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Eggs
Nine-year-old David has recently lost his mother to a freak accident, his salesman father is constantly on the road, and he is letting his anger out on his grandmother. Sarcastic and bossy 13-year-old Primrose lives with her childlike, fortuneteller mother, and a framed picture is the only evidence of the father she never knew. Despite their differences, David and Primrose forge a tight yet tumultuous friendship, eventually helping each other deal with what is missing in their lives. This powerful, quirky novel about two very complicated, damaged children has much to say about friendship, loss, and recovery.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
339 people are currently reading
3961 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Spinelli
108 books3,951 followersWhen Jerry Spinelli was a kid, he wanted to grow up to be either a cowboy or a baseball player. Lucky for us he became a writer instead.
He grew up in rural Pennsylvania and went to college at Gettysburg College and Johns Hopkins University. He has published more than 25 books and has six children and 16 grandchildren.
Jerry Spinelli began writing when he was 16 — not much older than the hero of his book Maniac Magee. After his high school football team won a big game, his classmates ran cheering through the streets — all except Spinelli, who went home and wrote a poem about the victory. When his poem was published in the local paper, Spinelli decided to become a writer instead of a major-league shortstop.
In most of his books, Spinelli writes about events and feelings from his own childhood. He also gets a lot of material from his seven adventurous kids! Spinelli and his wife, Eileen, also a children's book author, live in Pennsylvania.
He grew up in rural Pennsylvania and went to college at Gettysburg College and Johns Hopkins University. He has published more than 25 books and has six children and 16 grandchildren.
Jerry Spinelli began writing when he was 16 — not much older than the hero of his book Maniac Magee. After his high school football team won a big game, his classmates ran cheering through the streets — all except Spinelli, who went home and wrote a poem about the victory. When his poem was published in the local paper, Spinelli decided to become a writer instead of a major-league shortstop.
In most of his books, Spinelli writes about events and feelings from his own childhood. He also gets a lot of material from his seven adventurous kids! Spinelli and his wife, Eileen, also a children's book author, live in Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,272 reviews
December 22, 2019
This book was a lovely reminder to my uterus that I never want children. A heartwarming tale that made absolute sure my womb was closed for business. Truly capturing the essence of being a kid, that I want to never witness firsthand. Wonderfully enlightening on just how terrible being a guardian to a child-devil can be. #proud2bgay
June 24, 2008
This book is basically pointless, but it is very good!!!!!!
June 27, 2015
I loved Eggs. Loved, loved, loved it for its injured soul and complicated characters and simple imagery. I can see why many readers were put off by it and why it’s viewed as one of his minor novels: there’s a darkness and coarseness to the book. Its characters are often unpleasant, and there’s no riveting plot or easily summed-up moral.
The central characters of Eggs are nine-year-old Dave and thirteen-year-old Primrose. Both are dealing with some parental loneliness: Dave’s mom died in a freak accident and his dad works all day. The more his loving grandmother pulls him in, the further he pushes away. Primrose’s mother has a screw or two loose, and her dad disappeared, leaving nothing but a picture for his daughter.
And so the two are drawn together. It’s a strange relationship, but it’s the kind of strange that feels real. They sneak out and have mini-adventures each night, and kind-hearted eccentric “Refrigerator John” looks after them.
What I love about the relationship between Dave and Primrose is that it doesn’t feel out of a story book: The pair are wounded and neurotic, often lashing out at each other but quickly forgetting their feuds. Often characters in novels who suffer from loss (or absence) of family cope in noble ways that bring out their bravest and most independent personalities; they’re lovable and kind, because those are the heroes authors want us to root for. Eggs isn’t that type of book: Dave and Primrose turn their wounds into moodiness and desperation, not resolve and empathy — yet you still love them.
The book gracefully bounces from perspective to perspective, from scene to quintessential scene. The climax is moving and elegantly ties together many of the images and ideas Spinelli develops throughout the novel. The final chapter shifts the tone a bit too jarringly towards the optimistic, but still manages to feel honest.
I wish there were more books like Eggs, books that tackle complicated and dark issues like grief, healing, and loneliness with equally complicated and dark characters. It’s not for everyone, but I adored Eggs and will definitely give a few more Spinelli books a try.
