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Angel in My Pocket
When Bette finds an angel coin among the money collected in a carwash, she puts it in her pocket and forgets about it. But things start to change, especially once Gabby, a mysterious and kind new neighbor, moves into Bette’s Chicago building.
Suddenly, Bette is able to face some big losses—her mother’s recent death; her sister’s departure for college—and move forward. And once the angel coin falls into the hands of three other kids in Bette’s class, their lives change, too. Soon, these two girls and two boys will be connected in ways that open them up to unlikely friendships and new ways to believe in themselves. Here is an entirely new twist on the angel trend.
Suddenly, Bette is able to face some big losses—her mother’s recent death; her sister’s departure for college—and move forward. And once the angel coin falls into the hands of three other kids in Bette’s class, their lives change, too. Soon, these two girls and two boys will be connected in ways that open them up to unlikely friendships and new ways to believe in themselves. Here is an entirely new twist on the angel trend.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 2011
7 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 13, 2011
I wouldn't say that this is an especially life-changing or inspiring book. And I certainly don't think that its pseudo-spiritual ideas reflect the reality of what God has made and given us in creation. But I do believe in angels and even though I don't know what form they take in the world, this is a truly sweet story that has certainly made me think about how well I listen and learn from others. And of course, it also makes me consider the power of kind words and actions and a few moments of sincere listening and understanding.
read my full review and summary: http://skippingbarefoot.blogspot.com/...
read my full review and summary: http://skippingbarefoot.blogspot.com/...
February 26, 2011
Bette is lost. Since her mother’s death, she’s lost her will to sing, and she feels like she’s in a long tunnel in the dark with no true way out. Then one day, Bette remembers the unique coin she once found with an angel on it, and she sees a little light in her life again. Things begin to turn around and her life starts getting back on track. Then, we meet Joe, an angry classmate who steals her coin, and his luck begins to change, too. The cycle continues and it becomes apparent that the coin is connecting them in some sweet, magical way, and they’re finding their way back to their futures.
I don’t read too many middle-grade novels because the voices are usually too plain or too dumbed down at my age. However, when I read the premise of Angel in My Pocket, I was intrigued by the sweet and simplistic nature of the story. Ilene Cooper has created the perfect MG voice in Bette and presented four great characters that are honest and heartfelt throughout the story. Enriched with an overall theme of finding oneself, believing in the power to change and the possibility of luck, magic and friendship, Angel in My Pocket is a light, sweet and gentle but powerful read.
What really resonated with Angel in My Pocket was the undercurrent of morals and consistent, steady theme of inner strength. Bette, though a bit younger than most of the characters I read, was a great MC with a fully developed voice and story line. She had me rooting for her throughout. Even Joe, snide and unhappy, had me cheering him on. Gabby, Bette’s kind neighbor, was also powerful, and added depth and intrigue to the story. I don’t feel like I got to know Vivi or Andy, the fraternal twins, as well as the other characters, but I’m sure they’ll still resonate for other readers. I do believe it’s a strong, character and theme-driven book, as they fuel the plot.
All in all, Angel in My Pocket is a bright and positive read for all ages – even those who don’t normally read middle grade fiction. I give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of lower YA or Middle Grade fiction, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction with strong morals and themes.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
I don’t read too many middle-grade novels because the voices are usually too plain or too dumbed down at my age. However, when I read the premise of Angel in My Pocket, I was intrigued by the sweet and simplistic nature of the story. Ilene Cooper has created the perfect MG voice in Bette and presented four great characters that are honest and heartfelt throughout the story. Enriched with an overall theme of finding oneself, believing in the power to change and the possibility of luck, magic and friendship, Angel in My Pocket is a light, sweet and gentle but powerful read.
What really resonated with Angel in My Pocket was the undercurrent of morals and consistent, steady theme of inner strength. Bette, though a bit younger than most of the characters I read, was a great MC with a fully developed voice and story line. She had me rooting for her throughout. Even Joe, snide and unhappy, had me cheering him on. Gabby, Bette’s kind neighbor, was also powerful, and added depth and intrigue to the story. I don’t feel like I got to know Vivi or Andy, the fraternal twins, as well as the other characters, but I’m sure they’ll still resonate for other readers. I do believe it’s a strong, character and theme-driven book, as they fuel the plot.
