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Sussy and Guy are best friends, fourth-graders who share their silliest thoughts and deepest hopes. One afternoon, the two of them decide they must have something of their very own to love. After a trip to the pet store, they bring home a spotted lizard, the one with the ancient face and starfish toes, and they name her Matylda (with a y so it's all her own). With Guy leading the way, they feed her and give her an origin story fit for a warrior lizard. A few weeks later, on a simple bike ride, there is a terrible accident. As hard as it is, Sussy is sure she can hold on to Guy if she can find a way to love Matylda enough. But in a startling turn of events, Sussy reconsiders what it means to grieve and heal and hope and go on, for her own sake and Matylda's.
165 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
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818 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
February 19, 2017
I give it eight out of five stars (my highest rating to date) "I believe in the magic of this world" is the last line of the acknowledgments and it puts the finishing touch on one of the best books I've read in a long time. I didn't want to pause and write down lines I loved, I wanted to live it, soak it in, and continue on. This book is a true journey of the human spirit and I don't have adequate words to even describe how I feel about it.
There are lessons upon lessons in this book and I loved every minute of reading it. In addition to representing awesome talent, Holly IS an awesome talent. This is the perfect book.
There are lessons upon lessons in this book and I loved every minute of reading it. In addition to representing awesome talent, Holly IS an awesome talent. This is the perfect book.
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September 29, 2017This is a beautiful middle grade story about best friends, Sussy and Guy, fourth graders who do everything together. They end getting a spotted lizard, name her Matylda, and make up a warrior origin story for her. Shortly after, an accident changes their lives, and Sussy decides she must love Matylda so deeply and care for her so perfectly in order to hold onto Guy and his memory. This story was so incredibly touching and beautiful, and Sussy’s journey through her grief moved at just the right pace. Side note: I cried through most of this book.
— Karina Glaser
from The Best Books We Read In May 2017: https://bookriot.com/2017/06/02/riot-...
— Karina Glaser
from The Best Books We Read In May 2017: https://bookriot.com/2017/06/02/riot-...
July 4, 2017
You will cry if you read this book. BUT it is worth it. I enjoyed every single page. My heart if full.
June 11, 2017
This was a beautiful book that deserves to be read many times. It reminded me of two texts from my childhood: To Kill a Mockingbird and Bridge to Terabithia. Sussy's reflections and internal monologues in particular are what remind me of Scout Finch. You get the sense that she's mature beyond her years, and yet it is believable that she is also a child.
I loved how Matylda's story intertwined with Sussy's recovery. The language in this is both accessible and well crafted. It is a good mentor text for teaching the value of formatting choices such as italics, punctuation and line breaks. This is also a text that is perfect for read-aloud, not because it is just over 200 pages, but more so because it would allow time for lots of turn and talks and responses from students. It's a book about recovering from heartbreak, about grief and anxiety, and how those are physically and emotionally experienced by a young person. There are very few adult voices in this book that last for more than a few paragraphs. In fact, most of the adult support we see Sussy receiving is not with words, but with actions and listening. The story is Sussy's to tell.
My advice to any teacher who would consider using this in class? Don't make this a conditional text, or one to read if/when a student loses a loved one or tragedy strikes. Read it because your students deserve the life rehearsal that goes with this story. They deserve to know that grief can strike at the most unexpected of times, and they deserve to know that they have the capacity to recover from tragedy, but only over time and with a lot of support.
On a practical note, I would advise that teachers purchase the digital e-book of this and project some of the pages up on an interactive whiteboard. Include digital annotations with students' questions as you read and perhaps return to them as you continue or conclude reading.
I loved how Matylda's story intertwined with Sussy's recovery. The language in this is both accessible and well crafted. It is a good mentor text for teaching the value of formatting choices such as italics, punctuation and line breaks. This is also a text that is perfect for read-aloud, not because it is just over 200 pages, but more so because it would allow time for lots of turn and talks and responses from students. It's a book about recovering from heartbreak, about grief and anxiety, and how those are physically and emotionally experienced by a young person. There are very few adult voices in this book that last for more than a few paragraphs. In fact, most of the adult support we see Sussy receiving is not with words, but with actions and listening. The story is Sussy's to tell.
My advice to any teacher who would consider using this in class? Don't make this a conditional text, or one to read if/when a student loses a loved one or tragedy strikes. Read it because your students deserve the life rehearsal that goes with this story. They deserve to know that grief can strike at the most unexpected of times, and they deserve to know that they have the capacity to recover from tragedy, but only over time and with a lot of support.
On a practical note, I would advise that teachers purchase the digital e-book of this and project some of the pages up on an interactive whiteboard. Include digital annotations with students' questions as you read and perhaps return to them as you continue or conclude reading.
February 27, 2020
درست زمانى كه انتظارشو نداشتم قلبمو فشرده از غم كرد ... قوى بودن توى اين موقعيت ها خيلى سخته و كسى كه تجربه ى از دست دادن عزيزى رو داشته باشه واقعا با تمام وجودش درك مى كنه حال سوسى رو.. و اين حجم از قوى بودنش قابل تحسين بود براى يه بچه به سن اون.. و شايد حتى بشه گفت اغراق كتاب توى تسريعِ بهبود حال سوسى بوده.. ولى در كل خوب بود.. 👌🏻🥰
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2021
بخشی از کتاب:
زیبایی حتی در سختترین شرایط زندگی نیز جاری است
و عشق تا ابد پابرجاست
تاریخ: ۱۴۰۰/۶/۱۳
زیبایی حتی در سختترین شرایط زندگی نیز جاری است
و عشق تا ابد پابرجاست
تاریخ: ۱۴۰۰/۶/۱۳
July 31, 2017
I don't even quite know how to review this one. Lots of tears and lots of healing of my heart, all at the same time.
