Bookanistas: Addie on the Inside by James Howe

Plot without spoilers...For Addie Carle, seventh grade means her first real boyfriend, DuShawn, and a chance at popularity.  Still, on the inside, she's still passionate about her causes--especially tolerance and no-name calling.  And she can't quite put the social stuff ahead of her convictions. Will DuShawn and the "cool" crowd become casualties of her outspoken idealism?

Of literary interest...Through a variety of verse forms (some great groupings of haikus), Howe explores the complex, uncertain internal journey of a character who presents an almost larger-than-life certainty to the outside world.

Finally, just gotta say...Addie is the second companion book to Howe's powerful 2003 prose novel, The Misfits.  His first follow-up, Totally Joe, is written as an abecedarian journal, beginning with "A is for Addie."  I love the way Howe incorporates so many literary forms into his stories of the "Gang of Four" (or five).  The shape of each book is as unique as its main character.  And all offer wonderful messages both of tolerance and of celebrating your true self.

For more Bookanista book love, visit us at The Reading Room or just click along via the links below!

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Shannon Messenger gets passionate about Possession
Shelli Johannes-Wells takes a shine to Shimmer
Scott Tracey raves about Red Glove
Jessi Kirby feels The Pull of Gravity
Shana Silver delights in The Day Before
Carrie Harris takes The Goddess Test - with giveaway
Corrine Jackson swoons for Starcrossed
Sarah Frances Hardy celebrates The Best Birthday Party Ever
Kirsten Hubbard fawns over Family - with giveaway