Reviews (2)

Good book for kids
Good book. It tells you about your parents being divorced and helps you know what to do. The little girl goes places with her mom but lives with her dad. ~ED (7 years old)

Diverse family roles
This is a great book for CDA requirements as well as a wonderful resourse for divorced families. The main character of the book lives with her father in a post-divorce family. The mother is very active and yet very supportive of her daugther. The father takes over the day to day needs and much more. A heart warming and comforting story appropriate for a child going through the divorce process. ... Read more

Book Description

Clowning Around...

In this third installment of the Guy series, Guy Strang thinks that nothing could be worse than his parents getting divorced, until his crazy mom drops the bomb -- she's getting remarried! And not to just anyone. Her intended is a professional clown named Jarry -- Jerry Zuckerman, father of Lana Zuckerman, the meanest, toughest girl in school. Guy and Lana have never had anything in common before, but now they join forces to come up with a wacky, hilarious plan to stop the wedding. But can they pull it off before it's too late?

Reviews (2)

I fell in love with My Guy!
My Guy is a great book! It's very exciting and is very funny! It's sad and funny at the end. I haven't read any of the other 'Guy' books, but i probably will since this one was so awesome!

My Guy, MY BOOK. NO, you can't borrow it, buy it yourself.
I don't want to give the book away, like some nemrods, so I'll keep it short and simple. This book is really really good! Definitely one of the funniest I have ever read. You could hear my giggles and laughs all through the house, this is what makes reading fun. ... Read more

Book Description

For as long as I can remember, It's just been Daddy and me. I can't remember my mother. I was told she died in an accident when I was four, and that's all I know about her. I don't understand why there isn't even a picture of her. The other thing I don't understand is why we're always moving -- different towns -- with no explanations. I know something is wrong. It begins with my birth certificate-- my only link to my mother. Then I overhear a conversation: "Tell terri the truth ," Why are we moving all the time? Are we running away from something or someone? What kind of secret is Daddy hiding...and why can't he share it with me.

Reviews (11)

Suspensful and interesting Taking Terri Mueller
I read the book called "Talking Terri Mueller" by Norma Fox Mazer. Terri is a young girl who lives with her dad. They are always on the move and Terri just goes along with it. Her father tells her that her mother has died in a car crash and she takes his word for it for almost her whole life. They find a nice apartment and almost buy it but decide to give it to the next person in line who's name is Nancy. She is very pleased and invites them to dinner. Terri's dad and Nancy are very close from then on out. Terri really never had any family except for her Aunt which she hardly ever sees. She comes around about once a year. There are no pictures of any family members but of her and her dad. She hadn't even known what her own mother had looked like. She had never asked any questions why they didn't have any either. When Terri meets another girl by the name of Shaundra she starts wondering about if she had family. Shaundra is always asking her questions. Her aunt calls her from a pay phone which gets her wondering about her family even more. She didn't know where her aunt had lived or had been or why she was calling from a pay phone. Her aunt had told her that she was coming to visit and Terri was very excited. The time that she was there passed very quickly. The last night she over hears her dad and aunt talking about things that Terri had never knew. Terri searches around for clues about her family and when she does find out about it she is very stunned. If I were to rate the book on a scale of 1-10 I think I would give it an 8. It was very suspenseful and kept me reading throughout the whole book. I would recommend this for any age group because it didn't have a certain type of subject for a certain type of people. I thought that the book kept you wondering what was going to happen almost through out the whole thing.

