the publisher, Bloomsbury, via NetGalley. All the Answers goes on sale January 27th.
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
Whether or not I would read All the Answers wasn't even up for debate. It's a new Kate Messner MG and those are always a popular commodity among the kids I work with. I always enjoy them myself too.
Ava has a math test and needs a pencil. Grabbing one old blue one from a junk drawer, she is on her way and can focus on worrying about how she always forgets what she needs when taking a test no matter how much she studies. But a strange thing happens when she takes the test. She writes down a question and a voice answers. Soon Ava realizes the voice is coming from the pencil itself, but only the person holding the pencil can hear it. With her best friend Sophie, Ava begins to explore exactly what the pencil knows and what it can do. The girls decide to use the pencils powers to help others like the people who live with Ava's grandfather at the nursing home. Ava's worries about her family soon begin to consume her and she uses the pencil as a way to address them and soon learns things she rather wished she didn't know.
Ava is a worrier. She worries excessively. She worries so much has turned it into an art form where she is able to dodge any activity that scares her too much. What Messner has created with Ava is a picture of what anxiety looks like in a young person and I think it is one that many readers will understand and relate to. Because a lot of the things Ava spends her time obsessing over are at least passing worries for most kids her age: parents' marriage, parents' health, money issues, friend issues, school issues, fear of failure. This book touches on all of these and does so with exactly the right touch. Ava is such a real person and I truly felt everything she was feeling as I read the book. Her relationships with other people bring out crucial parts of her character. Messner does an excellent job of portraying intergenerational family life and the everyday squabbles, victories, joys, and defeats a family shares together. Ava's journey with pencil and what she discovers is realistic and I loved what happens to her when she goes on her adventure field trip.
Most especially, I love the idea of the pencil itself. It's the perfect hook for a book. Who wouldn't want a pencil who would give them answers to life's questions? How would you use it? What would you ask? The mechanics of the pencil and all the things the girls attempt to do with it make for a quick paced story with plenty of pitfalls and highlights. The pencil teaches Ava, but only because she is willing to learn and grow. She learns just as much from opening her eyes and seeing what is around her. It's a really great journey.
All the Answers is a story about family, love, and learning to take risks. It has some twists. It contains laughter and tears. Like all of Messner's books, I suspect it is one that will be read often. (At least in this house-my daughter loves all her books.)
I read an e-galley made available by the publisher, Bloomsbury, via NetGalley. All the Answers goes on sale January 27th.
March 14, 2015
I could not put this book down! I loved the main character and think this book would make a great read aloud for middle grade students! My favorite Kate Messner book so far!
January 2, 2015
I can never resist middle grade fiction with hints of magical realism, so Kate Messner's All The Answers has totally been on my must-read list for awhile now.
Ava is a young girl who often thinks about the worst-case scenarios in life. She worries about her parents divorcing; she's too scared to try out for jazz band or the track team, and is often too anxious to concentrate while taking math tests. But a chance discovery of a magical pencil with all the answers, soon changes her world.
Now that she can figure out the truths about those around her, Ava finds the strength and the courage to act to help others, while also improving her own life. But when a very scary truth is revealed to her, Ava realizes that sometimes, having all of the answers may not be the most perfect solution…
Messner's tale of a girl who uses a magical pencil to reshape her life, is as charming as it is thoughtful. Ava begins the book as an atypical heroine. She, like many other young adults, are impacted by the constant changes that come with burgeoning adolescence, and end up feeling worried with worst-case scenarios as a result.
But after she finds the pencil, Messner shows us how the pencil quickly becomes the one tool that helps Ava feel more in control of her own life. She's not only able to predict and anticipate the needs of those in her constantly-expanding world, but is also able to use the pencil to eliminate some of the external stressors - e.g. the relationship between her mother and her grandfather.
Throughout this subplot, Messner tactfully explores the idea that younger children are often caught up in family dynamics outside of their control, so it's particularly satisfying to see how Ava's intervention in that particular situation (amongst others!), helps to resolve long-standing tensions.
Even after the pencil reveals information that creates more tension in Ava's life, Messner asks the thoughtfully-placed question of whether it's better to have foresight of certain information or not. Though the pencil's information is undoubtedly useful in a certain case, Messner also points out that one is not necessarily living life, if they're spending all of their time anticipating problems that need to be fixed. It's how a person deals with unexpected challenges that help to truly begin to define a character, so it's both humbling and enlightening when readers see Ava putting aside her pencil once and for all.
