What do you think?
Rate this book
Absolutely Maybe
Lisa Yee makes her YA debut with this hilarious novel about a charm-school dropout who becomes a drop-dead charmer on a quest for her father in California.
Meet Maybelline Mary Katherine Mary Ann Chestnut, named for two Miss Americas and her mother Chessy's favorite brand of mascara. Chessy teaches the students in her charm school her Seven Select Rules for Young Ladies, but she won't tell Maybe who her real father is -- or protect her from her latest scuzzball boyfriend. So Maybe hitches a ride to California with her friends Hollywood and Thammasat Tantipinichwong Schneider (aka Ted) -- and what she finds there is funny, sad, true, and inspiring . . .
Meet Maybelline Mary Katherine Mary Ann Chestnut, named for two Miss Americas and her mother Chessy's favorite brand of mascara. Chessy teaches the students in her charm school her Seven Select Rules for Young Ladies, but she won't tell Maybe who her real father is -- or protect her from her latest scuzzball boyfriend. So Maybe hitches a ride to California with her friends Hollywood and Thammasat Tantipinichwong Schneider (aka Ted) -- and what she finds there is funny, sad, true, and inspiring . . .
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2009
31 people are currently reading
1258 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Yee
40 books555 followersLisa Yee has written over 20 novels. Her most recent book, Maizy Chen's Last Chance, is about a fifth-generation Chinese American girl, and is a National Book Award Finalist, Newbery Honor, and the Asian Pacific American Children's Literature Award winner.
Lisa's debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. Other books include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, Absolutely Maybe, and a series about a 4th grader, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and Bobby the Brave (Sometimes), illustrated by Dan Santat.
Lisa is also the author of several American Girl books and the DC Super Hero Girls series. A Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence, Lisa's books have been named a NPR Best Summer Read, Sports Illustrated Kids Hot Summer Read, and USA Today Critics’ Top Pick.
Lisa lives In Western Massachusetts, but spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, especially when it's cold. Her next book, an awkward and hilarious mystery, is called The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum, and is illustrated by Dan Santat.
You can visit Lisa at www.lisayee.com.
Lisa's debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. Other books include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, Absolutely Maybe, and a series about a 4th grader, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and Bobby the Brave (Sometimes), illustrated by Dan Santat.
Lisa is also the author of several American Girl books and the DC Super Hero Girls series. A Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence, Lisa's books have been named a NPR Best Summer Read, Sports Illustrated Kids Hot Summer Read, and USA Today Critics’ Top Pick.
Lisa lives In Western Massachusetts, but spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, especially when it's cold. Her next book, an awkward and hilarious mystery, is called The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum, and is illustrated by Dan Santat.
You can visit Lisa at www.lisayee.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
March 27, 2009
So I read this great blog post about the rewrites Lisa Yee did to this book before it was published: http://chavelaque.blogspot.com/2009/0...
It actually reminded me a lot of the rewrites I did to my own book, so I was all "HURRAH NOW I WILL READ HER FINISHED PRODUCT AND REJOICE FOR HER!"
Sadly, I am not impressed.
Listen, it doesn't suck or anything. It's just very "meh". There are way too many cliches for my taste, I didn't actually feel like the L.A. setting was as authentic as it could have been (which is weird given Yee grew up here). I just read Cecil Castalucci's Beige which isn't a perfect book by any stretch of the imagination but truly captured the city I live in. I mean, anyone could throw in some crap about taco trucks and starving wannabe actresses and call it Hollywood.
Also I guess Yee has written a lot of middle grade before, and to me this didn't truly rise from that level. Not to say there's anything wrong with middle grade! Still, if you're writing YA, write YA. Throwing in some stuff about rape and a gay friend doesn't make it YA automatically.
The story itself is fine, I guess, though I never felt like it picked up a huge amount of momentum. I kept reading but it's really, really hard for me to quit a book. I just wanted MORE. More authenticity, more setting, more from all the characters, more escape from cliches, more dialogue that didn't seem expositiony.
I'm not saying at all that there isn't a book here. I am, however, saying that I think it needs another rewrite or two to actually get there.
Oh, and EDITED TO ADD: I agree with the reviewer here who said it took the violence-against-women and alcoholism angles way too lightly. I know it looks like I took the same way out, up there where I said "stuff about rape", but that's my whole point, you can't throw in a little thing about violence of that nature just to call it YA or drive your plot forward. I thought the ending was pretty irresponsible, because I'm not sure some things/issues/people ARE redeemable.
It actually reminded me a lot of the rewrites I did to my own book, so I was all "HURRAH NOW I WILL READ HER FINISHED PRODUCT AND REJOICE FOR HER!"
Sadly, I am not impressed.
Listen, it doesn't suck or anything. It's just very "meh". There are way too many cliches for my taste, I didn't actually feel like the L.A. setting was as authentic as it could have been (which is weird given Yee grew up here). I just read Cecil Castalucci's Beige which isn't a perfect book by any stretch of the imagination but truly captured the city I live in. I mean, anyone could throw in some crap about taco trucks and starving wannabe actresses and call it Hollywood.
Also I guess Yee has written a lot of middle grade before, and to me this didn't truly rise from that level. Not to say there's anything wrong with middle grade! Still, if you're writing YA, write YA. Throwing in some stuff about rape and a gay friend doesn't make it YA automatically.
The story itself is fine, I guess, though I never felt like it picked up a huge amount of momentum. I kept reading but it's really, really hard for me to quit a book. I just wanted MORE. More authenticity, more setting, more from all the characters, more escape from cliches, more dialogue that didn't seem expositiony.
I'm not saying at all that there isn't a book here. I am, however, saying that I think it needs another rewrite or two to actually get there.
Oh, and EDITED TO ADD: I agree with the reviewer here who said it took the violence-against-women and alcoholism angles way too lightly. I know it looks like I took the same way out, up there where I said "stuff about rape", but that's my whole point, you can't throw in a little thing about violence of that nature just to call it YA or drive your plot forward. I thought the ending was pretty irresponsible, because I'm not sure some things/issues/people ARE redeemable.