a must-read book for searching teens.
this book is about terri meuller who had always lived w/ his father since she was a kid. Her dad had told her that her mom had died in a car accident since terri was just a baby. Moving from one place to another, she was eventually bothered by all these instances, where they dont have a permanent home, she always had to transfer to different schools, meet different classmates and neighborhoods. Her dad's sister, vivian just visit them once a year, and stayed for only few days. she was never satisfied w/ this set-up. Until one time when her aunt vivian visited, she overhead her and her dad talking about telling a secret to terri coz she needed to know. terri became so curious that she even opened the locked box of her father, thinking that she might find something there. She was never wrong, coz she found some pictures which proved that her mother was still alive! She had the courage to ask her dad and aunt vivian about her, and after so many denials and hesitations, they finally told her the whole truth; that her mother was still alive and living in another state w/ her new family. She told her aunt that she wanted to see her mom, and so her aunt has arranged a vacation for terri meuller, so she can be w/ her mom for few months. her dad was deeply saddened by this, coz this was what he feared of, that one day when terri found the truth about her mother, she might take terri away from him, and this was not what he wanted to happen. He loved terri so much, but realized that terri has the right to see and to be w/ her mom. then the time has come for terri to see her mother. she was fascinated by her warmth, motherly-love, and care. her mom's new family gave her warm hospitality, and she really enjoyed her stay there. Within her months of stay her, she got to experience how it is to have a mother, they have already created a very wonderful bond as mother and daughter. When it was time for her to go back to her dad, her mother asked her if she wanted to stay w/ her...forever, means she would have to live w/ her mom, and leave her dad, and would just have to see him on few visits. when she got back to her dad, she told him about her mom's proposal, and she saw how devastated her dad was. anticipating the feeling on how it is to live w/ her mother, how much she misses her, she also thought about her dad; how he was there when she was sick, how they shared beautiful memories together, and how they have created a bonding like bestfriends, not just father and daughter. in the end, she decided to stay w/ her father, and just told her mom that she will just have to pay her some visits every year. the arrangements have settled and so terri had finally become so totally complete. she had her dad and mom, though not together, she at least knew she had the two special persons in her life right now.

An Exciting and Intriguing Read
This book was a terrific read with many suspenseful moments within. It's about a young girl (Terri) who has always lived with her father and thinks her mother is not alive. However, they are always moving from one place to another. This makes Terri very suspicious about who her father really is. She believes that her father kidnapped her from her mother and is just not telling her where she is. Norma Fox Mazer writes the story well enough so that readers will actually be able to put themselves in Terri's place, especially with all of the decisions she has to make along the way. This book is definitely a book I would recommend to young adults. This is because the author really puts into perspective what it would be like to move all of the time and believe your father might have done something in the past that has affected you, is affecting you, and will affect you. This is overall an exciting and intriguing read that is great for a wide variety of people.

taking teri muller
Taking teri nuller was a really good book.At first it was boring but then it got intresting int middle and the end.
This book was about a girl and her dad. They always moved around.Her dad told her that her mother was dead and she died in a car accident.When actually he took her from her mom because she was going to move to Italy and he thought that he would never see her again. When she first found out she was mad at him and wouldn't talk to him for a while.Then she went to live with her mom for Christmas and she wasn't going to go back with him but she decided to because she loved him and missed him.

Excellent book
Taking Terri Mueller has been the best mystery book I have ever read. I enjoyed it greatly, especially because I could not imagine if that happened to me, I don't know if I would have reacted the same way she did. The only person in her life that she loved and trusted ( her father) had kidnapped her and lied to her about her mother still being alive. It has a great twist to it and I find that is what makes this book appealing to teenager readers like myself. There are not many mystery book that I think teenagers enjoy, but I think they would this one. ... Read more

Book Description

All Curtis wants is a dog.

At the animal shelter, Curtis falls in love with Sammy, a friendly puppy with curly black fur, floppy ears, a wagging tail, and perfect white teeth. He's the best dog in the whole world.

At home, things are different-Sammy steals food and chews sneakers and toys-but Curtis loves him anyway. Then Sammy bites Curtis's mom, and Curtis has to face the fact that Sammy's not perfect after all.

Will Curtis have to give Sammy up? Or will he do whatever it takes to keep his dog?

Reviews (3)

Happy, Then Sad
In the beginning of the school year,I read this book.(I was in fourth grade)
This book is about a boy whose parents are getting a divorse. The boy gets a dog.The boy gets really close to the dog. But one day, the boy drops bacon on the floor, and when the boy trys to take it away from him, the dog bites him so hard, he goes to the hospital. His mom discides to get rid of the dog, and gets sent to a farm. Its sad because the boy say, "I will never have that warm feeling at my feet ever agein," or something like that.