Of special note: Older readers may have some difficultly reconciling the magic behind the pencil. However, I think that the reveal will ultimately be very appealing to younger readers. There's an underlying emphasis on the idea that those who love you will always be with you, and will be able to help guide you, until you learn to stand on your own two feet.
Also, Messner is very candid with Ava's anxiety throughout the book. We see Ava struggle with her nerves in different scenarios, and also as she begins to learn to cope with those challenges. I think that educators and parents will appreciate Messner's approach, and can use this book to engage readers with similar challenges.
***
Final verdict:
I absolutely loved All the Answers. As someone who was very much like Ava when she was younger, Messner does a great job of showing how one girl who feels anxious about everything, can find the strength and the courage via a magic pencil, to gain some wonderful insight and wisdom into her world.
Even though Ava doesn't end up fully curing her anxiety, or the worry that there will be always problems in her life that she won't able to solve, her adventures teach her how to seek out practical, accessible strategies to cope with those challenges. It's the recognition that life will never be simple, but there will always be healthy coping mechanisms, which makes this a must-read for any MG reader in my book.
I strongly recommend All The Answers for fans of realistic MG fiction, and for educators and parents who are looking for books that will encourage reluctant readers.
Ava is a young girl who often thinks about the worst-case scenarios in life. She worries about her parents divorcing; she's too scared to try out for jazz band or the track team, and is often too anxious to concentrate while taking math tests. But a chance discovery of a magical pencil with all the answers, soon changes her world.
Now that she can figure out the truths about those around her, Ava finds the strength and the courage to act to help others, while also improving her own life. But when a very scary truth is revealed to her, Ava realizes that sometimes, having all of the answers may not be the most perfect solution…
Messner's tale of a girl who uses a magical pencil to reshape her life, is as charming as it is thoughtful. Ava begins the book as an atypical heroine. She, like many other young adults, are impacted by the constant changes that come with burgeoning adolescence, and end up feeling worried with worst-case scenarios as a result.
But after she finds the pencil, Messner shows us how the pencil quickly becomes the one tool that helps Ava feel more in control of her own life. She's not only able to predict and anticipate the needs of those in her constantly-expanding world, but is also able to use the pencil to eliminate some of the external stressors - e.g. the relationship between her mother and her grandfather.
Throughout this subplot, Messner tactfully explores the idea that younger children are often caught up in family dynamics outside of their control, so it's particularly satisfying to see how Ava's intervention in that particular situation (amongst others!), helps to resolve long-standing tensions.
Even after the pencil reveals information that creates more tension in Ava's life, Messner asks the thoughtfully-placed question of whether it's better to have foresight of certain information or not. Though the pencil's information is undoubtedly useful in a certain case, Messner also points out that one is not necessarily living life, if they're spending all of their time anticipating problems that need to be fixed. It's how a person deals with unexpected challenges that help to truly begin to define a character, so it's both humbling and enlightening when readers see Ava putting aside her pencil once and for all.
Of special note: Older readers may have some difficultly reconciling the magic behind the pencil. However, I think that the reveal will ultimately be very appealing to younger readers. There's an underlying emphasis on the idea that those who love you will always be with you, and will be able to help guide you, until you learn to stand on your own two feet.
Also, Messner is very candid with Ava's anxiety throughout the book. We see Ava struggle with her nerves in different scenarios, and also as she begins to learn to cope with those challenges. I think that educators and parents will appreciate Messner's approach, and can use this book to engage readers with similar challenges.
***
Final verdict:
I absolutely loved All the Answers. As someone who was very much like Ava when she was younger, Messner does a great job of showing how one girl who feels anxious about everything, can find the strength and the courage via a magic pencil, to gain some wonderful insight and wisdom into her world.
Even though Ava doesn't end up fully curing her anxiety, or the worry that there will be always problems in her life that she won't able to solve, her adventures teach her how to seek out practical, accessible strategies to cope with those challenges. It's the recognition that life will never be simple, but there will always be healthy coping mechanisms, which makes this a must-read for any MG reader in my book.
I strongly recommend All The Answers for fans of realistic MG fiction, and for educators and parents who are looking for books that will encourage reluctant readers.
