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When JFK Was My Father
Thirteen-year-old Georgia is left feeling abandoned by her parents and so pretends that JFK is her father, yet as she grows and begins to discover her own self-worth, she soon realizes that she doesn't have to pretend any longer and can stand on her own merits. Reprint.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 19, 2017
Georgia is fourteen and lost: an American living in Brazil with her parents, who don't make the slightest effort to understand her; uninterested in school; without friends nearby. Then all of her not-doing-homework catches up to her, as does her parents' disintegrating relationship, and she's sent off to boarding school in the United States.
What's so interesting here is Georgia's inner life: because her parents are so distant, she's taken to imagining JFK as her father. He's the parent she wishes she had, patient and interested in her life and never short on good advice. Boarding school isn't a quick fix, either. It's a long way into the book before Georgia decides to make a go at improving her grades, and even then it's not a long-lasting effort.
I'd have loved a bit more complexity from some of the side characters—there's probably a lot more that could have been done with Georgia's classmates. Her friend Tim, though...he's complicated. Complicated and perhaps not as...trustworthy? as Georgia would like him to be. Or perhaps not trustworthy—'stable' might be a better word. He's such that, oh, I think Georgia would like to find sanctuary in him, but that's ultimately not really possible.
Not that this needs a sequel, but it would be really interesting to see Georgia in another few years, when she's grown/matured/come into her own some more.
What's so interesting here is Georgia's inner life: because her parents are so distant, she's taken to imagining JFK as her father. He's the parent she wishes she had, patient and interested in her life and never short on good advice. Boarding school isn't a quick fix, either. It's a long way into the book before Georgia decides to make a go at improving her grades, and even then it's not a long-lasting effort.
I'd have loved a bit more complexity from some of the side characters—there's probably a lot more that could have been done with Georgia's classmates. Her friend Tim, though...he's complicated. Complicated and perhaps not as...trustworthy? as Georgia would like him to be. Or perhaps not trustworthy—'stable' might be a better word. He's such that, oh, I think Georgia would like to find sanctuary in him, but that's ultimately not really possible.
Not that this needs a sequel, but it would be really interesting to see Georgia in another few years, when she's grown/matured/come into her own some more.
May 6, 2017
I read this book many years ago when I was somewhere between the ages of 10-13. As a result, I don't remember too much about the actual plot of the book or if I would still like it now (as an adult), but I can speak about how I felt about it as a child.
To put it simply, I loved this book when I read it. It was my first introduction into historical fiction and showed me a side of history I was unfamiliar with. I remember that it also showed me that plot and adventure can happen and that romance can be involved but that two people getting together is not the end all/be all of a story. This book had a profound affect on books that I would choose to read in the future.
To put it simply, I loved this book when I read it. It was my first introduction into historical fiction and showed me a side of history I was unfamiliar with. I remember that it also showed me that plot and adventure can happen and that romance can be involved but that two people getting together is not the end all/be all of a story. This book had a profound affect on books that I would choose to read in the future.
May 21, 2010
Thirteen-year-old Georgia Hughes has a rich fantasy life, which is a good thing; because her real life is not that great right now that she is at the awkward age between being a child and being a young lady. Georgia is a bit of a loner too, and when her parents’ divorce and she gets shipped off to a boarding school, she relies on her fantasies to get her through. Georgia had made one friend before she left her father’s home in Brazil—the son of an American diplomat named Tim. Now that she has left Brazil, and come to a boarding school in Connecticut, Georgia never expects to see Tim again. But somehow, through all of the problems of school and dealing with parents who are too wrapped up in their own worlds to be very concerned about her, Georgia grows up and begins to leave part of her fantasy world behind. Set in 1962-63, this story has a deeper meaning for children who are distant from their parents, children of divorce, and anyone (like me) who is old enough to remember that era.
Key Issues:
Growing up, making up your own mind about things, divorce, parents, school, knowing right and wrong
Major Characters:
Georgia: A thirteen-year-old who is basically left on her own when her parents were together, but now that they are divorced they each seem to take a sudden interest in how her school work , etc., is going—not in her, but in the tangible things about her. Georgia is very imaginative, and besides her great fantasy life she does wonderfully in Language Arts, where she enjoys writing stories and compositions. Unfortunately, she does very poorly in all of her other school subjects—especially Math, and she doesn’t do any homework.
