Just Sayin'

October 1, 2017

Gr 4-7-In a world full of impersonal texts and emojis, Cassie Callahan, almost 11, is a throwback, with her reliance on old-fashioned letter writing to convey her words. Cassie's mom is about to marry Nick and Julie's dad, Travis, when they suddenly break off the engagement. Cassie is unceremoniously dumped with her grandmother (Gram) while her mom goes to California to "find herself" and Travis leaves in the dead of night with his kids to go back to Chicago. Distraught at her circumstances, Cassie begins a letter-writing campaign to bring her "almost family" back together again. Much to Cassie's mom's chagrin, Cassie and Nick are champions at letting insults fly, and their favorite celebrity is self-proclaimed Insult King of the World, Jonathan Kirby. The novel is told entirely in letters, including correspondence among the kids, the Insult King himself, Cassie's pastor, and the adults, and each voice stands on its own. When a contest is announced for the TV show The Last Insult Standing, the kids plot to get on the program, with hopes of winning the grand prize-a cruise for the whole family. With guidance from her pastor, verbose Cassie learns that words have the power to heal and to hurt. VERDICT Sure to find a wide audience among those who gravitate toward journal or diary styles, this is a heartwarming and wholesome read.-Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA

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