------
"Then I could hear my father, from that day so long ago, even as he stood right there.
Breathe.
Remember to breathe."
"Not here, but here anyway."
------
"Then I could hear my father, from that day so long ago, even as he stood right there.
Breathe.
Remember to breathe."
"Not here, but here anyway."
June 10, 2018
Matylda - with a "y" - Bright and Tender is a wonderful, poignant tale of a close friendship which ended tragically.
It is about developing love for someone, or something, difficult to love. Additionally, it is about the process of grief
each individual must go through in her/his own way and how others can allow them to work through it.
Finally, it us about unselfishness of caring individuals and of redemption.
The author has created a unique, captivating story which induces the reader too become very endeared to the characters,
The reader is "drawn into the story" to the point he/she will feel he/she is there.
The writing of the author, Holly M. McGhee was very effective, coupled with the most outstanding narration of amazing Jenna Lamia.
makes this a truly DYNAMIC Children's book on CD! Jenna Lamia is, by far, the most talented and entrancing "voice" i have ever listened to on tape. Her voice for each character is very concise. She never deviates. When she speaks of the background scenes its in a separate voice, also.
The Book content will explain the Title and the Cover is sinple but "fitting'. I feel it would have more appeal to the "Browser" if there had been a few more images on the cover.
If an educator wants a beak or if a audio story is needed for Summer Reading Programs, rest assured, this young voice will captivate children more than most anyone!
This is not only an entertaining book but has a multitude of lessons one can use for several discussions.
This is a very STRONG Five Stars rated book on tale, in this reviewer's opinion
*I Won this Book on Tape in an Early Reviewer Giveaway by the Library Thing. I am remorse, because of circumstances, I was unable to listen to and review this book sooner.
. I was not asked to offer a positive review. This is my honest Review.
It is about developing love for someone, or something, difficult to love. Additionally, it is about the process of grief
each individual must go through in her/his own way and how others can allow them to work through it.
Finally, it us about unselfishness of caring individuals and of redemption.
The author has created a unique, captivating story which induces the reader too become very endeared to the characters,
The reader is "drawn into the story" to the point he/she will feel he/she is there.
The writing of the author, Holly M. McGhee was very effective, coupled with the most outstanding narration of amazing Jenna Lamia.
makes this a truly DYNAMIC Children's book on CD! Jenna Lamia is, by far, the most talented and entrancing "voice" i have ever listened to on tape. Her voice for each character is very concise. She never deviates. When she speaks of the background scenes its in a separate voice, also.
The Book content will explain the Title and the Cover is sinple but "fitting'. I feel it would have more appeal to the "Browser" if there had been a few more images on the cover.
If an educator wants a beak or if a audio story is needed for Summer Reading Programs, rest assured, this young voice will captivate children more than most anyone!
This is not only an entertaining book but has a multitude of lessons one can use for several discussions.
This is a very STRONG Five Stars rated book on tale, in this reviewer's opinion
*I Won this Book on Tape in an Early Reviewer Giveaway by the Library Thing. I am remorse, because of circumstances, I was unable to listen to and review this book sooner.
. I was not asked to offer a positive review. This is my honest Review.
March 23, 2017
Fourth graders, Sussy and Guy, are the very best of friends. They share everything together and love each other very much. When the two BFFs decide they need something of their own to love and nurture, they get a leopard gecko named Matylda. Even though Guy seems a bit better at handling and feeding Matylda, Sussy is determined to love her just as much. And when a tragic accident shakes Sussy’s world topsy-turvy, both Sussy and Matylda discover things about love, loss, and friendship that they never knew.
Ok, y’all, you better have the tissues handy when reading this book because it’s a heartbreaking, sniffle-inducing, tearjerker for sure! Holly M. McGhee’s Matylda, Bright & Tender is aptly named, for it is both tender and bright, heart-wrenching and heartwarming, poignant and full of hope.
Told through Sussy’s POV, Matylda, Bright & Tender unfolds through an earnest, vulnerable, and sweetly charming voice. Young readers will fall in love with Sussy, Guy, their parents, and Matylda, and will love experiencing and exploring their world so full of laughs, love, and heart. Sussy and Guy’s genuine, love-filled friendship is so endearing and lovable and I just wanted to wrap them both in a gigantic hug.
It’s not a spoiler to say that the story takes a tragic turn and one character’s death leaves the other characters in a world of grief and greyness. Holly M. McGhee beautifully and achingly explores the pains and startling revelations that come with grief and loss, and does so in ways that are appropriate and accessible to her intended audience.
Sussy, Guy, and Matylda’s story is the kind that sits in your heart for a long time and, while it brings the tears, and also brings so much light, hope, and happiness. Readers, young and old alike, will love and be moved by Matylda, Bright & Tender.
Ok, y’all, you better have the tissues handy when reading this book because it’s a heartbreaking, sniffle-inducing, tearjerker for sure! Holly M. McGhee’s Matylda, Bright & Tender is aptly named, for it is both tender and bright, heart-wrenching and heartwarming, poignant and full of hope.
Told through Sussy’s POV, Matylda, Bright & Tender unfolds through an earnest, vulnerable, and sweetly charming voice. Young readers will fall in love with Sussy, Guy, their parents, and Matylda, and will love experiencing and exploring their world so full of laughs, love, and heart. Sussy and Guy’s genuine, love-filled friendship is so endearing and lovable and I just wanted to wrap them both in a gigantic hug.
It’s not a spoiler to say that the story takes a tragic turn and one character’s death leaves the other characters in a world of grief and greyness. Holly M. McGhee beautifully and achingly explores the pains and startling revelations that come with grief and loss, and does so in ways that are appropriate and accessible to her intended audience.