A book for dog lovers
This is a book about a boy named Curtis and his brother Mitch.
Their mom and dad get a divorce. Curtis really wants a dog and his mom finally gives in. Curtis got a black dog named Sammy and
he loved it and it loved him.They went to his dads apartment and no pets where allowed. So his mom brings them home and Sammy bites everyone,so they wanted to take him back. What will happen
to Curtis and Sammy?

I really enjoyed this book because I love dogs very much. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs. What really made me enjoy this book was when Sammy chewed on Curtis' shoe. Another reason I enjoyed this because dogs are so cute when they are puppies.

One Small Dog
This is the story of a young boy, Curtis, dealing with the recent divorce of his parents. After some serious persuasion on Curtis' part, his mother decides to let him get a dog. After all, how much trouble could one small dog possibly be? Well, Curtis find's out that having a pet requires a lot of responsibility. Curtis learns alot in this story about the love of family. I found this book easy to read. As a teacher, I would suggest it to children struggling with the divorce of their parents. Overall it is a good book, however it is not a page turner. ... Read more

Book Description

Olivia & Maria are two young sisters who are coping with the recent divorce of their parents. Later, when their dad begins dating again, the sisters decide to make sure he's dating someone who is right for them too. When Dad does meet that someone, Olivia and Maria are happy. Then Dad announces his plan to remarry. Now the girls must cope with the experience of having a stepmother. Will she be like the wicked stepmother in the story, Cinderella? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Sympathy for the Devil!
I am a step-mother who is the luckiest woman on earth! I enjoy true love with my step-daughter, but have always been aware of the many pitfalls of being a step-parent. This book, The Not So Wicked Stepmother, A Book for Children and Adults, addresses all the most immediate reactions of a child facing the upheaval of "two" homes, parental dating, and how everything got so "weird". It helps that the author herself has literal experience with the dynamic, and it shows. The books shows the harshest changes a divorce can create - Dad moving out, the "new" home which must be created for him to share with his children, and all the feelings of anxiety that can visit children; how to sleep at night in a strange place, belongings split between two residences, etc. When Dad starts to explore a new social life with female companions, each step is explored in the most heartfelt, and comic, way. There is a very realistic ending that shows happiness and acceptance to new life and new loves.

Most children react suspiciously to strangers these days, none the least of which, may actually become a part of your family! I would recommend this book for Dad's to read to their children BEFORE the dating process has begun, and if possible, before leaving the home they share with their children. My husband and I searched high and low for a book as entertaining, realistic and sympathetic to new beginnings as this one, and wish we had found it sooner. The illustrations will keep your children's attention even when the text hits uncomfortably close to home. My step-daughter was seven when she got this book and it is still one of her favorites. She loves me to read it to her before bedtime, and laughs at the antics of the daughters in the story. I sincerely hope the author writes additional books exploring the subject. This book is worth your purchase - I doubt you will be disappointed. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful book, perhaps best for slightly older kids
This book isn't just for children, it's for grown ups too. Without mentioning divorce or separation explicitly, the book shows how parent and child move from the disappointment of losing the dream of a bright happy family, through a hard journey battling harsh conditions, finding small pleasures and patches of beauty, and coming through to a better time, where parent and child can feel their togetherness and love for each other. All this is expressed in the simple but symbolic story described in the official reviews above, with images perfectly suited to the depth of the tale.

When I opened the parcel from amazon and read this book, alone at first, I cried at the simple strength of the story. It is honest about how hard things are and lent me strength in it's final optimism: Rainy days don't last forever. All this without any of that sometimes too moralistic social realism of books for kids about divorce.

But - and this is a pretty big but - my then 4 y.o. daughter was completely uninterested in the book. She refused to let me read it to her more than once, and tells me it's BORING. Now, at five, she's moderately interested but only rarely wants to read it. Perhaps this is because the situation described is different from her own, she spends a week with each parent so isn't in the situation of the little boy in this story. Or perhaps the story is too simple and everyday, and the double meanings too subtle for a child. Perhaps the book would actually be better suited to an older child than to the traditional picture book audience?

A picture book my daughter and I have both enjoyed a lot is Babette Cole's "Two of Everything", which has a very direct and humourous yet real approach to children's parents separating. Despite my daughter's boredom with this book, I find books like these invaluable in helping me and my daughter come to terms with our new life. I wish there were more quality books for young children dealing with divorce and separation.

Changing Family
Emma Haughton has taken a very difficult subject and demonstrated a great deal of love and caring in her story. She shows that just because the people are changing, they can still have the true love for a person, as they always had in the past. This is a story that every child should hear. Whether it is their circumstance or that of a friend, this book shows that change doesn't have to mean loss. It can in fact build a stronger realationship. Read and enjoy, and maybe even learn from this story. ... Read more

Book Description

Dennis Doyle is feeling lucky. His landscaping business is thriving, his girlfriend loves him, he's got money in the bank, and the city bus that ran into him that morning left him alive and well. Soon he'll turn sixteen and buy himself a car. Everything is going his way. So when his buddies ask him to play poker, Denn says yes. The cards are dealt, the money is bet...and the worst possible thing happens. Denn wins.

And he likes it.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is an awesome book!
This is a very exciting book! Jack is the main character. He has a little sister named Annie. Jack didn't believe in Annie's little game. He knows she's a genius and that she has an imaginary friend, but he still doesn't believe in Sarah Sleigh from the 25th century. Was it Annie who took all those missing items or Sarah? This is an awesome book! I would recommend this to people because it's interesting right to the end. If you love mysteries, you'll love this book! ... Read more

Book Description

A story about a young girl trying to master her softball skills while coping with the changes in her life. Kelly Convoy is stoked for the upcoming softball season. Last year, her team, the Devil Rays, almost won the championship, thanks in large part to her stellar playing. She can't wait to rejoin her teammates and conquer the competition. Then the bomb is dropped-she's been assigned to another team! And that's not the least of her problems. Her mom, divorced from her dad for only two years, is spending all her free time with some guy Kelly can't stand. And on the field, Kelly finds herself facing a new windmill pitch she can't connect with. Suddenly, the best season of Kelly's life is turning into a nightmare . . . how will she be able to get back on top? ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A excellent book!!
Jubilee Journey is about a biracial teen who never really knew about her African-American heritage on her mother's side until she paid a visit to her great-grandmother, Mother Rose, in Dillion, Texas. She realizes that Texas is very different from Connectiut (her hometown) when certain things happen that makes her realize that she has a lot to learn about being black . A great sequel to White Lilacs , I think this book is very interesting and has a great plot.

A Long Journey to a Grand Jubilee
This book was excellent! I would have to say this is one of my favorite books! I would recommend it for the ages ten and up. It is easy to understand and it's very enjoyable! I like this book so much because, it tells the truth about the history of whites and blacks. It explains how girls and boys from the different races were raised. The black families were moved jout of the town they all loved. And, their churches were burnt down by whites. This book is familiar to a book I once read called Run Away Home. It's famiiar because the main character goes back to her home and her family. In this book Emily Rose, the main character, goes back to her family where her mother was raised after her mom died and her dad left. Although, she is not at her true home, she likes it and doesn't want to leave because she feels like she belongs there. This book is very much multicultural and the struggles of racism. It also tells of how people were mistreated. I loved this because because it touched me and made me realize how badly people got hurt from other people. I really learned a good lesson, that we need to treat all people of every kind equally. It will keep you reading on.

I thought this book was very good!
This book was easy to read and captured my attention. The characters are portrayed in depth and the story was very realistic. I can't think of anything bad to say about the book, but the ending was very abrupt. I'd like a continuation of this story.

A good book for some people may be a bad book for others
A book need not be either "Outstanding" or "Terrible." It can be both. I really enjoyed this book, but I know someone who hated it. While not a totally sit-back-and-relax type book, it does have a powerful message to convey, and yet it doesn't convey it in that throw-it-in-your-face-and-grind-it-in type way that some authors have of writing. Meyer writes about Emily Rose's struggle to find herself in an African-American community while she, herself, is half-black, half-white. Many black people don't consider her "one of themselves," but a lot of white people don't like her because she has some African blood. I really liked this book, but it certainly isn't for everyone. I would recommend it to an older reader rather than a younger one. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

How can teen lit be so good?
With a few exceptions, I read no teen literature-and Lurlene McDaniel is the biggest exception. Her books never fail to make me cry with her tender portrayals and realistic characters.