All in all, Angel in My Pocket is a bright and positive read for all ages – even those who don’t normally read middle grade fiction. I give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of lower YA or Middle Grade fiction, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction with strong morals and themes.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
November 26, 2011
i started to read this book because i wasn't sure my 8 yo would be ready for it... i'm really glad i did. although, i came to the realization that she wasn't ready for it, i do think that when she's older - 11 or 12, that she'll appreciate it....
as a cradle but somewhat lapsed catholic, i think the book reflects on spirituality during tough times very easily and thoughtfully.... i don't think it's too simplified, the life altering situations that main characters go through are too complex - death, bullying, poverty and chronic illness - especially for preteens... i also liked that there was a diverse cast of characters - caucasian, latino, jewish, i think ms. wu is probably asian, etc... and i really LOVE that the book is set in my hometown, chicago and written by a chicago author. woot!
overall, i really enjoyed the book. it seems to ease a reader from easier chapter books into young adult chapter books very well. i think this would make a great gift for christmas or confirmation as well as it reinforces one's faith as well as reminds one to find something to be grateful for everyday - because everyday is truly precious.
as a cradle but somewhat lapsed catholic, i think the book reflects on spirituality during tough times very easily and thoughtfully.... i don't think it's too simplified, the life altering situations that main characters go through are too complex - death, bullying, poverty and chronic illness - especially for preteens... i also liked that there was a diverse cast of characters - caucasian, latino, jewish, i think ms. wu is probably asian, etc... and i really LOVE that the book is set in my hometown, chicago and written by a chicago author. woot!
overall, i really enjoyed the book. it seems to ease a reader from easier chapter books into young adult chapter books very well. i think this would make a great gift for christmas or confirmation as well as it reinforces one's faith as well as reminds one to find something to be grateful for everyday - because everyday is truly precious.
July 15, 2012
Three students in a magnet school for performing arts in Chicago are changed when they each take possession of a small medallion with an angel on it. Each student (Bette, who has lost her mother; Joe, who is a neighborhood kid living near poverty who has "no talent" and is in the school on hardship grounds; and Vivi, who suffers with debillitating asthma and side effects of medicines that make her appearance change) meets a mysterious person who helps them work past their problems. Would be a good "gentle read" for stronger readers in 5/6. Might be a little too tame for older students, and a little too hard for younger. The angel theme is nicely balanced - as an adult I recognized that Gabi, Dr. Raphael, Mike and Uri of course all played on the archangels, but many kids won't recognize the light touch, and the angel theme is lightly woven in. Recommend for kids who like realistic fiction about contemporary preteens.
August 8, 2012
This was a cute and clever story about the power of God. It starts off with Bette finding an angel coin. Suddenly she has confidence in herself and can overcome her troubles. A new neighbor, Gabby (Gabriel), appears and she has a friend. As each kid finds the angel coin, good things happen - little tiny miracles. This was a heartwarming story about how a different perspective can change everything.
July 4, 2014
Such a good book for kids, teenagers and young adults .. I love how smart the author is in shaping every kid's personality ..for one thing i know in the future i'm gonna make my children read it :)
February 26, 2021
This tells the story of an angel medallion that gets passed around between three friends which brings an angel into their lives and helps things improve.
Dedication: “For all my angels in the here and the hereafter.” Author’s note at end: “I believe angels can appear when we need help, but they don’t have to have halos or wings. We can be angels for each other. All it takes is a desire to help.”
Bette Miller - age 13, mom died in a car accident two years ago, they live in Chicago. Older sister Barbra is in college and dad is almost always gone day and night so Bette is alone. Her family isn’t religious and she wonders where her mom is now. She finds an angel medallion in with some coins.
