Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree

by Lauren Tarshis

“Emma-Jean Lazarus is definitely different from everyone else at William Gladstone Middle School. That’s okay; she knows it. She is fond of her peers but she prefers to stand and watch their illogical behavior from afar.

“Colleen Pomerantz tries so hard to be nice—to everyone, even strange Emma-Jean Lazarus. But now the meanest girl in school is trying to steal her best friend, and it seems that the only one who cares is Emma-Jean Lazarus.

“Emma-Jean thinks it prudent to observe her fellow seventh graders instead of getting mixed up in their troubles. But now Colleen Pomerantz is asking for her help, and how can she say no?”

I really loved this book. It kind of reminded me of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, in the way that it was centered on friendship (though in different ways) and the humor, the way it was serious but funny at the same time. I liked how both TSofTP and this book is deep, but in a light, enjoyable way. It, at times, made me giggle out loud (which is unusual) and other times feel sympathy for the people. But through the entire book, I was rooting for Emma-Jean and Colleen.

I found Emma-Jean and Colleen and all their fellow classmates believable people. Definitely real in the way that none are perfect, but none are ridiculously bad, either, the way some books seem to portray people. They are well rounded, sweet, and all have ups and downs. (Perhaps that’s what I like best about them: they all have downs).

It did slightly strike me as unusual that Colleen was one of the most popular girls in school, and yet she still took weird Emma-Jean as a close friend, and managed to convince all her friends to do the same. But I guess that situation is possible if not probable, and, other than that, it was an enjoyable book.

I’m not usually the sort to love books right off the bat and to continue to love them, even as it finishes and even days later, but I have the feeling that I’ll enjoy this book always. It’s sweet, funny, serious, and deep. The caption says it’s ‘for listeners ages 8 to 11’, but I think it can be enjoyable to everyone—maybe more to older people, who might understand it—and appreciate it—as much as it deserves to be.