Sussy, Guy, and Matylda’s story is the kind that sits in your heart for a long time and, while it brings the tears, and also brings so much light, hope, and happiness. Readers, young and old alike, will love and be moved by Matylda, Bright & Tender.
July 21, 2022
Matylda, Bright & Tender is a beautiful middle grade novel about loss and coping with grief. I think the author wrote the characters well. I loved the way she helped us understand Guy and Sussy’s friendship. I like that she built a strong support system for the main character, but still showed that grief sometimes overrides your ability to see the support system.
Review for the classroom::
Would I want it in my classroom library? Yes! (Already do, thanks to our awesome learning support coaches)
Book club worthy?
Absolutely! This book would allow deep conversations about death, moving forward, grief and what it means to be brave. Students could also focus on character change with Sussy. You could teach about dynamic and static characters within the novel.
Teachable Topics:
Grief, loss of a friend, self-care, forgiveness and honesty
Recommended reading for: 3rd-6th, I think 3/4th graders might need a little support with this novel due to the heavy topics. But it is written beautifully and not graphic.
Review for the classroom::
Would I want it in my classroom library? Yes! (Already do, thanks to our awesome learning support coaches)
Book club worthy?
Absolutely! This book would allow deep conversations about death, moving forward, grief and what it means to be brave. Students could also focus on character change with Sussy. You could teach about dynamic and static characters within the novel.
Teachable Topics:
Grief, loss of a friend, self-care, forgiveness and honesty
Recommended reading for: 3rd-6th, I think 3/4th graders might need a little support with this novel due to the heavy topics. But it is written beautifully and not graphic.
April 22, 2017
A tale of a young girl's grief painted in all it's fierce, world-shattering depth and how she emerges from the throes.
March 29, 2019
A story of the painful process of grief. Very well written and provides me with hope.
November 29, 2024
I just have something in my eye
March 20, 2017
Wow! Just finished this MG novel and absolutely loved it. Read it in 1 1/2 sittings. Such a beautiful story of young friends, a gecko, and the meaning of true loss. Sussy, Guy, and Matylda will remain with me for a long time. Incredible...
May 30, 2019
Sussy (short for Susquehanna) Reed and Guy Hose have been inseparable best friends since that day in Kindergarten when he showed her how to make a never-ending Mr. Potato Head. The two friends have done everything together ever since - with one exception. They have never been allowed to have a pet.
Now in fourth grade, Sussy and Guy manage to talk Mr. Reed into letting them get Guy's choice of a leopard gecko. They find the perfect one at Total Pets, a gecko that seems to have been as immediately attracted to Guy as he was to her. And he thinks she should be called Matylda "of the Ancient Face and Starfish Toes."
Although Matylda lives in a tank on top of Sussy's dresser, she seems to like Guy so much more than Sussy, much to Sussy's dismay. The friends even give Matylda a warrior history, in which she is victorious in battle and her master grants her one wish - to be loved, a wish that is granted when Sussy and Guy find her in Total Pets.
Then one morning, Guy decides Matylda needs some vitamin D3. The two friends hop on their bikes and start riding, when a dog runs out and goes after Sussy on her bike. Guy gets off his bike to yell at the dog just as a car is coming down the street. Next thing Sussy knows is that her best friend is dead.
After the funeral, Sussy suddenly finds herself alone for the first time since Kindergarten. She begins to obsessively focus on Matylda, trying to figure out how to love Matylda the way Guy had, believing that if she does everything right, she could hold on to Guy.
When summer comes, Sussy isolates in her bedroom, every day dressing in the same red capri pants and sunflower shirt she wore the day of the accident, reliving it over and over and over. The only time she leaves the house is to go to Total Pets to buy something for Matylda, something that she hopes will convince Matylda that she loves her just like Guy had, and that will make Matylda love Sussy just as she had loved Guy, enabling Sussy to continue to hold on to him.
At Total Pets, she finds herself stealing food and toys for Matylda, egged on by the stealing girl's voice in her head. As each thing fails to do what she wants, Sussy returns to the store more frequently, until she realizes the store clerk, who had always been so friendly and helpful, is on to her and Sussy's world, as carefully constructed as the never-ending Potato Heads, comes flying apart. But it was a world constructed by Guy, and now, Sussy must find a way to construct her own world without him.
Sussy and Matylda are the central characters here, and both are believable. Sussy's first person narrative feels natural and realistic as she tries to navigate her new life without Guy while still not letting go of him. Her story is interspersed with memories of the two friends, giving the reader a real sense of what their friendship was like. As Sussy recalls more and more about Guy, the reader begins to realize that this was an uneven though dear relationship, with Sussy frequently letting Guy take the lead and acquiescing to his ideas - like insisting that they must get the vitamin D3 for Matylda.
The other characters, including Sussy's parents, Guy's mother, Mike from Total Pets are satellite characters, secondary to Sussy's struggle, much of which is experienced in her thoughts. These other characters don't need to be fleshed out, but they are needed to be there for support and love, which they all do well.
McGhee has written Sussy's grieving process with a mixture of anger, confusion, guilt, and magic thinking. Sussy begins to find herself so very tired from have to go on without Guy, suddenly not really knowing how to do things by herself. The world has lost all its color, and Sussy experiences everything around her as grey. It doesn't take long for her to endow Matylda with thoughts and feelings that a gecko is just not capable of having. The fact that Matylda would rest on the back of Guy's neck probably has more to do with hiding and warmth than with the love Sussy thinks the gecko has for him.
Matylda, Bright & Tender masterfully explores the very sad, very poignant grieving process of a child, and while Sussy's pain is palpable, McGhee has infused her story enough humor so that it doesn't overwhelm the reader. Sussy's story does end on a note of hope and new friends who will help her move on and discover who she is without Guy.
