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The Middler
Beyond the mysterious boundary of eleven-year-old Maggie’s town, the Quiet War rages and the dirty, dangerous wanderers roam--a gripping debut for fans of The Giver , Pax , and Orphan Island
“The Middler held one marvelous surprise after another every time I turned a page, leading to a most unexpected ending! Readers are going to love this book!” ―Jennifer A. Nielsen, New York Times– bestselling author of The False Prince and A Night Divided
Maggie lives in orderly Fennis Wick, protected from the outside world by a boundary . Her brother Jed is an eldest, revered and special, a hero who will soon go off to fight in the war. But Maggie’s just a middle child, a middler, often invisible and ignored, even by her own family.
When she chances upon a wanderer girl in hiding, she decides she wants to be a hero like her brother and sets out to capture the intruder. But once Maggie peeks past the hedges of the boundary for the first time, suddenly everything she’s ever known about her isolated town gets turned on its head. . .
In her debut novel for young readers, Kirsty Applebaum crafts a gripping story of resistance, forbidden friendship, loyalty, and betrayal.
"I thought I'd almost reached my fill of dystopian novels, but Kirsty Applebaum has rebooted the genre. The plot pulls you along . . . [and] there is a touch of Harper Lee's Scout [in Maggie]." ― The Times
“The Middler held one marvelous surprise after another every time I turned a page, leading to a most unexpected ending! Readers are going to love this book!” ―Jennifer A. Nielsen, New York Times– bestselling author of The False Prince and A Night Divided
Maggie lives in orderly Fennis Wick, protected from the outside world by a boundary . Her brother Jed is an eldest, revered and special, a hero who will soon go off to fight in the war. But Maggie’s just a middle child, a middler, often invisible and ignored, even by her own family.
When she chances upon a wanderer girl in hiding, she decides she wants to be a hero like her brother and sets out to capture the intruder. But once Maggie peeks past the hedges of the boundary for the first time, suddenly everything she’s ever known about her isolated town gets turned on its head. . .
In her debut novel for young readers, Kirsty Applebaum crafts a gripping story of resistance, forbidden friendship, loyalty, and betrayal.
"I thought I'd almost reached my fill of dystopian novels, but Kirsty Applebaum has rebooted the genre. The plot pulls you along . . . [and] there is a touch of Harper Lee's Scout [in Maggie]." ― The Times
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2019
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February 19, 2025
Pastaruoju metu dukrai knygas, kurias skaitau prieš miegą, bibliotekoje renku dažniausiai pagal pavadinimą, retu atveju dar paskaitau anotaciją. Nieko nebuvau girdėjusi apie šį kūrinį. Iš pat pradžių kūrinys atrodė niekuo neypatingas. Bet kuo toliau skaičiau - įtraukė. Tiek daug atsiranda įvykių, tiek veikėjai gauna gyvenimiškų pamokų. Ar tikrai galima pasitikėti viskuo, kas sakoma? Ar tikrai pirmas susidarytas įspūdis visada būna teisingas? Kas yra tikra draugė?
Džiaugiuosi, kad šią knygą išrinkau dukrai, o ir pačiai tai buvo malonus atradimas❤️ Jau kelintą kartą įsitikinau, kad leidykla "Debesų ganyklos" leidžia gerai atrinktas knygas vaikams bei jaunimui❤️ Džiugu❤️
Džiaugiuosi, kad šią knygą išrinkau dukrai, o ir pačiai tai buvo malonus atradimas❤️ Jau kelintą kartą įsitikinau, kad leidykla "Debesų ganyklos" leidžia gerai atrinktas knygas vaikams bei jaunimui❤️ Džiugu❤️
June 13, 2022
Bir çırpıda bitirilecek bir kitap. Çok beğendim ve kesinlikle tavsiye ederim.
June 12, 2021
Kitaba ilk başlarken yazarın kalemi bana çok garip gelmişti ve alışamamıştım, fakat okudukça ve hikaye ilerledikçe kitap akıp gitti. Özetini okumadan başladığım için fantastik türünde bir eser bekliyordum, savaşla alakalı olduğunu anladığımda çok az hayal kırıklığına uğradım. Bunlara rağmen akıcıydı, birden kendimi bir sonraki bölümde nolacak diye merak ederken buldum. Kardeşimle başlamıştık fakat bir türlü sevemedi, sanırsam yazarın kalemine alışamayıp rahatsızlık duydu.
Doğrusunu söylemek gerekirse bu bir çocuk kitabı olarak geçiyor ve yazarın yazım tarzının onları sıkabileceğini düşünüyorum. Ben bile alışmakta zorluk çektiysem, kitaplarla yeni kaynaşan genç okurları bu konuda zorlayabileceğini düşünüyorum (kardeşim gibi).
İleride yazarın başka eserleriyle de tanışmak isterim.
