Absolutely Maybe (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009) by Lisa Yee is memorable. Usually her books are memorable for their humor–this one is much more serious “coming of age” story. Here’s the set-up.
Maybelline’s mother, Chessy, won’t tell her who her father is. Maybe’s best friends Ted and Hollywood help her stay sane when Chessy seems to admire her charm school girls more than her own daughter. When Jake, soon to be husband number 7 attempts to rape Maybe, she escapes with Ted in Hollywood’s car to LA where Hollywood is going to school and Maybe plans to find her real dad.
This books went through numerous drafts–you can see them here–but I’m grateful Lisa persevered. And after you read it, you will be, too. Although, I must warn you, you’ll be wanting to eat the tacos that Maybe learns to make.
Check out the bonus info, like Maybe’s Hangouts, and info about the cover on Lisa’s Absolutely Maybe page.
Tag: Lisa Yee
Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time by Lisa Yee
I’d read Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa before, but when I read Stanford’s version of the same summer, I had to go back and reread Millicent Min to see her viewpoint again. These humorous books give an insight into these two minds, letting us see why they do what they do. Lisa has also written a 3rd book from yet another character’s viewpoint of the same summer, So Totally Emily Ebers. I’m really looking forward to reading it, too.
If you want to know more about Lisa, she writes a blog about writing and more. Visit it at http://lisayee.livejournal.com/ or go to her website: http://www.lisayee.com/ What I want to know though, is how does she have time to write great books, speak about writing, be a mom and wife to her kids and husband respectively, AND write a fun blog…