The central characters of Eggs are nine-year-old Dave and thirteen-year-old Primrose. Both are dealing with some parental loneliness: Dave’s mom died in a freak accident and his dad works all day. The more his loving grandmother pulls him in, the further he pushes away. Primrose’s mother has a screw or two loose, and her dad disappeared, leaving nothing but a picture for his daughter.
And so the two are drawn together. It’s a strange relationship, but it’s the kind of strange that feels real. They sneak out and have mini-adventures each night, and kind-hearted eccentric “Refrigerator John” looks after them.
What I love about the relationship between Dave and Primrose is that it doesn’t feel out of a story book: The pair are wounded and neurotic, often lashing out at each other but quickly forgetting their feuds. Often characters in novels who suffer from loss (or absence) of family cope in noble ways that bring out their bravest and most independent personalities; they’re lovable and kind, because those are the heroes authors want us to root for. Eggs isn’t that type of book: Dave and Primrose turn their wounds into moodiness and desperation, not resolve and empathy — yet you still love them.
The book gracefully bounces from perspective to perspective, from scene to quintessential scene. The climax is moving and elegantly ties together many of the images and ideas Spinelli develops throughout the novel. The final chapter shifts the tone a bit too jarringly towards the optimistic, but still manages to feel honest.
I wish there were more books like Eggs, books that tackle complicated and dark issues like grief, healing, and loneliness with equally complicated and dark characters. It’s not for everyone, but I adored Eggs and will definitely give a few more Spinelli books a try.
August 31, 2016
Maybe I'll always have a soft spot for Jerry Spinelli's quirky children's books and characters. This book was sweet and real.
February 28, 2009
"I don't like you."
That's not something you expect friends to say to each other, yet that's the phrase David says to his friend Primrose just about every day. And Primrose pretty much deserves it; the two of them are actually pretty nasty to each other for people who really do like each other so much. They do everything together and bicker like siblings, and even though neither of them is a substitute for what each other lacks, they ease each other's difficulties just by being there.
David's mom died because someone didn't follow a rule, and his overwhelmed traveling father and his grandmother with a distant, tentative parenting style don't really know what to do with him. Primrose's dad isn't in the picture and her mother is such a crackpot that she'd rather live in a van outside the house (and she does). Together, the two go on nighttime adventures, hang out with Refrigerator John, and share their skills and fears.
One thing I love immensely about Spinelli's portrayal of these children is that they are inventive and quirky the way children really are, not in a storybook cutout way. I loved how Primrose buried herself in leaves because she felt like it, and how David had so many invented superstitions about his departed mother that comforted him in her absence. I loved how David braided Primrose's hair even when they were screaming at each other, and I loved that her being a thirteen-year-old girl and his being a nine-year-old boy made them such an unlikely but perfectly matched couple. And, of course, I love their secret desires: David wanting to see the sun come up with his mother, and Primrose still wishing to be read to sleep.
Spinelli's a master of writing about children and the occasional special adult.
That's not something you expect friends to say to each other, yet that's the phrase David says to his friend Primrose just about every day. And Primrose pretty much deserves it; the two of them are actually pretty nasty to each other for people who really do like each other so much. They do everything together and bicker like siblings, and even though neither of them is a substitute for what each other lacks, they ease each other's difficulties just by being there.
David's mom died because someone didn't follow a rule, and his overwhelmed traveling father and his grandmother with a distant, tentative parenting style don't really know what to do with him. Primrose's dad isn't in the picture and her mother is such a crackpot that she'd rather live in a van outside the house (and she does). Together, the two go on nighttime adventures, hang out with Refrigerator John, and share their skills and fears.
One thing I love immensely about Spinelli's portrayal of these children is that they are inventive and quirky the way children really are, not in a storybook cutout way. I loved how Primrose buried herself in leaves because she felt like it, and how David had so many invented superstitions about his departed mother that comforted him in her absence. I loved how David braided Primrose's hair even when they were screaming at each other, and I loved that her being a thirteen-year-old girl and his being a nine-year-old boy made them such an unlikely but perfectly matched couple. And, of course, I love their secret desires: David wanting to see the sun come up with his mother, and Primrose still wishing to be read to sleep.