Doğrusunu söylemek gerekirse bu bir çocuk kitabı olarak geçiyor ve yazarın yazım tarzının onları sıkabileceğini düşünüyorum. Ben bile alışmakta zorluk çektiysem, kitaplarla yeni kaynaşan genç okurları bu konuda zorlayabileceğini düşünüyorum (kardeşim gibi).
İleride yazarın başka eserleriyle de tanışmak isterim.
August 14, 2019
"The Giver"-lite for Younger Readers
This book has been compared to "The Giver", and that seems fair. It should be noted, though, that this book seems to have been written for a much younger audience, and sidesteps some of the more disturbing elements of "The Giver". That said, to my mind "The Middler" suffers from the same weakness as "The Giver". As YA author Debra Doyle observed regarding "The Giver", the book "...fails the [science fiction] Plausibility Test. ...Things are the way they are [in the novel] because The Author is Making A Point; things work out the way they do because The Author's Point Requires It."
Here, our heroine, Maggie, is a "Middler", which simply means she is a middle child. The eldest children are wildly celebrated and can do no wrong. The younger third children are treated as though developmentally disabled. Middle children are so overlooked that no one can even remember their names. This point is driven home over and over again throughout the first half of the book, and the repetition ultimately becomes dreary. The balance of the tale has Maggie questioning, rebelling, and doing something heroic, but her heroism is set against an improbable and unsatisfyingly transparent manufactured dystopia.
I admired and enjoyed the Maggie character. She is the narrator of the tale and her voice is fresh and appealing. As a character coming to grips with and overcoming her middleness she is a complete success. This may all be a bit of a middle child Mary Sue story, but I've never seen what's wrong with a Mary Sue story if it's done well. I mean don't we all sometimes dream ourselves into Mary Sueness? But that said, Maggie is surrounded by mostly weak supporting characters, a lot of exposition and monologuing to make sure we "get it", and a strangely lifeless dystopian world that feels like M. Night Shayamalan's "Village" in reverse and wraps up in a hurried and fairly undramatic fashion.
So, this could be fun for middle children everywhere and as an introduction to dystopian fiction, but it does seem to me to skew toward fairly young readers.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This book has been compared to "The Giver", and that seems fair. It should be noted, though, that this book seems to have been written for a much younger audience, and sidesteps some of the more disturbing elements of "The Giver". That said, to my mind "The Middler" suffers from the same weakness as "The Giver". As YA author Debra Doyle observed regarding "The Giver", the book "...fails the [science fiction] Plausibility Test. ...Things are the way they are [in the novel] because The Author is Making A Point; things work out the way they do because The Author's Point Requires It."
Here, our heroine, Maggie, is a "Middler", which simply means she is a middle child. The eldest children are wildly celebrated and can do no wrong. The younger third children are treated as though developmentally disabled. Middle children are so overlooked that no one can even remember their names. This point is driven home over and over again throughout the first half of the book, and the repetition ultimately becomes dreary. The balance of the tale has Maggie questioning, rebelling, and doing something heroic, but her heroism is set against an improbable and unsatisfyingly transparent manufactured dystopia.
I admired and enjoyed the Maggie character. She is the narrator of the tale and her voice is fresh and appealing. As a character coming to grips with and overcoming her middleness she is a complete success. This may all be a bit of a middle child Mary Sue story, but I've never seen what's wrong with a Mary Sue story if it's done well. I mean don't we all sometimes dream ourselves into Mary Sueness? But that said, Maggie is surrounded by mostly weak supporting characters, a lot of exposition and monologuing to make sure we "get it", and a strangely lifeless dystopian world that feels like M. Night Shayamalan's "Village" in reverse and wraps up in a hurried and fairly undramatic fashion.
So, this could be fun for middle children everywhere and as an introduction to dystopian fiction, but it does seem to me to skew toward fairly young readers.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
June 14, 2020
3.5 stars!
This middle-grade novel was pitched for readers who have read and enjoyed another book called 'The Giver' which I myself read over four years ago. Set in this small town, we follow an 11-year-old girl Maggie and in this world she lives in, a birth order will choose your life path. Whether you end up being sent away to a training camp for military purposes or not. Maggie is the sibling in the middle and she tries to prove that kids like her are important and just as essential than older siblings. One law in the town that has stood for years needs to change which is what the storyline is essentially all about. An MG dystopian read that was OK in the places. The pacing was what let the reading experience down a little. It was quite choppy and the ending a little rushed. Nevertheless, it was a good read to help pass the time on a quiet day!
This middle-grade novel was pitched for readers who have read and enjoyed another book called 'The Giver' which I myself read over four years ago. Set in this small town, we follow an 11-year-old girl Maggie and in this world she lives in, a birth order will choose your life path. Whether you end up being sent away to a training camp for military purposes or not. Maggie is the sibling in the middle and she tries to prove that kids like her are important and just as essential than older siblings. One law in the town that has stood for years needs to change which is what the storyline is essentially all about. An MG dystopian read that was OK in the places. The pacing was what let the reading experience down a little. It was quite choppy and the ending a little rushed. Nevertheless, it was a good read to help pass the time on a quiet day!
July 17, 2022
Çok güzeldi 🥺😍
September 4, 2022
This was a fun little kids book with dystopian vibes.
Meggie is a middle child and she knows she will never win awards for her school work, never be praised for anything because she is not an Eldest child. Her older brother Jed is an Eldest, winning things he never cares about, getting attention and praise without effort, all Eldests are treated this way because on their 14th birthdays all Eldests go to a camp where they will be trained to fight in the quiet war. This is a weird sort of war, the reader realises (though Meggie does not). There is no fighting, and no one who goes ever returns...
One of the hard rules of the village is that NO ONE except the mayor ever crosses the boundary fence. Also, anyone from outside the boundary fence is a wanderer, cruel, dirty ect ect. You get the picture.
Meggie, by accident, befriends an outsider which is the first step down the path of breaking all the rules and finding out that almost everyone in the village has been lied to, that a fate far worse than becoming soldiers awaits the Eldest children and that Meggie will get a chance to save her brother - and so many more.
This was a nicely written story with an appealingly honest main character, good messages for kids to learn and very enjoyable to read. I found it strongly reminiscent of the 2004 movie The Village, in which a constrictive society is held in artificial isolation by scare tactics. Also there were lashings of the 2014 YA movie Divergent. I really enjoyed this book.
Meggie is a middle child and she knows she will never win awards for her school work, never be praised for anything because she is not an Eldest child. Her older brother Jed is an Eldest, winning things he never cares about, getting attention and praise without effort, all Eldests are treated this way because on their 14th birthdays all Eldests go to a camp where they will be trained to fight in the quiet war. This is a weird sort of war, the reader realises (though Meggie does not). There is no fighting, and no one who goes ever returns...
One of the hard rules of the village is that NO ONE except the mayor ever crosses the boundary fence. Also, anyone from outside the boundary fence is a wanderer, cruel, dirty ect ect. You get the picture.
Meggie, by accident, befriends an outsider which is the first step down the path of breaking all the rules and finding out that almost everyone in the village has been lied to, that a fate far worse than becoming soldiers awaits the Eldest children and that Meggie will get a chance to save her brother - and so many more.
This was a nicely written story with an appealingly honest main character, good messages for kids to learn and very enjoyable to read. I found it strongly reminiscent of the 2004 movie The Village, in which a constrictive society is held in artificial isolation by scare tactics. Also there were lashings of the 2014 YA movie Divergent. I really enjoyed this book.
March 24, 2020
Really sorry to say this but... ugh, this was so boring. And the whole wanderer thing doesn't sit well with me.
November 1, 2021
Knygos idėja gal nėra didelė naujovė, keletą panašių jau teko skaityti, nepaisant to, šioji tikrai išlaikė įtampą ir dėmesį, ir labiausiai, sakyčiau vertinga kaip pagrindas diskusijai su vaikais apie propagandą, aklą tikėjimą ir nepelnytą pasitikėjimą.
https://knyguziurkes.com/2021/11/01/m...
https://knyguziurkes.com/2021/11/01/m...
August 11, 2019
Maggie is the middle child in her family of five. She has a little brother called Trig and an elder brother named Jed.
Jed is an eldest - the eldest child in his family. This is deemed an honour, as when Jed is 14, he will join all the other eldests across the country at camp. He will be trained to help fight 'The Quiet War.'
Maggie loves her big brother but resents all the attention he gets. She doesn't think it's fair that Jed never has to do chores, is given his favourite dishes, can sit and do nothing, while she and Trig run errands, do dishes and help around their farm. Maggie feels invisible.
She has grown up with a fear of wanderers. These are people outside her small town, who choose not to send their eldests to camp, and live like wandering tramps. It has been drummed into Maggie through school songs and studies, that wanderers are 'Dirty, Dangerous and Deceitful,' so when she meets one in the town cemetery, she's not sure what to do.
The young girl, a little older than Maggie, is dirty all right, but she's friendly and talkative and seems perfectly harmless. Maggie is confused, but decides if she catches this wanderer, she too will get the attention from not only her family, but the whole town - especially the Mayor.
Soon Jed and another girl from town turn 14. They are celebrated and cheered as they too are ready for camp. But is military camp really where they are going?
Told in Maggie's point of view over the space of one week, I enjoyed her voice, frustrated at being a middle child, and loving her brothers but resenting the attention Jed gets. She's been sheltered from the truth and as she peels back the layers of lies, she has to make decisions that will change not only her life, but those of her entire town. A tale of established misconceptions, lies and betrayal. Readers of 'How to Bee' will love this as much as I did!
Jed is an eldest - the eldest child in his family. This is deemed an honour, as when Jed is 14, he will join all the other eldests across the country at camp. He will be trained to help fight 'The Quiet War.'