And I cried when I read about Carrie, a girl with leukemia who befriends a boy named Keith who suffers from cancer as well. Carrie's life and family were torn apart a few years before when her parents divorced angrily, and even now they are afraid to take her to clinics or cancer survivor picnics. Her ditzy mother is absorbed in her boyfriend and her job, and her father is absorbed in blaming her mother.

And Carrie finds a center of peace in Keith's family, which managed to stay together even in the worst times. But Keith is dying from a flare-up of his leukemia, and Carrie must learn to deal with it...

The writing is exquisite as usual, but McDaniel really outdoes herself in the last scene with Keith. Her language is beautiful and expressive, and I could actually see the characters' faces.

All readers will sympathize with Carrie and her broken home, and the parents who don't seem to care enough about what happens to her. A must-read for every teenager and adult alike.

NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP
i have read all of the lurlene mcdaniel books and i loved all of them!this one really got my attention though!its about a girl named carrie.her parents just got a divorce and it was tearing her up.Carrie was diagnosed with leukemia and went to a support group.there she gets to know keith gardner.his family becomes quitte close to carrie.keith gets an x-ray and finds he has a tumor in his stomach.the family goes to a camping spot while keith starts to slip away.in this carrie learns what a true family is.i realy recomend this book to all preteens and teens!10-17it really is a 5 star book!

Awesome book!
I have read the entire Lurlene Mcdaniel series, and the 'Clearwater Crossing' series. Lurlene Mcdaniel's books were such an inspiration, and it is an awesome series, as soon as you lift up the book, you can never put it back down. It's almost impossible to expect to read one of her books, and drop the series alltogether. This is for all ages, mostly teens, and helps out more than ever. She is an inspiring writer, and many writers should more often be like her, and writing books that do effect teens, and can help them.

Another poignant novel from Ms. Daniel
Carrie Blake is a fifteen-year-old who was diagnosed with leukemia three years ago. At that time, she also had to deal with her parents' divorce. She meets Keith Gardner, an athlete at her high school, who also had cancer, Hodgkin's disease. Both are in the hospital support group. They are both assigned to work on the picnic for cancer patients. As they get to know one another, both become great friends. Keith has a wonderful family who treats Carrie very kindly, while Carrie's parents are both seeing other people. But not everything is perfect for the Gardners. Soon, Keith's cancer returns, and there is nothing that can be done. Keith's family, and Carrie, have to learn how to live without him. This is a really great story, with plenty of emotion, as all of Lurlene McDaniel's books are.

WOW!!
As I sit here I have just finished the book not 10 minutes ago. My face is still tear stained. The book shook me to the core and mand me cry MANY times and is the best book i have ever read. The whole book tought me so much and opened my eyes. My dad has always told me 'the worst thing in the world for a parent to do is bury a child' and this book made me leave my room crying and hug my mom. Its so undiscribeable how this book touched me and how it made the think. This book is something every person should read adults and teens alike. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A coloring book for children going through hard times
I purchased this coloring book for my four year-old son who is having difficulty coping with my serious illness (five hospitalizations in six months). Reading the minimalist text of this coloring book to my son took a surprisingly long time because the text prompted so many in-depth discussions. My son took the activities in the book quite seriously.

I felt a real sense of relief after the above-mentioned discussions. I feel like someone has finally helped my son and I to deal with this emotionally painful experience. ... Read more

Book Description

"I'm Linda Clay McGee and I don't belong here."

Elsie McPhee and her brother, Tommy, are hiding a terrible secret. They've been kidnapped -- not by a stranger, but by their mother. It is lonely and scary always hiding, moving, and not being allowed to make friends or to talk to people. Elsie even remembers the kidnapping, but she's so scared of her mother, she can't say or do anything.

Then Tommy gets sick, and Elsie needs to get help -- fast. But that means she has to leave the apartment. What if she gets caught? Does Elsie have the courage to help her brother even if it means breaking her mother's rules?