May 24, 2020
"All The Answers" is a great book that deals with real life problem like cancer and death.
There was a plot hole though. The pencil says it cannot tell the future. But in the end, Ava asks "Is Grandpa doing to die today?" The pencil tells her yes. How can it, since it can't tell the Future.
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There was a plot hole though. The pencil says it cannot tell the future. But in the end, Ava asks "Is Grandpa doing to die today?" The pencil tells her yes. How can it, since it can't tell the Future.
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2020
Ava, a young girl who worries a great deal — about her parents arguing, about the health of her grandparents, about speaking out in class — finds a pencil that, when used to write a question, sends the answer to her head. Her extrovert friend mainly wants to use it to find out about pop stars' private lives, which boys might like her, and when shoes will go on sale, but Ava doesn't want to use it to cheat, and finds the answers to bigger questions to be scary. When the pencil tells her some answers she doesn't want to hear, Ava must face some of her fears and try to make the best of some serious situations.
I've been a big fan of the "children find a magic item with limitations" genre since I was a young kid, and this one is a real winner. The plot went in directions I didn't imagine, with every twist showing a new side of Ava without making it formulaic. Since the book features the "D trifecta" of middle-grade dramas — death, divorce, and disease — I wouldn't read it to my third graders, but for older kids it's a surprising, moving, charming story of finding value in precisely not knowing what will come next.
I've been a big fan of the "children find a magic item with limitations" genre since I was a young kid, and this one is a real winner. The plot went in directions I didn't imagine, with every twist showing a new side of Ava without making it formulaic. Since the book features the "D trifecta" of middle-grade dramas — death, divorce, and disease — I wouldn't read it to my third graders, but for older kids it's a surprising, moving, charming story of finding value in precisely not knowing what will come next.
April 13, 2015
When I started reading this, I loved the idea of having a magic pencil that could answer every question you have. (And when I say "loved," I mean "desperately wanted one for myself.") And then the more I read, the more I saw that it was a double-edged sword.
The pencil obviously couldn't last forever, and the answers all seem to lead to more questions. (Also, there are some things the pencil can't answer---you can't know about the future, for example, because people have free will.)
It doesn't take too long for Ava to realize that this thing that's supposed to make her life easier and better is actually freaking her out.
I loved Ava and her best friend Sophie (but especially Ava, because I too tend to worry about things.) This book would be perfect for middlegrade readers, and I plan to buy a copy for my goddaughter's birthday.
Highly recommended.
The pencil obviously couldn't last forever, and the answers all seem to lead to more questions. (Also, there are some things the pencil can't answer---you can't know about the future, for example, because people have free will.)
It doesn't take too long for Ava to realize that this thing that's supposed to make her life easier and better is actually freaking her out.
I loved Ava and her best friend Sophie (but especially Ava, because I too tend to worry about things.) This book would be perfect for middlegrade readers, and I plan to buy a copy for my goddaughter's birthday.
Highly recommended.
March 22, 2015
Really loved this book. As soon as I finished, I wanted to start it over from the beginning again!
February 11, 2021
i really liked this book! Ava was kind of like me sometimes i worry a lot but this book taught me that with answers more questions will come up, so just go with the flow through life and face the challenges in life and everything will be okay :)
October 21, 2022
I started out detesting this book. I was reading it because my baby brother- a 7th grader apparently thinks randomly grabbing a book off a shelf and writing a book report is the way to go. Worse yet it was due the next day. I've been in a reading slump so I wanted an easy read. I got it. Purely middle grade.
The book is centralized around a girl, her best friend and magic all knowing pencil. Something I would have liked ish at his age but he prefers books like the Giver and dystopian zombie books. So if you think it's that do not read this book looking for that!
It was cute and I connected to the main character, Ava. She was like a middle school me. Insecure, confused in math, quiet and a reader. Now that it's been a few years I can see and enjoy characters like that but middle school me would have likely loathed Ava having the pencil for more than one reason. One I won't divulge because you know spoilers. But the other is obvious, a built-in math "helper"... yeah sign me up and would I have had Ava qualms about cheating maybe.
Pleasantly surprised. Worth 3 stars but not much more. Maybe 3.25?
The book is centralized around a girl, her best friend and magic all knowing pencil. Something I would have liked ish at his age but he prefers books like the Giver and dystopian zombie books. So if you think it's that do not read this book looking for that!
