Absolutely Almost

Absolutely Almost
By Lisa Graff
Philomel Books, 2014. Fiction, 288 p

Albie is a good kid with a good heart, but he is not the sharpest tack in the drawer. He goes to a special math class, he struggles with spelling and he is below grade level in reading. His parents try to be supportive, but Albie can sense that his lack of academic achievement bothers them. The kids at school tease him and call him "dummy". The only one who makes him feel smart is his nanny, Calista. Her friendship is one of the most important influences in his life, but will she always be able to be there for him? This is another novel that is getting a lot of national attention. So many books are about kids that are super smart, or super challenged. Ms Graff does a great job in this book showing that a child doesn't have to be "special" to be special.

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