“Looking back, Bette was eternally grateful her mother had lived long enough for her to say goodbye. Bette could not have stood it if they had arrived at the hospital only to find their mother gone. It would have been like falling into a vortex with nothing to hold on to.” p5
“Bette hated when her father referred to her mother’s death as her ‘passing.’ The word made it sound as if she had somehow just been passing through their lives instead of being the most important part of it.” p8
Dad never gets mad at his girls, just tried to reason with Barbra as a teen or make her smile whenever possible. It’s awkward silence with him now. Dad lets Gabi live in the first floor apartment for free so Bette isn’t alone. Gabi doesn’t pressure but helps Bette want to choose to sing on her own. p61
“Time is very important...It’s really all we’ve got. So if you think you’re wasting your time, you’re squandering something that’s quite precious.” p38
"She realized that somewhere, in the back of her mind, her mother was with her every hour of the day and often into the dreams of her night. Whether it was looking at Barbra, who so resembled their mom, or using the imported Italian dishes Mrs. Miller had loved or wearing her favorite cozy red sweater, the one Bette had kept, after all the other clothes had gone to charity, so many little things made Elizabeth Miller an enduring presence. That understanding, right there on the couch, brought Bette heart-bursting happiness and incredible longing." p56
“As she spoke, Bette could feel the happiness that saturated her memories, but they were now so brittle she thought they might break into a hundred tiny pieces.” p60
Joe Garcia - a troublemaker, steals lunch money from Minkus, his grandpa taught him to carve wood, says blunt comments that are hurtful without meaning to while trying to make conversation with kids. He lives with his mom in a tiny apartment and does all their laundry and grocery shopping. His dad left when he was 4, doesn't have any interest in Joe, and rarely pays child support. Mom's boyfriend Gene cares about Joe and Luisa. Joe’s mom is in the hospital for her lungs again, he lets cat Gato out purposely then tries to find it with help from his friends. He takes the angel token from Bette's desk and prays to it. Mike is an adult who works on scenery with Joe.
Life is like carving wood, you have a vision of what you want it to become, “Just as you choose where to cut or carve or shave the wood, each decision, made each day, shapes what your life is going to look like.” p156
Makes me want to watch Big River, a musical of Huckleberry Finn.
Joe gives Minkus the angel coin as a good deed but he should be giving it back to Bette.
Vivian/Vivi is Bette's best friend. She is being homeschooled this year due to asthma, plays the piano, always speaks her mind. Andy Minkus is Vivian’s twin brother. He plays the violin, is quiet, preparing for his bar mitzvah-at 13 when Jewish boys are considered an adult, has to do good deeds first, watches out for his sister.
"One lovely thing about her mother was that she could make even the smallest event seem like an occasion. Today, she had set the table with her good china, because Mrs. Minkus said you should use your best things, not save them." p194
We’re all here for a purpose and to help each other. p221
Dr. Raphael teaches Vivi to use a gratitude journal. 222-223
“The look she gave her contained so much sympathy, Vivi could feel tears welling up unbidden behind her eyes.” p222
Vivi learns life isn’t all about how you look and decides to try and find inner beauty. She’s relieved “not to cling to the idea that how she looked defined her.”p246
She meets a boy named Uri. “A thin scar curved from his ear to his chin and dominated the left side of his face. For some reason, it didn’t really detract from his appearance. It made him look unique.” p249
"Well, the important thing is I survived." "It's good to remember what's important." p255
This book has some unusual and difficult vocabulary words that didn't seem to belong in a children's book and aren't accurate to the way kids talk. I also don’t like their bad examples of stealing from their parents, talking back, challenging authority, not taking critical medicine but pretending to, etc. They also don’t believe in God and pray to angels.
Questions at the end:
Vivi doesn’t feel like herself anymore. “Have you ever gone through something difficult and then had trouble feeling like yourself after?”
What happens to Vivi when she plays the piano? Do you feel different when you’re playing?
Gratitude journals.
“People come into your life who can act as angels, helping you or enabling you to see something differently.” Interview with author
She wants people to be kind to one another and try to make the world a better place.
“My greatest accomplishment is that I survived it all and made a happy life for myself.”
Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace
Dedication: “For all my angels in the here and the hereafter.” Author’s note at end: “I believe angels can appear when we need help, but they don’t have to have halos or wings. We can be angels for each other. All it takes is a desire to help.”