It was cute and I connected to the main character, Ava. She was like a middle school me. Insecure, confused in math, quiet and a reader. Now that it's been a few years I can see and enjoy characters like that but middle school me would have likely loathed Ava having the pencil for more than one reason. One I won't divulge because you know spoilers. But the other is obvious, a built-in math "helper"... yeah sign me up and would I have had Ava qualms about cheating maybe.
Pleasantly surprised. Worth 3 stars but not much more. Maybe 3.25?
October 24, 2014
I am a big fan of Kate Messner's - hooked first on Sugar and Ice, when Vermont chose it as a Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award nominee, I then latched into the Silver Jaguar Societies series, Eye of the Storm, the Marty McGuire series, Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z, Wake Up Missing and then her wonderful picture books. I am a K-6 teacher, and Kate Messner's books fill so many needs in the classrooms I work with. Without fail, students come back to me after reading one of her books with the request, "Do you have any more books like that?" the author is skilled at creating very believable characters that are hard not to like, and easy for students to relate to. I'm sure that will be the case of the protagonist in this new book, All the Answers.
Ava is a teen with a lot of "what ifs" circling around in her brain. Uncertain about so much, she chooses to sit on the sidelines of school life, even though her parents and best friend are always challenging her to try new things. Although smart, she doesn't often do well on tests, as she becomes too anxious and worried. A good runner, she's not willing to try out for track and field. A decent saxophone player, she won't be auditioning for the jazz band, even if her best friend, Sophie, did sign her up. And as for the field trip to the adventure park - she knows already - she'll conveniently be out sick that day.
But life changes for Ava when she uses a pencil found in her grandfather's old apartment that seems to have all the right answers. Ask it any factual question, and it will tell you the answer. Ask it a question that involves a person's free will, and it is silent. The story then gets into the moral issues of right and wrong, as Ava is hesitant to use the pencil for tests, while her friend Sophie wants to tell fortunes and astound her classmates with her "psychic" ability. But when the pencil starts telling things that Ava would rather not know, Ava is determined to put on the brakes... But can she?
This book will be released in January, 2015 - keep it on your radar and pre-order soon. I must honestly say - this is my favorite book from Kate Messner. I loved the contrast between Ava and Sophie, and the very real problems and worries that Ava faces both at school and home. The portrayal of her family is that of a two parent family, but not without troubles, something that I think students will relate to. Well done, Kate Messner! You've got another hit on your hands!
Ava is a teen with a lot of "what ifs" circling around in her brain. Uncertain about so much, she chooses to sit on the sidelines of school life, even though her parents and best friend are always challenging her to try new things. Although smart, she doesn't often do well on tests, as she becomes too anxious and worried. A good runner, she's not willing to try out for track and field. A decent saxophone player, she won't be auditioning for the jazz band, even if her best friend, Sophie, did sign her up. And as for the field trip to the adventure park - she knows already - she'll conveniently be out sick that day.
But life changes for Ava when she uses a pencil found in her grandfather's old apartment that seems to have all the right answers. Ask it any factual question, and it will tell you the answer. Ask it a question that involves a person's free will, and it is silent. The story then gets into the moral issues of right and wrong, as Ava is hesitant to use the pencil for tests, while her friend Sophie wants to tell fortunes and astound her classmates with her "psychic" ability. But when the pencil starts telling things that Ava would rather not know, Ava is determined to put on the brakes... But can she?
This book will be released in January, 2015 - keep it on your radar and pre-order soon. I must honestly say - this is my favorite book from Kate Messner. I loved the contrast between Ava and Sophie, and the very real problems and worries that Ava faces both at school and home. The portrayal of her family is that of a two parent family, but not without troubles, something that I think students will relate to. Well done, Kate Messner! You've got another hit on your hands!
May 18, 2016
This was a very decent read. It is targeted towards preteen or middle grade readers, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Messner succeeded in creating a very simple story with quite a poignant message, so it does appeal to many readers.
It begins with Ava Anderson, who is hurriedly rushing to school, slightly panicking about her Maths test and looking for a pencil or she won't be allowed to take the test. She finds one at random in a drawer filled with junk, and goes to school with it. She soon discovers whilst taking the test that the pencil answers questions she writes down with it. At first, she thinks it's a fluke, and just her head playing games with her, not long after though, she realizes that this magical pencil does in fact answer every "factual" question she asks of it. Her best friend, Sophie, immediately takes advantage of the situation and uses the pencil to find out things she wants to know about boys, school and friends. However, Ava begins to realize that having all the answers isn't as enjoyable as it looks, and is in fact making her more paranoid about events in her life. She worries about her parents getting a divorce, she worries about loved ones getting sick, and so on.
