Absolutely Almost Audio Book Review
Absolutely Almost – An Audio Book Review
- Author: Lisa Graff
- Narrated by: Noah Galvin
- Length: 5 hours and 14 minutes
- Unabridged
- Genre: Children/Drama
Download or CD available to BUY at Amazon.
Absolutely Almost Audio Book Summary:
Absolutely Almost revolves around the life of a young boy named Albie. Albie has never been an exceptional child. He never got the highest grades in class. He was never great when it comes to physical activities like sports. He doesn’t seem to be creative as well. In fact, Albie has never found anything that he is good at. Even his parents appear to be disappointed and just by looking at them, Albie is reminded of his shortcomings as well. With his moral waning by the day, the arrival of his new babysitter looks to turn things around for Albie. The day that Albie meets Callista might be the most important day of his life as she soon helps him discover something within himself that he is actually good at, something that will give him the strength to better himself and face life with his head up high. This audiobook is a story that is not exactly for children, but is about children.
One reason to listen:
This is a great companion audiobook for young ones who are still unsure about themselves. It is an uplifting tale of a boy who does not fit in the norms of society but maybe, just maybe, he was meant for something else entirely, something special.
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Reactions:
“I loved this book about a middle school boy who finds out what it is like to be not quite the student that his parents expect. The themes of parental expectation, success, friendship, bullying, and identity are well done in this juvenile novel that is very accessible and may be a great companion piece to Wonder.” – Laurie Fowler
“ABSOLUTELY ALMOST is an almost perfect book, the kind of poignantly funny story you’re going to want to give to (or, even better, read with) any kids you know who have to work just a little bit harder than everyone else to make it through the day. Albie’s voice is completely convincing and incredibly likeable (much like Albie himself); Lisa Graff makes her hero sympathetic without being pathetic, and readers will want to root for him rather than feel sorry for him. The novel is broken up into short chapters and conveys complex ideas in relatively easy-to-read language, and it deals with issues of friendship, loyalty, self-worth and bullying without ever getting preachy. It can be easy for kids and adults alike to overlook or devalue the kinds of talents Albie possesses — which include being a first-class expert on New York City as well as being, in his mom’s words, “caring and thoughtful and kind.” ABSOLUTELY ALMOST reminds us all that there are things to be proud of that don’t involve fastest times or perfect scores.” – Kids Reads
“Beautifully written with (somehow) both restraint and pathos, this book about a child struggling with poor performance at school is achingly painful to read. The scenes of children bullying are realistic, but the really painful parts are the terrible disconnect between Albie and his parents. And yet. Albie also learns over the course of a book what a true friend is and how to become one. And he is deeply appreciated throughout the book by those who can leave the need for achievement out of their equation of love. We all could learn something from Albie’s story.” – Martha Meyer
“The characters in this book were lovely and I adored the idea of a book about a below-average boy who is thoughtful and kind. The author clearly has talent and heart, but this book made me feel sad and heavy. It was also very slow at the start, and as much as I cared for the characters by the end, it took me too long to get hooked — I nearly put the book down several times in the first half. If you like a book that’s slow, rich, and sweet in a melancholic sort of way, this book is exactly the right book for you. But if you prefer happier, more upbeat books or fast-moving page turners, you should probably move along.” – A Reader
“Put this on the same bookshelf as Jerry Spinelli’s Loser and R. J. Palacio’s Wonder. Albie is an extraordinary character simply because he is so ordinary. The story ends without Albie discovering anything he is good at. His test for dyslexia turns out to be negative; he’s just not that good at school work. I found it refreshing, though, to read about a character who, like many of us, is average or below in many areas, yet persists with kindness and determination in getting on with his life. Some readers may find Albie’s naivete a bit irritating. I missed the kind parents from Wonder and Loser, although Albie’s parents are probably more realistic, and ultimately redeemed them by the end of the book. I found the first half of the book a bit depressing, but couldn’t put it down, and was rewarded in the end.” – Janet Hamilton
Score on Audible: 4.0 out of 5
Score on Amazon: 4.1 out of 5
Download or CD available to BUY at Amazon.
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