Spinelli's a master of writing about children and the occasional special adult.
May 19, 2016
DNF at 42% through. The book was ok, but it wasn't enough for me to continue reading.
May 4, 2008
Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com
EGGS is a novel of lost souls--a boy who has lost his mother and a girl who wishes she could lose hers, both who more than anything need a human connection. For David and Primrose, that's easier said than done.
As their awkward friendship develops from a strange meeting during an Easter egg hunt to late-night worm catching and finally a trek along a railway line, they badger each other and fight and eventually find a sort of peace.
Most of the chapters focus on David, who is a hard character to like. Since the death of his mother, he has been obsessed with rules and rigidity. He turns the cold shoulder on his caring grandmother and deliberately provokes her, as well as pushing away any other kids' attempts at friendship. However, as he spends time with Primrose, who both fascinates him and angers him, her big-sisterly influence starts to soften him up. The way he deals with his pain and slowly comes to terms with it is heartbreaking and believable.
The novel is more about revealing the characters and watching them interact and develop than any specific event. Its slow, contemplative pace will appeal to thoughtful readers. But this book isn't a downer--between the spats and the melancholy moments there's plenty of humor to be had. The descriptions of the town are colorful, and the well-developed minor characters add extra life to the story.
Anyone who has lost a parent or been estranged from one will find much to relate to in EGGS. It hits readers with every emotion possible, from despair to hope, and entertains them along the way.
EGGS is a novel of lost souls--a boy who has lost his mother and a girl who wishes she could lose hers, both who more than anything need a human connection. For David and Primrose, that's easier said than done.
As their awkward friendship develops from a strange meeting during an Easter egg hunt to late-night worm catching and finally a trek along a railway line, they badger each other and fight and eventually find a sort of peace.
Most of the chapters focus on David, who is a hard character to like. Since the death of his mother, he has been obsessed with rules and rigidity. He turns the cold shoulder on his caring grandmother and deliberately provokes her, as well as pushing away any other kids' attempts at friendship. However, as he spends time with Primrose, who both fascinates him and angers him, her big-sisterly influence starts to soften him up. The way he deals with his pain and slowly comes to terms with it is heartbreaking and believable.
The novel is more about revealing the characters and watching them interact and develop than any specific event. Its slow, contemplative pace will appeal to thoughtful readers. But this book isn't a downer--between the spats and the melancholy moments there's plenty of humor to be had. The descriptions of the town are colorful, and the well-developed minor characters add extra life to the story.
Anyone who has lost a parent or been estranged from one will find much to relate to in EGGS. It hits readers with every emotion possible, from despair to hope, and entertains them along the way.
December 9, 2011
This story is going to sit with me a while. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Jerry Spinelli writes such interesting stories and he writes so well, but I rarely feel uplifted when I finish his books. I feel pensive and kind of sad. Maybe it's because so many of his characters are lonely or loners and/or misfits. Eggs has a more uplifting ending than Loser or Maniac Magee or Stargirl (in my opinion), but the happier ending seems abrupt. So much of the book is two lost characters - David and Primrose - trying to feel better and feeling so sad/angry that the switch felt too sudden. For me, at least.
That's not to say there isn't a whole lot to chew on. Big ideas: Loss, family, space, friendship.
I like the title. I think it fits well with the story, not just because David "meets" Primrose at an Easter Egg hunt or that Primrose's house gets egged. Eggs symbolize new beginnings, right? New life? And both Primrose and David are looking for new life. Eggs are delicate, but the shell is also relatively strong. We all need a tough shell to protect our sensitive insides. Primrose and David use their anger at people and each other as their tough shells. Eggs can also be destructive. Eggs can take the paint off of cars and houses! How can something that offers such hope for new life also be so destructive? Primrose and David seem to be destructive with each other at times but also they offer great hope for a new life.
Hmm.
I'm going to be thinking about this for some time.
That's not to say there isn't a whole lot to chew on. Big ideas: Loss, family, space, friendship.