La: Georgia’s mother. La has just found out that her husband was having an affair, and she’s divorcing him, which makes her a little preoccupied. La does care about Georgia—she was always worried about the American School in Brazil not being any good for her—but she’s so out of touch with her own daughter that she doesn’t even know what size dress she wears!
Winter: Georgia’s father. Winter runs a large bank in Brazil, which is why the family moved there in the first place. He’s such a busy man that his secretary writes ’his’ letters to Georgia when she goes to boarding school.
Tim: Georgia meets him in Brazil. Tim is the son of a diplomat that Georgia’s parents have befriended, and he becomes a friend of Georgia’s. Tim doesn’t think that Georgia is like other girls (especially his sisters), she likes to read, she collects stamps too, and she can use her imagination almost as well as he can. Tim doesn’t want to be a lawyer or a diplomat when he grows up, he wants to be a writer.
Hattie: One of Georgia’s friends at boarding school. Hattie is almost always homesick, and she cries a lot which makes Georgia think she’s weak. But Hattie stands up for her friends, and what she thinks is right or wrong.
Lulu: Georgia’s best friend at boarding school. Lulu is tough- she’s from Brooklyn, and came to the school so she wouldn’t end up in a gang-but she’s also kind to Georgia and the younger girls in the dorm.
Sid: Georgia’s roommate. Sid is a bit full of herself, and when she’s around her best friend Amy she can be downright mean to Georgia. But, when Amy isn’t around, Sid can be a very nice person that Georgia enjoys talking to.
Amy: Sid’s best friend. She used to be Sid’s roommate too, but when Georgia came she was told to move in with Hattie (whom she dislikes), so that Georgia could move in there. She has no real friends though, and her family is dysfunctional and separated—so she’s not just mean, she’s also jealous of Georgia.
Mr. Tweed, Miss Pitt, Miss Pearl, Miss Payne, Miss Fern, Mlle. LeFevre, Mrs. Gross and Miss Hagman: The adults who teach at the boarding school. Mrs. Gross and Miss Hagman are the housemothers for Georgia’s dorm.
Mr. and Mrs. Bottomley: He’s the headmaster at Georgia’s school, and his wife takes an interest in the girls.
Important information:
This book was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Key Issues:
Growing up, making up your own mind about things, divorce, parents, school, knowing right and wrong
Major Characters:
Georgia: A thirteen-year-old who is basically left on her own when her parents were together, but now that they are divorced they each seem to take a sudden interest in how her school work , etc., is going—not in her, but in the tangible things about her. Georgia is very imaginative, and besides her great fantasy life she does wonderfully in Language Arts, where she enjoys writing stories and compositions. Unfortunately, she does very poorly in all of her other school subjects—especially Math, and she doesn’t do any homework.
La: Georgia’s mother. La has just found out that her husband was having an affair, and she’s divorcing him, which makes her a little preoccupied. La does care about Georgia—she was always worried about the American School in Brazil not being any good for her—but she’s so out of touch with her own daughter that she doesn’t even know what size dress she wears!
Winter: Georgia’s father. Winter runs a large bank in Brazil, which is why the family moved there in the first place. He’s such a busy man that his secretary writes ’his’ letters to Georgia when she goes to boarding school.
Tim: Georgia meets him in Brazil. Tim is the son of a diplomat that Georgia’s parents have befriended, and he becomes a friend of Georgia’s. Tim doesn’t think that Georgia is like other girls (especially his sisters), she likes to read, she collects stamps too, and she can use her imagination almost as well as he can. Tim doesn’t want to be a lawyer or a diplomat when he grows up, he wants to be a writer.
Hattie: One of Georgia’s friends at boarding school. Hattie is almost always homesick, and she cries a lot which makes Georgia think she’s weak. But Hattie stands up for her friends, and what she thinks is right or wrong.
Lulu: Georgia’s best friend at boarding school. Lulu is tough- she’s from Brooklyn, and came to the school so she wouldn’t end up in a gang-but she’s also kind to Georgia and the younger girls in the dorm.
Sid: Georgia’s roommate. Sid is a bit full of herself, and when she’s around her best friend Amy she can be downright mean to Georgia. But, when Amy isn’t around, Sid can be a very nice person that Georgia enjoys talking to.
Amy: Sid’s best friend. She used to be Sid’s roommate too, but when Georgia came she was told to move in with Hattie (whom she dislikes), so that Georgia could move in there. She has no real friends though, and her family is dysfunctional and separated—so she’s not just mean, she’s also jealous of Georgia.