December 30, 2008
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
ABSOLUTELY MAYBE by Lisa Yee is due out in February 2009. It is her first YA/teen novel - and readers will not want to miss it.
The main character is Maybelline, "Maybe" to her friends. She is currently living above her mother's Charm School. She is surrounded by glamour and future pageant hopefuls, but she feels anything but glamorous. Depending on the day, Maybe's hair color might be red, green, or blue, thanks to endless boxes of unsweetened jello. Her baggy black T-shirts, goth eyeliner, and dark lipstick have her mother frantic. That is, when her mother isn't busy trawling for her next husband.
Maybe's best friends, Ted and Hollywood, are the only things that keep her going. Their support helps her tolerate her mother's boyfriends-turned-step-fathers, until the most recent, Jake, makes an attempt to turn Maybe into more than an innocent step-daughter. When her mother sides with her pervert husband-to-be, Maybe decides it is time to follow through on her lifelong dream to find her mysterious biological father.
Ted and Hollywood join in the adventure as they head to L.A. in search of all their dreams.
Their arrival in California is followed by terrific opportunities for Ted and Hollywood, but not so much for Maybe. After weeks of living homeless, she finally searches out her mother's husband #2/#4, the only one who made Maybe feel anyone ever cared for her. At least now she has a place to call home while she continues her search for the father she never knew.
Yee's characters draw readers right into their lives. You'll find something to like about all of them, and they'll make you anxious to turn to the next page and sad when you arrive at the last one. There are humorous escapades mixed with sensitive, sentimental scenes as Maybe's story is revealed.
I can only hope that Maybe returns someday to let readers know about the next chapter in her awesome life.
ABSOLUTELY MAYBE by Lisa Yee is due out in February 2009. It is her first YA/teen novel - and readers will not want to miss it.
The main character is Maybelline, "Maybe" to her friends. She is currently living above her mother's Charm School. She is surrounded by glamour and future pageant hopefuls, but she feels anything but glamorous. Depending on the day, Maybe's hair color might be red, green, or blue, thanks to endless boxes of unsweetened jello. Her baggy black T-shirts, goth eyeliner, and dark lipstick have her mother frantic. That is, when her mother isn't busy trawling for her next husband.
Maybe's best friends, Ted and Hollywood, are the only things that keep her going. Their support helps her tolerate her mother's boyfriends-turned-step-fathers, until the most recent, Jake, makes an attempt to turn Maybe into more than an innocent step-daughter. When her mother sides with her pervert husband-to-be, Maybe decides it is time to follow through on her lifelong dream to find her mysterious biological father.
Ted and Hollywood join in the adventure as they head to L.A. in search of all their dreams.
Their arrival in California is followed by terrific opportunities for Ted and Hollywood, but not so much for Maybe. After weeks of living homeless, she finally searches out her mother's husband #2/#4, the only one who made Maybe feel anyone ever cared for her. At least now she has a place to call home while she continues her search for the father she never knew.
Yee's characters draw readers right into their lives. You'll find something to like about all of them, and they'll make you anxious to turn to the next page and sad when you arrive at the last one. There are humorous escapades mixed with sensitive, sentimental scenes as Maybe's story is revealed.
I can only hope that Maybe returns someday to let readers know about the next chapter in her awesome life.
February 26, 2009
Lisa Yee takes a departure from her usual middle grade fare to offer a more mature look at adolescence in Absolutely Maybe. 15 year old Maybe (short for Maybelline) lives in Kissimmee, FL with her mother, Chessy. Chessy is a former beauty queen who now runs a charm school for aspiring pageant winners, and everything she cares about is anathema to Maybe, who would rather wear kohl eyeliner and purple lipstick and Hanes beefy-ts every day than a crown. Chessy's on-again, off-again relationships with men affect Maybe as well - and when her latest boyfriend assaults Maybe, Chessy accuses her of seducing him. This proves to be the last straw, so Maybe runs away with best friends Hollywood and Ted to LA, where Hollywood will go to film school. Ted meets with swift success in finding a job when an aging film star hires him to be her chauffeur, and Hollywood is settling into school quite nicely. After Maybe's purse is stolen, she must start from scratch and find a place to live before the campus police report her - but who should she turn to?
This book was a great mix of excellent characters, vivid settings, and a tight plot. Just when you think Maybe is out of one mess, she's into another and must think on her feet to find a solution. The twin themes of family trauma and finding a place to belong kept the narrative on track nicely. You'll find yourself rooting not just for Maybe, but for everyone she meets on her journey.
This book was a great mix of excellent characters, vivid settings, and a tight plot. Just when you think Maybe is out of one mess, she's into another and must think on her feet to find a solution. The twin themes of family trauma and finding a place to belong kept the narrative on track nicely. You'll find yourself rooting not just for Maybe, but for everyone she meets on her journey.
February 10, 2016
Pretty disappointing, because I like Yee's middle grade novels so much. In a lot of ways this book reads very similar to them, except that the protagonist is older and has more serious problems. And yet, it doesn't feel like, as a character, she is that much more evolved or mature - she certainly didn't feel like a sixteen or seventeen year old to me. I also felt like she - Maybe - is a character to whom things happen and reacts, but does very little proactively. She's really passive when left to her own devices, not taking an active role in the way her live evolves, which doesn't really match what the other characters in the book tell us about Maybe - how she's such an dynamic, individual girl. Finally, there's entirely too much coincidence and things that seem to happen merely as plot devices. At best, said occurrences merely made me role my eyes in a sort of "yeah, right, like that would happen" manner, while at worse, they actually made me angry. So, at least there was some strong response happening. Points for that. Finally (and this is just for Laura), while it did make me want to eat some good Mexican food, I have a hard time with a book - on the foodie level and maybe on any other level - that seriously uses the line "it was like a party in my mouth" to describe the taste of something.
June 12, 2012
Finished with this yesterday, and a very satisfying read to say the least. It was funny and awesome. But writing this one made me wonder.. Why do mostly YA books had a girl as their main character?Was it because it was mostly girl who read YA? Hurm..That`s something to ponder...