Bette Miller - age 13, mom died in a car accident two years ago, they live in Chicago. Older sister Barbra is in college and dad is almost always gone day and night so Bette is alone. Her family isn’t religious and she wonders where her mom is now. She finds an angel medallion in with some coins.
“Looking back, Bette was eternally grateful her mother had lived long enough for her to say goodbye. Bette could not have stood it if they had arrived at the hospital only to find their mother gone. It would have been like falling into a vortex with nothing to hold on to.” p5
“Bette hated when her father referred to her mother’s death as her ‘passing.’ The word made it sound as if she had somehow just been passing through their lives instead of being the most important part of it.” p8
Dad never gets mad at his girls, just tried to reason with Barbra as a teen or make her smile whenever possible. It’s awkward silence with him now. Dad lets Gabi live in the first floor apartment for free so Bette isn’t alone. Gabi doesn’t pressure but helps Bette want to choose to sing on her own. p61
“Time is very important...It’s really all we’ve got. So if you think you’re wasting your time, you’re squandering something that’s quite precious.” p38
"She realized that somewhere, in the back of her mind, her mother was with her every hour of the day and often into the dreams of her night. Whether it was looking at Barbra, who so resembled their mom, or using the imported Italian dishes Mrs. Miller had loved or wearing her favorite cozy red sweater, the one Bette had kept, after all the other clothes had gone to charity, so many little things made Elizabeth Miller an enduring presence. That understanding, right there on the couch, brought Bette heart-bursting happiness and incredible longing." p56
“As she spoke, Bette could feel the happiness that saturated her memories, but they were now so brittle she thought they might break into a hundred tiny pieces.” p60
Joe Garcia - a troublemaker, steals lunch money from Minkus, his grandpa taught him to carve wood, says blunt comments that are hurtful without meaning to while trying to make conversation with kids. He lives with his mom in a tiny apartment and does all their laundry and grocery shopping. His dad left when he was 4, doesn't have any interest in Joe, and rarely pays child support. Mom's boyfriend Gene cares about Joe and Luisa. Joe’s mom is in the hospital for her lungs again, he lets cat Gato out purposely then tries to find it with help from his friends. He takes the angel token from Bette's desk and prays to it. Mike is an adult who works on scenery with Joe.
Life is like carving wood, you have a vision of what you want it to become, “Just as you choose where to cut or carve or shave the wood, each decision, made each day, shapes what your life is going to look like.” p156
Makes me want to watch Big River, a musical of Huckleberry Finn.
Joe gives Minkus the angel coin as a good deed but he should be giving it back to Bette.
Vivian/Vivi is Bette's best friend. She is being homeschooled this year due to asthma, plays the piano, always speaks her mind. Andy Minkus is Vivian’s twin brother. He plays the violin, is quiet, preparing for his bar mitzvah-at 13 when Jewish boys are considered an adult, has to do good deeds first, watches out for his sister.
"One lovely thing about her mother was that she could make even the smallest event seem like an occasion. Today, she had set the table with her good china, because Mrs. Minkus said you should use your best things, not save them." p194
We’re all here for a purpose and to help each other. p221
Dr. Raphael teaches Vivi to use a gratitude journal. 222-223
“The look she gave her contained so much sympathy, Vivi could feel tears welling up unbidden behind her eyes.” p222
Vivi learns life isn’t all about how you look and decides to try and find inner beauty. She’s relieved “not to cling to the idea that how she looked defined her.”p246
She meets a boy named Uri. “A thin scar curved from his ear to his chin and dominated the left side of his face. For some reason, it didn’t really detract from his appearance. It made him look unique.” p249
"Well, the important thing is I survived." "It's good to remember what's important." p255
This book has some unusual and difficult vocabulary words that didn't seem to belong in a children's book and aren't accurate to the way kids talk. I also don’t like their bad examples of stealing from their parents, talking back, challenging authority, not taking critical medicine but pretending to, etc. They also don’t believe in God and pray to angels.
Questions at the end:
Vivi doesn’t feel like herself anymore. “Have you ever gone through something difficult and then had trouble feeling like yourself after?”
What happens to Vivi when she plays the piano? Do you feel different when you’re playing?
Gratitude journals.
