Scholastic Booktalk

"Williams, best known as a singer and songwriter, writes a poignant, funny debut filled with wholly endearing characters." — Booklist

"Known for lyrics that relate heartfelt, often humorous stories, Williams pours that talent into an uplifting story that will grab young readers." — Horn Book

"Williams nails the voice of sixth-grader Amalee." — Kirkus Reviews

The year Amalee's in 6^th grade, her family and her world start to fall apart.

Amalee's family isn't the usual kind, with a mom and a dad and their kids. Her family is her and her dad, and her dad's best friends, Carolyn, Joyce, Phyllis, and John. They met in college and decided they'd stay friends forever no matter what. None of them is married, and Amalee is the only kid. But sometimes the rest of them act more like kids than 42-year-old adults. They always go out to dinner and a movie on Friday nights, and for Amalee it's always boring. But things change when Amalee's dad starts getting really bad headaches, and then gets really sick and has to quit working and stay in bed. His friends set up a schedule to take care of him, but no one talks to Amalee about what's going on, or if her father is going to die or not. They just pretend that everything is fine, and won't tell her the truth. And then her dad starts talking like it would be better for everyone if he did die, and nothing Amalee says seems to change his mind.

And things aren't any better at school either. People think she's mean, her favorite teacher is mad at her, no one wants to be friends with her, and she's afraid to tell anyone about her dad, because she's sure that will just make everything worse. Her life seems to be falling apart, and there's nothing she can do about it.

Amalee has always thought she had the best parent in the world, and now she's terribly afraid she's going to lose him. Is there anything she can do to change what seems to be unchangeable? Is there anything anyone can do?

This Booktalk was written by librarian and booktalking expert Joni R. Bodart

 

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  The Teacher Store

  Amalee: Lights, Camera, Amalee by Dar Williams Pre-teens will relate to Amalee, as she gets to the heart of what it's like to be a girl and be a part of the world around you, even when the questions you ask don't have the answers you want to hear. By getting behind the camera, Amalee discovers that the past can never be changed. But the future? Well, that's another story. $5.99 Paperback Book | Grades 6-9

  
  Amalee: Lights, Camera, Amalee
  Grades 6-9 $5.99
  
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  The Teacher Store
  	Amalee by Dar Williams Amalee's world is all out of order. She's used to chaos, because of the frequent presence of her father's bantering, bickering group of fun friends. But when Amalee's dad becomes seriously ill, the chaos takes new forms-and the ways of coping come from some very unexpected places. $16.95 Hardcover Book | Grades 4-7

  
  Amalee
  Grades 4-7 $16.95
  

ARTICLE	7 Ways to Bring Your Family Traditions to School: Quick Click Many teachers encourage parents to share their family culture and experiences with the classroom. Ideas for how you can bring some of your famly's homelife to your child's clasroom.