Anyway, this read was totally opposite the one I had with 'Aces Up' that I`ve reviewed previously. This felt much like reading Tara Kelly`s 'Amplified' all over again, except less emo and more plot, which was fine by me. The story was a fast pace one in terms of writing and plot, so you`ll never get bored with this one.
The story was about a girl named Maybe, or Maybelline Katherine Mary [Something, can`t remember] Mary Chesnut. Her mom, Cheesy named her after actresses and her favourite cosmetic brand. Not surprising considering that her mom handled a Beauty Pageants` coaching school. So the girl and her single mother whom had been married six times (and was about to marry the seventh) were living together. Maybe was a very independent girl, coursing through her life and beauty-fanatic alcoholic mom. Until one day, the seventh guy that her mom was about to marry almost did something bad to her that Maybe decided to find her long lost biological father who she thought was a TV producer in Hollywood. So together with her bestfriends, Hollywood(real name Daniel Patrick Jones) and Ted(Adopted Thai teen who wore platform shoes) they went for backpacking to California.
Honestly, I loved every bits of this. There was a resolution to this at the end when everything felt back to its place. Maybe was a rebel, her hair`s color matching the sour need of her non-belonging. Her friendships with Ted and Hollywood were admirable. I think the trios had the cutest friendships ever, shoving each other, mocking and willing to sacrifice for one another.It was touching really. I like the way it seemed that everything had collapsed for Maybe until she met Sammy back because the story was written in a way that you couldn`t help but to worry if Maybe will be saved or will her journey ended badly. Hers non-existent romance with Hollywood though were a bit frustrating because of the open end. I wanted to know what happened to their friendship.
I also like how Maybe wasn`t the kind to be bothered with what people had to say about her. She was lonely yes, but her self-preservation helped her through. A nice goth girl with freaky hairs religiously watching Nelson`s Neighbourhood. Who wouldn`t want to read about her? So yeah, you can say that her character and her friends with awesome plot got me into giving this a five. I enjoyed the funny banters, especially when it came to Ted and his 'Chelsea De La Tour' and Chessy. They were funny...
A good read! Nuff said~
Anyway, this read was totally opposite the one I had with 'Aces Up' that I`ve reviewed previously. This felt much like reading Tara Kelly`s 'Amplified' all over again, except less emo and more plot, which was fine by me. The story was a fast pace one in terms of writing and plot, so you`ll never get bored with this one.
The story was about a girl named Maybe, or Maybelline Katherine Mary [Something, can`t remember] Mary Chesnut. Her mom, Cheesy named her after actresses and her favourite cosmetic brand. Not surprising considering that her mom handled a Beauty Pageants` coaching school. So the girl and her single mother whom had been married six times (and was about to marry the seventh) were living together. Maybe was a very independent girl, coursing through her life and beauty-fanatic alcoholic mom. Until one day, the seventh guy that her mom was about to marry almost did something bad to her that Maybe decided to find her long lost biological father who she thought was a TV producer in Hollywood. So together with her bestfriends, Hollywood(real name Daniel Patrick Jones) and Ted(Adopted Thai teen who wore platform shoes) they went for backpacking to California.
Honestly, I loved every bits of this. There was a resolution to this at the end when everything felt back to its place. Maybe was a rebel, her hair`s color matching the sour need of her non-belonging. Her friendships with Ted and Hollywood were admirable. I think the trios had the cutest friendships ever, shoving each other, mocking and willing to sacrifice for one another.It was touching really. I like the way it seemed that everything had collapsed for Maybe until she met Sammy back because the story was written in a way that you couldn`t help but to worry if Maybe will be saved or will her journey ended badly. Hers non-existent romance with Hollywood though were a bit frustrating because of the open end. I wanted to know what happened to their friendship.
I also like how Maybe wasn`t the kind to be bothered with what people had to say about her. She was lonely yes, but her self-preservation helped her through. A nice goth girl with freaky hairs religiously watching Nelson`s Neighbourhood. Who wouldn`t want to read about her? So yeah, you can say that her character and her friends with awesome plot got me into giving this a five. I enjoyed the funny banters, especially when it came to Ted and his 'Chelsea De La Tour' and Chessy. They were funny...
A good read! Nuff said~
February 21, 2009
Absolutely Maybe is such a great read that will have you entertained until you have reached the last page..when you get there you'll be sad because it's over like this --> :(
Maybelline, named after her mother's favorite mascara, is a teenager who runs away from home after an incident happens (horrible just horrible) having to do with her beauty queen mom and her soon to be seventh husband.
Maybe (awesome nickname), her best bud Ted, a short little dude with a great personality, and Hollywood set out to Los Angeles, California in search of her biological father who's whole name she doesn't even know, all she has is a picture of an unidentifiable man and the name Gunner. Together these three fantastics (like fantasic four only not really get it? get it? No? okay then moving on...) go through some extraordinary adventures. :D
You'll LOVE this!! This book has comedy, sadness :(, awesomeness, a road trip, Hollywood, movies, TACOS!!, jarritos, guacamole, models, a meanie mommy, and so much more. What more could you ask for?
Absolutely Maybe is a nice semi-short (288 pgs) read that you'll love.
Maybelline, named after her mother's favorite mascara, is a teenager who runs away from home after an incident happens (horrible just horrible) having to do with her beauty queen mom and her soon to be seventh husband.
Maybe (awesome nickname), her best bud Ted, a short little dude with a great personality, and Hollywood set out to Los Angeles, California in search of her biological father who's whole name she doesn't even know, all she has is a picture of an unidentifiable man and the name Gunner. Together these three fantastics (like fantasic four only not really get it? get it? No? okay then moving on...) go through some extraordinary adventures. :D
You'll LOVE this!! This book has comedy, sadness :(, awesomeness, a road trip, Hollywood, movies, TACOS!!, jarritos, guacamole, models, a meanie mommy, and so much more. What more could you ask for?
Absolutely Maybe is a nice semi-short (288 pgs) read that you'll love.
