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Fitting In
Sharon Kirsh |
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Fitting In
by Sharon Kirsh
Review by Minan Abbad
Grade 7 Arthur Ford School
London, Ontario
March 20, 1996
"Fitting In" is about a girl named Mollie who is Jewish and who worries about her looks. She worries that her face is too Jewish or if her hair is too Jewish. Mostly she is concerned about being an outcast. She starts to ask her friends what they think of her and her friends get uncomfortable and start to find ways of ignoring her. Mollie is very puzzled by all this. She had done nothing wrong. She had only asked her friends what they think of her, her religion and her beliefs. Mollie's best friend has something bothering her but she doesn't want to talk about it. Mollie feels that her life is falling apart. The kids who live near her and with whom she grew up are going around starting rumours and talking behind her back. Mollie realizes that some things are best not talked about!
This is not the kind of book that I usually read but I found it goog. The chapters were short but right to the point. The whole story was. The book didn't drag on like other books.
Fitting In
by Sharon Kirsh
Mr. Brannen's Class
St. Angela School
302 Russell Road
Saskatoon, Sask.
March 28, 1996
This book is good. It shows really how people have to work to fit in. In this book, the girl named Molly is now obsessed in finding out about "looking Jewish". I think it is very unfair to Molly and all the other Jewish people that they be treated as underclass, not as good people. The teachers and other students should be more understanding.
Jackie Braybrook
So far in this book, two very good friends are self-conscious about their looks. They are very different from everyone else. Three friends are Jewish and they feel different from everyone and want to be accepted as normal people.
Laura Anwender
This novel is very interesting and I find it neat. It is a very exciting novel and I really enjoy it so far. I understand most of it pretty well, but not all of it. I think the girl in the story is very confused and doesn't know what to think about herself. I think they would be living in a large city or town because there is a two floor mall. I think Molly and Naomi are pretty good friends.
Jade McCulloch
The title "Fitting In" suits the book because the main storyline was about a girl who was constantly trying to fit in with her friends.
The theme of the story is that Mollie was always trying to be something that she was not. She wanted to be like her friends because she thought that they wouldn't like her if she wasn't perfect.
Two of the main characters in this story were Mollie and Naomi. Mollie is a young Jewish girl who is constantly trying to fit in.She feels that no one will like her because her friend Naomi is much better at everything than she is.
One of my favorite parts was when Mollie and Naomi were making a cake in home economics class. Mollie forgot to put in baking powder and the cake , of course, didn't turn out quite right. For this Naomi got very upset with her friend.
I would recommend this book for anyone in grades six to eight. I enjoyed it very much and I think that everyone including boys would enjoy this book.
SETTING
So far the story is taking place at Mollie's school and in her house.
PRINCIPLE CHARACTERS (so far)
Mollie is a Jewish girl going to school in America. She has long, curly brown
hair, and says she has a big nose. She is the main character in the book.
Naomi is Mollie's best friend. They get along great. Naomi is also Jewish. So far the book hasn't really said what Naomi looks like.
PLOT
So far the story is talking about Mollie, her friends, and where she hangs
out. Mollie is Jewish. She thinks her nose is big.
MY IMPRESSIONS
So far I think the book is good.
Fitting In is about Mollie, a Jewish girl, and Naomi, her best friend. Together they go to the shopping plaza on one of their regular end-of-the-week expeditions. Mollie is a conscientious person. She's conscious about her looks and being Jewish. She wants to be like the girls from public school and wished that they would understand the Jewish holidays.
One day, she learns for the first time about the Holocaust. She feels grateful for what she has, but is also scared. Suddenly, people become mean and seem to almost avoid her because she is Jewish. Even Naomi seems to be too busy to do anything with her. She has some kind of secret that only their family knows and she cannot tell anyone, not even her best friend Mollie.
After waiting for a long time, Mollie finally finds out that Naomi's mother died. The whole time Naomi's mother was sick was when Naomi had been busy helping out at home. Mollie feels that she cannot do anything to make Naomi feel better.
Next thing Mollie knew, Naomi's father sent her off to Montreal to see her aunt. When Naomi comes back home, Mollie wants to make up for everything with her, but soon finds out that Naomi is moving to Montreal.
In the end, Naomi and Mollie have one last reading of their poem by Christina Rossetti. It is about friendship.
I think this book was like a story of a Jewish girl's life. I learned about the Jewish religion and their daily customs. I liked and enjoyed reading this book. This would be a good book for someone that wants to fit in with kids that are different. In the end, Mollie learns to be herself and live as a Jewish girl.
This book is about a girl named Mollie who is Jewish. Mollie hates her curly hair and her nose. She is always talking about her Jewish looks. My favourite part so far is where Mollie and her best friend, Naomi, go to the plaza and throw pistachio shells at people. I think that the book is good so far. I can't wait to find out what happens in the rest of the book.
Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364