Reviews (1)

An involving, moving story of parental kidnapping
Elsie and her younger disabled brother have been taken from their father by their mother - now they are leading a life hiding from family and all they have known. It's all up to Elsie to care for her brother, and when danger enters their lives, it's up to Elsie to make a decision which will change their paths forever. An involving, moving story of parental kidnapping. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One More Step Is a Boring Read
One More Step is about a boy named Julian. His family is going through a lot of problems, and he is stuck in the middle of it. He doesn???t know his real dad either. The person that he considers his dad and himself always get into fights. He rarely gets along with anybody in his family except his mom, and Julian is always getting in trouble. I didn???t really care for this book, because the plot is difficult to understand, and everything seems to be cluttered all together. I can???t really recommend this book to you because I don???t really like it. There might be better book out there. ... Read more

Book Description

Could life get any worse for a regular guy?

Thirteen-year-old Guy Strang's life seems to have turned totally upside down! Not only are his parents getting divorced, but he's also been asked out to the movies by fascinating, hair-flipping Autumn Hockney. There's just one problem: his best friend, Buzz, will desert him forever if he goes soft. Can Guy find a way to go out with Autumn without losing Buzz? Will his brilliant plan to reunite his parents succeed? And will he figure out what may be the most important thing of all -- what the heck girls mean when they talk about "guy time"?

Books for the Teen Age 2001 (NYPL)

Reviews (4)

Guy Time
Thirteen year old Guy Strang's life seems to be totally turned upside down. His parents got a divorce, and Guy thinks his mom is weird by wearing coffee cans to straighten her hair! Guy tries to find a way to get his parents back together. I'm 11years old, and I liked this book because it was funny. What makes this book funny to me is how the characters act, and the crazy things they do. This book is the sequiel to Reguliar Guy! I like all the characters in this book because the author has given each one of them a unique personality!

Good book, doesn't have enough excitement in it.
The book could be much better. It wasn't exactly the greatest book. It didn' have very descriptive language. Good story, but the author could have put more detail.

GUY TIME
Reginald Elsworth,5/31/01.The book that I read was Guy Time by:Sarah Weeks.I approve this book for readers who like to be sarcastic.This book was about a boy who has a hard time with life,and holds it all inside of him.If you are going to read this book,than you are going to savor this book and more than likely tell somebody ele about it.

Thirteen again....
Thirteen-year-old Guy Strang is not having an easy time of it. His parents have split up and his mom has begun dating. Guy himself starts to ponder the dating scene when a fellow classmate asks him to the movies. And so begins the comic, poignant tale of GUY TIME.

This is a book that made me remember what it was like to be 13 again. Sarah Weeks recounts every painful detail, embarrassing act and awkwardness of becoming a teenager for the first time. I especially enjoyed the subtle insulting humor that is so much part of the laguage of being a teen. And Guy himself is a smart, funny and sometimes painfully aware hero who somehow makes teen angst funny and sweet all at the same time. I have not had a chance to read any of Ms wek's other books, but now I'll just have to read them all. ... Read more

Book Description

At first, leaving home in the middle of the night seemed exciting to Sarah Jane, an adventure. It also seemed necessary. Sarah Jane had heard the arguments between her mother and father. She had seen the bruises shadowing Mama's perfectly made-up face. And when Daddy finally turned his anger on Sarah Jane, Mama seemed to wake up and decide that enough was enough. Now they're living at the Sweetwater Motel in Ohio, "The Heart of It All." For Sarah Jane, the adventure is over and reality has set in. Money is tight, nerves are frayed. Sarah Jane misses her best friend, her books, her grandma, the horse she always rode. She even misses her daddy, although she'd never dare tell Mama. As life becomes more difficult, Sarah Jane begins to regret their escape. Can a motel ever really be home? Can they be a family without Daddy? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Character to Fall In Love With!
Sarah Jane is a a girl after my own heart.

In this truthful look at a family gone wrong, we experience Sarah jane's pain and confusion about her father's abuse.

With humor and an understanding of human nature, April Young Fritz takes a hard subject and makes it accessible to mid-grade readers. A must-have for all middle school libraries. You will not be disappointed with this read! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Depressing - NOT for pre-teens
The 12-year-old protagonist is a loser, with miserable parents and cruel companions. The author sends him on a journey populated with unpleasant, scary characters. Each episode offers another bout of misery. Perhaps a 15-year-old reader (in the midst of adolescent angst) would identify with this pathetic soul -- but what 15-year-old wants to read about a suffering 12-year-old ? No pre-teen should be subjected to this depressing tale, no teen would be interested, and this adult found the book tedious and needlessly violent. Give it a miss.

