It's time to pay attention to Vera Dietz

Please Ignor Vera Dietz by A. S. King

2011 Printz Honor book

Multiple points of view: (Vera, her father (Ken), the pagoda, dead Charlie). Well-written, dark, but with a human touch.

Tightly written.  Strong relationship between Vera and her father.  Character and plot driven. Characters are believable – story line is well-developed and pulls you in.

Vera is, of course, wise beyond her years and her father, though distant, is caring and looking out for  her at every turn. Charlie is wise, too, but in a school of hard knocks kind of way.

Plot line:

Vera’s best friend Charlie is dead.  We don’t know the circumstances, but we come to understand we will by the story’s end. Vera was in love with Charlie, but Charlie’s life spiraled out of control, he ditched Vera over another girl.  Things went very south for Charlie and his life wasn’t idyllic to begin with.  

Vera is being raised by her father, her mother abandoned them years before in favor of a podiatrist.  A bit crazy book, a bit poignant, a bit sad, and a bit hopeful. 

I really like the characters in this book, and I really liked this book. If you like realistic stories about mostly realistic characters dealing with whatever life throws at you, you’ll like this book, too.