Maggie loves her big brother but resents all the attention he gets. She doesn't think it's fair that Jed never has to do chores, is given his favourite dishes, can sit and do nothing, while she and Trig run errands, do dishes and help around their farm. Maggie feels invisible.
She has grown up with a fear of wanderers. These are people outside her small town, who choose not to send their eldests to camp, and live like wandering tramps. It has been drummed into Maggie through school songs and studies, that wanderers are 'Dirty, Dangerous and Deceitful,' so when she meets one in the town cemetery, she's not sure what to do.
The young girl, a little older than Maggie, is dirty all right, but she's friendly and talkative and seems perfectly harmless. Maggie is confused, but decides if she catches this wanderer, she too will get the attention from not only her family, but the whole town - especially the Mayor.
Soon Jed and another girl from town turn 14. They are celebrated and cheered as they too are ready for camp. But is military camp really where they are going?
Told in Maggie's point of view over the space of one week, I enjoyed her voice, frustrated at being a middle child, and loving her brothers but resenting the attention Jed gets. She's been sheltered from the truth and as she peels back the layers of lies, she has to make decisions that will change not only her life, but those of her entire town. A tale of established misconceptions, lies and betrayal. Readers of 'How to Bee' will love this as much as I did!
July 3, 2019
A smart dystopian novel for juniors. Applebaum has a great narrative style, deceptively easy yet complex, smart and well-woven with regards to character and plot. In comparison to the gradual, well-orchestrated build-up, the ending felt a little rushed but I enjoyed the book (reminded me a lot of Shyamalan's, The Village) and took to all her characters.
April 7, 2019
I adored every single minute of this - it is completely unputdownable! You will fall for Maggie 100%. I loved the adventure and the messages in this - stand up for what you believe in, work with your fear and be kind.
February 4, 2023
After being recommended this by my lecturer, I found myself unable to put it down. I really liked way the author linked back to the past with subtle messages and phrases showing that the 'quiet war' had been going on for longer than most people could fatholm. I also liked that the author used a similar premise that other dystopian future books had such as hunger games and the divergent series. It fits into the dystopian future category perfectly.
March 24, 2021
Ortanca - #kitapyorumu #işbirliği
“Kimse bana bakmıyordu. Kimse beni fark etmiyordu bile. Her zamanki gibi.���
🩸10/10🩸
Maggie, on bir yaşında sınırları olan Fennis Wick’te yaşayan, ailenin ortanca çocuğudur. Büyük kardeşi bir kahraman, küçük kardeşi çok tatlı biri olarak görülürken o fark edilmeyen, unutulan bir ortancadır. Büyüklerin her işinin yapıldığı, küçüklerin sevildiği ama arada kalanların unutulmasından yakınır. 😍
Bu söylediklerimden sonra kitap aile dramı gibi duruyor ama alakası yok! 😂 Baştan sona bir distopya! 🔪 Sessiz Savaş’ın sürdüğü, tehlikeli ve kirli gezginlerin dolandığı korkunç zamanlar... Şehrin sınırlarından ailelerini tehlikeye atmak istemedikleri için çıkmayan bir toplum ve her evdeki en büyük çocuğun savaşa gönderildiği bir sistem... ⚔️
Kitap Maggie karakterinin bir gezgin olan Una ile tanışmasıyla başlıyor. Büyük kardeşi savaşa gitmeden önce tüm ilgi onun üstünde. Ortanca çocuk her zamanki gibi unutulmuş. Bir gezgini ilk defa görmenin, tanışmanın heyecanıyla Maggie bir karar alıyor. Bir gezgini yakalatırsa kahraman olacağını, en büyük çocuk kadar değer göreceğini düşünüyor. Lakin o noktada işler biraz karışıyor ve macera başlıyor! 😍
KİTAP HA-Rİ-KA!! Bayıldım gerçekten! ❤️ Aile, kardeş ve en yakın arkadaş olmakla ilgili harika detaylar vardı. Birbirinden güzel mesajlar verilirken, unutulmuş bir ortanca çocuğu okumak insanın kalbini kırıyordu. Çok güzel bir cesaret örneği hikayesiydi. 😢😍