Matylda, Bright & Tender is a well-done, heartwarming, tender story, and one not to be missed.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was sent to me by the publisher, Candlewick Press
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
Now in fourth grade, Sussy and Guy manage to talk Mr. Reed into letting them get Guy's choice of a leopard gecko. They find the perfect one at Total Pets, a gecko that seems to have been as immediately attracted to Guy as he was to her. And he thinks she should be called Matylda "of the Ancient Face and Starfish Toes."
Although Matylda lives in a tank on top of Sussy's dresser, she seems to like Guy so much more than Sussy, much to Sussy's dismay. The friends even give Matylda a warrior history, in which she is victorious in battle and her master grants her one wish - to be loved, a wish that is granted when Sussy and Guy find her in Total Pets.
Then one morning, Guy decides Matylda needs some vitamin D3. The two friends hop on their bikes and start riding, when a dog runs out and goes after Sussy on her bike. Guy gets off his bike to yell at the dog just as a car is coming down the street. Next thing Sussy knows is that her best friend is dead.
After the funeral, Sussy suddenly finds herself alone for the first time since Kindergarten. She begins to obsessively focus on Matylda, trying to figure out how to love Matylda the way Guy had, believing that if she does everything right, she could hold on to Guy.
When summer comes, Sussy isolates in her bedroom, every day dressing in the same red capri pants and sunflower shirt she wore the day of the accident, reliving it over and over and over. The only time she leaves the house is to go to Total Pets to buy something for Matylda, something that she hopes will convince Matylda that she loves her just like Guy had, and that will make Matylda love Sussy just as she had loved Guy, enabling Sussy to continue to hold on to him.
At Total Pets, she finds herself stealing food and toys for Matylda, egged on by the stealing girl's voice in her head. As each thing fails to do what she wants, Sussy returns to the store more frequently, until she realizes the store clerk, who had always been so friendly and helpful, is on to her and Sussy's world, as carefully constructed as the never-ending Potato Heads, comes flying apart. But it was a world constructed by Guy, and now, Sussy must find a way to construct her own world without him.
Sussy and Matylda are the central characters here, and both are believable. Sussy's first person narrative feels natural and realistic as she tries to navigate her new life without Guy while still not letting go of him. Her story is interspersed with memories of the two friends, giving the reader a real sense of what their friendship was like. As Sussy recalls more and more about Guy, the reader begins to realize that this was an uneven though dear relationship, with Sussy frequently letting Guy take the lead and acquiescing to his ideas - like insisting that they must get the vitamin D3 for Matylda.
The other characters, including Sussy's parents, Guy's mother, Mike from Total Pets are satellite characters, secondary to Sussy's struggle, much of which is experienced in her thoughts. These other characters don't need to be fleshed out, but they are needed to be there for support and love, which they all do well.
McGhee has written Sussy's grieving process with a mixture of anger, confusion, guilt, and magic thinking. Sussy begins to find herself so very tired from have to go on without Guy, suddenly not really knowing how to do things by herself. The world has lost all its color, and Sussy experiences everything around her as grey. It doesn't take long for her to endow Matylda with thoughts and feelings that a gecko is just not capable of having. The fact that Matylda would rest on the back of Guy's neck probably has more to do with hiding and warmth than with the love Sussy thinks the gecko has for him.
Matylda, Bright & Tender masterfully explores the very sad, very poignant grieving process of a child, and while Sussy's pain is palpable, McGhee has infused her story enough humor so that it doesn't overwhelm the reader. Sussy's story does end on a note of hope and new friends who will help her move on and discover who she is without Guy.
Matylda, Bright & Tender is a well-done, heartwarming, tender story, and one not to be missed.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was sent to me by the publisher, Candlewick Press
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2025
حقیقتا، دوستش نداشتم
نتونستم درست باهاش ارتباط بگیرم و بهجای اینکه حسش کنم انگار داشتم از پشت یه شیشه کدر داستانش رو میدیدم و واقعا نمیدونم چرا. شاید چون صفحات زیادی ازش سانسور شده بود و انگار یه چیزی کم داشت یا چون شخصیتپردازی و روند احساسی داستان برام کلیشهای بود یا نگارشش مشکل داشت.
در هر صورت بد نبود ولی خب من دوستش نداشتم_
پ.ن: امیدوارم پرتقال دست از تغییر دادن عناوین کتابهایی که چاپ میکنه برداره واقعا...
پ.ن: جنگ،،
نتونستم درست باهاش ارتباط بگیرم و بهجای اینکه حسش کنم انگار داشتم از پشت یه شیشه کدر داستانش رو میدیدم و واقعا نمیدونم چرا. شاید چون صفحات زیادی ازش سانسور شده بود و انگار یه چیزی کم داشت یا چون شخصیتپردازی و روند احساسی داستان برام کلیشهای بود یا نگارشش مشکل داشت.
در هر صورت بد نبود ولی خب من دوستش نداشتم_
پ.ن: امیدوارم پرتقال دست از تغییر دادن عناوین کتابهایی که چاپ میکنه برداره واقعا...
پ.ن: جنگ،،
January 6, 2017
Matylda, Bright and Tender is a short juvenile fiction book with a huge emotional punch. Two best friends adopt a leopard gecko and name her Matylda. After an accident, one friend must go on, find a way to cope, and care for Matylda. The descriptions of handling grief are described so vividly that I wonder if the author actually lost a friend or child too. This is a well-crafted story that I will highly recommend.
September 9, 2022
4.5 stars on my blog because one of the two things the MC did at the end of the story was pretty serious and she was given zero consequences for it. Compared to the other thing she did, which did not physically harm anything, it seemed to be kind of sloughed off by everyone, including her, as not as egregious. I would recommend either reading this book with your Middle Grade aged reader, or reading it before they do so you can discuss the story. There were some pretty heavy themes in this book.