But then the pencil gives her the answer she's been dreading the most, and suddenly, the book takes a very serious turn. She finds herself struggling to keep the information to herself, while simultaneously trying to help those around her. In the end, Ava decides that the best course of action is to get rid of the pencil, but not after finding out the reason it has all the answers and who is supplying them to her.
Interesting, light read, that you will easily breeze though.
It begins with Ava Anderson, who is hurriedly rushing to school, slightly panicking about her Maths test and looking for a pencil or she won't be allowed to take the test. She finds one at random in a drawer filled with junk, and goes to school with it. She soon discovers whilst taking the test that the pencil answers questions she writes down with it. At first, she thinks it's a fluke, and just her head playing games with her, not long after though, she realizes that this magical pencil does in fact answer every "factual" question she asks of it. Her best friend, Sophie, immediately takes advantage of the situation and uses the pencil to find out things she wants to know about boys, school and friends. However, Ava begins to realize that having all the answers isn't as enjoyable as it looks, and is in fact making her more paranoid about events in her life. She worries about her parents getting a divorce, she worries about loved ones getting sick, and so on.
But then the pencil gives her the answer she's been dreading the most, and suddenly, the book takes a very serious turn. She finds herself struggling to keep the information to herself, while simultaneously trying to help those around her. In the end, Ava decides that the best course of action is to get rid of the pencil, but not after finding out the reason it has all the answers and who is supplying them to her.
Interesting, light read, that you will easily breeze though.
April 3, 2022
Ava has anxiety. She's taken worrying to a new level. For her, it's practically an art form. Until one fateful morning, a random pencil from her junk drawer changes her perspective.
This is a cute story with family conflict, student conflict, a light and funny tone, and it's great for Middle Grade readers!
My 8 year old and I enjoyed this one.
***ARC courtesy of Netgalley
This is a cute story with family conflict, student conflict, a light and funny tone, and it's great for Middle Grade readers!
My 8 year old and I enjoyed this one.
***ARC courtesy of Netgalley
May 13, 2015
Ah, the joys of wish-fulfillment. Remember Rita Skeeter's Quick-Quotes Quill that magically wrote when she interviewed subjects from the Harry Potter series? Most of the stories were sensational but one time it was accurate (sort of). I really want a magical pen that will write for me. Just think, papers or book reviews appear with no mistakes. No drafts. No bad-writing days. Now I'm going to add Kate Messner's magical pencil to my wish list. Imagine having a pencil that answered all your questions. Oh, the places you'd go. Or not. Twelve-year-old Ava has found such a pencil and luckily she is morally grounded and learns to not abuse the pencil's magical powers. Her friend, Sophie, on the other hand, does use the pen to hurt others and learns the hard way that she cannot control a person's free will. There's plenty of humor, emotional turmoil, and strong character development. If you liked, "Bigger Than a Breadbox," by Laurel Snyder, then you'll like this realistic book with a touch of magic.
Ava Anderson is taking a math test when she hears answers to her questions as she writes on scratch paper. She figures out that her pencil is magical and shares her secret with her best friend, Sophie. Messner is good at creating distinct traits in her characters and Sophie is a rambunctious, tumbling gymnast that uses the curb as a balance beam and does back handsprings when she finds out a boy likes her. She's impulsive and it gets her in trouble when she uses the pencil to feel important with other kids in her grade. When she starts to share secrets about others that hurt feelings, it is Eva that reigns her in.
The two friends balance each other out. Eva is neurotically worried about the future. She has so many fears that it can be crippling. Sophie, convinces her to take risks or lets her know when she's out-of-control. Eva is particularly worried about death. Her grandma passed away five years earlier and Eva's grandpa is in a nursing home. She's also concerned about her parents getting a divorce or her mom having cancer. Many of her fears come true so she seems justified in her worries, although it was appropriate that she saw a counselor at the end to help her deal with anxiety.
