So, in Ingrid's family, there's this table. Travelling seemingly unnoticed to the various family events that take place each year, it's been dubbed The Kid Table, and Ingrid and five of her closest cousins have gathered that table for years.There's Brianne, the oldest of the group who's studying Psychology at Pepperdine University and spends every spare second psychoanalyzing every person she comes in contact with.There's Dom, who's gay, only he's never come out to anyone other than the members of The Kid Table. He desperately wants to come out to those at the Adult Table, but he's not quite figured out how.There's also Autumn. She's kind of the mother of the group; she retains order and keeps everybody happy, including cousin Katie who doesn't get a big introduction because she's four. There's Cricket, who is Ingrid's closest friend as well as her cousin. She plays a lot of tennis and has an eating disorder that her parents refuse to acknowledge.And then there's Micah, who doesn't really know who he is, so he spends most of his time trying to become someone -- anyone. Like I mentioned earlier, this quirky bunch has been gathering around an old, dog-chewed Kid Table (or some version of it) for years, and Andrea Seigel's story travels swiftly to each of these family events as the kids meet up, starting with an uncle's bar mitzvah. The thing is, at this bar mitzvah, Brianne gets bumped up to the Adult Table, and no one knows why. The synopsis would have you believe that the story revolves around how Ingrid figures that very thing out, but I don't think so. It's much bigger than that. Because, see, while at the bah mitzvah, Ingrid falls for Brianne's boyfriend Trevor, and she spends the next several family events dealing with that.This is the first book I've read by Seigel, but I figure if she can develop this many characters in every book she writes, I'll have to become a fan. I also enjoyed the format of the book. The 300 pages covered nearly an entire year of family holidays and parties, and ended with one of the most dysfunctional gatherings I've ever read about.I wouldn't call it a page turner or a must read, but it's realistic and funny, which is good enough for me. 4.5 starsI really really enjoyed reading The Kid Table. I have always loved Ms. Seigel's writing ever since I picked up Like The Red Panda back in high school and found it borderline life changing. Her unique leading female characters feel completely and effortlessly real. The story kept me interested and entertained and now feeling pretty bummed out that the last page has been turned (and I honestly haven't had that 'I'm so sad it's over, I'm gonna miss those guys' feeling after finishing a book in quite some time).
What do You think about The Kid Table (2010)?
Too much swearing. But other than that, it was interesting—quirky and dynamic. Very unexpected.
—Wolf
Drags on and not that interesting, but I finished it. End was the best part.
—stbk09
Easy teen book. Not fanciful. Truthful without talking down to a teens.
—laipodxx