May 20, 2009
To truly enjoy Lisa Yee's Absolutely Maybe, you will need to suspend your disbelief in a major way. Driving from Florida to California in a beat-up old Toyota that doesn't break down? OK. Driving cross-country with no place to stay or means of support when you get there? No problem. Snagging a cushy job with a faded Oscar-winning actress, who lets you drive her Rolls Royce? No way! Hoping to find your biological father with only a first name and a photograph? Extremely unlikely. But Maybelline has issues with her mom back in Florida that makes her take drastic measures, and you know what? You'll hope she succeeds.
halted
August 27, 2018DNF. This book lost me when the heroine’s mother supported her fiancée’s claims that her daughter had come onto him. Ugh, that made me so mad, so I just rage-quitted.
April 11, 2013
In the book Absolutely Maybe, the main character, named after her mother’s favorite line of makeup, Maybelline, has a rough life. Her mother is into beauty pageants and even runs one of her own. Everyone looks at Maybe and expects her to be all girly and prissy, but she is the opposite. She has pink hair and her best friends are two “weird kids” named Ted and Hollywood (nickname). Her mother is a drunk, along with her stepdad whom she does not like. To make matters worse, one day, her stepfather tried to rape her. After the incident, she runs away to California with her two best friends, trying to find her birth father. During their stay in California, they went through many hardships. Some of these obstacles led the characters to use appeals to pathos (feelings), logos (logic), and ethos (credibility) throughout to book.
While the friends were in California, they got some stuff stolen including Maybe’s purse and money. She needed some new makeup because she looked rundown from all the troubles they went through but did not have any money to get it. She asked Ted for money, but he did not give her any because he needed to save up for better things. Maybe really wanted the makeup, so she slipped it into her pocket, not knowing that Ted was watching her. Since Ted cares about her, he told her to put the makeup down or he would call the police, no jokes aside. She saw how serious he was and put the makeup back. Ted believed that his threat helped her out of “a quick way to land in jail” (pg 73). Ted appealed to logos by telling Maybe to put the makeup down because it is known that when you get caught stealing, you can get in big trouble. She knew it was wrong but was too desperate to think of the consequences and Ted was there to help her make the right decision.
In the same instance, Maybe appealed to pathos. She really wanted the makeup and she begged him to let her take it without him telling on her. After all, he had even told her “you look funny.” Ted told her she was being dramatic and she got really upset. When he said she was being dramatic, she told him she had a reason after all that had recently happened to her from getting her purse and money stolen, to almost getting raped by her mom’s fiancé, to running away from home with no job or place to live (pg 73). She wanted him to know why she wanted to steal the makeup so bad and not be judge, so she used everything that happened to her to try to make him feel her pain and let her take the makeup. Sadly, her appeal to pathos did not work because Ted did not want her to end up getting in trouble for stealing the makeup.
At the end of the book, Maybe’s mom finally gets ahold of her and apologizes and asks her to come back home because she misses her. Maybe did not really want to go back home because of all the bad things that happened and the bad treatment she had been receiving while living there. Her mom however had shown great improvement. She had been taking AA classes to help her stop drinking and even broke it off with her fiancé. Maybe’s mom appealed to ethos by her actions and the things she told Maybe. It baffled Maybe that “[her] mother got on a plane to see [her] and she said she was sorry” (pg 249). This showed her that her mom actually cared. In the end, her mom decides to stay in California and they live together again, to start a whole new life.
The characters in this story appealed to pathos, logos, and ethos, making any argument they made stronger. This also made it easier for the reader to distinguish the emotions being expressed and how and why they were expressed. Ted appealed to logos by telling Maybe not to steal and the store, while Maybe appealed to pathos right after by trying to justify her stealing by giving her sob story. In the end, Maybe’s mom appeal to ethos by actually going to California, giving up drinking, and breaking up with her fiancé, to make things between her and Maybe better. This is a good, well-written book and I would recommend it to one of my friends.
While the friends were in California, they got some stuff stolen including Maybe’s purse and money. She needed some new makeup because she looked rundown from all the troubles they went through but did not have any money to get it. She asked Ted for money, but he did not give her any because he needed to save up for better things. Maybe really wanted the makeup, so she slipped it into her pocket, not knowing that Ted was watching her. Since Ted cares about her, he told her to put the makeup down or he would call the police, no jokes aside. She saw how serious he was and put the makeup back. Ted believed that his threat helped her out of “a quick way to land in jail” (pg 73). Ted appealed to logos by telling Maybe to put the makeup down because it is known that when you get caught stealing, you can get in big trouble. She knew it was wrong but was too desperate to think of the consequences and Ted was there to help her make the right decision.
In the same instance, Maybe appealed to pathos. She really wanted the makeup and she begged him to let her take it without him telling on her. After all, he had even told her “you look funny.” Ted told her she was being dramatic and she got really upset. When he said she was being dramatic, she told him she had a reason after all that had recently happened to her from getting her purse and money stolen, to almost getting raped by her mom’s fiancé, to running away from home with no job or place to live (pg 73). She wanted him to know why she wanted to steal the makeup so bad and not be judge, so she used everything that happened to her to try to make him feel her pain and let her take the makeup. Sadly, her appeal to pathos did not work because Ted did not want her to end up getting in trouble for stealing the makeup.
At the end of the book, Maybe’s mom finally gets ahold of her and apologizes and asks her to come back home because she misses her. Maybe did not really want to go back home because of all the bad things that happened and the bad treatment she had been receiving while living there. Her mom however had shown great improvement. She had been taking AA classes to help her stop drinking and even broke it off with her fiancé. Maybe’s mom appealed to ethos by her actions and the things she told Maybe. It baffled Maybe that “[her] mother got on a plane to see [her] and she said she was sorry” (pg 249). This showed her that her mom actually cared. In the end, her mom decides to stay in California and they live together again, to start a whole new life.
The characters in this story appealed to pathos, logos, and ethos, making any argument they made stronger. This also made it easier for the reader to distinguish the emotions being expressed and how and why they were expressed. Ted appealed to logos by telling Maybe not to steal and the store, while Maybe appealed to pathos right after by trying to justify her stealing by giving her sob story. In the end, Maybe’s mom appeal to ethos by actually going to California, giving up drinking, and breaking up with her fiancé, to make things between her and Maybe better. This is a good, well-written book and I would recommend it to one of my friends.
