This novel is about a young girl who has grown up in a rough environment, feeling unloved by her mother and abandoned by her father. Her grandfather who is the only person who she can really connect with gets sick and is moved to a nursing home, making her life even harder. She begins to develop a friendship with a little African-American girl named Fancy. Fancy's life is everything she could imagine. Loving mother, big fancy house, and she is strong. Through the story, Amelia deals with her own issues, while gaining some of Fancy's positive traits. It's definitely a story about becoming an young- adult and the struggles that come with it. Great Book!

Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com

In a small town in New York in the 1960's lives Amelia Earhart Rye. She has no friends, her mother's mean, her father is MIA, her brother is in jail, and her sister is in an insane asylum. Her only bright piece of hope is her grandfather.

Her grandfather tells her all the time that she only needs one true friend to make her life better. When Fancy Nelson moves into town, the first African-American that Amelia has ever seen, the two become friends and Amelia begins to take a serious look at her home situation. As the two spend more and more time together, however, Amelia begins to see bullies cutting off Fancy's braids to insult her and other racial acts that are cruel.

Instead of being knocked down and offended by them, though, Fancy stands tall and looks on the bright side of things. Can Amelia take a page out of Fancy's book and rise above her situation, as well?

THE PRIVATE THOUGHTS OF AMELIA E. RYE is a touching coming-of-age novel. The characters are multi-dimensional and memorable. The plot is well-developed and engaging, and the message in the novel is timeless. Those who like historical fiction, coming-of-age stories, and friendship tales will all enjoy reading this book. ( )

Amelia has had a hard life. It seems her mother didn't really want her. Her Grandpa Thomas loved her and took care of her. Amelia is a loner and the reason is because her mother dresses her in her older sisters old clothes. Everyone make fun of her, that is until Fancy comes to town. Fancy is the only colored girl in her class. She has learned how to stand up for herself and immediately sees inside of Amelia and becomes her friend. Amelia loves Fancy's life and would like luck to shine down on her just a little. As her friendship with Fancy grows she discovers a lot of things about her family she'd never known before. She also learns what real love from a mother is. I didn't think I was going to like this book at first but found I really did enjoy it. It made me look at Amelia's family and think that hidden inside the mess was something that people on the outside couldn't see. Maybe it is that way with some of my students who live in just as big a mess and so therefore maybe there is hope for happiness for them too. ( )