“People come into your life who can act as angels, helping you or enabling you to see something differently.” Interview with author
She wants people to be kind to one another and try to make the world a better place.
“My greatest accomplishment is that I survived it all and made a happy life for myself.”
Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace
April 13, 2024
meh. kind of cringy and a slow-ish read. its a cute concept but i found some of the characters basically insufferable. i personally would not recommend.
August 30, 2024
Ein Glücksbringer kann vieles bewirken wenn man daran glaubt, finde es sehr schön geschrieben und gut zum lesen.
August 10, 2011
As posted on Outside of a Dog:
What do you do with a book that wears its heart proudly on its sleeve? Cynic that I am, I tend to judge a bit harshly I'm sure. Even when I am taken in by an emotional plot, I'm conscious of my taken in, and part of me is suspicious of that. So what do I do with a book like Ilene Cooper's Angel in My Pocket? It's heartfelt and tries to pack much meaning into its nearly 300 pages. Did I feel myself being manipulated? A little bit. Did I mind? Surprisingly, not that much.
Seventh grader Bette finds an angel coin amongst donations for a local charity and immediately takes a shine to it, though she wouldn't really be able to tell you why. Suddenly her life begins to change, in little ways. A new neighbor moves in downstairs. An opportunity to sing again (which she hasn't felt like doing since her mother's death) presents itself in the form of a big musical production at her school. Bette begins to feel like her coin might be bringing her luck after all, but just as soon as she begins to rely on it, it disappears. And so begins the travels of this little angel coin, which visits three more students (really two, as one is more of a delivery person than a carrier) and is present during difficult and transformative times in their lives.
Does the coin really affect these children directly, or is it a result of a higher confidence and conscience that they are reminded of because of the coin? Cooper is careful not to say directly, though personally I think it is the latter. There's a light dusting of religion here (very light, given that only one main character, Andy Minkus, is particularly observant), though it is of a very non-denominational sort. Twins Andy and Vivi are Jewish, troubled Joe is Catholic, but the book is very non-specific.
What Cooper really has with Angel in My Pocket is a string of really good characters and good situations awkwardly placed together on line where they don't really scan. The transition from Bette's story to Joe's is especially disjointed, and it was several chapters before I felt on solid ground with the book again. But the characters, Bette, Joe, Andy and Vivi, are beautiful creations, fully fleshed out and believable, each with their own drama, their own quirks and their own minds which make their little spheres of the story unique. I particularly enjoyed Vivi's story, which I felt was handled with the right amount of delicacy and determination.
Was Angel in My Pocket a little cheesy? I won't lie; yes it was. But I enjoyed the time I spent with Cooper's characters and the world they inhabited. And I know just the type of child to hand this book to, as well: the one's with that little gleam of a lucky charm in their eye, or perhaps those that could use a helping of luck for themselves. Angel in My Pocket would work as a charm against the big bad world when all you want is something warm to eat, a blanket, and a good book.
What do you do with a book that wears its heart proudly on its sleeve? Cynic that I am, I tend to judge a bit harshly I'm sure. Even when I am taken in by an emotional plot, I'm conscious of my taken in, and part of me is suspicious of that. So what do I do with a book like Ilene Cooper's Angel in My Pocket? It's heartfelt and tries to pack much meaning into its nearly 300 pages. Did I feel myself being manipulated? A little bit. Did I mind? Surprisingly, not that much.
Seventh grader Bette finds an angel coin amongst donations for a local charity and immediately takes a shine to it, though she wouldn't really be able to tell you why. Suddenly her life begins to change, in little ways. A new neighbor moves in downstairs. An opportunity to sing again (which she hasn't felt like doing since her mother's death) presents itself in the form of a big musical production at her school. Bette begins to feel like her coin might be bringing her luck after all, but just as soon as she begins to rely on it, it disappears. And so begins the travels of this little angel coin, which visits three more students (really two, as one is more of a delivery person than a carrier) and is present during difficult and transformative times in their lives.
Does the coin really affect these children directly, or is it a result of a higher confidence and conscience that they are reminded of because of the coin? Cooper is careful not to say directly, though personally I think it is the latter. There's a light dusting of religion here (very light, given that only one main character, Andy Minkus, is particularly observant), though it is of a very non-denominational sort. Twins Andy and Vivi are Jewish, troubled Joe is Catholic, but the book is very non-specific.
