A Corner Of The Universe

Martin has broken out of genre fiction with a real winner of a book, one that can be enjoyed by fiction lovers of any age. This would be a great gift for an 11- or 12-year old girl, but I've recommended it to many adults, too.

I hope this book also serves the higher purposes of opening the eyes of YA readers to the human nature of people who are different from the norm. If children haven't had a chance to interact with different people in school, this book will serve to make anyone more comfortable with people with special needs.

I liked Hattie as a narrator, and if you want to read another really convincing and touching young narrator, try Alison McGhee's Shadow Baby.

This was a very good book. I really enjoyed reading it and i was very excited to read it and I could not put it down once I started it. I thought that out of all the books that I have read of Ann M. Martin has wrote was one of the best. I enjoyed the way that Ann M. Martin made this book a book that related to teens. I also liked how she had the writing in a setting that was back in the olden days so I kind of got a feel for what things may have been like back then. I would recommend this book for anybody who likes books of back then.

This book is a great realistic fiction story. It's about a girl who likes to stay home and be with her friends and family. Her name is Hattie. She doesn't have many friends her age but, she lives in a boarding house and loves to spend time with the older people there. One day she finds out that she has an uncle she never knew about. Her uncle,Adam, is not a regular person. He is suffering from some mental problems. He has been away at a special school for almost his whole life. In this book Hattie finds her way through life and figures out who she really is.

Hattie Owen is not your normal eleven year old girl, she has trouble making friends and doesn't enjoy doing things normal girls would do. But she is very normal compared to the surprise that comes her way over the summer. Hattie's life drastically changes when she finds out that she has another uncle that her family has hidden away for years. She can't seem to figure out why they've kept him a secret until now. His name is Adam, and he is mentally disabled. His attitude can change in a second and you'll never be ready for how he will react to something. Adam's presence changes everyone in a special way. There are a lot of twists and turns in the book and a very dramatic and unexpected ending.
This book is marked for reading levels 9-12, although I do not agree with that because the book is very emotional and deals with suicide and sexual references. Don't get me wrong though, it is a wonderful representation of how our society treats others that are different and how we can make a difference by standing up for those that are different. I strongly recommend this book!

Hattie likes things to remain constant. That, however, changes one summer when her uncle "comes home". The school he was attending is closing and Hattie's grandparents need to find another one for him. Adam has a "mental condition" which Hattie didn't know about. That summer is special for Hattie as she befriends a girl from the circus. Things do not turn out well as a birthday celebration turns ugly.......you have to read to find out the rest. This was a great book dealing with people who are different from us.

I recentally read the book A Corner of the Univese by Ann M Martin and I personally think it's the best book i have ever read! It really shows the point of view from Hattie Owen's, a 12-year old girl who learns to care for and understand her 21 year old diable uncle,perspective eyes. Its really truly a book for all ages and it helped me understand what it was like to be in her shoes. Now i realize how lucky i am and that i can indeed lift the corners of MY universe.

Hattie is an average 11 year old who is beginning her summer vacation. Her parents run a boarding house and Hattie has made friends with several of the boarders. All of them are somewhat older than Hattie and her best friend is going away all summer. Hattie expects this to be another boring summer, until she learns of an uncle she never knew about will be moving back home with her grandparents. Adam, her twenty-one year old uncle, had been away to a special school. His school is closing and he has to come home. His "school" is really a home for people with disabilities. Hattie is very excited and curious to meet her uncle. She is somewhat nervous when first meeting Adam but they soon become friends. Hattie thinks the two are a lot of like and they form a special bond. Unfortunately, Hattie soon thinks she knows what is best for Adam and this leads to trouble.
I enjoyed the book. It was interesting because the setting is in the 1960's, a time when people with disabilities were not in the spotlight and as accepted as they are today. I could relate to Hattie's feelings when people make comments about her uncle, because I work with kids with disabilities. I think the book is more suited for older elementary age students, 10 - 12. It does a good job covering a sensitive issue, but sometimes lags in excitement. I think that some students may become bored with the book before they finish.

The book, " A Corner of Universe," by Ann M. Martin, is written in realistic fiction style. This book is a wonderful story of life changing experiences for young Hattie Owen. She is about to turn 12 years old, and meets her uncle Adam. Adam is not your ordinary uncle. Instead he has problems, but this does not damper Hattie's love or compassion for her uncle. Hattie's, grandparents are somewhat ashamed of Adam, and strive to keep him out of public site. During the long summer days, Adam and Hattie, are happy with each other's company and find love and friendship, and are happy to be in each others company. Adam eventually meets Angel Valentine, and is overwhelmed with her beauty. He takes her flowers and finds her in the arms of her boyfriend. Since Adam is mentally challenged, he finds it difficult to face the fact that young Angel Valentine, does not return the same love for him. This story has a very sad ending. You'll have to read it to find out the ending. This is a wonderful book to teach children understanding and empathy for others.

Visit THIS Corner of the Universe
A Corner of the Universe is a book about a girl named Hattie Owen. She lives in her parent?s boarding house, along with Angel Valentine, Miss Hagerty, and Mr. Penny. Hattie is lives like a normal girl but is very shy and feels most comfortable in her own house with her own family. She lives a couple blocks down from her grandmother, who is well off and very controlling.
After her twelfth birthday, things start to turn a lot different from what she is use to. Her uncle, who lives in a medical home, comes to live with her grandparents unexpectedly. This confuses Hattie because she had no idea that her mother even had a brother. It seemed to her that everyone tried to keep Adam a secret and forget about him. So that very summer she becomes attached to him and seems almost break out of her shell. One of the surprising things that happened to her was a carnival came to her town. She went there several times and made her first true friend named, Catherine.
I really liked this book because it is an easy read and a very good plot. It is very similar to Ann Martin?s other books, which are equally good.
All in all, I rate this book 4 stars. The only things that I would change about this book, is to start the main story sooner. It starts out a little slow, but catches you in the end.

Hattie is an average 11 year old who is beginning her summer vacation. Her parents run a boarding house and Hattie has made friends with several of the boarders. All of them are somewhat older than Hattie and her best friend is going away all summer. Hattie expects this to be another boring summer, until she learns of an uncle she never knew about will be moving back home with her grandparents. Adam, her twenty-one year old uncle, had been away to a special school. His school is closing and he has to come home. His "school" is really a home for people with disabilities. Hattie is very excited and curious to meet her uncle. She is somewhat nervous when first meeting Adam but they soon become friends. Hattie thinks the two are a lot of like and they form a special bond. Unfortunately, Hattie soon thinks she knows what is best for Adam and this leads to trouble.
I enjoyed the book. It was interesting because the setting is in the 1960's, a time when people with disabilities were not in the spotlight and as accepted as they are today. I could relate to Hattie's feelings when people make comments about her uncle, because I work with kids with disabilities. I think the book is more suited for older elementary age students, 10 - 12. It does a good job covering a sensitive issue, but sometimes lags in excitement. I think that some students may become bored with the book before they finish.

The book, " A Corner of Universe," by Ann M. Martin, is written in realistic fiction style. This book is a wonderful story of life changing experiences for young Hattie Owen. She is about to turn 12 years old, and meets her uncle Adam. Adam is not your ordinary uncle. Instead he has problems, but this does not damper Hattie's love or compassion for her uncle. Hattie's, grandparents are somewhat ashamed of Adam, and strive to keep him out of public site. During the long summer days, Adam and Hattie, are happy with each other's company and find love and friendship, and are happy to be in each others company. Adam eventually meets Angel Valentine, and is overwhelmed with her beauty. He takes her flowers and finds her in the arms of her boyfriend. Since Adam is mentally challenged, he finds it difficult to face the fact that young Angel Valentine, does not return the same love for him. This story has a very sad ending. You'll have to read it to find out the ending. This is a wonderful book to teach children understanding and empathy for others.

Living in a small town, Hattie must deal with gossip, and a range of emotions when it is discovered that her uncle is different. He has a mental disability. Family issues are discussed and ways to deal with problems are reviewed in a way that holds the readers interest. This is a fine "family values" read for middle grades through junior high.
Evelyn Horan-teacher/author
Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl, Book One
Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl, Book Two

"The next award goes to...A Corner of the Universe!"

Oh! Sorry I was just looking back to the day of the award ceremony. A Corner of the Universe has also won many other awards such as; Newberry Honor, ALA booklist, ALA Notable for Children and many more. The author is Ann M. Martin. She has also written the Baby Sitters Club and Here Today. I loved the book A Corner of the Universe, not only the plot but the loving connection and bond between Hattie and Adam.

Hattie Owen doesn't have an average household. She lives in a boarding house that her parents own. Everyone in the boarding house is like one big happy family. But a new addition will soon be added. Hattie had discovered that she has an Uncle that she has never heard of, Uncle Adam. Hattie knows little of Adam and finds out that he has a mental disability. The extraordinary bond fills both Hattie and Adam's hearts. But when it all seems to be going fine an unexpected twist makes its way up to the surface.

It's funny, because I find my self looking for the characters in real life. Everyday I find myself expecting to see the characters in my neighbor's yard or taking a walk. They seem so real. The characters in the book have so much personality. I felt like I knew everyone of them, they had such emotion. For instance, when ever Adam would come to visit Hattie, he'd always jump with joy, clap his hands and yell her name. They also had likes and dislikes. Adam loved "I love Lucy"; he'd always talk about it. Also Hattie wasn't too crazy about her Grandmother. If you read this by the end of the book you'll be looking for them too!

The book is also very easy to understand. It's very clear because the author has a character telling the story, so it's like she's talking to you. It's very helpful to have it be easy to read because then you understand it, and stay tuned in with the book.

You'll love the characters, the heart warming experience, and the bond between Hattie and Adam. This book is recommended for everyone above the ages of 8. You'll laugh out loud, and possibly a tear shall fall down your face, but whether it shall be a tear of joy or sorrow that's not for me to say.

In the Newbery Honor Novel, A Corner of the Universe, by Ann M. Martin, a heart tearing story comes to life. The novel starts off in October with Hattie, a twelve year old girl looking at home movies taken over the place of the last summer. From the movies, the Author takes us into Hattie's life at the begging of the summer, in the form of a flash back. Hattie is a girl that likes things the familiar way and doesn't want or like change. She doesn't want to think of the big unpredictable world out there, she likes things better in the protection of the families boarding house and its familiar routines. She likes the summer they way it is. Because of that, she was caught off guard when she was told her uncle, that no one has talked about or even told her about, is coming home because his "school" (an institution for mentally disabled) has shut down. Hattie's family must learn to cope with a 21 year old man, coming into their lives, which they have tried to forget about for many years. Her uncle, named Adam, is a guy who has a rollercoaster of moods, child like behavior, and is very unpredictable. What Hattie doesn't know, is that this uncle of hers has the power in him to change the way she looks and accepts life. During the summer, Ann M. Martin takes you on a journey of friendship, trial, and heartache.

At the end of this book I was crying, it touched me in a way I never expected it to. We should all learn from Adam and live our lives the way he did by lifting the corners of our universe. Although Adam had a hard life, he was called a Freak, laughed at, had a lot of things he couldn't understand, and would never have the chance to live a normal life. But he learned to change what life has handed to him, to poke around a little, lift the corners, seeing what is underneath, poking that. Sometimes things would work out for him, sometimes they didn't, but he was always exploring. Life is more interesting and fun that way. We should all learn to live our lives like Adam. I think that everyone who reads this book will finish looking at life in a different perspective, live life to its fullest, and not take little things for granted.

A Corner of the Universe is a Newberry-Award winning novel by Anne Martin.
Words of Rainbow*Chyld:
This book covered an interesting topic with what could have been interesting characters. The blunt-ness and lack of reality made it a poor read. The fact that it was a Newbery Honor book shocked me. The thing is that the topic was true...things like this do happen and the main idea was practically blaring at me the entire time I tried to read...I just could not enjoy this short-coming of a book.
Thoughts from Indigo*Yellow:
This book was confused about what it was, where it was coming from, and where it is going. It covers mature subjects such as mental illness, loss of innocense, and familial unstableness. And yet it was written in such childlike, bland prose that I coudln't have been more bored. A Corner of the Universe could have been a gritty, touching, and dark coming-of-age novel with interesting symbolism. Instead, it was a watered-down, fuzzy, children's tale. When thinking about the main idea, I couldn't figure out where the book was going! Was it trying to convince me to be kind to the mentally challenged, or was it simply talking about Hattie's ability to encompass the dark and light parts of her life? I coudln't be sure. I think this book is an uncertain, wobbling shadow of what it could have been, and Adam, Nana, and Hattie's father could have been played out to a fuller extent. I'd say, don't bother with this sad excuse for a Newbery winner.

This was a wonderful book not only about accepting someone for who they are, but rejoicing in those differences and learning from them. The young adults of this generation could use more books with that theme. A caution, though. My daughter, 10, was taken aback by a scene which alluded to sexual activity. Although not graphic, the scene does speak of clothing discarded, etc. If your child has not had "the talk" it may precipitate the need for it.

i thought this book was absolutely amazing. The way Ann M. Martin conveyed the lives of both Adam and Hattie was very realistic and thrilling to read. The dialogue, the setting, and the characters were all terrifically constructed. I put this book on my Top Ten list, most definately. Someday, I hope to make it into a movie.

This book holds a very special place in my heart. It should hold a special place in yours once you are done reading it. The characters were so well rounded that I did not want the book to end. I highly recommend this book. It is so touching and well written. I continue to think about this book and it has been weeks since I have read it. That is a true sign of a classic piece of writing! Absolutely touching to the heart and to the soul!

Hattie and her uncle Adam are the main characters. They are both fun loving people, who could lift the corners of the universe. Hattie is 11 years old and does not have many friends. Adam has autism and a child like attitude. Over the summer they become great friends, even though he is much older than her. Until an upsetting unpredictable ending.

I would recommend "A Corner of the Universe" to people that have a big heart and care for people. There were some surprises in this story. An example would be when; the uncle likes someone Hattie (the main character) lives with. This book starts off slow but once you are into it, it gets real good.

this book is pretty good, though the lack of action really puts it off. you will like it if you don't like actiony or dangerous plots, but you won't like it if you do.

a little boring, but definetly worth reading. "here, have a cookie!" *gives you an imaginary cookie*

Ann M. Martin crafts a simple yet complex story of an eleven year old girl named Hattie Owen and her mentally challenged uncle, Adam Mercer. Hattie's innocence is charming. I enjoyed this book; I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I smiled. I would recommend this book to others, as I know they would appreciate it also.

I give this book a great review because the author does a great job describing the setting and characters so it makes the reader feel as if they are a part of the story. I would recommend this book because the author makes you want to keep reading because of all the suspensful events.

I thought the relationship between Adam and Hattie was very heart-warming because they shared secrets and enjoyed each other for the people that they were. I also liked it when Hattie learned to make new friends by the end of the story.

the book "A Corner of the Universe" was an amazing book. It gave you a perfect feeling of being there. the book is about a young 12 year old girl named Hattie Owen who has a 26 year old mentally ill uncle named Adam which she never knew about until his school closes and he is sent to live with her strict grandparents, Nana and Papa. It is a wonderful story describing the suffering life of a 12 year old, and the crazy mind of her uncle. It was superior to any other book I've read, and I highly suggest you read it.

I love this book! A Corner of the Universe really digs deep into the lives of mentally disabled people like Adam. Adam and Hattie's friendship was a tight bond, and I was sad that it had to be broken through the incident on the top of the ferris wheel and the death of Adam. This is the kind of book that could make you laugh as well as cry, and has a moral to it. Yong as well as old will enjoy this book.

I give this book a great review because the author does a great job describing the setting and characters so it makes the reader feel as if they are a part of the story. I would recommend this book because the author makes you want to keep reading because of all the suspensful events.

I thought the relationship between Adam and Hattie was very heart-warming because they shared secrets and enjoyed each other for the people that they were. I also liked it when Hattie learned to make new friends by the end of the story.

the book "A Corner of the Universe" was an amazing book. It gave you a perfect feeling of being there. the book is about a young 12 year old girl named Hattie Owen who has a 26 year old mentally ill uncle named Adam which she never knew about until his school closes and he is sent to live with her strict grandparents, Nana and Papa. It is a wonderful story describing the suffering life of a 12 year old, and the crazy mind of her uncle. It was superior to any other book I've read, and I highly suggest you read it.

I love this book! A Corner of the Universe really digs deep into the lives of mentally disabled people like Adam. Adam and Hattie's friendship was a tight bond, and I was sad that it had to be broken through the incident on the top of the ferris wheel and the death of Adam. This is the kind of book that could make you laugh as well as cry, and has a moral to it. Yong as well as old will enjoy this book.

If I were reviewing this book for an adult reader or even a teenager, I would say that it was very well-written, and it kept my interest. But, I read the book because it was recommended to me by a school teacher for our mother/daughter book club. This book club was composed of girls in 3rd and 4th grade at the time. I don't read most of the books that my daughters bring home from school, so I was interested to see what type of book this was. It was pretty early in the book that "red flag" number one appeared. If this is a book for 9 year olds, is it really appropriate to have the main male character gawking at a female character's chest? Later this male character walks in on this same female and catches her "in the act" with another man. Please don't read any futher if you don't want to hear the ending, but this was the final straw in my book. This main character, who has mental issues, kills himself. And at the service for his funeral, the young girl in the story calls him "brave." There is something definitely wrong with recommending this book for ages 9-12--at least for MY 10 and 11 year olds. Come on, sex and suicide for 3rd and 4th graders? I'm sorry, I've never considered myself "old-fashioned," but where do we draw the line? Needless to say, I did not choose this book for our book club.

This book is INAPPROPRIATE for the ages suggested (9-12). It was presented to my 9 1/2 daughter's library reading group by the school librarian. This book is appealing to children of this age because is is a recounting of a twelve year old girl's summer, BUT don't be fooled! The content contains material that is questionable for this age group. Middle school ages would be better suited to this. Do not judge a book by its medal!