The plot is a bit overly ambitious with death and divorce and cancer. Seems like one could have been dropped. The subplot of romance is light with the girls interested in boys but no one is serious for very long. It's spot-on for most middle school behavior. The grandpa's storyline is easy to figure out early in the book but it isn't resolved until the end; however, the pencil twist and where the magic comes from was not predictable. Good fantasy writing explains the source of magical powers and while some might find this far-fetched, it makes for a stronger plot. Some criticized it and I know my readers that really don't like fantasy might struggle with this unbelievable part.
The humor helps lighten the heaviness of the topics and I especially enjoyed the father and his attempt to create some famous recipe that would draw people to his general store. A large superstore is coming to town and he is trying make his small grocery store stand out so that people will choose it over the other. When he starts an oven fire and then pulls out a donut that is charred on the outside and raw on the inside, it reminded me of my sister and me making brownies. I preheated the oven and my mom had sixteen boxes of cereal stashed inside (family of seven). I set the cereal on fire and my sister and I lined up like a fire brigade chucking cereal into the kitchen sink with the faucet on full blast. Later we cooked the brownies only to discover we'd read the recipe wrong and the inside was runny. I was 16 and she was 10-years-old. I'm still a hopeless cook, just like Ava's dad.
Ava Anderson is taking a math test when she hears answers to her questions as she writes on scratch paper. She figures out that her pencil is magical and shares her secret with her best friend, Sophie. Messner is good at creating distinct traits in her characters and Sophie is a rambunctious, tumbling gymnast that uses the curb as a balance beam and does back handsprings when she finds out a boy likes her. She's impulsive and it gets her in trouble when she uses the pencil to feel important with other kids in her grade. When she starts to share secrets about others that hurt feelings, it is Eva that reigns her in.
The two friends balance each other out. Eva is neurotically worried about the future. She has so many fears that it can be crippling. Sophie, convinces her to take risks or lets her know when she's out-of-control. Eva is particularly worried about death. Her grandma passed away five years earlier and Eva's grandpa is in a nursing home. She's also concerned about her parents getting a divorce or her mom having cancer. Many of her fears come true so she seems justified in her worries, although it was appropriate that she saw a counselor at the end to help her deal with anxiety.
The plot is a bit overly ambitious with death and divorce and cancer. Seems like one could have been dropped. The subplot of romance is light with the girls interested in boys but no one is serious for very long. It's spot-on for most middle school behavior. The grandpa's storyline is easy to figure out early in the book but it isn't resolved until the end; however, the pencil twist and where the magic comes from was not predictable. Good fantasy writing explains the source of magical powers and while some might find this far-fetched, it makes for a stronger plot. Some criticized it and I know my readers that really don't like fantasy might struggle with this unbelievable part.
The humor helps lighten the heaviness of the topics and I especially enjoyed the father and his attempt to create some famous recipe that would draw people to his general store. A large superstore is coming to town and he is trying make his small grocery store stand out so that people will choose it over the other. When he starts an oven fire and then pulls out a donut that is charred on the outside and raw on the inside, it reminded me of my sister and me making brownies. I preheated the oven and my mom had sixteen boxes of cereal stashed inside (family of seven). I set the cereal on fire and my sister and I lined up like a fire brigade chucking cereal into the kitchen sink with the faucet on full blast. Later we cooked the brownies only to discover we'd read the recipe wrong and the inside was runny. I was 16 and she was 10-years-old. I'm still a hopeless cook, just like Ava's dad.
December 18, 2017
This is NOT your typical fantasy. Great writing and characters- sweet, sad, funny.
February 23, 2015
First reviewed on Redeemed Reader
In her haste one morning, Ava grabs a pencil from the kitchen drawer. During her math test, Ava realizes that the pencil can tell her answers to the questions she’s writing down. Obviously this is the sort of thing to tell a best friend, and soon Ava and Sophie are testing the pencil’s knowledge. They move on from homework questions to whether a boy likes a girl, information about their teachers, and questions about the future (which the pencil refuses to answer). They even question the pencil about how to make the folks at the retirement center (including Ava’s grandfather) happier; when Ava and Sophie act on the pencil’s advice, the results are heartwarming. On her own, Ava starts asking heavier questions: Will her parents stay together? Is her grandmother going to be okay? But Ava soon realizes that some things are better left unknown.
