Every Crooked Pot

by Renée Rosen

Book Overview

In her heart, Nina Goldman knows that beauty is only skin deep. But as a teenager growing up in Akron, Ohio - with her larger-than-life father Artie, a colorblind carpet salesman and frustrated musician - the only thing Nina wishes for is...to be beautiful. Or at least normal. As if having such an eccentric dad wasn't enough, Nina has another issue to face: the mirror. Born with a strawberry birthmark over her eye, Nina spends countless hours applying...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312365438
• ISBN13: 9780312365431
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 13 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 8 to 12

Customer Reviews

A WONDERFUL EYE

Renee Rosen's eye for detail, emotion, and meaning is truly superior. Perhaps that's not surprising, given the centrality of her main character's eye in EVERY CROOKED POT. Growing up with an overwhelming family--larger-than-life dad, pipe-smoking mom, requisite beautiful and self-focused sister, and cypher brother--is hard enough for Nina Goldman as she nears the challenges of junior high and beyond. On top of that, she has an eye condition that's impossible to hide. Rosen's beautiful writing and storytelling allow us to join Nina for most major steps of her journey through life, toward self-acceptance; we watch her grow both physically and emotionally, navigating the dark waters of loneliness, rollercoaster friendships and, of course, love (i.e., boys). With grace, wit, and poignance, Rosen shares Nina's voyage of self-discovery with the reader, proving a simple truth: that which is most personal is most universal. Hope we get to go on many more journeys with this talented writer.

Heart warming tale, compellingly told

From the opening traffic stop scene we can't help falling in love with Nina Goldman...she has to overcome her facial birthmark in her search for acceptance and love. Always lively, sometimes sad but never completely defeated, we feel with her, moment by moment. And along the way we get to know fully her family, featuring her quicksilver father Artie, devoted mother Sandra, two mischievous siblings and a rich cast of neighbors, friends and --yes, lovers. Renee Rosen, a gifted story teller commands a style that is lucid and gripping...her words flow so easily that she evokes a real world in unforgettable living color.

Great porch reading!

Charming, with lots of heart. Humorous teen angst rings true. Think Sittenfeld's Prep crossed with the funny family nostalgia of Bryson's Thunderbolt Kid and Kokoris's Rich Part of Life. Loved every minute---very enjoyable.

I loved This Book

I flew through this book in a weekend. It has everything, It is heartbreaking in parts (in ways we can all relate to!), made me laugh, tear up....It was a page turner to the very end. Definitely looking forward to Renee's next book!

Wonderful!

I absolutely loved this book--can't recommend it highly enough. Nina and Artie are characters you'll never forget. Hope I don't have to wait long to read Rosen's next novel!