Home, and Other Big, Fat Lies is a middle grade novel by American writer Jill Wolfson, published in 2006 by Henry Holt and Company. It is about a young girl in foster care.
 First edition cover | |
| Author | Jill Wolfson |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Henry Holt & Co. |
Publication date | October 1, 2006 |
| ISBN | 0-8050-7670-0 |
Plot summary
editWhitney has been in so many foster homes that she can give a complete rundown on the most common varieties of foster parents—from the look-on-the-bright-side types to those unfortunate examples of pure evil. But one thing she doesn’t know much about is trees. This means heading for Foster Home #12 (which is all the way at the top of the map of California, where there looks to be nothing but trees) has Whitney feeling a little nervous. She is pretty sure that the middle of nowhere is going to be just one more place where a hyper, loud-mouthed kid who is messy and small for her age won’t be welcome for long.
Reception
editReviews
editKirkus Reviews described Home, and Other Big, Fat Lies as "a sweet, spirited tale told with warmth and humor about a determined misfit who finds a home at last in a family and a community".[1]
According to the Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), Home, and Other Big, Fat Lies includes "no preaching [...], just honest to goodness situational humor perfect for starting a discussion on environmental topics."[2][better source needed] Taylor Megan Potasky, an 11-year-old reviewer for Stone Soup Magazine, added, "I would highly recommend this book to anyone who knows someone who is a foster child, someone who loves nature like me or anyone who likes a story about love (in this case love for family and nature)".[3] Also discussing the book's discussion of environmental issues, Deborah Stevenson, writing for The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, added that "the book offers a fair look into a timber-dependent community's bitterness about environmental issues, but it's also evocative in conveying the richness of the ecosystems that lumbering can destroy."[4]
On behalf of School Library Journal, Kelly Czarnecki highlighted how "the protagonist's spunky voice will engage readers" and compared Home, and Other Big, Fat Lies to Patricia Reilly Giff's Pictures of Hollis Woods.[5]
Awards and honors
editHome, and Other Big, Fat Lies has received multiple awards and honors:
- International Reading Association, Children's Book Award Notable Book[6][better source needed]
- Newton Marasco Foundation, Green Earth Book Award Honor Book[7]
- Santa Monica Library Green Award[8][failed verification]
- Pennsylvania School Librarian Association, Young Reader’s Choice nominee[9][failed verification]
- Texas Lone Star Reading List Selection[10][failed verification]
- Kansas State Reading Circle[11][failed verification]
- New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing[12][failed verification]
References
edit- ^ "Home, and Other Big, Fat Lies". Kirkus Reviews. September 15, 2006. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
- ^ "Home". VOYA. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ Potasky, Taylor Megan (February 1, 2016). "Home, and Other Big Fat Lies". Stone Soup. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ Stevenson, Deborah (November 2006). "Home, and Other Big, Fat Lies (review)". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 60 (3): 151–152. doi:10.1353/bcc.2006.0808. ISSN 1558-6766. Archived from the original on June 3, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ Czarnecki, Kelly. "Home, and Other Big, Fat Lies". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2024 – via Chicago Public Library.
- ^ "International Reading Association home page". Archived from the original on June 30, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
- ^ "The Green Earth Book Award". Newton Marasco Foundation. Archived from the original on June 17, 2008. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
- ^ "Santa Monica Public Library - Branch Locations". Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
- ^ "PSLA, the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association". Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
- ^ "YART". Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
- ^ "KNEA Reading Circle Catalog". Archived from the original on March 27, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
- ^ "Kids". June 8, 2016. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.