Mr. Tweed, Miss Pitt, Miss Pearl, Miss Payne, Miss Fern, Mlle. LeFevre, Mrs. Gross and Miss Hagman: The adults who teach at the boarding school. Mrs. Gross and Miss Hagman are the housemothers for Georgia’s dorm.
Mr. and Mrs. Bottomley: He’s the headmaster at Georgia’s school, and his wife takes an interest in the girls.
Important information:
This book was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults
February 28, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. The writing was fresh and fun and the Georgia had a unique and enjoyable sense of humor.
I liked the fact that Ms. Gordon kept her characters innocent, even though she offered herself many prime opportunities to go into more mature subjects; she kept her characters apart without even another kiss. I wasn't to sure about the whole JFK-was-my-father thing. It seemed removed from the book almost, just a plot ploy to indirectly narrate parts of Georgia's life. Mrs. Beard was MUCH more real and far more interesting. I wasn't too keen on the whole gunrunning thing too. Quite obviously nothing like that was going on, and it was rather unneeded.
What I most admired about Georgia was the fact that she made the decision herself to turn her life around and even though some of her gestures went unappreciated, she still persevered. I was also very glad that she made the right, if not romantic, decision in the end. It was very mature of her.
I felt kind of bad about how Tim turned out, though. It was a shame; I rather liked him.
I liked the fact that Ms. Gordon kept her characters innocent, even though she offered herself many prime opportunities to go into more mature subjects; she kept her characters apart without even another kiss. I wasn't to sure about the whole JFK-was-my-father thing. It seemed removed from the book almost, just a plot ploy to indirectly narrate parts of Georgia's life. Mrs. Beard was MUCH more real and far more interesting. I wasn't too keen on the whole gunrunning thing too. Quite obviously nothing like that was going on, and it was rather unneeded.
What I most admired about Georgia was the fact that she made the decision herself to turn her life around and even though some of her gestures went unappreciated, she still persevered. I was also very glad that she made the right, if not romantic, decision in the end. It was very mature of her.
I felt kind of bad about how Tim turned out, though. It was a shame; I rather liked him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2011
I only read it for one reason...because it had JFK in the title. Ha ha! It actually wasn't that bad of a YA book though. This is the review I wrote at work:
The day President Kennedy died was a terrible day for all Americans, especially his daughter. Georgia Hughes spends her days at the Beard School in Connecticut writing letters to her father, JFK, adding faces to her illustrated stamp collection and dreaming about her life with the Sand Prince, an old acquaintance and friend, Tim. JFK is not really her father but according to Georgia, he spends time with her, believes in her and loves her, whereas her own father and mother are aloof and recently separated, one in DC and the other in Brazil. Talking to JFK and later the deceased founder of the Beard School, Wilma Beard, provides comfort to Georgia as she struggles to adjust at boarding school until JFK is shot.
The day President Kennedy died was a terrible day for all Americans, especially his daughter. Georgia Hughes spends her days at the Beard School in Connecticut writing letters to her father, JFK, adding faces to her illustrated stamp collection and dreaming about her life with the Sand Prince, an old acquaintance and friend, Tim. JFK is not really her father but according to Georgia, he spends time with her, believes in her and loves her, whereas her own father and mother are aloof and recently separated, one in DC and the other in Brazil. Talking to JFK and later the deceased founder of the Beard School, Wilma Beard, provides comfort to Georgia as she struggles to adjust at boarding school until JFK is shot.
March 27, 2011
I liked this book. It didn't exactly have a fairy tale ending, but that meant it was more realistic, and it surprised me with how... fulfilling a believable story can be, in that I couldn't predict the ending, and how it was kind-of a sad-but-ultimately-happier finish that spoke to life. A story is nothing, however, without good characters. Luckily, there are plenty of well-constructed, slightly strange, but again, believable characters that keep the story afloat. I think the target age is probably those between 11 and 15, not necessarily for girls younger than that, but I (as a mid-life teen) enjoyed it and really appreciate this story.
February 21, 2010
got bored...
January 26, 2011
This is the best book I have ever read!
August 3, 2011
So cute. I didn't really like the ending so much, but other than that it was really good.
November 28, 2014
I was originally uninterested, but the character matures a lot throughout the book, while still staying true to herself.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews