Review / As Simple as It Seems

as-simple-as-it-seemsBook: As Simple as It Seems (2010)
Author: Sarah Weeks
Genre: MG, Contemporary

Basic plot: Verbie (short for Verbena) is having a hard time. Her best friend, Annie, is suddenly no longer her friend. And then she learns a secret… about her parents and who they really are. This news is hard for Verbie, so when she meets the new neighbour boy, Pooch, she lets him think she’s the ghost of a girl who drowned years earlier.

WHAT’S COOL…

1) I really felt for Verbie as she struggles with learning some of the facts regarding her parents. I believe Sarah Weeks did an excellent job making us empathize with her. I like how we learn, along with Verbie, about her past… little by little.

2) Pooch is such a good friend. (We’ll talk about his name later!)

3) To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of ghost stories. I almost put this book back at the  when I read that it was a “ghost” story. Sure, Verbie “pretends” to be a ghost (or rather, she doesn’t correct Pooch’s misconception), but it’s definitely NOT a ghost story!

4) I do like how the nightgown fits into the story. At first, I was wondering WHY it’s mentioned that she’s wearing a nightgown. But then, when we meet Pooch, it all comes together. No wonder he thinks Verbie’s a ghost!

5) A lot of excitement in this book. And some of it has to do with… nuts!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I liked this book. Be prepared to go on an emotional journey, though!


YOUR TURN…

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Note: I’m posting this for Greg Pattridge’s Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday