Alive and Well in Prague, New York

There are so many things to love about this book--the clash between cultures that sometimes just a few hundred miles can bring, the array of characters who have lingered with me long after I finished reading, and Matisse's growth throughout the story. But most of all, I appreciate how Grab captures what its like for a teen (or anyone for that matter) to live with a secret that isn't hers to bear, and isn't meant to be a secret at all. Matisse's journey is compelling and will resonate with readers.

Everyone is familiar with the story of a small town girl struggling to fit in a big city, but Daphne Grab's novel takes an opposite spin on that theme and tells the journey of a New York City high school student, Matisse Osgood, who must deal with fish out of water feelings when her family uproots themselves from the city and settles down in small town Prague, New York. The move is prompted my Matisse's father's progressive deterioration to Parkinson's disease. Although the slower pace of small town life should be good for him, his illness is as hard for Matisse to adjust to as her new surroundings. Grab does an amazing job of writing believable teenagers in this novel. The supporting cast has as much depth as the protagonist and the vivid personalities - filled with warmth, humor and sometimes nastiness - brought back echoes of my own high school classmates. The emotional roller coaster that Matisse is on also comes across as neither sappy nor melodramatic and as a reader I truly empathized with her hardships. She is a fun and lovable heroine and through her trials and challenges, I was desperately hoping that in the end she would come to be Alive and Well in Prague, New York.

Grab's depiction of Matisse's struggle to make sense of her new town, new high school, and her father's Parkinsons Disease is both beautifully written and realistic. I moved around a lot growing up, and Matisse's thoughts mirrored many of my own as I navigated the gauntlet of a new environment. I also identified with Matisse's mixed feelings of pity and embarrassment toward her father's illness, as well as her craving for privacy in a small town. Grab's writing is smooth, subtle and full of emotional resonance. Her insights are deftly woven throughout a story that leaves the reader rooting for Matisse, a smart, sensitive heroine. An outstanding book about accepting people for who they really are, including one's self, Alive and Well in Prague, NY also has plenty of romance and teen angst to satisfy the gamut of young adult readers. A Must Read.

Matisse can't help but feel bitter when her mother moves her and her father, who has a debilitating disease, away from their wonderful home in New York City, to Prague, New York, a tiny town in the middle of nowhere. Stuck in a high school whose name she can't even pronounce, without any friends, and nothing to do is miserable for Matisse. People either want to talk about her dad (which Matisse isn't ready to do), or pretend everything is fine (Matisse knows it isn't). But if Matisse wants to make in Prague, she'll have to learn to open up to new things and people, and accept her situation at hand. Alive and Well in Prague, New York was a very heartfelt read. Grab's smooth, empathetic writing will easily reel in readers by the hordes as she artfully portrays the hurt of everyone knowing your business in a small town, and the joy of true friends. Matisse is smart, practical, and yet very hard headed. Your heart will go out to her as she tries to balance school, friends (or lack thereof), and the situation at home. Grab captures the essence of small town life perfectly; quirky, quintessential, and endearing, Prague will appeal mightily to readers who have ever been curious about small town life, or to those who know exactly what it's like, and can easily commiserate and identify with with Matisse.

Matisse Osgood is the daughter of two well-known New York City artists. Life is good for Matisse. She's a city girl through and through. Then her father gets diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and is told that he should avoid working on the sculptures that he loves, for fear that he may fall off of a ladder at some point. After much consideration, Matisse's parents decide that the best thing for the family is to get out of the city. To remove all reminders of what her father can't have anymore. So off they move to Prague, New York. Yes, it's named after the famous European city. The only problem is that Prague, NY, is nothing like its namesake. Hayrides and pep rallies are the excitement Matisse can expect in her new town. It takes a while, but finally Matisse finds a friend in loner Violet. They have similar tastes and personalities, and the friendship forms quickly. Other quirky characters in Prague enter Matisse's life. At first, she has a hard time letting anyone in. Matisse is dealing with her own grief and guilt over her father's diagnosis. Life at home is hard and Matisse has always been reserved when it comes to dealing with private issues. Through the help of her new friends, her father's acceptance of his diagnosis, and the quaint setting of Prague, NY, Matisse slowly opens up and becomes a better person in her new surroundings. Ms. Grab writes a tender story of a girl's struggle to accept the life she's had thrust upon her. Matisse's life is thrown upside down with the move and her father's illness, and slowly she learns that there are some things she can control, and others that she has to learn to accept and live with. Reviewed by: Jaglvr