What Cooper really has with Angel in My Pocket is a string of really good characters and good situations awkwardly placed together on line where they don't really scan. The transition from Bette's story to Joe's is especially disjointed, and it was several chapters before I felt on solid ground with the book again. But the characters, Bette, Joe, Andy and Vivi, are beautiful creations, fully fleshed out and believable, each with their own drama, their own quirks and their own minds which make their little spheres of the story unique. I particularly enjoyed Vivi's story, which I felt was handled with the right amount of delicacy and determination.
Was Angel in My Pocket a little cheesy? I won't lie; yes it was. But I enjoyed the time I spent with Cooper's characters and the world they inhabited. And I know just the type of child to hand this book to, as well: the one's with that little gleam of a lucky charm in their eye, or perhaps those that could use a helping of luck for themselves. Angel in My Pocket would work as a charm against the big bad world when all you want is something warm to eat, a blanket, and a good book.
September 12, 2011
I thought the story was sweet and the message positive (without being too preachy), but what drove me crazy about this book is the way 12-year-olds were able to pinpoint their feelings so eloquently. Example: "But Gabi's expression was something else, and Bette couldn't put her finger on it. Thoughtful, yes, but tinged with a sparkle of inquisitiveness." However, cute story and kids probably won't mind my issue with it. ;) One day, a girl finds a coin with an angel on it. As she keeps it for good luck, her life begins to change in positive ways (rekindling a love for singing that she had lost since her mother died, talking with her father). And then one day, she loses it. And it passes onto the next story to a boy in her class. When Joe gets the good luck charm, he doesn't think much of it. He's sullen, angry at being poor and a father who doesn't ever call, and feels he doesn't fit in with kids at school because he's just a neighborhood kid in a performing arts magnet school without friends. But then he meets someone who helps him change his life around. And finally the coin passes to a girl (one of the first girl's friends) who has been stuck at home being homeschooled because of how bad her asthma has gotten. In each case, the coin helps them meet someone who makes them realize that they have their own choices to make to change their life for the better.
April 19, 2015
The story intertwines the tales of three troubled students at a performing arts school in Chicago. The first student, whose mother has recently passed away and no longer wants to sing, finds an angel coin. The coin seems to possess a special power of bringing an angel into the bearer's life who helps them get back on track.
While the book mentions modern-day technologies like Facebook, cell phones and texting, this story feels like it actually may have been written several decades ago. The characters have names like Bette, Barbra, Vivian, Andy, Joe and Fred. Joe's talent and past-time is wood-carving, handed down from his grandfather.
The story was sweet and interesting, but the writing was not as strong as it could have been. I noticed the use of cliches, as well as clunky text that sounded more like a commercial (e.g. "'How about McDonald's?' Bette asked, 'You can get something healthy there like a salad.'" (page 188), a reference to the car's "excellent GPS system" (page 241) and "well-appointed living room" (page 243).
Also, there was not a lot of interaction between the children and the "angels." The angels were described as being very easy to talk to, yet most of the dialogue in the books was between the children.
While the book mentions modern-day technologies like Facebook, cell phones and texting, this story feels like it actually may have been written several decades ago. The characters have names like Bette, Barbra, Vivian, Andy, Joe and Fred. Joe's talent and past-time is wood-carving, handed down from his grandfather.
The story was sweet and interesting, but the writing was not as strong as it could have been. I noticed the use of cliches, as well as clunky text that sounded more like a commercial (e.g. "'How about McDonald's?' Bette asked, 'You can get something healthy there like a salad.'" (page 188), a reference to the car's "excellent GPS system" (page 241) and "well-appointed living room" (page 243).
Also, there was not a lot of interaction between the children and the "angels." The angels were described as being very easy to talk to, yet most of the dialogue in the books was between the children.