October 7, 2014
Last Wednesday my CLW book was Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan (released 2008). I procured that book on the same day I requested a copy of Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee (released Feb. 2009). While reading this book I was struck by the similarities between the two characters (apathetic/angry, fixated on eyeliner) and even the books themselves (the covers just seemed very close to me for some reason perhaps because I really liked them both). I don't know if it's relevant to the review, but I just wanted to get that out of the way.
Onward to the review:
Meet Maybelline Mary Katherine Mary Ann Chestnut ("Maybe" for short). Maybe was named for her mother Chessy's favorite brand of mascara and two of Chessy's favorite Miss Americas. Living above her mother's charm school, perhaps it's not surprise that a lot of what Maybe does is part of a backlash against her mother.
Chessamay Chestnut Abajian Wing Marshall Wing Sinclair Alvarez (and soon to be Himmler) is a serial marryer. Somehow she winds up married to every man she dates--everyone except Maybe's father who remains a mystery.
Most of the time, Maybe can deal with all of that. Sure, her mother's charm school students taunt her and constantly make fun of her baggy clothes and funky hair colors, but they don't matter. Neither do Chessy's not-always-so-gentle criticisms. Maybe is above all of that. At least until Chessy chooses her sketchy fiance over Maybe, which is the last straw and convinces Maybe that she has to leave her hometown. And her mother. For good.
So Maybe recruits her best friends Ted and Hollywood to go with her to Los Angeles to find Maybe's father. Once the trio gets to LA they soon realize that the search will not be easy. Finding money and a place to live is hard enough, but finding a man you know nothing about on top of that is even harder. While Ted is building his career and Hollywood is making a film, Maybe finds herself adrift in her search.
Along the way they encounter a lot of things: a screen idol, a Rolls-Royce, a taco truck. Eventually, Maybe finds the father she's been searching for albeit not where she had expected. More important than that, Maybe finds herself. Not the beauty queen daughter her mother wanted, or the angry Goth teen she became in response to Chessy's hopes, just herself: Absolutely Maybe.
Although this book is bizarrely similar to Vibes I'd say that Absolutely Maybe is for older teens. This novel is gritty. Nothing about Maybe's life is easy at the beginning of the novel. Even when she gets to LA, Maybe and Ted find themselves homeless and scrounging for meals. Yee handles all of this with enough gravitas to make it realistic and enough humor to make it bearable.
Maybe is a really fun character with lots of snark and heart, the only problem (and maybe this is me) was that I kept misreading her name as the word "maybe" which required some necessary re-reading. This story is also populated with some of the best side characters ever. To say Ted and Hollywood are awesome is to belittle the greatness of both characters. Ted's exhuberance and enthusiasm are infectious, coming straight from the page to the reader. And Hollywood is Hollywood. He was so well-realized as I read this story that when Maybe referred to his as "cowboy" it was enough to picture his entire personality.
I'm a bit torn about the ending of the novel because it is not the ending I wanted per se. In a way this further illustrates the "gritty" realism of the novel. I wanted the Hollywood/fairy tale ending whereas the book gave me a more realistic, still satisfying, ending. I am not, however, holding that against Lisa Yee or Absolutely Maybe. It just means this book requires more imagination about what happens outside of the pages.
An excellent coming-of-age novel, Absolutely Maybe is like nothing else, which is appropriate since Maybe is an unforgettable, unique heroine (and her friends are pretty memorable too).
Onward to the review:
Meet Maybelline Mary Katherine Mary Ann Chestnut ("Maybe" for short). Maybe was named for her mother Chessy's favorite brand of mascara and two of Chessy's favorite Miss Americas. Living above her mother's charm school, perhaps it's not surprise that a lot of what Maybe does is part of a backlash against her mother.
Chessamay Chestnut Abajian Wing Marshall Wing Sinclair Alvarez (and soon to be Himmler) is a serial marryer. Somehow she winds up married to every man she dates--everyone except Maybe's father who remains a mystery.
Most of the time, Maybe can deal with all of that. Sure, her mother's charm school students taunt her and constantly make fun of her baggy clothes and funky hair colors, but they don't matter. Neither do Chessy's not-always-so-gentle criticisms. Maybe is above all of that. At least until Chessy chooses her sketchy fiance over Maybe, which is the last straw and convinces Maybe that she has to leave her hometown. And her mother. For good.
So Maybe recruits her best friends Ted and Hollywood to go with her to Los Angeles to find Maybe's father. Once the trio gets to LA they soon realize that the search will not be easy. Finding money and a place to live is hard enough, but finding a man you know nothing about on top of that is even harder. While Ted is building his career and Hollywood is making a film, Maybe finds herself adrift in her search.
Along the way they encounter a lot of things: a screen idol, a Rolls-Royce, a taco truck. Eventually, Maybe finds the father she's been searching for albeit not where she had expected. More important than that, Maybe finds herself. Not the beauty queen daughter her mother wanted, or the angry Goth teen she became in response to Chessy's hopes, just herself: Absolutely Maybe.
Although this book is bizarrely similar to Vibes I'd say that Absolutely Maybe is for older teens. This novel is gritty. Nothing about Maybe's life is easy at the beginning of the novel. Even when she gets to LA, Maybe and Ted find themselves homeless and scrounging for meals. Yee handles all of this with enough gravitas to make it realistic and enough humor to make it bearable.
Maybe is a really fun character with lots of snark and heart, the only problem (and maybe this is me) was that I kept misreading her name as the word "maybe" which required some necessary re-reading. This story is also populated with some of the best side characters ever. To say Ted and Hollywood are awesome is to belittle the greatness of both characters. Ted's exhuberance and enthusiasm are infectious, coming straight from the page to the reader. And Hollywood is Hollywood. He was so well-realized as I read this story that when Maybe referred to his as "cowboy" it was enough to picture his entire personality.
I'm a bit torn about the ending of the novel because it is not the ending I wanted per se. In a way this further illustrates the "gritty" realism of the novel. I wanted the Hollywood/fairy tale ending whereas the book gave me a more realistic, still satisfying, ending. I am not, however, holding that against Lisa Yee or Absolutely Maybe. It just means this book requires more imagination about what happens outside of the pages.