Kitabı yarıladıktan sonra elinizden bırakamıyorsunuz! Hızlı bir şekilde ilerliyor. Olay üstüne olay oluyor ve meraktan ölüyorsunuz! Sayfaları hızlı hızlı çeviriyorsunuz. Okuduğum en keyifli kitaplardan biriydi. Yaş grubu +11 💘 Distopya, macera sevenlere kesinlikle önerilir😍
#kitapönerisi #kitaplarvesozleri #book #kitap #ortanca #themiddler #kirstyapplebaum #kitaptavsiyesi #bookstagram #bookaddict
“Kimse bana bakmıyordu. Kimse beni fark etmiyordu bile. Her zamanki gibi.���
🩸10/10🩸
Maggie, on bir yaşında sınırları olan Fennis Wick’te yaşayan, ailenin ortanca çocuğudur. Büyük kardeşi bir kahraman, küçük kardeşi çok tatlı biri olarak görülürken o fark edilmeyen, unutulan bir ortancadır. Büyüklerin her işinin yapıldığı, küçüklerin sevildiği ama arada kalanların unutulmasından yakınır. 😍
Bu söylediklerimden sonra kitap aile dramı gibi duruyor ama alakası yok! 😂 Baştan sona bir distopya! 🔪 Sessiz Savaş’ın sürdüğü, tehlikeli ve kirli gezginlerin dolandığı korkunç zamanlar... Şehrin sınırlarından ailelerini tehlikeye atmak istemedikleri için çıkmayan bir toplum ve her evdeki en büyük çocuğun savaşa gönderildiği bir sistem... ⚔️
Kitap Maggie karakterinin bir gezgin olan Una ile tanışmasıyla başlıyor. Büyük kardeşi savaşa gitmeden önce tüm ilgi onun üstünde. Ortanca çocuk her zamanki gibi unutulmuş. Bir gezgini ilk defa görmenin, tanışmanın heyecanıyla Maggie bir karar alıyor. Bir gezgini yakalatırsa kahraman olacağını, en büyük çocuk kadar değer göreceğini düşünüyor. Lakin o noktada işler biraz karışıyor ve macera başlıyor! 😍
KİTAP HA-Rİ-KA!! Bayıldım gerçekten! ❤️ Aile, kardeş ve en yakın arkadaş olmakla ilgili harika detaylar vardı. Birbirinden güzel mesajlar verilirken, unutulmuş bir ortanca çocuğu okumak insanın kalbini kırıyordu. Çok güzel bir cesaret örneği hikayesiydi. 😢😍
Kitabı yarıladıktan sonra elinizden bırakamıyorsunuz! Hızlı bir şekilde ilerliyor. Olay üstüne olay oluyor ve meraktan ölüyorsunuz! Sayfaları hızlı hızlı çeviriyorsunuz. Okuduğum en keyifli kitaplardan biriydi. Yaş grubu +11 💘 Distopya, macera sevenlere kesinlikle önerilir😍
#kitapönerisi #kitaplarvesozleri #book #kitap #ortanca #themiddler #kirstyapplebaum #kitaptavsiyesi #bookstagram #bookaddict
April 3, 2019
C’était original, bien écrit, bien mené (assez pour que je sois happée) et même si c’était jeunesse et un peu rapide vers la fin, j’ai apprécié ma lecture !
October 24, 2021
Megė šeimoje - vidurinysis vaikas. Gyvenant tokiame pasaulyje, kokiame gyvena Megė, šis faktas byloja tai, kad tavo nuomonė niekam neįdomi (net mamai su tėčiu). Šioje visuomenėje gerbiami ir branginami - tik vyriausieji šeimos vaikai. Jei esi vyriausiasis vaikas, vadinasi, visada ir visur būsi geriausias, o ir atliksi svarbią pareigą - vyksi į Tylujį karą su klajūnais. Atsižvelgdama į tai, Megė pavyduliauja savo broliui Džedui, nes jis tuoj išvyks į kovą su didžiausiu miestelio pavojumi - klajūnais. Tačiau, visiškai netikėtai, Megė susipažįsta su klajūnu vaiku, Una, ir supranta, kad ne viskas yra taip, kaip ji galvojo.
Paauglių literatūrą tikrai mėgstu ir džiaugiuosi turėdama galimybę ją paskaityti, ja pasimėgauti ir į ją įsigilinti, nes labai dažnai joje būna užkoduota tokių stiprių minčių, kokių kartais nerasi net suaugusiųjų knygose. Tačiau nenuostabu, juk užauginti gerą, visuomenišką žmogų užtrunka, todėl tai reikia pradėti nuo mažumės. Leidykla „Debesų ganyklos“ visada mane nustebina savo leidžiamų knygų turiniu! Vos pradėjusi skaityti, visada į viską „žiūriu tarp eilučių“, nes tik taip galima suprasti, kokią idėją norėjo perduoti autorius/-(ė).
Iš pirmo žvilgsnio šioje knygoje viskas taip paprasta: gyvenimu nepatenkinta vienuolikmetė, miestelį puolantys blogiečiai ir grupelė „išrinktųjų“ vaikų, kurie visus išgelbės (kaip ir būna visose knygose ar filmuose, kuriuose gėris privalo nugalėti blogį). Tačiau neapsirikite, nes tikrai ne tai čia - svarbiausia. Norint suprasti pagrindines knygos mintis, teks į viską pažvelgti žymiai giliau. Trumpai aptarsiu tas temas, kurios man labiausiai įsiminė ir stipriausiai palietė mano širdį.
