Someday Angeline

By Louis Sachar

Book Overview

Nobody understands why Angeline is so smart. She could read the first time she picked up a book, she can play the piano without ever having had a lesson, and she even knows what the weather is going to be. But being smart is causing Angeline nothing but trouble. The mean kids in school call her a freak, her teacher finds her troublesome, and even her own father doesn't know what to do with an eight-year-old girl who seems to be a genius. Angeline doesn't want to be either a genius or a freak. She just wants the chance to be herself and be happy. But it's only when she makes friends with a boy the kids call "Goon" and the teacher they call "Mr. Bone" that Angeline gets that chance.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380834448
• ISBN13: 9780380834440
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.29 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Read it before you give it to your child

This book is about depression in children. It is responsibly and beautifully written, but... I suggest you read it before your kid does. For some kids it might be a little too well written. Regardless, make sure to read Dogs Don't Tell Jokes, the moment you finish this book. The two books together present very different problem solving methods for kids; a marvelous way to encourage a conversation with your child that could save his/her life. If you plan to give it as a gift, please give both books. I absolutely love this author.

Our Group's Review

When Angeline was little, she was very smart. She said she knew things before she was even born! Things like the first one to discover America was a snail, and her first word she ever said was "octopus." Her mom was very proud of her, but she died when Angeline was 3 years old. Now, she is in the sixth grade when she is supposed to be in third grade (because of her "genius-ness"). She has no friends until she meets a boy named Gary, whose nickname is Goon. She also meets Mr. Bone, the lady who is Gary's teacher (you'll have to find out why this is, just like Angeline's father did!). Her teacher is mean, the kids in her class make fun of Angeline, and Angeline ends up trashing the whole classroom. The ending of the story involves fish, jokes, a garbage truck, and love. The topic is very good; it seems real to us. The way the author writes it, he keeps us entertained and waiting for the climax of the story. We wanted to just keep reading and reading! This was a great book! There is another book that continues the story--Dogs Don't Tell Jokes. We hope you enjoy this book, Gabriella, Dominique, Megan, Jeannine, Melissa, Brianna, Danielle, Tiffany, Dana, Mary, Max, Angela, Veronica, Anne, and Mr. Wright

This is my favorite story of all! 1,000 stars for Angeline!

This is my very favorite book! It is a wonderful story about being accepted in a community where we consider the "norm" to be the standard. Angeline is an eight year old "genius", and she has a very hard time fitting in... She is sent to a higher grade than she's supposed to be in, no one likes her, and ever her father doesn't know how to talk to her. If only he tried, he might discover that she is more normal than anyone imagines.There are some things that Angeline knew before she was born. I find this a fun part of the book, because it leaves this unexplained... And lets you guess. If Mr. Sachar did explore into this more, I think it might have ruined the story. It is just one of those mysteries that makes you wonder. It also adds character to Angeline.Angeline is "in balance with the whole". She understands things that others can't even perceive. On the other hand, she wants to be accepted. She wants to be included. And it isn't until she meets a funny boy named Gary and his kind teacher, Miss Turbone (Mr. Bone) that she finds confidence in herself.A beautiful story! I can't tell you how much I love it. One thousand stars!!

An imperfect masterpiece of children's literature.

This is Louis Sachar's first book, and it shows. But nevertheless, it is marvelous. It presents a world more relentlessly sad than any he would explore until Holes, his latest. It flies off into passages of philosophy and beauty that seem to simply escape Sachar like children finally leaving home. It has a long list of extremely appealing characters, none more than Angeline, the protagonist and emotional center of the book, despite her sometimes perplexing mind. It makes me cry, it really does. Read Sachar's later works for polish and craft, but read this one for absolute sincerity and heart.

This book is amazing...

I am 15 years old and I read a huge amount. This is one of my favorite books of all time. It's incredible, and it gets better as you get older. Angeline, the heroine, is brilliant and charming. All she wants is to fit in, but she can't. Of coures, she finally does get the yummy end of the deal, but without compromising herself. And the middle...!!! of the book... I've read the Wayside School books and didn't like them half as much although they weren't bad.

I LOVED IT!!!!!!

I loved how Louis Sacher described Angeline's personality and life. I thought it was sweet that she could be anything from a layer to president, but she wanted to be a gar bage person like her father. I have read Wayside school books, but this was THE funniest of them all! I felt sorry for Angeline because she was laughed at for doing things that came natural to 8 year olds. Like, for example, sucking her thumb and being very emotional about every thing. I agree with Miss Turbone (a.k.a. Mr.Bone) when she said that if she had Mrs. Hardlick as a teacher, she'd go to the aquarium too. I rejoyced when Mellisa Turbone fell in love with Abel. Angeline deserved a mother. In my heart I know that they got married. I got worried when Angeline fell in the ocean and almost drowned. But, it WAS funny when she awoke in the hospital room to a joke. If I was Goon (Gary) I would have probably fainted when she said "What?". I loved this book with all of my heart. It is my third favorite book ever!! My first favorite is The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe. Look for my review on it! READ SOMEDAY ANGELINE!!!!!!