An excellent coming-of-age novel, Absolutely Maybe is like nothing else, which is appropriate since Maybe is an unforgettable, unique heroine (and her friends are pretty memorable too).
November 13, 2008
Maybelline Mary Katherine Mary Ann Chestnut, named for her mother Chessy’s favorite brand of mascara and two Miss Americas although better known as Maybe, pretty much hates her life in Kissimmee, Florida. Maybe’s mother isn’t silent about how she despises Maybe’s appearance, but that’s about as far as mother-daughter contact goes. It seems Chessy likes her charm school students and beauty pageant winners better than her own daughter. After six husbands, none of which were actually Maybe’s biological father, Chessy is getting ready to marry the seventh, a total sleaze that she chooses over Maybe. Finally fed up with her messed-up life, Maybe decides to hitch a ride to LA with her best friends Ted and Hollywood in order to find her father. And what they find there will surprise them and change their lives forever.
I found Absolutely Maybe to be an incredibly lovable and authentic story. Maybe’s character was so well-written; I love her spunky attitude, fierce determination, and independence, and I could even related to many of her problems. Nothing in this story was romanticized; Maybe’s life was told as it was, even the lowest parts. Maybe became so real to me that I was a little uncomfortable and embarrassed when I read how she was temporarily without a place to sleep or even enough food to eat. All the seemingly hopeless dilemmas Maybe found herself fin contrasted nicely with the many kind interventions from both friends and strangers. I really enjoyed seeing Maybe’s anger diminish as she started to sort out her life but was glad she remained a fighter. The ending may seem a little unfinished, but I felt the story wrapped up as neatly as it could considering Maybe’s independent nature. Overall, I felt Absolutely Maybe to be a good and believable story about self-discovery and reconciliation.
I immensely enjoyed this fantastic novel and look forward to more great stories from Lisa Yee. Readers who enjoyed C. Leigh Purtill’s Love, Meg will also love this similar story.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
I found Absolutely Maybe to be an incredibly lovable and authentic story. Maybe’s character was so well-written; I love her spunky attitude, fierce determination, and independence, and I could even related to many of her problems. Nothing in this story was romanticized; Maybe’s life was told as it was, even the lowest parts. Maybe became so real to me that I was a little uncomfortable and embarrassed when I read how she was temporarily without a place to sleep or even enough food to eat. All the seemingly hopeless dilemmas Maybe found herself fin contrasted nicely with the many kind interventions from both friends and strangers. I really enjoyed seeing Maybe’s anger diminish as she started to sort out her life but was glad she remained a fighter. The ending may seem a little unfinished, but I felt the story wrapped up as neatly as it could considering Maybe’s independent nature. Overall, I felt Absolutely Maybe to be a good and believable story about self-discovery and reconciliation.
I immensely enjoyed this fantastic novel and look forward to more great stories from Lisa Yee. Readers who enjoyed C. Leigh Purtill’s Love, Meg will also love this similar story.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
February 5, 2009
Summary: “Meet Maybelline “Maybe” Chestnut. She may be named for her mother’s favorite brand of mascara, but she has a mind—hair color—all her own.
Meet her mother, Chessy—that is Chessamay Chestnut Abajian Wing Marshall Wing Sinclair Alvarez and soon-to-be Himmler. The one man she didn’t marry? Maybe’s father
Meet Ted and Holloywood, a.k.a. Maybe’s best friends. When Chessy chooses her latest scuzzball fiancé over her daughter, the trio sets out to find Maybe’s dad in California.
Where they meet Los Angeles: city of swimming pools, movie stars, and a whole lot of surprises, including an aging screen actress, a famous photographer, three makeovers, a Roll-Royce, and a taco truck. Hollywood makes a film; Ted makes his fortune. But the biggest surprise may be Maybe herself…”
Review: Absolutely Maybe was absolutely amazing. The biggest attraction to this book was definitely the characters. With their huge personalities each and every character is unforgettable.
What I love about them were their names. Take Maybelline Mary Katherine Mary Ann Chestnut also known as Maybe or Thammasat Tantipinichwong Schneider or just plain Ted if you will. What makes this work so well was because it was meant to be humorous, to be the non-norm.
I greatly enjoy the progression of the storyline. It wasn’t all about finding Maybe’s father, but it was still included. I love the whole finding your way in life and the struggles it takes, with the added twist of Kool-Aid hair dye.
My only criticism is that it dragged a bit in the middle. It got a bit tiring reading about Maybe’s struggles to find a place to stay, granted the things she did in between searching were hilarious.
There isn’t much more I can say about this book except that it was hilarious from start to finish but with other fine details in-between that worked out marvelously.
Overall: A must read!
Meet her mother, Chessy—that is Chessamay Chestnut Abajian Wing Marshall Wing Sinclair Alvarez and soon-to-be Himmler. The one man she didn’t marry? Maybe’s father
Meet Ted and Holloywood, a.k.a. Maybe’s best friends. When Chessy chooses her latest scuzzball fiancé over her daughter, the trio sets out to find Maybe’s dad in California.
Where they meet Los Angeles: city of swimming pools, movie stars, and a whole lot of surprises, including an aging screen actress, a famous photographer, three makeovers, a Roll-Royce, and a taco truck. Hollywood makes a film; Ted makes his fortune. But the biggest surprise may be Maybe herself…”
Review: Absolutely Maybe was absolutely amazing. The biggest attraction to this book was definitely the characters. With their huge personalities each and every character is unforgettable.
What I love about them were their names. Take Maybelline Mary Katherine Mary Ann Chestnut also known as Maybe or Thammasat Tantipinichwong Schneider or just plain Ted if you will. What makes this work so well was because it was meant to be humorous, to be the non-norm.
I greatly enjoy the progression of the storyline. It wasn’t all about finding Maybe’s father, but it was still included. I love the whole finding your way in life and the struggles it takes, with the added twist of Kool-Aid hair dye.
My only criticism is that it dragged a bit in the middle. It got a bit tiring reading about Maybe’s struggles to find a place to stay, granted the things she did in between searching were hilarious.
There isn’t much more I can say about this book except that it was hilarious from start to finish but with other fine details in-between that worked out marvelously.