That being said... the story elements are wonderful. The book deals not only with loss and grief, but also grieving anger and self-destructive behaviors, and healing. It also shows how pets can help with the grieving and healing process.
As a Middle Grade the story will grasp and hold the intended audience's attention, and I feel they will have no trouble connecting with the character on many levels. The characterizations of the children were realistic.
I was approved for this eARC, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I will be reviewing this title on my blog at some point, and will add the link when it is posted.
That being said... the story elements are wonderful. The book deals not only with loss and grief, but also grieving anger and self-destructive behaviors, and healing. It also shows how pets can help with the grieving and healing process.
As a Middle Grade the story will grasp and hold the intended audience's attention, and I feel they will have no trouble connecting with the character on many levels. The characterizations of the children were realistic.
I was approved for this eARC, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I will be reviewing this title on my blog at some point, and will add the link when it is posted.
April 27, 2017
I guess I'm the only one who didn't much like this book, huh? First of all -- and something that nearly made me give up within the first couple chapters -- was the completely unbelievable dialogue between two second-graders. Has McGhee never heard a little kid talk? Guy goes on this whole long story about his dad accidentally cutting off his thumb, which 100% doesn't even sound like dialogue that an adult would use. It jerked me right out of the story and made me very wary to get immersed again.
I will fully admit: I have never experienced grief. I know theoretically how disconcerting and unsteady it must be, but it was a struggle to follow Sussy's cartwheeling thoughts and emotions as she tried to deal, and it was something else that made this book difficult for me to enjoy. There were many times when it felt like CRAZINESS for the sake of CRAZINESS.
(And can I please mention that her name was "Susquehanna Indiana"? Manic pixie dream girl deluxe.)
All in all, I'd much rather read Winn-Dixie.
I will fully admit: I have never experienced grief. I know theoretically how disconcerting and unsteady it must be, but it was a struggle to follow Sussy's cartwheeling thoughts and emotions as she tried to deal, and it was something else that made this book difficult for me to enjoy. There were many times when it felt like CRAZINESS for the sake of CRAZINESS.
(And can I please mention that her name was "Susquehanna Indiana"? Manic pixie dream girl deluxe.)
All in all, I'd much rather read Winn-Dixie.
February 22, 2018
"It was hard to stay mad at Guy of the Big Bold Heart."
Sussy and Guy have been friends ever since they bonded over the Potato Heads in kindergarten. Guy is the kind of friend that really knows how to be a friend. He would risk missing the school bus to run back and get your coat if you looked cold. He would bring you every flower from his mother's garden just because he knew you liked flowers. He would step between you and a dog that is charging at you to scare it away.
Sussy and Guy are called spaghetti and meatballs because they are almost always together. So, in the spring of fourth grade they decide that they need a pet to take care of together. And they find a leopard gecko at the local Total Pets store. They call her Matylda with a y and make up her own back story. She was a warrior lizard who only wanted to be loved. And she really takes to Guy because he seems to understand her. Sussy can't help but be a little jealous.
And then one day, they decide to go to Total Pets to get some vitamin D3 for Matylda. "I was the girl who wanted to ride bikes and see flowers that day." And when that dog came charging at Sussy and grabbed her leg, Guy was off his bike and trying to help. And that's when the car comes around the corner, not seeing Guy, and hits him. And suddenly, Sussy's world is in pieces. How can she be expected to go on without Guy?
"You've got to live for Matylda." Sussy actually hears Guy's voice saying this at the funeral. So Sussy throws all of her energy into taking the best care of Matylda that she can. "If I did everything right, I could hold on to Guy." At first, it seems to help her manage her grief. But the pressure and anger starts to build, especially when she feels like she can't live up to Guy's expectations of caring for Matylda. And that's when the stealing girl enters her mind. It's the voice that encourages Sussy to steal things for Matylda from Total Pets. First it's the meal worms. Then it's an enrichment toy for Matylda. She just can't fight the compulsion.
And then the summer ends and she realizes she's going to have to go back to school without Guy. She'll have to leave Matylda alone all day. How will she ever be able to cope?
Heartbreaking at one turn, uplifting at the next, this book runs the gamut of emotions as Sussy tries to work through her guilt, grief and anger at the death of her best friend. The language is gorgeous and the characters are beautifully written. A definite addition to the my school library.
Sussy and Guy have been friends ever since they bonded over the Potato Heads in kindergarten. Guy is the kind of friend that really knows how to be a friend. He would risk missing the school bus to run back and get your coat if you looked cold. He would bring you every flower from his mother's garden just because he knew you liked flowers. He would step between you and a dog that is charging at you to scare it away.
Sussy and Guy are called spaghetti and meatballs because they are almost always together. So, in the spring of fourth grade they decide that they need a pet to take care of together. And they find a leopard gecko at the local Total Pets store. They call her Matylda with a y and make up her own back story. She was a warrior lizard who only wanted to be loved. And she really takes to Guy because he seems to understand her. Sussy can't help but be a little jealous.
And then one day, they decide to go to Total Pets to get some vitamin D3 for Matylda. "I was the girl who wanted to ride bikes and see flowers that day." And when that dog came charging at Sussy and grabbed her leg, Guy was off his bike and trying to help. And that's when the car comes around the corner, not seeing Guy, and hits him. And suddenly, Sussy's world is in pieces. How can she be expected to go on without Guy?
"You've got to live for Matylda." Sussy actually hears Guy's voice saying this at the funeral. So Sussy throws all of her energy into taking the best care of Matylda that she can. "If I did everything right, I could hold on to Guy." At first, it seems to help her manage her grief. But the pressure and anger starts to build, especially when she feels like she can't live up to Guy's expectations of caring for Matylda. And that's when the stealing girl enters her mind. It's the voice that encourages Sussy to steal things for Matylda from Total Pets. First it's the meal worms. Then it's an enrichment toy for Matylda. She just can't fight the compulsion.
