Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle & Other Lies Muscle Man Mcginty Told Me (Paperback) (A Novel by Nan Marino)

by Nan Marino

Book Overview

A tender story about a tough-as-nails girl forced to take one small step towards understanding during the summer of 1969. "Muscle Man McGinty is a squirrelly runt, a lying snake, and a pitiful excuse... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• ISBN: 0545239974
• ISBN13: 9780545239974
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Scholastic
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Nan Marino's Great Story

I happened to listen to the audio version while my daughter read the book. Nan Marino is a terrific writer and is a great storyteller. She paints a vivid picture of 1960s Long Island, a time where innocence is lost due to the Vietnam War. Marino allows us inside the mind of the main character, a bully, so effectively. While trying to understand why no one on her block sees "Muscle Man McGinty" for what he is, a lying snake, she battles her own emotional shortcomings. I recommend this book to families to read together and understand why bullies may act the way they do. While I do not sympathize totally with any bully, there are reasons, as so accurately pointed out by this brilliant book, for their hehavior. It's the first book I've read from a perspective of a young, female bully. And Ms. Marino hit a home run.

Ramble Street USA

In Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me is a touching yet witty story. Nan Marino's character,Tamara Ann Simpson, is the Ramble Street girl who tugs at your heart so much you wish you could enter the pages and help her out. At the same time you ache for her archenemy, Muscle Man McGlinty. He's a kid you want to take home and make safe. The core issue may seem to be about wining a kickball game and exposing "a squirrelly runt" for the liar he is, but really it's about trying to grow up when the adults in your life aren't helping. What makes this story truly special is the way the author juxtaposes the history-making summer of 1969 with the Everyman lives of Tamara and Muscle Man. While Neil Armstrong takes "one small step for mankind," the Ramble Street kids slog through childhood the best they can. I highly recommend this those who are kids today and for those who were kids in the '60's.

The ins and outs of being 10 in 1969

Such a rich and entertaining young adult find! This slim novel has a bully for a narrator, a tall-tale-teller for an enemy and the summer of 1969 as its volatile setting. Tamara has a clear and honest voice - she made me feel the frustrations of her ten-year-old self as though they were my own. The story definitely delivers a few life lessons about loss and rushing to judgement, but does so quietly, without an overbearing moral voice. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, for young adults and grown-ups alike.

Great tie-in to the moon landing anniversary!

Tamaira Simpson is a girl who believes in truth and fairness. What could be wrong with that? The kids on Ramble Street could tell you. Tamaira's best friend moves away unexpectedly and is replaced by a new foster child on the block. She tries to compensate for her hurt feelings and sense of loneliness by single-handedly taking down Muscle Man McGinty, right or wrong. Set on Long Island in 1969, the author incorporates the Vietnam War and the historic Apollo 11 moon landing into her moving novel filled with characters that today's children will easily relate to. This book will delight both voracious and reluctant readers with its humor and pathos. As a school librarian, I am including this winner on my summer reading list. I hope the Newbery committee reads this one!

Truly enjoyable tale told by a bully who maybe isn't such a bad person after all

What an excellent offering for young adults! This slim book should be an easy read for the 8-12 crowd, and offers some important life lessons about loss and dreams and rushing to judgment. In this first person account, Tamara speaks with a clear and wonderful voice that really captures the petulant anger and confusion of a young girl whose best friend moved away without advance notice or a forwarding address. As she struggles to understand why everyone in the neighborhood is so nice to the boy now living in her former best friend's room, Tamara finds herself bullying the new kid on the block despite his best efforts to become her friend. I enjoyed this novel and recommend teachers consider it for possible inclusion in a school curriculum. Highly recommended!