Overall: A must read!
February 6, 2011
Maybelline Mary Katherine Mary Ann Chestnut, Maybe for short, is named after her mother's favorite makeup brand, Maybelline, which Maybe hates as well as her mom's charm school. When her mother's soon-to-be seventh husband tries to rape Maybe, her mother walks in on them and blames Maybe. Tired of her mother's put downs and parade of husbands, Maybe decides to go find her biological father. She knows he was in show business and her only other clue is an old photograph with the name Gunner. She hitches a ride with her friend Hollywood and her best friend Ted tags along. They run out of money so Ted finds a job as a movie star's assistant. Maybe ends up staying with her ex-step dad, Sammy while she tries to figure out how to find her father.
I loved Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee. I like that Maybe isn't a typical teenager with her dark eye makeup, Kool-aid dyed hair, deep purple lipstick, and baggy men's t-shirts. Although she has a tough exterior, inside Maybe has many insecurities which makes her a believable character. Maybe's mother, Chessy, is believable but I found myself frustrated that she chose men over her daughter and was always telling Maybe to change. While there is an attempted rape scene, this scene has little graphic detail but enough to know what was happening. My favorite part of the book is when Ted reunites Maybe with her ex-stepfather Sammy, who was devastated when her mother and Maybe left years ago. Both Sammy and Maybe are over joyed when they are reunited.I liked this part the best because Maybe finally finds a parental figure who loves her for her. This book had a satisfying ending.
This book is about a girl discovering herself and has very little romance. I usually love romance in a book, but this book was enjoyable without it.
I loved Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee. I like that Maybe isn't a typical teenager with her dark eye makeup, Kool-aid dyed hair, deep purple lipstick, and baggy men's t-shirts. Although she has a tough exterior, inside Maybe has many insecurities which makes her a believable character. Maybe's mother, Chessy, is believable but I found myself frustrated that she chose men over her daughter and was always telling Maybe to change. While there is an attempted rape scene, this scene has little graphic detail but enough to know what was happening. My favorite part of the book is when Ted reunites Maybe with her ex-stepfather Sammy, who was devastated when her mother and Maybe left years ago. Both Sammy and Maybe are over joyed when they are reunited.I liked this part the best because Maybe finally finds a parental figure who loves her for her. This book had a satisfying ending.
This book is about a girl discovering herself and has very little romance. I usually love romance in a book, but this book was enjoyable without it.
September 1, 2009
Lisa Yee's first young adult novel begins in Florida, where Maybe - short for Maybelline Mary Anne Mary Katherine Chestnut (she's named for her mother's favorite mascara and two beauty queens) - has finally had it. She's sick of her mom, who dotes on her charm school students. She's sick of her mom's students, who pick on her in school. And she's sick of her mom's fiancee (who will be her jillionth stepdad) who has finally overstepped his bounds in a serious way. Worst of all, Maybe's mom blames her. Determined to find her real dad, Maybe grabs her BFF Ted and they hitch a ride to L.A. with Hollywood, a friend who just enrolled at UCLA and is heading west for summer classes. But things aren't as glamourous as they should be - if she's going to turn her life around, Maybe has to be proactive. And with a few nudges from her friends, a wacky new job, and the sudden reappearance of a loved one from her past, she just might make it through the summer. Lisa Yee has put together a stunning novel, both fun and heartbreaking as we watch Maybe hit rock bottom and pick herself back up. Her characters are compelling and honest, if a bit over-the-top, and their problems aren't unlike those facing real teens. You can't help but love Maybe as soon as you meet her, and you won't soon forget her, either.
April 13, 2011
Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee is definitely a girl book. I meet the author at a conference in Miami and she has a personality that goes on and on like the Energy Bunny. So I decided to by her book and see what its like to read one. Well, I can't say enough about the book. The characters are colorful. The main character's name is Maybelline, she was named after her mothers favorite brand of mascara, but everyone calls her Maybe, she is a teenage girl who failed charm school, which is owned by her mother, Cheezy. Her home life is troubling and she longs to find her real father, her mother has been married so many times even I can't remember the count. When her life becomes unbearable she heads for California with her misfit friends Ted and Hollywood.
When they arrive in California, life is rough at first but they soon find their paths in life and Maybe gets the opportunity of a lifetime, one that would surprise her mother. I won't spoil it by telling you the plot, but the story is fast paced and a nice light read. It is a young adult novel with a great teen voice that tells the story. Lisa Lee was right, I did enjoy the story. A lot!
When they arrive in California, life is rough at first but they soon find their paths in life and Maybe gets the opportunity of a lifetime, one that would surprise her mother. I won't spoil it by telling you the plot, but the story is fast paced and a nice light read. It is a young adult novel with a great teen voice that tells the story. Lisa Lee was right, I did enjoy the story. A lot!
May 6, 2009
Maybelline, Maybe for short, is named after her mother's favorite mascara. Her mother is a former beauty queen and current operator of a charm school. Naturally, Maybe is in complete rebellion against everything her mother stands for. When her mother's soon-to-be-husband-number-six makes a pass at Maybe, Maybe runs away to Hollywood with two friends on an extremely irrational and unplanned attempt to find her biological father -- whom she has never met and only knows his first name. The book starts out well enough but Maybe turns out to be as passive as her mother, waiting for the various men (or boys) in her life to rescue her. She does start to take a little initiative at the very end but it feels like too little too late. I would have liked the book a lot more -- and would feel more comfortable recommending it to teens -- if Maybe had had more gumption and wasn't so completely self-absorbed.
March 24, 2009
Loved this authors way of approaching a tough subject and drawing the reader in. Maybelline, mary katherine mary ann chestnut a.k.a Maybe thinks that if she can just find her biological father her life will be perfect. She heads to California with her two guy friends and soon finds out that although her friends are adjusting to the new surroundings, she isn't and money is running out. She only has a first name for her father and that he was a "big wig in the production business" before she was born. She meets new friends along the way and learns that she doesn't have to have a trophy or win to live a happy life. She also learns that she doesn't have to have her biological father in her life and that her mom really does love her.
