Koss, Amy Goldman. The Ashwater Experiment. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1999. ISBN: 0803723911
- Reader’s Annotation: What if none of this is real? It’s a thought that crosses everyone’s mind from time to time, but Hillary Siegal might just be starting to believe it.
- Plot Summary: Twelve-year-old Hillary Siegal has spent her entire life on the road: She travels the crafts fair circuit with her parents, living out of a camper, selling their creations in towns all across the country, and never staying in one place for more than a few months. And she likes it this way. She’d get bored if she had to stay in one place to long. But suddenly this is just what she’s facing–her father has lined up a house-sitting gig for them in Ashwater, California, and they’ll be living there for nine months. And something else is changing too–Hillary has just started to wonder if there’s a reason why she feels so different than everyone else she ever meets: Could it be that she is the only real person in the world? That everything she sees and all the people she meets are just created by a mysterious group of all-powerful researchers who want to study her reactions? It starts out as a game, a way to make sense of her feelings of isolation and difference, but gradually Hillary starts to believe in the Watchers. But how will living in one place, and maybe even making friends with some of the fake people surrounding her in school, change her and her life? Will Hillary ever start to believe in real life again?
- Critical Evaluation: A fascinating look at a way of life many of us fantasize about trying–moving from one place to the next with nothing but the bare minimum of belongings and no roots–The Ashwater Experiment is more than a typical story of growing up and fitting in. Hillary is a believable and well-drawn character, and is appealingly strong and brave. Her temporary belief that her life is just an elaborate experiment allows her to try new things boldly, to speak out with her true feelings to those around her–even the clique of popular, intimidating girls–and break out of her old habits in ways that readers will want to apply to their own lives.
- About the author: Koss has written several other novels about friendship and growing up, including The Trouble with Zinny Weston, and How I Saved Hanukkah.
- Genre: Friendship; Coming-of-age
- Curriculum Ties: none
- Booktalking Ideas:
- Reading Level/Interest Age: 5th-9th grade
- Challenge Issues: none
- Challenge Defense Suggestions: Though no challenge issues are apparent in this title, if the book were to be challenged, begin by reading it to become familiar with the content. Consult the ALA’s strategies for dealing with challenges to library materials for a helpful collection of information, advice, and links to other resources. In addition, review the library’s policy on challenged materials, and look for professional reviews of the book that could help justify its inclusion in the collection, or might explain how the questionable content is valuable. A starred review of The Ashwater Experiment from School Library Journal, and positive reviews from other journals such as Kirkus and Booklist, can be found at bwibooks.com.
- Reasons for Inclusion: I included this book because I enjoyed its treatment of feeling disconnected from life and those around you that many adolescents deal with. I used bwibooks.com to see how the book was received critically; it received favorable reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and others.
1) Talk about Hillary’s use of fantasy to make sense of her life
2) Discuss Hillary’s lifestyle with her nomadic, artsy parents–what would it be like to move constantly?
3) Talk about the contrast between Hillary’s life and the life her grandparents want her to have
4) Discuss Hillary’s idea that her classmates are always the same “types,” no matter where she goes
Meet in the Middle 