I like the title. I think it fits well with the story, not just because David "meets" Primrose at an Easter Egg hunt or that Primrose's house gets egged. Eggs symbolize new beginnings, right? New life? And both Primrose and David are looking for new life. Eggs are delicate, but the shell is also relatively strong. We all need a tough shell to protect our sensitive insides. Primrose and David use their anger at people and each other as their tough shells. Eggs can also be destructive. Eggs can take the paint off of cars and houses! How can something that offers such hope for new life also be so destructive? Primrose and David seem to be destructive with each other at times but also they offer great hope for a new life.
Hmm.
I'm going to be thinking about this for some time.
May 31, 2024
Many years and a few thousand books ago, when my sons were young, I read and enjoyed just about everything by Spinelli. I hope that rereads are still satisfying/worthy. This one certainly should be, because it's not one of his oldest, iow he's had time to hone his craft.
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About 1/4 done. So far so good. David is a horror, but I'm sure he'll grow & learn, in his own way. And he is only nine.
Speaking of which, that's an age seldom actually written about. Transition books usually feature 6-7 year old children, and writers of juvenile novels seldom think that anyone under age 10 is interesting enough.
It is a difficult age to understand (and therefore to write about) because they're just beginning to get the idea that other people might have their own motivations & perspectives, and just beginning to get the idea that someday they'll have to grow up... and they're very confused by all that because the security of being just a kid is gone.
Spinelli is nailing it.
---
Ok done.
Wow. Better than I remembered. Love the characters and the writing. Not sure of the plot though.
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About 1/4 done. So far so good. David is a horror, but I'm sure he'll grow & learn, in his own way. And he is only nine.
Speaking of which, that's an age seldom actually written about. Transition books usually feature 6-7 year old children, and writers of juvenile novels seldom think that anyone under age 10 is interesting enough.
It is a difficult age to understand (and therefore to write about) because they're just beginning to get the idea that other people might have their own motivations & perspectives, and just beginning to get the idea that someday they'll have to grow up... and they're very confused by all that because the security of being just a kid is gone.
Spinelli is nailing it.
---
Ok done.
Wow. Better than I remembered. Love the characters and the writing. Not sure of the plot though.
July 29, 2008
9-year-old David is heartsore after the loss of his mother and resents his grandmother's attempt to make a normal homelife for him. His chance encounter with Primrose, an offbeat 13-year-old girl with a sham medium for a mother, leads to a quirky friendship that helps both young people come to terms with the harsh realities of their lives. David needs to cope with loss and learn to trust loving adults again while Primrose needs a normal relationship. Together and with the understanding help of Refrigerator John, a local handyman coping with his own disability, they forge a friendship that endures despite their age difference, anger, and mistrust. By the novel's end it is clear that both David and Primrose have learned to accept those things they cannot change and are ready to be a part of a loving family.
December 17, 2010
Eggs by Jerry Spenelli is an encouraging yet confusing book. They balance out perfectly to make an fantastic book.The main characters Primrose and David are torn damaged children that dont know which direction to go.This book takes place in modern time.These two children are missing something valuable in every childs life and that is FRIENDSHIP.Despite there differences of the 9 and 13 year old they learn to trust each other and fill that big gap that they are both missing.
Despite all of the points in this book the main one is get over your differences.These two got through these differences faster than most adults.Adults go through war before they get over differences.Another reason we cant get over differences is because we don't understand each other.
Despite all of the points in this book the main one is get over your differences.These two got through these differences faster than most adults.Adults go through war before they get over differences.Another reason we cant get over differences is because we don't understand each other.
August 24, 2022
Nice story with realistic characters
July 27, 2017
This book was incredible. I was wondering why I've heard so much, for so long, about Maniac Magee, and very little about this book. Then I thought maybe Maniac had been written a long time ago, so it's had lots of time to get good reviews. But (if Goodreads tells the truth) Maniac was written in 2002, and Eggs only five years later, in 2007. So I don't know why one is a Newbery winner, and the other... not. Because Eggs is great. The dialog between David and Primrose, the story of David's mother, and especially their "trip to the city", all are beautifully written.
October 5, 2020
Loved it! Very imaginative and I never would have expected the friendships in this story. The only reason I downgraded this book to four stars instead of five was the fortune-telling, even though I skipped those parts🙂. Overall, great story and I’d love to read more of Spinelli’s books.
January 20, 2013
I would think someone who lost his mother at age nine would make a much more sympathetic character, but actually NONE of the characters in Eggs are very likable at all.
David, who loses his mother to a freak accident almost a year before the book opens comes off not as a grieving child, but as hateful, ungrateful, and mean person with a LOT of twisted notions about death. The child really needs therapy! Unfortunately, what he gets is shipped off to live with his paternal grandmother while his dad works a new job 200 miles away and makes occasional week-end appearances (which we never see). One wonders if David's dad thought this through; but to be fair, everyone keeps him in the dark about what is really going on.
Grandma thinks she is showing love and patience, I guess, but not only does she fail to discipline her obnoxious grandson, she keeps his petulant and disrespectful behavior to herself, never alerting the child's father. Not only does she allow herself to be a perpetual doormat, she never seems to have a clue as David sneaks out night after night, runs around all over town, and certainly must return home filthy from his nocturnal "adventures."
Primrose, David's friend and accomplice, is yet another nasty piece of work, and her mother is another parent who fails to provide any structure or discipline (as well as being a kooky psychic).
Refrigerator John seems to be the most responsible adult around, but he allows David (9) and Primrose (13) to visit him at all hours, encourages their nighttime activities, and stocks up on pizza and soft drinks to encourage them to practically live at his home/business without bothering to mention this to either of their families. This would be really creepy in real life.
Even the police of the town seem off-kilter, treating the runaways like VIPs as David and Primrose return to a virtual heroes' welcome.
Spinelli is capable of much better writing. He really laid an egg with Eggs!
David, who loses his mother to a freak accident almost a year before the book opens comes off not as a grieving child, but as hateful, ungrateful, and mean person with a LOT of twisted notions about death. The child really needs therapy! Unfortunately, what he gets is shipped off to live with his paternal grandmother while his dad works a new job 200 miles away and makes occasional week-end appearances (which we never see). One wonders if David's dad thought this through; but to be fair, everyone keeps him in the dark about what is really going on.
Grandma thinks she is showing love and patience, I guess, but not only does she fail to discipline her obnoxious grandson, she keeps his petulant and disrespectful behavior to herself, never alerting the child's father. Not only does she allow herself to be a perpetual doormat, she never seems to have a clue as David sneaks out night after night, runs around all over town, and certainly must return home filthy from his nocturnal "adventures."
Primrose, David's friend and accomplice, is yet another nasty piece of work, and her mother is another parent who fails to provide any structure or discipline (as well as being a kooky psychic).
Refrigerator John seems to be the most responsible adult around, but he allows David (9) and Primrose (13) to visit him at all hours, encourages their nighttime activities, and stocks up on pizza and soft drinks to encourage them to practically live at his home/business without bothering to mention this to either of their families. This would be really creepy in real life.
Even the police of the town seem off-kilter, treating the runaways like VIPs as David and Primrose return to a virtual heroes' welcome.
Spinelli is capable of much better writing. He really laid an egg with Eggs!
April 12, 2008
A story of loss, friendship and emotional recovery. David, a 9 year old boy who is bitter over the loss of his mother, crosses paths with Primrose, a rebellious 13 year old girl who lost her father, one fateful day and the encounter changes their lives. They become friends, in a hate relationship, and stay out late garbage hunting. They are both sourpusses and often call each other names. They break their friendship one day after they verbally attack each others' pain of loss. Months pass before they reunite, and when they finally get back together, they learn to overcome their pain in heart touching scene and finally find happiness in their lives.
Jerry Spinelli's writing style is captivating and humorous, as he brings the characters to life in this novel about life's ups and downs. He shows the fruiting relationship between two people who are recovering from the loss of a loved one. One of my favorite scenes in the book, a fairly light-hearted scene,is when Primrose's fortune-telling mother is reading David's foot. Her mother says to David "You lucky buck,you are going to have a long and-" when suddenly Primrose buts in shouting "a long and happy life. Now come on," where she then proceeds to drag David to her room to talk. This is an excellent read and is worth every penny.
Jerry Spinelli's writing style is captivating and humorous, as he brings the characters to life in this novel about life's ups and downs. He shows the fruiting relationship between two people who are recovering from the loss of a loved one. One of my favorite scenes in the book, a fairly light-hearted scene,is when Primrose's fortune-telling mother is reading David's foot. Her mother says to David "You lucky buck,you are going to have a long and-" when suddenly Primrose buts in shouting "a long and happy life. Now come on," where she then proceeds to drag David to her room to talk. This is an excellent read and is worth every penny.
March 20, 2021
I remember that the reason I got this book was because I was going through a phase of reading young adult books about depression and I remember this one being recommended consistently. I remember this quite clearly but at this point I wonder if I'm right. This was not the book I thought I was going to (through no fault of the author) but it was still a nice read. It felt like listening to this little kid going through something impossible and just wanting to hug him and tell him he'll be okay. It was sweet and honest. And it just left me was a somber but warm feeling in my heart. The only other spinelli book I've read is stargirl and that was all the way back in elementary school. I don't remember much if any of the content but I do remember that feeling. This brought me back to that exact same feeling.
September 2, 2020
This book was so good, I finished it in two sittings!
March 4, 2019
This is the story of struggling to come to terms with the loss of a parent and the friendship that gets you there. David is a nine year old boy who has lost his mother and is finding it hard to move on. David and his father have moved in with his grandmother so she can help his father with David while his father works. David meets a thirteen year old girl named Primrose who is a little different in her own way. Together they help each other. A wonderful story of love,loss and friendship.
September 14, 2018
This book was an alright read. Probably more enjoyed by middle grade readers than myself. The characters are quite quirky, so when I realized this is the author of Stargirl I kind of nodded my head that it made sense. (Although characters in both are quirky I liked Stargirl a lot more.)
September 7, 2021
Eggs had a promising beginning but quickly became annoying. Primrose (13 yo girl who hates her quirky mother) and David (9 year old boy who recently lost his mother) strike up an unlikely friendship. The two are initially cute and I felt sympathetic to them. But I was quickly turned off by their constant bickering and the fact that they snuck out every night (a 9 year old!) to either wander the streets looking for trash or to hang out with a single adult man at his house alone. Um what? I’m thoroughly confused as to what was the point of this book.
June 16, 2015
Being able to travel to a different state with just your best friend at such a young age may seem almost impossible. That is, until you meet David and Primrose. David is an eight year old boy who has lived without a mother for a while, but is new to the town. Just when he gets as lonely as humanly possible, he meets Primrose; an outgoing 12 year old girl, who always loves to be in charge. They travel around town together, having fun, but at the same time, looking for Primrose's missing father. If the reader is can suffer through reading a book without any big surprises or events that occur, then they will enjoy some parts the story about these quirky characters, and have their lives forever changed.
If you have a hard time focusing while reading, then Eggs is probably not the book for you. This book made me fall asleep, and think about other things. It can be very boring at some parts. The main problem was that there were no problems. No conflicts or big events came up. The most suspenseful thing that happened was not knowing where Primrose's father is, and who the waving man is. But the way the other wrote it didn't give me suspense. Have you ever seen a reality TV show, like the Kardashians? Where all it it's about is their lives with nothing really interesting? Well that's how I felt while reading the book. It was just "this happened, then this, then this..."
It may be easy to drift off, but the realistic characters will keep you ready. There's nothing worse than reading a book with characters who are all the same, where all the kids are attractive, and don't make any mistakes. There's one part in eggs where David and Primrose go to a worm garden, but they aren't really allowed to be there. They almost get caught, and would have gotten in a lot of trouble. David has many characteristics. He may make mistakes, get so mad at his parents that he thinks he has to run away. He even takes a journey away from home with Primrose. But, he cares a lot about Primrose and his family, and inside is a loving, caring boy.
