The Second Life of Abigail Walker

Starred review from June 18, 2012
In a powerful story about learning to
be proud of one’s true self and rising above bullies, sixth-grader Abby is sick
of the “medium girls,” who weigh the right amount and say all the right things, and of her parents, who are on her case about dieting and fitting in. She is even more tired of her own efforts to stay in the clique’s good graces. One day Abby walks away from their taunts, a small step that takes her life in a new direction. A fox bites her, and she follows a dog across a creek where she meets eight-year-old Anders and his father, who is recovering from serving in Iraq. They invite her to help with a research project, which leads to new friends at school and unexpected happiness. Occasional chapters follow the fox Abby meets, whose story is slowly
revealed as it intersects with Abby’s. Dowell (Ten Miles Past Normal) creates a sympathetic and honest heroine with a flair for drama, humor, and creativity, and she resists a tidy ending in a novel that feels both timeless and entirely of-the-moment. Ages 8–12.

October 1, 2013
Gr 4-6-Eleven-year-old Abby has problems. Her best friend moved away, leaving Abby vulnerable to the mean girls at school. You know the kind-the ones who pretend to be your friends and then make snarky comments about your weight and appearance and personality to undermine your self-esteem. Their emotional bullying is bad enough, but soon they move on to worse ways to make her life miserable. Abby's not getting much help from her clueless parents, who clearly want what's best for her, but aren't considering her input in the matter. As the bullying increases, Abby becomes more isolated. Then the fox appears. It gives her the courage to be herself, make new friends, and attempt things she's never tried before. It's a new life, but old problems don't disappear. She's still a bit chubby, and the bullies aren't going away, but she's finding ways to cope. Maria Cabezas narrates Dowell's book (Atheneum, 2012) with sympathy and strength. She provides a realistic voice for a girl who is coping with heart-wrenching problems and learning that, when it comes to boundaries, some are artificially set by others, and some we impose on ourselves. Neither kind is unbreakable. The fox proves that, for it has a mythical quality that seems undeterred by normal constraints. The story is compelling as listeners are drawn into Abby's life and find themselves rooting for her success. There's a realism here that will call to the listeners and offer hope.-"Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA"

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