Pirmiausia, kartais mes dalykus ar daiktus, kurie iš tiesų yra blogis, įsivaizduojame kaip patį brangiausią auksą ir beatodairiškai jų siekiame. Pavydime kitiems, kurie tai turi, tačiau net nesistengiame geriau išsiaiškinti, ar tikrai tai yra toks didis gėris, koks mums atrodo. Taip nutinka todėl, kad viską esame linkę vertinti iš pirmo žvilgsnio, gerai tuo nepasidomėję, nepasiaiškinę. O kai sužinome tikrąją tiesą, rodos, norėtume nuo to laikytis kuo toliau ir nesuprantame, kaip to išvis kažkada galėjome norėti.
Antra, panašiai nutinka ir su žmonėmis, su jų tarpusavio santykiais. Dažnai esame linkę susidaryti išankstinį įspūdį apie žmogų, nors jo - visiškai nepažįstame, tik esame girdėję kitų žmonių apkalbas arba dar blogiau - mėgstame žaisti žmonių pasitikėjimu mumis ir pasinaudoti juo, siekdami savanaudiškų tikslų. Ir, kai suprantame skaudžiai klydę, jau būna per vėlu, nes pasitikėjimą užsitarnauti - sunku, o jį praradus susigrąžinti - beveik neįmanoma.
Šiuos du pavyzdžius iš gyvenimiškų situacijų įvardijau ne be reikalo - juos knygos kontekste tikrai atras tie, kurie atidžiai skaitys. Žavėjausi autorės mintimi sukurti tarsi du atskirus pasaulius ir juos skiriančią ribą, kuri, pasirodo, nėra tokia didelė, stora ar neįveikiama, nes juk iš tiesų viskas priklauso tik nuo mūsų požiūrio į susidariusią situaciją.
„Megė, vidurinysis vaikas“ - tai istorija, nešanti tikros draugystės svarbą, nes kiekvienam žmogui reikia turėti tą, kuriuo galėtų pasitikėti, kuriam galėtų išsipasakoti. Knyga tikrai šilta, skleidžianti gerumą, bet tuo pačiu perduodanti sudaužytos širdies skausmą ir išdavystės jausmą.
Ypatingai šią knygą rekomenduoju, žinoma, vaikams ir paaugliams. Jaunieji skaitytojai čia atras ne tik nuotykius, ne tik kruopelytę fantastikos, ne tik lenktynes su blogo linkinčiais žmonėmis, bet ir tikras, gyvenimiškas pamokas. Ši knyga - puikus pasirinkimas jaunajai auditorijai dar ir dėl to, kad tekstas skaitosi labai lengvai, o jo šriftas - didelis.
„Visiškai normalu jausti baimę. Būti drąsiam nereiškia nebijoti. Tikra drąsa yra jausti baimę, bet vis tiek eiti pirmyn ir daryti tai, kas teisinga.“
4/5⭐
Paauglių literatūrą tikrai mėgstu ir džiaugiuosi turėdama galimybę ją paskaityti, ja pasimėgauti ir į ją įsigilinti, nes labai dažnai joje būna užkoduota tokių stiprių minčių, kokių kartais nerasi net suaugusiųjų knygose. Tačiau nenuostabu, juk užauginti gerą, visuomenišką žmogų užtrunka, todėl tai reikia pradėti nuo mažumės. Leidykla „Debesų ganyklos“ visada mane nustebina savo leidžiamų knygų turiniu! Vos pradėjusi skaityti, visada į viską „žiūriu tarp eilučių“, nes tik taip galima suprasti, kokią idėją norėjo perduoti autorius/-(ė).
Iš pirmo žvilgsnio šioje knygoje viskas taip paprasta: gyvenimu nepatenkinta vienuolikmetė, miestelį puolantys blogiečiai ir grupelė „išrinktųjų“ vaikų, kurie visus išgelbės (kaip ir būna visose knygose ar filmuose, kuriuose gėris privalo nugalėti blogį). Tačiau neapsirikite, nes tikrai ne tai čia - svarbiausia. Norint suprasti pagrindines knygos mintis, teks į viską pažvelgti žymiai giliau. Trumpai aptarsiu tas temas, kurios man labiausiai įsiminė ir stipriausiai palietė mano širdį.
Pirmiausia, kartais mes dalykus ar daiktus, kurie iš tiesų yra blogis, įsivaizduojame kaip patį brangiausią auksą ir beatodairiškai jų siekiame. Pavydime kitiems, kurie tai turi, tačiau net nesistengiame geriau išsiaiškinti, ar tikrai tai yra toks didis gėris, koks mums atrodo. Taip nutinka todėl, kad viską esame linkę vertinti iš pirmo žvilgsnio, gerai tuo nepasidomėję, nepasiaiškinę. O kai sužinome tikrąją tiesą, rodos, norėtume nuo to laikytis kuo toliau ir nesuprantame, kaip to išvis kažkada galėjome norėti.
