You May Already Be a Winner, Ann Dee Ellis
You May Already Be a Winner, Ann Dee Ellis
2 Rating(s)
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You May Already Be a Winner

Author: Ann Dee Ellis

Narrator: Taylor Meskimen

Unabridged: 6 hr 46 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/11/2017

Synopsis

For fans of Ali Benjamin’s The Thing About Jellyfish and Katherine Applegate’s Crenshaw comes the humorous and heart aching story of one girl’s struggle to keep hope alive for her and her younger sister in Sunny Pines Trailer Park.

Twelve-year-old Olivia Hales has a foolproof plan for winning a million dollars so that she and her little sister, Berkeley, can leave behind Sunny Pines Trailer Park.

But first she has to:
·  Fix the swamp cooler and make dinner and put Berkeley to bed because her mom is too busy to do all that
·  Write another letter to her dad even though he hasn’t written back yet
·  Teach Berk the important stuff, like how to make chalk drawings, because they can’t afford day care and Olivia has to stay home from school to watch her
·  Petition her oddball neighbors for a circus spectacular, because there needs to be something to look forward to at dumb-bum Sunny Pines
·  Become a super-secret spy to impress her new friend Bart
·  Enter a minimum of fourteen sweepstakes a day. Who knows? She may already be a winner!

Olivia has thought of everything . . . except herself. Who will take care of her when she needs it? Luckily, somewhere deep down between her small intestine and stomach is a tiny voice reminding her that sometimes people can surprise you—and sometimes your family is right next door.

About The Author

Ann Dee Ellis lives in Utah with her husband and five children. She is the author of the YA novels This is What I Did:, Everything is Fine, and The End or Something Like That.  You May Already Be a Winner is her middle grade debut.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Medeia on June 27, 2017

I was torn on whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars...so I'll say it's a 3.5. Great voice and characters here, but certain scenes seem rushed or shifting too fast and other scenes have numerous names dropped, adding confusion to the story. This will not prevent me from reading more from the author.......more

Goodreads review by Patty on May 07, 2018

Thank You to Netgalley, Penguin Random House and Ann Dee Ellis for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Do you remember when you were a little kid and you would live in half reality/half fantasy. Your parents are yelling at you and your mind has already taken off, adding all kin......more

Goodreads review by Maureen on July 04, 2017

This was a novel that was hard to read. It was depressing because as a teacher, I am sure I have students in dire straights like Olivia and her family and I just don't know. I think the heart of the novel is learning it is important to learn to trust and rely on others, just as Olivia did. I am appr......more

Goodreads review by Crystal on July 12, 2017

Sometimes you read a book that leaves your mind as soon as you close it, and sometimes you read a book that you can't stop thinking about long after you've finished it. You May Already Be A Winner is a story that touches on some very difficult topics and has one of those characters that you just can......more

Goodreads review by K.L. on June 22, 2017

Quite frankly, I love it. I love Olivia. The write up for this book should be scraped, it doesn't do it justice. Olivia Hale is an older sister who feels responsible for everything. Olivia Hale is trying to keep her family together and convince herself that everything is going to be okay. Olivia Hale......more

Quotes

“When I closed the last page I wanted to jump on Olivia’s tramp, just to celebrate her resounding resilience. This book is a love story for all those kids who have had to grow up way too soon, but who also face life with commitment, fortitude and above all, dedication.”—KATHI APPELT, author of the Newbery Honor winner and National Book Award finalist THE UNDERNEATH
 
“Olivia’s voice captured me from the first line, but it was her bravery and devotion to her family that kept me reading to the end. The only thing stronger than her imagination is her heart, and my own broke for her as I read. Unforgettable.”—CASSIE BEASLEY, author of the New York Times bestseller CIRCUS MIRANDUS
 
“I felt like I hit the jackpot when I read this book. Olivia’s story is lively, full of heart, and a must-read for anyone who knows what it feels like to hope and dream big.”—ALLY CONDIE, author of New York Times bestseller MATCHED and SUMMERLOST

"Distinct, colorful, richly imaginative, thoroughly authentic, often hilarious, and frequently heartbreaking...Readers of this memorable novel will feel like winners, too."—Kirkus Reviews

"Olivia’s first-person narrative fills brief,expressive chapters where she mixes fantasy and real life at will, all in a lyrical, poetic voice. Ellisrealistically taps into the kind of magical thinking so typical of kids trying to solve big problems, andplenty of readers might recognize themselves in the appealingly optimistic, daydreaming Olivia."—Booklist

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