Paper Heart

by Aileen Arrington

A girl must find a way to lead a normal life despite her overbearing mother in this Society of School Librarians International Honor Book. On cold days Nadia isn't allowed to play outside at recess with the other sixth-graders. She can't bring a friend home after school unless they promise to sit quietly playing cards. Mama reminds her again and again, she's not like other kids—her heart can't take the strain. When her teacher announces that the class will put on a play, Nadia is excited—at last something she can do! It will change she will be Nadia the amazing actress, not Nadia the sick kid. Maybe it will even convince Mama to drop her plans to home-school her. But Nadia doesn't get a part in the play. When she learns that her mother asked the teacher to keep her from participating, she beings digging around for answers. Just exactly what is wrong with her heart? In the process of searching for the truth, Nadia finds the inner strength to get help for herself and Mama.

Genres: Childrens

Hardcover

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

A former teacher, Aileen Arrington taught grades 1-4 and remedial reading. While teaching, she illustrated 2 books, Stella's Bull written by her twin sister, and Close To Home. Her first novel, Camp of the Angel, was a CBC-Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young Readers for 2004. The places in Paper Heart are real places around Society Hill and Hartsville, SC, where Aileen Arrington grew up. Aileen Arrington lives in Folly Beach, South Carolina.

Reviews

[Eman Zaheer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book because it shows how a sick girl can survive her life. Her name is Nadia and she is told that she has heart problems which cause her to not be like a normal kid. That is what she is told, but it turns out she really didn't have a bad heart condition like her father. Her mom was just so over protective and didn't want Nadia to die like her husband had. It was really interesting and sweet.

[Galilea Estrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a really good book sad and happy sometimes. I really like how they express the characters in the story. And there feelings of the characters this book is awesome i like the book a lot!!!!

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, 3 stars in general and 4 stars for my personal enjoyment. I may have read this in the late aughts shortly after it was first published in 2006. I am not sure how many stories tweens back then about a parent living with grief after the loss of the other parent. What I do know is there are quite a few now. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise immediately comes to mind. Others include A Duet for Home, When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie, Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero, etc.
Nadia doesn't do many the things the other children in her class do. When her teacher announces that the class is putting on a play, she sees it as her opportunity to shine and be like her classmates. She tries out. Her audition is fabulous (or is she an unreliable narrator)? Why isn't she chosen for any of the parts? The truth and how she finds out will make your heart much like the one on the stick figure on the front cover. The manipulation of Nadia by her mother in this story is (IMO) maddening.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Mechele R. Dillard for TeensReadToo.com

Nadia really does want to play with the other kids. She is tired of playing with paper dolls. But her overprotective mother will not allow her to do anything that will put her fragile heart at risk; i.e. anything that could help her make real friends--running, jumping, rolling around on the forbidden sawdust pile. Besides, the paper dolls have never laughed at her. They have never pointed at her or called her "the sick girl." Still, as she plays with her dolls, despite her mother's constant warnings to the contrary, it occurs to Nadia that she does not wish to allow fear to dominate her life: "Paper dolls. Paper books. Paper cards. Paper life."

So, Nadia devises a plan. She will become an actress. She will secure the lead in the sixth-grade play, and then she will be someone everyone will want to know. She won't tell her mother, of course, and by the time Mrs. Riley knows that the little white lies she has told to get the role are, well, not the complete story, no one will be angry with her because she will have shown them all that she does indeed have value beyond being a source of constant worry for her mother and a target for teasing for the kids at school.

Arrington does an excellent job of exploring the problems that arise when a parent becomes overprotective of a child with a medical condition. Additionally, the unexpected twist she includes is a welcome breath of fresh air in this reviewer's opinion. It is entirely credible, but keeps the storyline from becoming predictable. Nadia's quest to be more than just "the sick girl" becomes a journey for both her and her mother, and it is one that the reader will be glad she has taken, as well.

[Ella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nadia is a normal 12-year-old girl, except she has a heart condition. She can't play anything rough, have any friends over. In other words she's not allowed to be a child. When secrets start spreading and Nadia finds out the unthinkable things really start to change.

The problem i had with this book was that Arrington didn't describe the characters well enough in the 113 pages she had. Everything was a bit hazy and i didn't feel like i really new the characters. The ending i thought was a bit dissapointing but the storyline was intresting. The book may have improved if it was a bit longer. I wouldn't recommend this book.

[Devi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read books for middle school but this is the first time that I found it too....lacking. I had to reach 100 pages before something is finally happening - and the book is 113 pages long. I was almost tempted to quit it but it would be lame to do with that few pages. The story is interesting enough, in fact, I was surprised at the little twist it had at the end but that was it. I felt that it was written too simply - even the sentences felt awkward to read. Not much to read, to be perfectly honest.

[Yekaterina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paper Heart is a story about a young girl who's mother controls her every move and isolates her from reality. There's is a surprising revelation that adds a bit of a psychological twist to the book. It's an enjoyable read for a younger audience and great for enhancing comprehension skills.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

aw! it looks really cute!