And then the summer ends and she realizes she's going to have to go back to school without Guy. She'll have to leave Matylda alone all day. How will she ever be able to cope?
Heartbreaking at one turn, uplifting at the next, this book runs the gamut of emotions as Sussy tries to work through her guilt, grief and anger at the death of her best friend. The language is gorgeous and the characters are beautifully written. A definite addition to the my school library.
March 19, 2017
the protagonist, alongside so many interesting family and community characters, had me thinking India Opal and company from 'Because of Winn Dixie.' Much of the plot and several of the devices had me thinking 'The Thing About Jellyfish'--which, if you like either of those, you will very probably like this novel.
That said, the danger in bringing two such great novels and writers to mind is that you run the risk of falling short. This one fell a bit short, in part, because the novel didn't entrust enough of the explication to the reader; which I get such an impulse in writing for young audiences. But if you are going to write that self-reflective of a character, you have to believe other 10 year olds are capable of gleaning such wisdom as well. It was great that Sussy could say her revelatory thoughts out loud, what a great model of important behavior, but the ease in which the angst met resolution was a little too neat. Often her inside voice's revelations were just as neatly sold--which I suppose is in generous consideration of a broader audience--and the book should appeal to a good span in age/reading comprehension. McGhee is gentle. And she has a sure hand with the imagery.
I appreciate the use of brevity in sentences, paragraphs, chapters and novel to help alleviate the weight of the grief; it worked well in partnership with the lyricism, but the convenience of Sussy's simultaneous lightning sense of clarity and incredible lack of self-awareness felt a bit too contrived--something greater length could've offered the novel? Maybe it was that the ending felt quick and ready to move on along. It isn't a book to put down or you'll miss out on the catharsis, I think. I missed it. The climax took a steep drop into making sure the world that spins around Sussy regains a gentle, agreeable equilibrium. I can't disagree with an ending that reassures me that Sussy is going to be okay; it's a grade school book that had used up the "uncleanliness of the world" on a death of an amazing human, the antics of Stealing Girl, and a tail that needs burying... And I will trade any lack in luster I found with the novel for that profound understanding that Sussy converses with the reader there at the end: that we all live and love in our own individual (and awesome) way; we cannot (and shouldn't try to) live as someone else--no matter how amazing (and he's pretty darned amazing).
'Matylda' is a nice, clean plot-driven novel with some fabulous characterization. It's a very good early novel for empathy-genre readers.
There really is a lot to like in Matylda, Bright and Tender--beginning with that title--just do not read it too close to its companions (with the exception of maybe 'Counting by Sevens' and its equally clean plot-driven-structure). Read it in the summer on the grass in a park. And join me in looking forward to the next juvenile fiction by Ms. McGhee.
p.s. I get why storytelling-wise, I totally do, but why would the parents not have their child in grief counseling after they lost such a close friend?
That said, the danger in bringing two such great novels and writers to mind is that you run the risk of falling short. This one fell a bit short, in part, because the novel didn't entrust enough of the explication to the reader; which I get such an impulse in writing for young audiences. But if you are going to write that self-reflective of a character, you have to believe other 10 year olds are capable of gleaning such wisdom as well. It was great that Sussy could say her revelatory thoughts out loud, what a great model of important behavior, but the ease in which the angst met resolution was a little too neat. Often her inside voice's revelations were just as neatly sold--which I suppose is in generous consideration of a broader audience--and the book should appeal to a good span in age/reading comprehension. McGhee is gentle. And she has a sure hand with the imagery.
I appreciate the use of brevity in sentences, paragraphs, chapters and novel to help alleviate the weight of the grief; it worked well in partnership with the lyricism, but the convenience of Sussy's simultaneous lightning sense of clarity and incredible lack of self-awareness felt a bit too contrived--something greater length could've offered the novel? Maybe it was that the ending felt quick and ready to move on along. It isn't a book to put down or you'll miss out on the catharsis, I think. I missed it. The climax took a steep drop into making sure the world that spins around Sussy regains a gentle, agreeable equilibrium. I can't disagree with an ending that reassures me that Sussy is going to be okay; it's a grade school book that had used up the "uncleanliness of the world" on a death of an amazing human, the antics of Stealing Girl, and a tail that needs burying... And I will trade any lack in luster I found with the novel for that profound understanding that Sussy converses with the reader there at the end: that we all live and love in our own individual (and awesome) way; we cannot (and shouldn't try to) live as someone else--no matter how amazing (and he's pretty darned amazing).
'Matylda' is a nice, clean plot-driven novel with some fabulous characterization. It's a very good early novel for empathy-genre readers.
There really is a lot to like in Matylda, Bright and Tender--beginning with that title--just do not read it too close to its companions (with the exception of maybe 'Counting by Sevens' and its equally clean plot-driven-structure). Read it in the summer on the grass in a park. And join me in looking forward to the next juvenile fiction by Ms. McGhee.
p.s. I get why storytelling-wise, I totally do, but why would the parents not have their child in grief counseling after they lost such a close friend?
July 20, 2017
Wow! If I could give a book more than five stars out of five, this would be the one. It’s rare that a book can make me laugh out loud, wipe away tears, and stay up most of the night so I can finish it in one day. But Matylda, Bright & Tender made me do all of these.
Matylda, Bright & Tender is the story of two best friends, Sussy and Guy, who have been together since they built the never-ending potato in the Mr. Potato Head corner in kindergarten. They walk to and from school together, they play together—although not all the time—and spend time at each other’s homes after school.