September 28, 2009
Maybe (short for Maybelline) her mother's favorite mascara is a complicated character. She dresses in large over-sized clothes, dyes her hair with kool-aid and enjoys wearing lots of black eye-liner. Her mother is a former pageant queen and now runs a beauty and charm school. She has also been married several times. Maybe and her mother do not have a great relationship and Maybe spends a lot of her time feeling ugly, hurt and taking abuse from the girls that her mother coaches.
Mom (or as Maybe calls her Chessy)planning marrying husband number 6 or maybe seven, a total loser, and when he tries to rape Maybe - her mother does not believe her. So Maybe does the only thing she can think of, she takes off on a road trip to L.A. with two of her best friends in search of her father.
Mom (or as Maybe calls her Chessy)planning marrying husband number 6 or maybe seven, a total loser, and when he tries to rape Maybe - her mother does not believe her. So Maybe does the only thing she can think of, she takes off on a road trip to L.A. with two of her best friends in search of her father.
November 7, 2008
Maybe is the daughter of a charm school beauty pageant queen gone wrong, but Maybe has a charm all her own. After kissing Kissimmee good-bye, she heads to Hollywood with friends in search of her father. There is something endearing about both the characters and the details. When Maybe moves in with her ex-stepdad, we move right in with her. Yee never belabors a point or a detail. With a few choice words, she sketches a character or scene out of thin air and then moves right along. By the end of the book, we're as attached to the dorm lounge, the taco bus, and the annoying habits of Maybe's friends as Maybe is herself.
January 18, 2009
Lisa Yee's first book for young adults is a terrific coming-of-age story. Maybelline Chestnut (named after her mother's favorite makeup) leaves home with her two best friends on a road trip from Florida to California, searching for her real father. Along the way, she finds adventure, challenges, really great tacos, new friends, and a place to call home.
Fans of Lisa Yee's books for middle grade readers who have grown a little older will be thrilled with this new title. It has all the same gems of humor along with the heartbreak that goes along with being a teenager and setting out to find your place in the world.
Fans of Lisa Yee's books for middle grade readers who have grown a little older will be thrilled with this new title. It has all the same gems of humor along with the heartbreak that goes along with being a teenager and setting out to find your place in the world.
April 29, 2009
Maybe (named Maybelline, after her mother's favorite mascara) is the daughter of a former beauty queen and a father she's never met. She and two friends (one who's going to USC film school) head to L.A. to try to find her father. There is an attempted rape scene, yet this book still reads young to me, more like a tween or very young YA. (I hate the word "tween," by the way, and would never say it ou loud.) Lisa Yee is a solid, funny writer, but I think she's stronger as a middle-grade writer (so far, at least); Maybe is an unforgettable character; and young readers will dig the glamour and despair that comes in and around Hollywood.
May 16, 2011
I really loved this book. This goes to show that if the author is talented, they can breathe life into characters and make you care about them. Maybe, the main character is an alternative girl who has mother issues. When her mom's boyfriend tries to rape her, she's had enough, and decides to flee west with her two best friends in search of her birth father. What follows is a memorable story about characters who are vivid and an ending that left me wishing for a sequel to find out how all of these characters were doing. This was probably my favorite book I've read in the last month of YA readings.
July 24, 2009
I dived right into this book at the library conference last week and I couldn’t stop reading. Love Maybe and her mom and her friends. Must find a new teen reader to pass this on to.
Just a little plot info: Maybe is Maybeline, a girl her mother named after her favorite brand of makeup. Her mom is a serial marrier, set to pick up husband number seven. Maybe goes off with friends to California in search of the father she never knew and the one man her mom did not marry.
Just a little plot info: Maybe is Maybeline, a girl her mother named after her favorite brand of makeup. Her mom is a serial marrier, set to pick up husband number seven. Maybe goes off with friends to California in search of the father she never knew and the one man her mom did not marry.
August 12, 2009
I was pleasantly surprised by this one--I was expecting some fluffy, brainless book, but instead got a well-rounded character who deals realistically (which is to say, not always terribly well) with some serious crap being thrown at her. While there is maybe a liiiiittle bit much thrown at her in the beginning, her reactions make sense in relation to who she herself is. There was a lot more meat to this than I'd anticipated. I like it when books surprise me like this!
October 2, 2009
Touching story, fast-paced read, Maybe is a character I alternately sympathized with and wanted to lecture; very realistic teen! Fans of books that feature journeys as a coming-of-age technique, like So B. It, will enjoy immensely.
I do wish more had been done with Maybe's relationship with Jess. Additionally, I the incorporation of cooking/serving food. That reminded me of Hope Was Here and The Fortunes of Indigo Skye.
I do wish more had been done with Maybe's relationship with Jess. Additionally, I the incorporation of cooking/serving food. That reminded me of Hope Was Here and The Fortunes of Indigo Skye.
February 23, 2009
I really liked this book. I thought that Maybelline had a very funny personality, and I loved the characters. A few parts of the book actually made me laugh out loud (but that is might just be me...)! Personally, I liked this better than the other one of Lisa Yee's books I've read (Millicent Min, Girl Genius).
June 28, 2009
The main character, Maybe, works at a taco truck and dyes her hair with sugar free kool aid. What more do I need to say? Everything about this book is as quirky and wonderful as Lisa Yee can be. I was so impressed that I will be sad to give this autographed copy away on the Beautiful Creatures site...but at least now someone else will get to like this book as much as I did!!!
July 16, 2009
This was my first Lisa Yee novel (I know, I'm a slacker) and I thought it was wonderful! Maybe was such a fresh and fun character. She actually reminds me a bit of my friend who up and moved to LA - including the hair! It was a quick fun read that I devoured in one sitting.
Recommended - middle school
Recommended - middle school
May 1, 2009
Easy, breezy read. Maybelline is such a likeable character, even if the other characters find her prickly. You can't help but want to find out how she's going to get herself out of the mess that is her life.
June 8, 2009
I won this 'young adult' book from 'Goodreads'! Miss Yee's coming of age book is a delight to read, funny, touching, bitter sweet, and full of spirit. Maybe, is beautifully crafted. I couldn't wait to share it and have passed it on to a friend's granddaughter.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews