Crazy Lady! (Trophy Newbery)

I was always behind in reading. I just never had the interest in it. In 3rd grade I read this book. I fell in love with not only this book but reading all together. Yes, there is some language, but I promise kids are exposed to worse. Don't let a few words keep your child from this book. It has amazing messages, teaches love and acceptance, speaks of disabilities, and celebrates accomplishments. I will never stop loving this book and advocating for it.

I read this book in grade school. Mrs Goldberg let us scream the curse words to get them out of our system. Its a fun reed. Its a touching story in the end

Jane Conly's Crazy Lady tells the story of Vernon, a teenager who is still dealing with the loss of his mother. In the beginning of the book, he becomes friends with several new people who help him gain a new perspective on life by teaching him what they already know and by just being in his life. Miss Annie is a retired schoolteacher who helps Vernon pass seventh grade English in exchange for helping her neighbor, Maxine, do small chores around the house. Maxine is known to the neighborhood as "the crazy lady," but all her craziness stems from her alcoholism. Maxine has a mentally challenged teenage son, Ronald, who is sometimes seen by the people who live in the neighborhood while they take daily walks through town. Vernon and his friends had made picking on Maxine a daily after-school activity. They would call her names, throw things at her house, and leave trash on her lawn. During the time he spends with Maxine, they not only become friends, but Vernon is also put in the middle of some of her problems which occur during her depths of alcoholism while trying to raise a mentally challenged son. As Vernon grows closer to Ronald, he becomes committed to making sure that social services don't take Ronald away from his mother. In the end, Vernon really helps Ronald more than he helps Maxine. Ronald also helps Vernon deal with the loss of his mother by bringing him happiness and support that had not been in his life for a while. Vernon is one of five children of a single father who is so busy dealing with all of family's problems that he does not see all of Vernon's mounting problems. As Vernon's difficulty with school continues, the absence of his mother's caring grows, as he wishes she were still alive to help him. Meanwhile, he has several nightly talks with his father. However, Vernon does not want to burden his father with his problems and continues keeping them from him. Vernon realizes that he has to solve his problem on his own, which is what brings him to Miss Annie. Miss Annie and Vernon become friends and watch over Maxine and Ronald together. Vernon's main objective is to try to get Maxine to stop drinking or at least to prevent having her caught by Miss Annie or other authority disturbing the town because she is drunk. She especially needs to be weary of Miss Marlow, Ronald's teacher, whom Vernon fears will take Ronald away if that happens. Vernon watches over him and helps him out in any way he can. Maxine has never been able to control her drinking. She knows the consequences of losing Ronald but still continues to drink and cause disturbances. She had to make a decision about what would be best for Ronald, and she decides to sign over custody to her sister and her husband. Vernon feels that Maxine has not tried hard enough with her alcohol problem. He is mad that she gave up so soon and is handing custody over to her sister. Vernon's disapproval of Maxine's decision and her persistent bad behavior makes him only want to go see Ronald when Maxine is not there. The day comes that Ronald has to leave, and the only person in the crowd wishing him off that makes him feel comfortable is Vernon. Vernon runs after the truck to the end of town trying to make his time with Ronald last longer. The truck disappears down the road, and Ronald is gone. However, he makes a major impact on Vernon's life. Crazy Lady "reveals that each of us has felt the pain of exclusion and the liberation of acceptance and love" (Smith117). Once Ronald is gone and Vernon feels alone again, he feels a touch on his shoulder that turns out to be his father. He finds comfort in his father and realizes that he had been there for him all along, but only noticed at the times when Vernon really needed him. Crazy Lady shows how one person can make a big difference in another person's life. For instance, Miss Annie tutored Vernon so that he could pass the seventh grade. This is something he would have never been able to do without her help. She also introduced him to Maxine and Ronald, who changed the way he lived his life. They both taught him not to prejudge people until you get to know them. If you do, you could miss out on getting to know someone wonderful. "Vernon's story is an interesting and involving one that reveals the enormous capacity of teens for both cruelty and compassion" (Smith 117). Ronald made it a happier place for Vernon by making him feel important and needed when he thought he wasn't. He also makes him look more positively at others who may be different and "provides a much needed insight into the lives of adolescents with special needs" (Smith 118). Maxine helped Vernon to see that people make mistakes and that they shouldn't be judged upon them. Crazy Lady also shows that one is never alone in life, even though at time's it may seem that way. Vernon felt that he was on his own whenever his father didn't have time for him, but he wasn't because his father was always there for him, though not always visibly there. And in the loneliest time in his life, he had friends like Annie and Ronald who stepped up and gave him the confidence that he needed to solve his problems on own his own.

This is an amazing story. Just a flat out great book. Also I think that this book is good for all ages!

Yes, there is some language in this book that would not be acceptable unmonitored for young children, though it is kept minimal. Yes, there are situations in the storyline that are not completely happy. Yet "Crazy Lady" is a book worthy of the reader's time. At the core of the story is a lonely 7th grade boy, struggling with school and the loss of his mother, along with the trials of being an adolescent. There is also a lonely, alcoholic woman, trying to do her best for her cognitively disabled son. When circumstances bring these two together, life begins to change for both. Vernon begins to understand that there is a bigger world beyond him, and that despite his struggles in school and life, he can make a difference in the lives of others. Maxine, the alcoholic mother, may not fare as well, but she, too, begins to understand that some things need to happen for the best. Conley portrays her characters in a working class, gritty neighborhood with honesty and a touching dignity. There is much more to be had from this book in the way of well-drawn characters and settings and the theme of acceptance. While I would suggest that the reality of tough lives in tough neighborhoods merits monitoring, the story is a true gem of the theme of acceptance-- of those who are different, of our own gifts and limitations, and of the opportunities given us to try and change those situations. I read this book with my own kids when they were in elementary school, and I believe they were richer in their world view after reading and discussing and predicting. The rough incidents are tempered by moments of family or adolescent humor, and the reader really cares about these people and what becomes of them. There are people in this world who struggle with some of the same problems in this story. What happens to the people in this story can help the young reader understand that while they might not be able to "fix" everything that is bad, they can make a difference, and grow themselves in the process.

I've read this book time and time again and find it to be not only entertaining and interesting but a bit humorous. The twisted life of Maxine is introduced to Vern when Vern is failing most of his classes. (This happens everyday.) He is intriduced to her when doing a good deed.(I wish all of my peers saw it that way.) Things spin on and on, Vern's grades impove and things become better for everyone. I will not tell you the ending , but from a teeenager's point of view, this book is rather realistly true and sad. Enjoy!!!!

I loved this book, but i thought it was one of the saddest books i've ever read. I don't cry very often over books, but this one got to me... I thought the characters were so interesting, i couldn't stop reading!

We got this book because it had an award that went with it. Apparently kids books with cuss words is considered literature. What a filthy book to place in front of children. With all the good choices out there... WHY the filth!