Please Ignore Vera Dietz

Title: Please Ignore Vera Dietz 
Author: A.S. King
Published: Oct 2010
ISBN: 0307942104
Pages: 336
Price: $16.99
Reading Level: 8th grade
Interest Level: 9th grade and up
Genre: realistic fiction
Plot Summary: Vera has always been in love her neighbor Charlie but now Charlie is dead and Vera is forced to deal with all her mixed feelings the surround Charlie and his death. Charlie and Vera had a falling out and were no longer on speaking terms before Charlie died. In fact Vera hates Charlie almost as much as she loves him due to something Charlie did to betray and hurt Vera. Vera lives with her father who despite his best efforts still struggles with being left by his wife and being left to raise Vera on his own. He knows part of Charlie's secrets but chooses to ignore it like Vera. But as Charlie's secrets start to eat away at Vera she realizes she can't ignore it any longer.
Critical Review: The story is mainly told from Vera's point of view but a few chapters are told by Vera's dad, the Pagoda that looks over the town and even from dead charlie himself. The changes in view points provides the reader with a better understanding of the characters and the story. In the case of Vera's dad it provides teen readers with a better understanding of how the parent feels. Vera's dad is obviously struggling with raising Vera and his viewpoint better explains why his relationship is the way it is with Vera. Vera herself is a teen who is forced to grow up to fast. The story is heartbreaking and very raw and you find yourself wrapped up in the lives of Vera and Charlie and the secret that Vera is hiding. This unknown keeps the story moving and the reader interested.
Reader's Annotation: Vera is in love with her friend but Charlie died and Vera holds all his secrets. Vera has her own secrets, but will she come to terms with all her secrets and Charlie's secrets? Or will Vera just continue to ignore her problems and Charlie's secrets.
Awards: Printz Honor  (2011), YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2011)
Book Talking Ideas: I would perhaps do a book talk from the Pagoda's point of view, with it talking about all the things it sees.
Issues: The book deals with abuse and a older male that is most likely a sex offender. Vera also drinks and engages in reckless behavior that some parents could find inappropriate.
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: Vera is dealing not only with the death of her best friend Charlie but also with feelings of guilt, rejection, and depression. Teens who have had a friend isolate them or bully them will relate to Vera and her tumultuous relationship with Charlie. The book also shows how people are afraid to be involved in others problems, like in the case of Charlie and his mom being abused by his father. This could maybe help teens who are afraid to speak up and see that ignore problems does not make things better and could, like in the case of Vera, make things worse.
Main Themes: death, depression, friendship, secrecy, abuse
Read alikes: Paper Towns by John Green, Where Things Come Back by John Whaley
Author Website: http://www.as-king.com/
Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
Why Choose this Book? The book is not only an award winner but it is one that deals with many heavy topics such as betrayal, abuse, death and depression. The story is not sugarcoated and will appeal to teens who want an emotional realistic fiction story.