If your feeling upset or unhappy with your life, then you should read this book. It made me realize how fortunate I am that I have a family that loves me. When reading the beginning, I was jealous that Primrose and David could do pretty much whatever they wanted, and that they had so much freedom. My parents always tell me "don't to this" or "no doing this", like I was a five year old. David and Primrose could hang around town together, and even stay up until 2 in the morning watching TV. But, when I realized that they didn't have family who truly loved them, it made me realize how fortunate I am. They don't have parents who can protect them, and I do. And that's what my parents are doing. They are protecting me. It made me realize how fortunate I am to have not lost a lot of family members. I have a mother who loves me, and family who will always be there to protect me.
I recommend this book to anyone who is able to keep reading a book, even with no big events that occur. The ending will show you how important family is, and you will love the unique characters.
If you have a hard time focusing while reading, then Eggs is probably not the book for you. This book made me fall asleep, and think about other things. It can be very boring at some parts. The main problem was that there were no problems. No conflicts or big events came up. The most suspenseful thing that happened was not knowing where Primrose's father is, and who the waving man is. But the way the other wrote it didn't give me suspense. Have you ever seen a reality TV show, like the Kardashians? Where all it it's about is their lives with nothing really interesting? Well that's how I felt while reading the book. It was just "this happened, then this, then this..."
It may be easy to drift off, but the realistic characters will keep you ready. There's nothing worse than reading a book with characters who are all the same, where all the kids are attractive, and don't make any mistakes. There's one part in eggs where David and Primrose go to a worm garden, but they aren't really allowed to be there. They almost get caught, and would have gotten in a lot of trouble. David has many characteristics. He may make mistakes, get so mad at his parents that he thinks he has to run away. He even takes a journey away from home with Primrose. But, he cares a lot about Primrose and his family, and inside is a loving, caring boy.
If your feeling upset or unhappy with your life, then you should read this book. It made me realize how fortunate I am that I have a family that loves me. When reading the beginning, I was jealous that Primrose and David could do pretty much whatever they wanted, and that they had so much freedom. My parents always tell me "don't to this" or "no doing this", like I was a five year old. David and Primrose could hang around town together, and even stay up until 2 in the morning watching TV. But, when I realized that they didn't have family who truly loved them, it made me realize how fortunate I am. They don't have parents who can protect them, and I do. And that's what my parents are doing. They are protecting me. It made me realize how fortunate I am to have not lost a lot of family members. I have a mother who loves me, and family who will always be there to protect me.
I recommend this book to anyone who is able to keep reading a book, even with no big events that occur. The ending will show you how important family is, and you will love the unique characters.
February 5, 2010
I had mixed feelings about this book. The two young protagonists just weren't very likeable. I tried to be sympathetic of their hardships, but they were so mean to each other and most of the people around them, I found it hard to feel much affection for them.
I felt especially sorry for David's grandmother who obviously loved him very much and was pretty much trying to fill the role of mother and father in his life but was treated with so little respect by David. On the other hand, I was bothered by her lack of awareness of David's activities. Nine year old David is sneaking out of the house most nights, sometimes being gone the entire night, and she was oblivious.
Refrigerator John was the only character I liked without reservation. I was hoping he would hook up with Grandma. Maybe in the sequel!
I listened to the audio of this book and wondered how much the delivery of the readers altered my opinion of this book. I'm not sure my own head's voice would have made these kids quite so whiney and irritating.
I felt especially sorry for David's grandmother who obviously loved him very much and was pretty much trying to fill the role of mother and father in his life but was treated with so little respect by David. On the other hand, I was bothered by her lack of awareness of David's activities. Nine year old David is sneaking out of the house most nights, sometimes being gone the entire night, and she was oblivious.
Refrigerator John was the only character I liked without reservation. I was hoping he would hook up with Grandma. Maybe in the sequel!
I listened to the audio of this book and wondered how much the delivery of the readers altered my opinion of this book. I'm not sure my own head's voice would have made these kids quite so whiney and irritating.
May 17, 2012
Reading a story where the two main characters are supposedly friends, yet treat each other so horribly, isn't my idea of a good time. Primrose was especially nasty (I had a childhood friend whose father had left the home and whose mother was an alcoholic, always passed out on the couch when we went to visit - she was a nice girl, so can't figure out the reasons P was so nasty, despite the book trying to imply it was because of her home situation) and David needed some severe discipline to remedy his hateful behavior toward his grandmother (he was described in the synopsis as "timid", but was continually outrightly rude the woman).