One afternoon, their lives change. They convince Sussy’s dad that they need to have a pet that they can own together. Sussy’s dad takes them to Total Pets, where they pick out a leopard gecko. Sussy and Guy name her Matylda, and she lives in a vivarium on the dresser in Sussy’s bedroom. Sussy and Guy love Matylda. She becomes the focus of their days, until something of even greater significance and impact happens in their lives.
In Sussy and Guy, Ms. McGhee introduces us to two characters that readers will quickly fall in love with. They are genuine, honest, and realistic. Their friendship is strong and pure, and they are truly devoted to one another. The book is narrated in first person from Sussy’s perspective. Her love for Guy is evident in all of her descriptions of him. We watch Sussy grow and overcome challenges as the book progresses, and I, for one, was actively rooting for her by the end.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book so that I could provide an unbiased review. Without a doubt, this will be one of my top books of 2017!
Matylda, Bright & Tender is the story of two best friends, Sussy and Guy, who have been together since they built the never-ending potato in the Mr. Potato Head corner in kindergarten. They walk to and from school together, they play together—although not all the time—and spend time at each other’s homes after school.
One afternoon, their lives change. They convince Sussy’s dad that they need to have a pet that they can own together. Sussy’s dad takes them to Total Pets, where they pick out a leopard gecko. Sussy and Guy name her Matylda, and she lives in a vivarium on the dresser in Sussy’s bedroom. Sussy and Guy love Matylda. She becomes the focus of their days, until something of even greater significance and impact happens in their lives.
In Sussy and Guy, Ms. McGhee introduces us to two characters that readers will quickly fall in love with. They are genuine, honest, and realistic. Their friendship is strong and pure, and they are truly devoted to one another. The book is narrated in first person from Sussy’s perspective. Her love for Guy is evident in all of her descriptions of him. We watch Sussy grow and overcome challenges as the book progresses, and I, for one, was actively rooting for her by the end.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book so that I could provide an unbiased review. Without a doubt, this will be one of my top books of 2017!
June 17, 2018
McGhee, Holly M. Matylda, Bright & Tender, 210 pages. Candlewick Press, 2017. $17.
9780763689513.
Language: G (0 swears); Violence: G; Mature Content: PG (death, shoplifting)
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE, MS - OPTIONAL.
KID APPEAL: EL - MEDIUM, MS - LOW
Sussy and Guy are in the 4th grade and have been best friends for years. When Sussy's dad finally gives in to their pleadings, they go together to buy a leopard gecko and name her Matylda; she lives with Sussy but its Guy that holds Matylda's heart. When Guy is suddenly taken in a terrible accident, Sussy finds herself completely lost except for Matylda--a small piece of Guy that Sussy still has. As she desperately tries to make a real connection with Matylda--a connection like Guy had--Sussy also has to figure out how to deal with her grief and find a way to carry on.
This is a fantastic little book with a story that really resonates on a variety of levels. The characters are believable and the story is simple yet profound. I found myself very moved by how a young girl might grieve over a devastating loss, and I think the story does a great job of tackling a difficult subject. That being said, this also strikes me as a book that adults might love more than kids. Its definitely still a great book for upper elementary, but I do not know if young readers will fully appreciate the great message of this story without some parent or teacher guidance.
Reviewer: TC
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
9780763689513.
Language: G (0 swears); Violence: G; Mature Content: PG (death, shoplifting)
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE, MS - OPTIONAL.
KID APPEAL: EL - MEDIUM, MS - LOW
Sussy and Guy are in the 4th grade and have been best friends for years. When Sussy's dad finally gives in to their pleadings, they go together to buy a leopard gecko and name her Matylda; she lives with Sussy but its Guy that holds Matylda's heart. When Guy is suddenly taken in a terrible accident, Sussy finds herself completely lost except for Matylda--a small piece of Guy that Sussy still has. As she desperately tries to make a real connection with Matylda--a connection like Guy had--Sussy also has to figure out how to deal with her grief and find a way to carry on.
This is a fantastic little book with a story that really resonates on a variety of levels. The characters are believable and the story is simple yet profound. I found myself very moved by how a young girl might grieve over a devastating loss, and I think the story does a great job of tackling a difficult subject. That being said, this also strikes me as a book that adults might love more than kids. Its definitely still a great book for upper elementary, but I do not know if young readers will fully appreciate the great message of this story without some parent or teacher guidance.
Reviewer: TC
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
October 4, 2019
this book was flying to a 5-star wonder until the aftermath of the tragedy, then it kinda meandered around a bit too much for me... granted, i am hardly the target audience at age 50, so it possible my complaint is not all that valid for children/middle-grade/YA readers... Sussy and Guy are wonderfully drawn, and their daily habits, adventures, quirks, and personal similarities/complements are fabulously told... i thought the tragic portion was powerfully written, extremely heartfelt, and emotionally devastating... the subsequent happenings were a bit less developed, with Sussy's actions more told than explained? no idea how a 12-year old girl deals with things, me not being 12, or a girl... so while i found some things odd, my only complaint would be that i don't think you can write 12-year old feelings as an adult and possibly Sussy's actions, reactions, and feelings came across as more adult-y and mature... i loved how much love and concern there is between Sussy, her parents, Guy's mom, and Pet Store Mike... refreshing to see an author handle unpleasant things with care instead of devolving into anger and meanness and gloomy moodiness... overall, a beautifully simple tale of the deep bonds of friendship and of the things we can learn in the face of not-so-wonderful events...