A Great Head on his Shoulders!
I, for one, am glad that Sidney T Mellon was born with such a large head. Sidney needs that extra room to store his in-depth thought processes (and dual identities), his witty and articulate dialogue, and in order to maintain such a well developed sense of self and humanity. I loved this book. I have given it to friends (young and old) and they have all been touched by Sidney's sense of humor and his pain. Everyone has been inspired by his journey. That was one cross country trip (and book)I didn't want to see come to an end. ... Read more

Book Description

Twelve-year-old Willa Havisham is a classics reader, a cherry-cordial eater, and quite possibly the world's worst wisher. But when she and her glamorous single mother, Stella, move to Bramble, Cape Cod, Willa's wishes are beginning to come true: She makes her first-ever best friend, Tina. She bonds with her hip, candy-making nana. And best of all, steely Stella is falling for Willa's English teacher, Sam -- he's perfect dad material! But before Willa can marry off her mother, or dance with her adorable crush, Joseph, a pit gets stuck in the wishing well....

Can Willa undo the damage before Stella misses her chance to say "I do"? Find out as Coleen Murtagh Paratore unveils humor, hope, and lots of love in one hopelessly romantic modern fairy tale! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Elegant
This book was beautiful. It has an enchanting cover and fine details throughout, such as cursive script for the chapter titles, little curves outlining the page numbers, and beautiful poetry to start each chapter; it's made up with details that make the book just .. beautiful. I felt 'rich' reading it - it's hard to describe, but the book and its setting (Cape Cod), made me feel elegant. The main character in the book is Willafred (Willa). Willa is 12 years old, and is struggling to find her identity; her mother constantly uproots them from city to city and Willa wants stability. Although her mother, Stella, is a wedding planner, Stella doesn't have love in her life, and Willa's fondest wish is to see Stella happy and married. Willa does a bit of matchmaking between her mother and Sam Gracemore, her English teacher. Stella is a very unlikable character; I wasn't interested in her happiness at all, and thought she could have been portrayed with more fullness. The picture we get of Stella is very removed, and even though Willa is the narrator, she does a poor job describing her first-hand relationship with Stella. The writing is very mature; what I mean by that is that the book really didn't seem suited to your average 12 year old girl. Despite the fact that Willa is 12, the readers who will find this book of interest will be much older teen girls. And white girls at that. The book has a limited audience, and the feeling you get is that it was written for rich white girls; they will definitely be more apt to identify with it than any other group. I hope it gets read though, because its beautifully written and just makes you feel pretty.

Adorable New Book for Middle Readers
Twelve-year-old Willafred "Willa" Havisham has a passion for cherry cordials, classics, and is the worst wish maker in the entire world. That is, until Willa and her glamorous, wedding planner mother, Stella Havisham, move to quaint Bramble, Cape Cod. Suddenly, everything that Willa wishes for begins to come true: she has a best friend for the first time in her entire life, Tina. Stella is falling for "The Poet," also known as Willa's English teacher, Sam - who would make the best possible father in the entire world! Her crush, Joseph, seems to actually like her back, and she's finally getting the chance to bond with her candy-making Grandmother - who is actually quite hip. Willa couldn't be happier, that is, until she lets a secret slip, and suddenly her whole world - and that of the loved ones around her - is flipped upside down, leaving her with a HUGE amount of damage that only she can fix.

I loved the brief summary that I read about this book a few months ago, and must admit, that the cover illustration totally drove me wild - it's SO cute - so I knew that I would just have to read Coleen Murtagh Paratore's THE WEDDING PLANNER'S DAUGHTER, and boy am I glad that I did. Willa is the perfect character, smart, funny, cute, and super friendly. I loved the fact that she was a fan of the classics - so am I - as I found that I had read all of the books that she recommends to readers on the very last page. Paratore has done an amazing job with THE WEDDING PLANNER'S DAUGHTER, and I hope that she continues to write more about Willa's wonky adventures, as I'd love to give them a read.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper ... Read more