Ava Anderson is a very typical middle school girl. And she worries…a lot. While her anxiety drives her to some creative ruses in her attempt to avoid things that frighten her (such as the class field trip to a woodland retreat center), even those who don’t worry to the same extent as Ava will resonate with her fears. After all, most middle schoolers spend some time worrying over their friends, their parents’ marriages or jobs or health, their school situation. Readers will enjoy watching Ava come to grips with some of her fears as well watching Ava interact with her family (which include her grandparents, parents, and sibling). The family interactions and Ava’s character development are wonderfully written. Middle school is a time of anxiety for many students, and they will relate easily to Ava.
Book provided via netgalley in return for a fair review.
In her haste one morning, Ava grabs a pencil from the kitchen drawer. During her math test, Ava realizes that the pencil can tell her answers to the questions she’s writing down. Obviously this is the sort of thing to tell a best friend, and soon Ava and Sophie are testing the pencil’s knowledge. They move on from homework questions to whether a boy likes a girl, information about their teachers, and questions about the future (which the pencil refuses to answer). They even question the pencil about how to make the folks at the retirement center (including Ava’s grandfather) happier; when Ava and Sophie act on the pencil’s advice, the results are heartwarming. On her own, Ava starts asking heavier questions: Will her parents stay together? Is her grandmother going to be okay? But Ava soon realizes that some things are better left unknown.
Ava Anderson is a very typical middle school girl. And she worries…a lot. While her anxiety drives her to some creative ruses in her attempt to avoid things that frighten her (such as the class field trip to a woodland retreat center), even those who don’t worry to the same extent as Ava will resonate with her fears. After all, most middle schoolers spend some time worrying over their friends, their parents’ marriages or jobs or health, their school situation. Readers will enjoy watching Ava come to grips with some of her fears as well watching Ava interact with her family (which include her grandparents, parents, and sibling). The family interactions and Ava’s character development are wonderfully written. Middle school is a time of anxiety for many students, and they will relate easily to Ava.
Book provided via netgalley in return for a fair review.
January 31, 2015
All the Answers by Kate Messner – Fourth grade and Up- Realistic Fiction/Fantasy- Released in January 2015- This book hit a little too close to home. I loved reading every minute but the main character who is so fixated on worrying that life is passing her by is quite the powerful one to read about. I was quite touched by this story. It was interesting to read the ethical dilemma of a girl who realizes that a pencil is telling her answers to test questions and answering other questions as well. How do you decide when to ask questions? Is there a limit to the questions you ask? What would you ask if you found a magical pencil that had all the answers? I feel like it is a can of worms. Now, Kate Messner could have gone so many ways with this book and made various decisions. I admire where she went, how the book moved, and all the different beautiful twists and turns it made. I do not want to share too much but this book did hit too close to home with one storyline and it leads me to suggest that this should be for fourth grade and up not only for the questions and discussions but also for the content that children will deal with. I highly recommend this book, loved it a tremendous amount.
January 3, 2015
When it's the first day of a new year, many take time to reflect back on the past 365 days while looking ahead. Situations are assessed wondering what else might have been said or done. Two words, if only, sometimes creep into our thinking. We wonder if only we would have known then what we know now.
Let us suppose for just a minute we might have known then what we know now. Would this new knowledge have changed anything? Would it have altered moments or events for the greater good? Kate Messner's middle grade title, All The Answers (Bloomsbury Children's Books), set to be released on January 27, 2015 replaces "if only with "what if" challenging readers to seriously think about the power of knowing.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
Let us suppose for just a minute we might have known then what we know now. Would this new knowledge have changed anything? Would it have altered moments or events for the greater good? Kate Messner's middle grade title, All The Answers (Bloomsbury Children's Books), set to be released on January 27, 2015 replaces "if only with "what if" challenging readers to seriously think about the power of knowing.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
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February 9, 2017Our protagonist has acute social anxiety that prevents her from participating in school clubs, sports or band and she performs poorly on tests in school. She prefers to eat alone in the library rather than sit among other students and feel ignored. She has a best friend who is her polar opposite. One day she grabs a pencil from home and finds that it answers any written question by whispering the answer in her mind. This is the set-up for a wonderful tale of a young girl and her everyday life with a sprinkling of magic. How she handles her sudden source of knowledge and becomes more self-assured is a delightful story sure to engage readers both age-appropriate and older. Because who among us hasn't wished for a magical pencil to answer our questions when faced with overwhelming issues? - Suzanne R.