I'm not quite sure if there was supposed to be more behind the story -- some undecipherable allegory or morality tale -- but every page was an unpleasant place to be. NOt recommended; I will still give his "Stargirl" a chance, since people keep saying he's a good author, and everyone's entitled to one flop (like J. C. Oates' recent novel, "Mudwoman" - couldn't do anything after the frist few chatpers but skim through to the end with that one).
I'm not quite sure if there was supposed to be more behind the story -- some undecipherable allegory or morality tale -- but every page was an unpleasant place to be. NOt recommended; I will still give his "Stargirl" a chance, since people keep saying he's a good author, and everyone's entitled to one flop (like J. C. Oates' recent novel, "Mudwoman" - couldn't do anything after the frist few chatpers but skim through to the end with that one).
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December 1, 2015Eggs was a pretty good book. This book really emphasized the meaning of friendship. David,the protagonist, has lost his mother and believes if he follows every single rule his mother will come back. Primrose,another main character, does not have her father in her life and her mother is a fortune teller who Primrose in the beginning describes her as 'crazy'. The thirteen your old girl and the nine year old boy ironically become the best of friends. There are many conflicts between them, but soon get over it. They both show that friendship can overcome fear and sadness.
April 12, 2019
A story about an unconventional friendship between two kids, one a 9 year old and the other 13.
David is having a hard time dealing with his mother’s death and is attempting to follow every rule so his mother comes back.
Primrose on the other hand grew up with a single mother who tells fortunes for a living and doesn’t take care of her only child as she’s supposed to.
Both children despite their quirks make friends and find solace in each other’s friendship.
Not necessarily a GREAT children’s book but overall a nice story.
David is having a hard time dealing with his mother’s death and is attempting to follow every rule so his mother comes back.
Primrose on the other hand grew up with a single mother who tells fortunes for a living and doesn’t take care of her only child as she’s supposed to.
Both children despite their quirks make friends and find solace in each other’s friendship.
Not necessarily a GREAT children’s book but overall a nice story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2008
I just read this over Thanksgiving break. And my dad read it too. I love the author, though I've only read, let's see, 4 of his books. Eggs is truly unique. It covers friendship, death, hope, and kindred spirits.
April 4, 2017
It was SUCH A CUTE BOOK! The ending didn't really close up the book, but it left happy thoughts of what will happen to the main characters in the future.
August 21, 2024
So this book's pages and spine are absolutely destroyed from how much I have read this amazingness.
David reminds me of how I was in middle school, a rule follower but also a complete turd to everyone. I love him and want to adopt and take care of this little boy.
Primrose is who I WANTED to BE in middle school, lemme tell ya. I loved her can-do attitude and just a snarky teenage attitude in general. I wanted to have her camper and outfits so bad.
Looking back, and as a wanna-be psych major, I can see how the characters are definitely the product of their upbringing and just are two broken kids who find someone to have a sibling bond with.
This book is just so cute and also eerie from the blatant child neglect and wellness that is completely overlooked but hey I am not complaining.
David reminds me of how I was in middle school, a rule follower but also a complete turd to everyone. I love him and want to adopt and take care of this little boy.
Primrose is who I WANTED to BE in middle school, lemme tell ya. I loved her can-do attitude and just a snarky teenage attitude in general. I wanted to have her camper and outfits so bad.
Looking back, and as a wanna-be psych major, I can see how the characters are definitely the product of their upbringing and just are two broken kids who find someone to have a sibling bond with.
This book is just so cute and also eerie from the blatant child neglect and wellness that is completely overlooked but hey I am not complaining.
April 23, 2017
It was an ok read. Its basically about the loss of a parent, strange friendships and coming around and living life. The main character is just mean. His friendship with Primrose is not the nicest. Honestly, I didn't like either character because of their awful behavior, which I think took away from the story. Sorry Jerry Spinelli, I do love most of your work but this one could have been much better.
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