Antra, panašiai nutinka ir su žmonėmis, su jų tarpusavio santykiais. Dažnai esame linkę susidaryti išankstinį įspūdį apie žmogų, nors jo - visiškai nepažįstame, tik esame girdėję kitų žmonių apkalbas arba dar blogiau - mėgstame žaisti žmonių pasitikėjimu mumis ir pasinaudoti juo, siekdami savanaudiškų tikslų. Ir, kai suprantame skaudžiai klydę, jau būna per vėlu, nes pasitikėjimą užsitarnauti - sunku, o jį praradus susigrąžinti - beveik neįmanoma.
Šiuos du pavyzdžius iš gyvenimiškų situacijų įvardijau ne be reikalo - juos knygos kontekste tikrai atras tie, kurie atidžiai skaitys. Žavėjausi autorės mintimi sukurti tarsi du atskirus pasaulius ir juos skiriančią ribą, kuri, pasirodo, nėra tokia didelė, stora ar neįveikiama, nes juk iš tiesų viskas priklauso tik nuo mūsų požiūrio į susidariusią situaciją.
„Megė, vidurinysis vaikas“ - tai istorija, nešanti tikros draugystės svarbą, nes kiekvienam žmogui reikia turėti tą, kuriuo galėtų pasitikėti, kuriam galėtų išsipasakoti. Knyga tikrai šilta, skleidžianti gerumą, bet tuo pačiu perduodanti sudaužytos širdies skausmą ir išdavystės jausmą.
Ypatingai šią knygą rekomenduoju, žinoma, vaikams ir paaugliams. Jaunieji skaitytojai čia atras ne tik nuotykius, ne tik kruopelytę fantastikos, ne tik lenktynes su blogo linkinčiais žmonėmis, bet ir tikras, gyvenimiškas pamokas. Ši knyga - puikus pasirinkimas jaunajai auditorijai dar ir dėl to, kad tekstas skaitosi labai lengvai, o jo šriftas - didelis.
„Visiškai normalu jausti baimę. Būti drąsiam nereiškia nebijoti. Tikra drąsa yra jausti baimę, bet vis tiek eiti pirmyn ir daryti tai, kas teisinga.“
4/5⭐
April 16, 2021
Güzel kitap ama çok baskı hatası var, daha özenli bir baskı olabilirmiş böyle bir kitaba.
March 24, 2019
Maggie is eleven and she’s a middler- her older brother Jed will be going off to camp very soon to help fight a noble war and she’s envious of his ‘specialness’. She soon comes to realise however that being an eldest is not all it’s cracked up to be and indeed all is not as it seems in the world outside their village.
Great middle grade adventure with themes of family love and loyalty.
Great middle grade adventure with themes of family love and loyalty.
July 1, 2020
3.5 stars!
March 27, 2020
This was an unexpected read! I don't know why but I was expecting it to be a contemporary about the experience of being a middle child. Nope! Middlegrade dystopia! Maggie Middler is determined to prove she is anything but forgettable. Her story is of friendship, courage, kindness, ambition and doing the right thing.
December 15, 2024
Wow wow wow, 5 sterren!!
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DIT BOEK MOET JE ZEKER LEZEN!!
Te goed verhaal om een review over te schrijven.
DIT BOEK MOET JE ZEKER LEZEN!!
March 16, 2019
In her debut novel, Kirsty Applebaum tells the story of “middler” Maggie, who lives in a world where birth order determines your destiny (eldests are sent to camp to train for war, youngests are seen as a bit hopeless and middlers are mostly just forgotten altogether), and what happens when she meets wanderer Una and they develop a friendship, despite fraternisation with wanderers being forbidden by the town`s rules. I thought this concept sounded fascinating just from the synopsis, and the execution is even better; it was such an interesting world to spend time in and I thought the worldbuilding was superbly done in every way imaginable. Maggie is a brilliant narrator, and I was so sympathetic towards her, though I loved that the book explored the difficulties each sibling would have due to their birth order too. I adored her friendship with Una, which was incredibly complicated but they had so many beautiful moments too. There were some fabulous twists as well, and I truly didn`t know who to trust a lot of the time, especially as things progressed (I can`t say who they are, but I can`t put into words how much I despised the antagonist of this book!). I`m so excited to follow Kirsty`s career, because I think her future works will most likely be fantastic. 4.5/5
March 28, 2020
Maggie is determined to prove that middle children can be useful as well. But her determination may lead to betraying the only friend she has and challenging her town's oldest law.
I went into this without reading the blurb properly, and I expected a fluffy piece about being the middle child and how hard it is. It's not that type of story. It's a proper dystopian, simplified for children to read.
I really enjoyed it. It is a simpler story, necessary for its age group, but it's not painfully young or over simple. Maggie grapples with some serious problems over the course of the book.
The only complaint I have is that I'm not sure where the epilogue comes. Is it after the last chapter? If so, what's the outcome of that chapter? Is it before that chapter? Then why isn't it specified?