November 22, 2015
Books about pencils inhabited by spirits are truly not for me.
Also, just noticing that almost every YA book I read with a white, female protagonist who struggles with her self esteem is described as skinny in a negative way. Like, oh no. She gets bullied because she's thin. Isn't that... Kind of the western standard of beauty? I think I might be bringing my bitterness from growing up obese too much into this observation, but I just don't understand why even in books we are implying that girls who meet conventional standards of attractiveness are awkward and ugly and undesirable. I feel like it makes it that much worse for young girls reading these books who ACTUALLY don't meet those beauty standards. Idk ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Also, just noticing that almost every YA book I read with a white, female protagonist who struggles with her self esteem is described as skinny in a negative way. Like, oh no. She gets bullied because she's thin. Isn't that... Kind of the western standard of beauty? I think I might be bringing my bitterness from growing up obese too much into this observation, but I just don't understand why even in books we are implying that girls who meet conventional standards of attractiveness are awkward and ugly and undesirable. I feel like it makes it that much worse for young girls reading these books who ACTUALLY don't meet those beauty standards. Idk ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
March 27, 2021
So I got this book a few years ago when I was in middle school, and I just got around to reading it. Anyways this book was really cute and I related a lot to Ava when it comes to her having anxiety about not knowing what is going to happen in the future. So I would give this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars as I enjoyed it, but I kinda wish the ending would’ve been different. Like I felt like it didn’t really give me the certain kinda closer that I wanted?
April 4, 2015
Absolutely phenomenal! I could so relate to Ava, being the worrywart I am. This book sucks you in from the very beginning and doesn't let you go. One of those rare books that holds on long after you have finished reading.
November 24, 2016
This book was incredible! The final chapters had me sobbing in my seat. The anxiety themed plot and characters really digs deep and finds the inner panic within you. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages, including adults, but warning, it's a tear-jerker!
December 29, 2014
Wow. This book had me reeling a few times. This is a do not miss!
June 20, 2016
Sometimes, having all the answers only gives you more questions…
September 13, 2019
Awesome book, definatly deserves my approval.
June 24, 2021
A cute story about a pencil that will give the answer if you ask it a factual question. Ava, our young protagonist, is scared of everything but her whole life changes when she finds the pencil. Ava and her best friend, Sophie, ask it tons of questions, not always liking the answers. Between the funny outcomes of listening to the pencil and discovering truths about herself, Ava begins to see her life from a different point of view. This book starts out as a fun, light, fantasy, but halfway through turns more serious as Ava analyzes her life and the relationships in her family. This is a wonderful book for middle school students and even a light one for high school students because it draws you in with the fun lighthearted fantasy, but then expounds on some pretty deep life lessons. All kids can learn from this. And this is especially good for those kids who have been through some bigger life events and are trying to figure out how to deal with them. I don't want to tell you specifics, because it would give too much away, but I really enjoyed this book and if you have your child read it, I highly encourage you to read it as well, so that you can talk through it with them. It took me only an hour or two. And if you're a kid, definitely read it! I mean, seriously, what would YOU do with a magic pencil that could answer all your questions?
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May 31, 2019I started this book a year ago and then set it down, then picked it up again and finished it in a day.
As for the book itself, it's a surprisingly fun way to address anxiety! I liked the characters and the conceit is charming. It gets fairly heavy near the climax (, which is something to keep in mind when suggesting it to kid readers.
As for the book itself, it's a surprisingly fun way to address anxiety! I liked the characters and the conceit is charming. It gets fairly heavy near the climax (, which is something to keep in mind when suggesting it to kid readers.
September 13, 2020
I enjoyed this. Main character is in middle school but the content is okay for elementary, I’d say. Good book for kids who deal with anxiety - the main character is always trying to process her anxiety and I think it would be relatable and good to see themselves reflected in Ava. One word of warning - I was surprised that the book got a bit heavy about 2/3 in, so be prepared to have a conversation about cancer with your kid if they’re reading this.
January 7, 2024
I’d put this one off for a long time. It’s PERFECT for seventh graders. Half-way through, I gasped, and a student asked me what happened, and of course I couldn’t tell her… This one had it all: anxiety, trial and error, friendships, heartbreak, and surprises. I shed a couple of tears, and it was such a quick read.
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