July 11, 2017
Sussy and Guy, best friends since kindergarten and now in fourth grade, buy a leopard gecko they name Matylda, who immediately bonds with Guy. At the end of the school year, Guy dies when he heroically saves Sussy from a dog attack. Staggering through a summer of grief, Sussy makes a deal with Matylda to keep Guy’s memory alive by finding better ways to love her, and that is when she hears a voice in her head (“the stealing girl”) directing her to shoplift worms, mealies, and toys from the pet store for Matylda. After the already-ailing gecko rejects a load of stolen toys and Sussy goes into a rage, scaring the gecko so much that her tail falls off, Sussy finally realizes that Guy is truly gone and that she might also lose Matylda. When her “crimes” are uncovered, Sussy finds herself loved and understood by her mother and father as well as Mike, the owner of the pet store. In a brave move forward, Sussy begins fifth grade and discovers that she can have a new life with new friends and a new relationship with Matylda.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2017
Realistic Fiction
Recommended for grades 3+
When I finished this book I sat for a while. I sat holding the book tightly closed, staring at the leopard gecko, the bright yellow and the dark spots. My eyes read the title, Matylda, Bright & Tender, over and over again. I think I was unsure of where to go next. What do I say about a book that holds such fierce and loyal love, but also holds such deep, deep pain within?
Really the depth of this book is so strong that there isn't much I can say that feels "enough".
What I can say is, this book will be devoured by the readers that love heart-wrenching stories.
The grief Sussy experiences is a grief that comes from being faced with a world without her most loyal and comfortable friend. Sussy had a rare friendship. One that many young people might not ever find. But with that rare and beautiful friendship comes a pain just as rare and extraordinary when it is lost.
IF you are willing to go on this journey with Sussy, you will be glad to make it out on the other side with her.
Recommended for grades 3+
When I finished this book I sat for a while. I sat holding the book tightly closed, staring at the leopard gecko, the bright yellow and the dark spots. My eyes read the title, Matylda, Bright & Tender, over and over again. I think I was unsure of where to go next. What do I say about a book that holds such fierce and loyal love, but also holds such deep, deep pain within?
Really the depth of this book is so strong that there isn't much I can say that feels "enough".
What I can say is, this book will be devoured by the readers that love heart-wrenching stories.
The grief Sussy experiences is a grief that comes from being faced with a world without her most loyal and comfortable friend. Sussy had a rare friendship. One that many young people might not ever find. But with that rare and beautiful friendship comes a pain just as rare and extraordinary when it is lost.
IF you are willing to go on this journey with Sussy, you will be glad to make it out on the other side with her.
January 5, 2019
Matylda, Bright and Tender by Holly M. McGhee is a beautiful, well written character driven story about loss/death, healing, and love. This middle grade fiction coming of age story is definitely worth a quick read.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Best For: 8 -14 yrs old, 3rd grade- 8th grade
# of Pages: 210
Clean Read: Yes.
Worth a Check Out: Yes. Similar feel to Sharon Creech novels.
Buy It or Not: Yes. Especially, if you know a child or teen that lost a loved one. This would be a great book for bibliotherapy reasons regarding death and healing.
Read Aloud: Yes this would make a great classroom read aloud for 3rd-5th grade class room, or with a parent at night.
Lesson Ideas: Death. Pets. Pet Care. Love. Guilt. Forgiveness. Stealing. Friendship. Family Relationships. Character Driven Story.
For a more detailed review check out Alohamora: Open a Book www.alohamoraopenabook.blogspot.com
Rating: 5/5 stars
Best For: 8 -14 yrs old, 3rd grade- 8th grade
# of Pages: 210
Clean Read: Yes.
Worth a Check Out: Yes. Similar feel to Sharon Creech novels.
Buy It or Not: Yes. Especially, if you know a child or teen that lost a loved one. This would be a great book for bibliotherapy reasons regarding death and healing.
Read Aloud: Yes this would make a great classroom read aloud for 3rd-5th grade class room, or with a parent at night.
Lesson Ideas: Death. Pets. Pet Care. Love. Guilt. Forgiveness. Stealing. Friendship. Family Relationships. Character Driven Story.
For a more detailed review check out Alohamora: Open a Book www.alohamoraopenabook.blogspot.com
November 16, 2018
I don't know why I picked up this book at the library. I was looking for a good chapter book for a family member but it was a story of heartbreak and tenderness and a relationship between 4th graders that made me emotional. I tried to stop and put it down but found myself wanting to finish the story and see what happened and why one character changed. All because of Matylda with a y, a reptile, the two friends shared. There is a bond between a 10 year old girl and a 10 year old boy and this gecko/lizard. It is a story of coping with life when changes happen and caring for this pet and feeding it and keeping it alive. Worth the read for middle grade readers and young readers and even adults. Have some tissues handy.
May 28, 2017
While this book will break your heart, you will also feel inspired and hopeful after reading it. Sussy and Guy are friends who decide to adopt a spotted lizard to care for and love together. When a tragedy takes Guy away, Sussy tries to assuage her grief by trying to love Matylda like Guy had loved her. It's not an easy task, though, and Sussy struggles with the loss of Guy and her seeming failure in loving and being loved by Matylda in the "right" way, Guy's way. The writing in this middle grade novel is lovely. Sussy's sadness and anger and confusion are beautifully rendered even as you cry over her pain. I highly recommend this book for middle grade children and for adults.
January 3, 2018
Sussy and Guy are best friends, and Sussy knows that their friendship is a special one. Guy is the type of best friend who is willing to miss the bus in order to run back to her house and grab her jacket on a cold day. One day, Sussy and Guy decide to buy a pet together. They choose a leopard gecko and name her Matylda, for Guy says she is unqiue so her name should be too. Guy and Sussy enjoy their new pet, until one day when a tragic accident occurs. Then all of a sudden Sussy is left without the one person who meant the most to her. This book is beautifully written, and definitely a tear-jerker. Everyone deserves a friendship like the one Sussy and Guy have.
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