Marshall, Leslie. A girl could stand up, a novel.MARSHALL, Leslie. A girl could stand up, a novel. Grove. 372p. c2003. 0-8021-4139-0. $14.00. SA As an adult reflecting back, Elray Mayhew narrates the tale of her unusual childhood in this touching, well-written novel. Elray's life changes forever when, on her sixth birthday, her parents are electrocuted right before her eyes in an accident at an amusement park amusement park, a commercially operated park offering various forms of entertainment, such as arcade games, carousels, roller coasters, and performers, as well as food, drink, and souvenirs. . She ends up in the care of Uncle Harwood, a roving photographer, and Aunt Ajax, "a cross-dressing male lesbian." The new family embraces Rena, the lawyer suing the amusement park, as one of its own. Together, the four build their foundations, and Elray learns more about her parents and other family members through the constant stories that are told. Harwood, Ajax, Rena, and Elray's psychiatrist psychiatrist /psy·chi·a·trist/ (si-ki´ah-trist) a physician who specializes in psychiatry. psy·chi·a·trist n. A physician who specializes in psychiatry. all parent her in different ways, concerned that she isn't dealing with her parents' death. Elray, however, has her own ways of coping. She becomes obsessed ob·sess v. ob·sessed, ob·sess·ing, ob·sess·es v.tr. To preoccupy the mind of excessively. v.intr. with being "invincible" and practices how to die with her very real but assumed to be imaginary Imaginary can refer to:
n. 1. The condition of not existing. 2. Something that does not exist. non exercises. Her parents "talk" to her through the scar scar, fibrous connective tissue that forms at the site of injury or disease in any tissue of the body. Scar tissue may replace injured skin and underlying muscle, damaged heart muscle, or diseased areas of internal organs such as the liver. the accident left on her arm, and give parental advice, too. Amidst a·midst prep. Variant of amid. [Middle English amiddes : amidde; see amid + -es, adverbial suffix; see -s3.] all the chaos of Elray's life, suddenly her grandmother, who everyone thought had been dead for 30 years, resurfaces. She and Elray quickly form a close bond, only to have it tested when Grandma Baer tries to win custody of Elray. This unforgettable cast of characters never ceases to surprise or delight. While ultimately the story is about love, family, and strength, Marshall doesn't hesitate to question these notions to find out what is left in the end, when everything is stripped away. S--Recommended for senior high school students. A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries. Amanda MacGregor, Boston, MA |
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