I Almost Love You, Eddie Clegg

By Audra Supplee

Little white lies don't hurt anyone...right?
For thirteen-year-old Asa Marie (a.k.a. Ace), life both inside and outside of middle school has suddenly gotten a lot more complicated. At school, being popular demands keeping up with the latest "fads" set by a girl named Jennifer. Unfortunately, Asa doesn't have the money--or the inside scoop--to keep up with them. At home, her musician stepfather Eddie, a recovering alcoholic, can be sweet, funny, and even...well, useful to Asa when she needs something. But after nearly eight years of living in the same house with Eddie, Asa still thinks of him as her mother's husband, not a father.
Then Eddie loses his job when the local orchestra is disbanded--and he begins drinking again. Now Asa's life is a mess. At school, she struggles to find her way through the social mine field, juggling her comically-high social aspirations as well as a budding romance with Domino, the boy next door. Meanwhile, on the home front, she battles to keep her family together by covering for Eddie. Soon Asa is telling so many "little white lies" that she has trouble remembering exactly what, in fact, is true. But Asa discovers one very important truth: hers and Eddie's deceptions are not helping any of them. Not her mom, not herself, and especially not Eddie. Asa finally decides to stand on her own two feet--and makes some very tough decisions to try to save her family.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561453080
• ISBN13: 9781561453085
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

A Character to Care About

This engaging story of a 13-year-old seeking popularity at school and harmony at home had me rooting for the main character--Asa Marie-from the first page. Asa's approach to popular fads, including some embarrassing and funny missteps, captures the identity struggle of adolescence in a lighthearted way. Asa's efforts to grow closer to her alcoholic step-dad, Eddie Clegg, are poignant and insightful. A "romance" with a boy next door and some gentle befriending of Asa by another girl at school add sweetness to the story. I liked how the author wrote in first person from Asa's perspective. Many interesting plot twists kept me turning the pages with anticipation. Asa seemed like a real person to me, not just a character in a book. I delighted in Asa's growth and look forward to more books about her adventures.

Light Touch on a Serious Subject

Asa wants to be popular, and she wants it bad. Readers get to see what happens when a lively, likable girl tries too hard to fit in with the popular crowd with some very embarrassing results. Asa's life is further complicated by her stepfather, the Eddie Clegg of the title, a nice guy who has a drinking problem. With a light touch, the author shows how both Asa and Eddie are drawn into one another's lies: how easily Eddie asks Asa to lie for him and how she does it, albeit reluctantly, to get what she wants. This is a terrific book for any child who lives in a household with an alcoholic and for any adult who has ever asked a child to shade the truth. While the story is never preachy, both Asa and Eddie come to see that honesty really is the best policy.

charming story with charming characters

This is a delightfully funny and charming story of a young girl's growing up and trying to fit in. She is also dealing with an alcoholic step-father with whom she is trying to develop a father-daughter relationship. The story has an important, positive message that is a must read for young teens dealing with these difficult issues. The book is well-structured and Supplee masterfully intermingles the more serious messages in the book with lots of very funny situations. The book ends on a positive note. You'll love these characters and be begging for more novels featuring them.