Sunday, July 5, 2009

Review: Also Known as Harper

Also Known as Harper
by Ann Haywood Leal

Harper Lee Morgan is an aspiring poet, which isn't surprising, seeing as how she's named after her mama's favorite writer, Harper Lee. And life is giving her a lot to write about just now. Daddy up and walked out, leaving them broke. Then Harper's family gets evicted.

With Mama scrambling to find work, Harper has to skip school to care for her little brother, Hemingway. Their lives have been turned upside down, which Harper could just about handle--if it wasn't for the writing contest at school. If only she could get up on that stage and read her poems out loud...

First Sentence:
Winne Rae Early followed ten steps behind me the entire way home from school.

Okay so first of all this cover is amazing! Most covers usually just have the title and author listed on them, but this cover actually incorporates it into the picture by having it being writing on the box. I also really like the fact that they don't show the girls face because I like being able to picture Harper for myself. I may even have to buy a finished copy since the arc has a different cover. ;)

Second, I absolutely LOVED this book, it was sooo good. I was able to easily connect with all of the characters, even some of the not so nice ones and the ones that did not appear for very long. For instance Winnie Rae Early, even though she is a bratty little girl you kinda end up feeling for her anyway because she is only human and they have many different layers.

I find it truly amazing that there are so many life circumstances that are dealt with within this book such as alcoholism, divorce, poverty, homelessness, and death. It would make a great book to be used in a classroom because it does deal with all these circumstances and shows that even homeless people deserve to be treated with respect because it may not always be their fault.

I would definitely recommend Also Known as Harper to everyone. But I think that people who have lived through some tough times or had an exceptionally hard childhood would really enjoy reading this book.

Favorite Quotes:
There are sooo many amazing literary quotes in Also Known as Harper due to the fact that her mother and Harper have a huge love for it. Harper is a poet and her mom loves books so much that she named her two children after her favorite authors.
The walls were all shelves. Shelves stacked with books. ... She knew what it felt like to have all those words sitting out in front of you. Just waiting for you to go get them.
"Harper Lee, don't ever let anyone tell you to stop moving that pen. Writing's like breathing for you." I knew her to be right, but when I thought about Mama, I knew sometimes things got themselves in the way of breathing.
"Your heart has to work extra hard when it's beating for people that are gone."

Title: Also Known as Harper
Hardcover: 256 pages
ISBN 10: 0805088814
ISBN 13: 978-0805088816
Buy It: Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble
Review Number: 16

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Looks good! Thanks for reviewing it! Haven't seen it anywhere else.

serendipity_viv said...

Another one to add to my list. I think you just like being in my Friday Finds LOL. You find such fab books.

Jess said...

This sounds like a fantastic book and I absolutely love the cover. Thanks for the review!

Anonymous said...

This sounds amazing! I love the cover, too!

Jame said...

I love the cover, too! And I feel like the deserted drive-in is a place I've actually visited. Now, that's good writing!

Anonymous said...

Second, I absolutely LOVED this book, it was sooo Cheap GW 2 CD KEY good. I was able to easily connect with all of the characters, even some of the not so nice ones and the ones that did not appear for very long.

gw2 gold said...

This sounds like a fantastic book and I absolutely love the cover. Thanks for the review!
guild wars 2 gold
ffxi gil kaufen

Blog Widget by LinkWithin