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Describe your latest work. Blueprints of the Afterlife is a novel about the following things: giant heads that appear in the sky, a mystical... Continue »
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1 Beaverton Children's Middle Readers- General

I, Lorelei

by Yeardley Smith

I, Lorelei Cover

ISBN13: 9780061493447
ISBN10: 0061493449
Condition:
All Product Details

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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Lorelei Connelly is no ordinary eleven-year-old. She's practical and a forward thinker. When her favorite cat, Mud, dies, she starts a journal to him, chronicling her daily life as a sixth grader so that he can continue to follow her rise to fame and fortune as a beloved actress, celebrated chef, and/or bestselling author. She figures it's also a good way to make sure her future biographers don't get anything wrong about her. But when her parents' marriage starts to unravel, Lorelei's lighthearted daily log becomes a poignant and defiantly humorous account of a family in distress as Lorelei grapples with the ground shifting under her feet.

Yeardley Smith engages the reader with wit, candor, and authenticity.

Review:

"Moments of offbeat humor raise this novel by the actress best known as the voice of Lisa Simpson above the typical story of divorce. Smith adopts a diary format, with 11-year-old Lorelei writing a series of letters to her recently deceased cat, Mud. Tart observations, like Lorelei's assertion that her brother can be 'dumber than a bag of string,' balance her pain at discovering her father's infidelity and other family problems. Smith's characters are the best thing about the book: they're always slightly off the wall, even such minor players as the school bully who threatens to 'spread your guts on your front porch so the alley rats can choke on you.' There are missteps (e.g., Lorelei too easily brushes off snubs from her supposed best friend), but the family dynamics are on target, and readers will enjoy watching the heroine develop her own strength as her family reshapes itself. Ages 8–12." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"A gently humorous outing from Smith, the voice of Lisa Simpson, with a touch of slapstick to lighten the (slightly overplotted) poignancy." Kirkus Reviews

Synopsis:

Smith, the Emmy Award-winning actress who gives Lisa Simpson her voice on The Simpsons, delivers a comic and powerful debut novel about an 11-year-old girl who begins a journal after her favorite cat dies, so he can follow her rise from sixth grade to fame and fortune.
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About the Author

Yeardley Smith is a novelist, playwright, and actress who has appeared on Broadway, on television, and in films. She is perhaps best known as the Emmy Award-winning voice of Lisa Simpson on Fox's hit television show The Simpsons. When she isn't working, she's knitting. Yeardley lives in Los Angeles. This is her first novel.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
readersrespite, November 14, 2008 (view all comments by readersrespite)
Yeardley Smith is perhaps best known for her work on television's The Simpsons, providing the voice of young Lisa Simpson. But now Yeardley can add something new to her resume: completely awesome author of a young adult novel called I, Lorelei.

A Quick Synopsis:
Lorelei Lee Connelly is 11 and 1/4 years old and has decided to keep a diary so that when she becomes a famous writer/actress/chef someday, she'll remember the important things that happened to her when she was eleven. She's addressing this diary to her best friend who's now in heaven: Mud, the family cat and best listener around. Irritating brothers, a school yard bully, parents who can't get along and a middle school production of Peter Pan provide ample fodder for Lorelei and her strong moral compass provides creative solutions to her pre-teen problems are heartfelt and gratifying.

The Literary Criticism:
I honestly cannot think of one single thing that I'd improve with this book. Lorelei is precocious, intelligent, insecure, and vulnerable. In short, everything a normal eleven year old should be. Ms. Smith has almost alarming insight into the mind of pre-teen girls because at no point does she belittle or negate the importance of Lorelei's problems, yet she does so without melodrama. It's perfect. The story doesn't have a fairy-tale ending and thank goodness because that might have ruined it. Instead, the satisfying conclusion involves Lorelei's realization that we cannot control the world around us and it is up to each of us to make our own happiness. (Okay, so she doesn't make it sound as preachy as I just did, but that's why she's the author and makes the big bucks while I just write reviews.)

Recommendation:
It's a simple one this time, folks.....buy this book. Buy a copy for every 9-12 year old girl you know and snag a copy for yourself. It's a wonderful story and I hope Ms. Smith continues to write. She is a true talent!
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780061493447
Author:
Smith, Yeardley
Publisher:
HarperCollins
Author:
by Yeardley Smith
Author:
by Yeardley Smith
Subject:
Cats
Subject:
Family life
Subject:
Family - Marriage & Divorce
Subject:
Performing Arts - General
Subject:
Animals - Cats
Subject:
Family
Subject:
Washington, d. c.
Subject:
Schools
Copyright:
2009
Edition Description:
Hardcover
Series:
Laura Geringer Books
Publication Date:
February 2009
Binding:
Hardback
Grade Level:
from 3 to 7
Language:
English
Pages:
352
Dimensions:
8.30x5.70x1.50 in. .90 lbs.
Age Level:
08-12
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I, Lorelei Sale Hardcover
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$11.95 In Stock
Product details 352 pages HarperCollins - English 9780061493447 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Moments of offbeat humor raise this novel by the actress best known as the voice of Lisa Simpson above the typical story of divorce. Smith adopts a diary format, with 11-year-old Lorelei writing a series of letters to her recently deceased cat, Mud. Tart observations, like Lorelei's assertion that her brother can be 'dumber than a bag of string,' balance her pain at discovering her father's infidelity and other family problems. Smith's characters are the best thing about the book: they're always slightly off the wall, even such minor players as the school bully who threatens to 'spread your guts on your front porch so the alley rats can choke on you.' There are missteps (e.g., Lorelei too easily brushes off snubs from her supposed best friend), but the family dynamics are on target, and readers will enjoy watching the heroine develop her own strength as her family reshapes itself. Ages 8–12." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Review" by , "A gently humorous outing from Smith, the voice of Lisa Simpson, with a touch of slapstick to lighten the (slightly overplotted) poignancy."
"Synopsis" by , Smith, the Emmy Award-winning actress who gives Lisa Simpson her voice on The Simpsons, delivers a comic and powerful debut novel about an 11-year-old girl who begins a journal after her favorite cat dies, so he can follow her rise from sixth grade to fame and fortune.
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