about the book
Albie is not the smartest or the tallest. He’s not athletic or musical either. No matter how hard he tries, Albie never does things to the standard his parents and grandfather want.
As a result, Ablie’s starting fifth grade at a public school instead of the private one he used to attend. His learning difficulties attract sympathy from his teachers and teasing from the bullies. His one new friend, Betsy, is also bullied.
Then Albie gets a new babysitter: Calista. Calista takes it upon herself to show Albie what he is good at and how he can take pride in himself. But will his new outlook on life be enough to help him become one of the “cool” kids?
about the author
Eight years old and bored, Lisa Graff produced her first book in an hour—a five-page crayon-illustrated creation entitled The Strangest Flower. She continued to write stories and plays, often performing the melodramas. She always played the sinister mustached villain. Her brother was a genius and to compete, Lisa read everything—including Moby Dick in third grade.
Studying linguistics in Italy, she translated one of her children’s novels and discovered three things. She needed help with her Italian, she was a terrible writer, and she loved to write! In New York, Lisa earned a graduate degree in creative writing for children and met an agent who helped her get her first novel published.
Lisa still lives in New York where she is an editor at a publishing house. She lives with a slightly insane cat and plays bocce ball badly in her spare time. She enjoys blogging with readers, librarians, and other authors. She loves raspberries, snow globes and board games. Lisa has trouble telling her left hand from her right, reading maps, and doing crossword puzzles. She also uses too many exclamation points!!!!!!
Sources:
Author website
Author interview : School Library Journal
Book trailer: Absolutely Almost
Also by Lisa Graff:
A Clatter of Jars. Philomel. 2016.
Lost in the Sun. Philomel. 2015.
Double Dog Dare. Philomel. 2012.
Sophie Simon Solves Them All. Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. 2010.
Umbrella Summer. Laura Geringer Books. 2009.
The Life and Crimes of Bernetta Wallflower. Laura Geringer Books. 2008.
The Thing about Georgie. Laura Geringer Books. 2007.
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