February 20, 2011
This is a nice middle grade story about friendship and rising above adversity that takes place at a performing arts magnet school in Chicago. Bette has a beautiful voice but lost her will to sing when her mother died in a car accident until a women named Gabi moves in the apartment downstairs. Joe is at the school for hardship reasons. It is his neighborhood school. He needed to take care of his poor, single parent mother when she had lung problems. He is angry and he is a bully but he is a skilled woodcarver. He gets involved with a guy named Mike when he builds sets for the big school production. Andy and Vivi are twins. Vivi has been home schooled because her asthma was out of control. Now she is afraid to go back because the steroids have changed her appearance. Then she meets Dr. Raphael who starts her on a new treatment regimen. Dr. Raphael is also treating Joe's mother.
August 10, 2011
Teenage book about finding a place for oneself in the "mean" world. The story is of a girl who has problems because she has lost her mother, in the story she "accidently" becomes friends with other kids who also have their own demons to deal with. In being kind and respectful to others each comes to accept themselves. They attribute this all to a little pocket coing with an angel on it that is passed on from one person to another, until it finally gets back to the original owner.
It's a good book, but the first half is a little slow paced for most teens. The story parallels Huckelberry Finn.
It's a good book, but the first half is a little slow paced for most teens. The story parallels Huckelberry Finn.
October 22, 2011
This novel is a wonderful addition to my growing pile of all time favorites. I don't know if its kid lit or young adult. It relays the story of 3 middle school kids who attend the same arts school. They each have had a major event in their lives that causes deep, overwhelming sadness and an inability to access their talent. Then each one takes turn holding onto an angel medallion and while it's in their possession, their lives begin to change and to reopen to possibilities of being happy and content. But it's not a magic type book. The changes are real and satisfying for each character. This is a book I wish continued on and on. Who did they grow to become as adults?
December 28, 2011
Blah. If you are looking for a slightly heartwarming story of kids dealing with their issues, you will probably love it. I mean, you have the girl with the dead mom, the boy with the absent father/sick mother/no money, and the girl with health and body issues. It is all there with a lame magic coin plot device. It was nicely written, though.
January 3, 2012
In a story told from three different perspectives, an angel coin helps three young teens work their way through some major problems. Bette, Joe and Vivi all go to the same performing arts school, whose performance of the musical Big River unites friend and foe. This was a good read, but it's a long book, which might be off putting for some.
March 27, 2011
This is a realistic fiction story about 4 Eighth Graders who share a coin that gives each of them luck throughout the book. The subjects of bullying and physical illness are handled in an sensitive manner. It is engaging and would be enjoyed by intermediate students up to high school age.
May 1, 2011
This is a satisfying story about eighth-graders in an arts magnet school. Each student experiences a resolution to a problem or a move forward in life after owning an angel coin. Although angels are referenced in the story, religion is not prominent.
March 15, 2012
Not my thing - a little too saccharine, with kids that seemed to act young for their age. But it's definitely something to hand to parents wanting their kids to read something with a "good message". Even though it's not really Christian fiction, it will please fans of that genre, as well.
May 19, 2021
Overall, this was a sweet book! It's only fault was that it could be a bit over-the-top sometimes, but I enjoyed it. Out of the POV characters, my favorite was Joe. I liked his relationship with Mike as well.
April 28, 2011
i loved this book! it was so adorable!
April 25, 2011
Lovely.
June 13, 2011
It was uplifting to read a book about students with real problems (for a teen, and even older persons as well) and yet they managed to resolve those problems in a positive manner! YEA!!
July 16, 2011
Very cute story -- but not enough edge for my taste.
April 25, 2012
Young teenage kids that seem to get some good luck in their lives in an unusual way, unlikely friends becoming friends...making better decisions. Nicely written for younger teens.
September 25, 2012
Angel in my pocket was great! I got a look at a lot of peoples lives and this book was really nice to read. If you are looking for a good realistic fiction book you should read this book.
July 8, 2013
this book was awesome. at some parts it got boring but it was still really good. as i always say...
Sequel please!
Sequel please!
October 4, 2013
Sweet story about four kids who find themselves by turns in possession of a little coin with an angel stamped on it, and the ways they change and grow while they have it.
June 22, 2016
Beautiful and touching with many elements that aren't specifically stated but able to be felt, much like some of the characters' changes in this story.
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