Otherwise, this is a great adventure story and I highly recommend it.
I went into this without reading the blurb properly, and I expected a fluffy piece about being the middle child and how hard it is. It's not that type of story. It's a proper dystopian, simplified for children to read.
I really enjoyed it. It is a simpler story, necessary for its age group, but it's not painfully young or over simple. Maggie grapples with some serious problems over the course of the book.
The only complaint I have is that I'm not sure where the epilogue comes. Is it after the last chapter? If so, what's the outcome of that chapter? Is it before that chapter? Then why isn't it specified?
Otherwise, this is a great adventure story and I highly recommend it.
October 20, 2023
Maggie is a middler girl and has an older brother called Jed (he’s and eldest) which is more appreciated and a younger brother called Trig who is still appreciated but not as much as Jed.Maggie finds a dirty dangerous and deceitful wanderer called Una.It turns out she was nice and took Maggie to her dad but Una’s dad (Mr Opal) was a true wanderer.Everyone had to take their eldest to camp because of a quiet war between wanderers and people like Maggie.Maggie turns Mr Opal in and their mayor (Mayor Anderson her real name Tasher Anderson)captured Una and took her to ‘camp’.Maggie follows and realises camp isn’t real!Mayor Anderson just trades eldest in for bananas,gas canisters,clothes,and sequins.Mayor Anderson sets Maggie house on fire but Maggie exposes her.Now Mayor Anderson isn’t mayor so they call her Tasher now.Someone called Mr Weatheral is now mayor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2019
I was hooked from the start by this deeply atmospheric story.
Kirsty Applebaum's The Middler is the kind of book that is hard to put down - and when you do put it down, its compelling world continues to inhabit your thoughts and you can't wait to find out what happens next.
Set in a dystopian near-future, The Middler is a story all about different types of boundaries and the process of discovering which ones are important to protect and which ones are crying out to be broken through.
Told through the powerful voice of middle-child Maggie, this is a wonderfully absorbing narrative that will resonate with many young readers today.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book.
The full review will appear on the Booksfortopics blog near the time of publication.
Kirsty Applebaum's The Middler is the kind of book that is hard to put down - and when you do put it down, its compelling world continues to inhabit your thoughts and you can't wait to find out what happens next.
Set in a dystopian near-future, The Middler is a story all about different types of boundaries and the process of discovering which ones are important to protect and which ones are crying out to be broken through.
Told through the powerful voice of middle-child Maggie, this is a wonderfully absorbing narrative that will resonate with many young readers today.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book.
The full review will appear on the Booksfortopics blog near the time of publication.
February 25, 2021
An exceptional dystopian adventure for middle grade readers.
The middler is such a good book! Maggie is a lovable character with a unique voice, funny and believable as a 11 year old who is absolutely sick of seeing her eldest brother get all the attention and having to do so many chores.
Applebaum sets up a really interesting world where the government has decided that all oldest children must go to war to be heroes but get all the special treatment and Maggie is SICK OF IT.
This book is about the dangers of following the status for following the status quo and how being brave is about feeling the fear but doing what is right.
Yes Kirsty prepare our young minds for the challenging times we live in.
Maggie and Greta would be friends if Maggie was real.
The middler is such a good book! Maggie is a lovable character with a unique voice, funny and believable as a 11 year old who is absolutely sick of seeing her eldest brother get all the attention and having to do so many chores.
Applebaum sets up a really interesting world where the government has decided that all oldest children must go to war to be heroes but get all the special treatment and Maggie is SICK OF IT.
This book is about the dangers of following the status for following the status quo and how being brave is about feeling the fear but doing what is right.
Yes Kirsty prepare our young minds for the challenging times we live in.
Maggie and Greta would be friends if Maggie was real.
September 6, 2020
I was thoroughly impressed with the plot line and character development. Maggie is a “middler”, the middle child, and feels invisible to those due to everyone looking up to the eldest, doing for the eldest, and preparing for the eldest to be sent off to “camp/war” to fight for their village. Maggie is a questioner though, one of whom does not stop even when she’s been told her whole life NOT to question the way of their life. Maggie befriends a wanderer, outside of her towns boundary, with plans to turn her in, only for her plans to be completely flipped upside down. An amazing book to share with students and one which many conversations will arise.
June 19, 2020
The eldest child, brave and strong, the middle child, ignored and overshadowed, the youngest, seen as frivolous and not clever. So is the foundation of society for Maggie. A middle child, yet loved and willing to take risks and shake the foundation of her town. I am keen to share this with the lower secondary students.
April 30, 2021
i don‘t have a lot to say except that yes, i added this to my tbr just solely because of the cover.
but even though this is directed towards younger readers i enjoyed this a lot as kind of like an in between book to finish off the month with
but even though this is directed towards younger readers i enjoyed this a lot as kind of like an in between book to finish off the month with
June 24, 2019
Flew through it. Feels like a younger How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff in tone and setting
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