Comments on: My Life as a Rhombus

By: My life as a rhombus

My life as a rhombus — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:31:31 +0000

[...] funny. I’ve never read any books by Justine Larbaleister but I read her blog and when she recommended My life as a rhombus I guess I was feeling in a suggestible mood because I ordered it right then. [...]

By: Varian Johnson

Varian Johnson — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:39:39 +0000

Wow! Thanks for all the kind words. I’m very, very humbled.

By: Edi

Edi — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:19:53 +0000

I read and reviewed on my blog Rhombus a little while ago. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it stays in circulation in my library. I always hold my breath hoping that it will still come back!
I was amazed not only at how well Johnson got her voice, but how he got into her head! He deftly analyzed Rhonda’s relationship with her father and with her peers. Rhonda had a very real problem, one you wouldn’t expect such a ‘good’ girl to have, but we are all complex characters with good and bad in us. What saves us, what saved Rhonda, is how we act to grow out of the hurt. Johnson’s next book comes out in 2010.
http://www.varianjohnson.com/Saving_Maddie.html

By: Diana Peterfreund

Diana Peterfreund — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:05:27 +0000

I also loved Rhombus and I’m so glad you finally got around to reading it. I read it this spring when I got it in a contest packet — I’m so glad I did because otherwise I wouldn’t have discovered Varian johnson’s awesome books. I can’t wait for his next one. Also, I get to meet him next month at kidlitcon and I can’t wait for that either.

By: Shveta

Shveta — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:56:07 +0000

Eep, excuse that run-on. I was too excited to get my thoughts out.

By: Shveta

Shveta — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:52:38 +0000

Agreed. Everyone reading these comments, Rhombus is a great book, and Johnson took a lot of effort to create believable female characters, whom he then treated with respect and sensitivity while still giving them room to screw up and learn from their mistakes. Go read it!

By: MissAttitude

MissAttitude — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:33:59 +0000

My Life as A Rhombus made my life! I too loved the math forumlas and postulates, even though I really don’t understand them in mathmatical terms. It’s wrapped up pretty nicely, but I still want a sequel just because I love Rhonda! I did end up feeling sort of bad for what’-his-name the ex boyfriend. Not so much sympathy for Sarah’s mother.
I can’t wait for Saving Maddie and I do want to read Red Polka Dot in a Room Full of Plaid.
So glad you liked it!

By: Brenda Kahn

Brenda Kahn — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:16:20 +0000

Justine, You wrote a beautiful post about My Life as a Rhombus. I read it this summer and thought it singularly special. Great characters, realistic dilemma with no easy solution. This past spring I listened to Red Polka Dot in a World Full of Plaid. I listened and enjoyed the characters, idly wondering where the plot would go and was left utterly breathless by the ending. Never saw it coming. I’m really looking forward to his next book, Saving Maddie, due out in March of 2010.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:39:37 +0000

So with you on problem novels (although i call them issue books).

By: stacy

stacy — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:44:30 +0000

I both love and fear those kinds of books, the ones that keep you up reading all night. They’re the best–but my sleep does suffer because of it.

By: Shalonda

Shalonda — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:55:47 +0000

I just ordered this book! It should be here any day now!

By: King Rat

King Rat — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:08:47 +0000

I can't really say anything about My Life as a Rhombus but I am just about finished with Johnson's first book, A Red Polka Dot In a World Full of Plaid and I'm enjoying it very much. Really good characters.

By: Pixelfish

Pixelfish — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:15:29 +0000

Er….I’m confused by the terminology. What’s a “problem” novel?