Amazon.com's Best of 2001

They were just a soft, ordinary pair of thrift-shop jeans until the fourgirls took turns trying them on--four girls, that is, who are close friends,about to be parted for the summer, with very different sizes and builds, not tomention backgrounds and personalities. Yet the pants settle on each girl's hipsperfectly, making her look sexy and long-legged and feel confident as a teenagercan feel. "These are magical Pants!" they realize, and so they make a pact toshare them equally, to mail them back and forth over the summer from whereverthey are. Beautiful, distant Lena is going to Greece to be with hergrandparents; strong, athletic Bridget is off to soccer camp in Baja,California; hot-tempered Carmen plans to have her divorced father all to herselfin South Carolina; and Tibby the rebel will be left at home to slave for minimumwage at Wallman's.

Over the summer the Pants come to represent the support of the sisterhood, butthey also lead each girl into bruising and ultimately healing confrontationswith love and courage, dying and forgiveness. Lena finds her identity in Greeceand the courage not to reject love; Bridget gets in over her head with an oldercamp coach; Carmen finds her father ensconced with a new fiancée andfamily; and Tibby unwillingly takes on a filmmaking apprentice who is dying ofleukemia. Each girl's story is distinct and engrossing, told in a brightlycontemporary style. Like the Pants, the reader bounces back and forth among thefour unfolding adventures, and the melange is spiced with letters and wittyquotes. Ann Brashares has here created four captivating characters andseamlessly interwoven their stories for a young adult novel that is fresh andabsorbing. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell ... Read more

Reviews (554)

I really loved this book
I really loved this book. My friend had read it so I thought I'd give it a try. Well I did and I loved it! It's about these four girls. Lena's the pretty,keep to herself kind of girl, Carmen,nicknamed Carmen "Carmeena" is the rebel of the group, Tibby's basically the outgoing one who is "not a people person", and Bridget's the athlete who won't take no for an answer. Carmen and Lena are shopping at a thrift store when Carmen buys a pair of pants-baggy,faded jeans, nothing really specail about them. Teh day before they all depart for the summer, they decide that they're going to share the "traveling" pants. Lena takes them with her to visit her grandparents in Greece,Tibby gets them next,working home at Wallman's where she meets a girl named Bailey, who's basically a young Tibby, who's ill with leukimia,Carmen's leaving home to stay with her father , and Bridget brings them to soccer camp, where the pants bring her good luck each game. But Bridget really wants them to spark a relationship with Eric, one of the coaches, who Bridget wants to go out with.
this book is probably for girls ages twelve and up.That is the age apropriate level. This book is definitely girly-girl,so it's not the best book for book talks if your audience is made up of a lot of boys.
Hope you enjoy!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
This book was very different from any book I have read before. It is about four girls who have formed a tight friendship since birth...also known as "The Septembers." Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget are spending their first summer away from one another in 15 years. Lena is going away to Greece with her younger sister to visit their grandparents. While there she discovers the boy of her dreams; Kostos. Tibby is staying home and working while she meets a 12-year-old girl that she becomes friends with that is dying of Leukemia. Carmen is off to South Carolina to visit her dad where she shockingly discovers hers and his new family and life. Finally Bridget, she spends her summer in Baja, California in soccer camp, flirty as she is she meets an older consular that she just has to hang out with. Before their summer begins they find a pair of pants that Carmen decided to buy at a used clothing store. They each try on the pants and discover their magic, they look wonderful on whomever wears them. They make rules for these pants, such as never to wash them, and then are off on their separate ways for the summer. They mail the pants to one another and keep in touch via email and letters throughout the summer and wear the pants as their interesting stories develop separately.
I really enjoyed this book but felt frustrated when I wanted to continue reading about one girl and then it was switched to another. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys stories about friendship or teenagers and love. It was a quick read and kept your interest. Also there is a sequal, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, that is about their following summer.

A must read for all teenage girls
This is one of my favorite books of all time and one every teenage girl should pick up at some time or another. Brashares skillfully weaves together the tale of 4 very different girls' adventures over one summer bringing them together by the means of a magical pair of pants representing their friendship. while the idea of the magical pair of pants may seem a bit farfetched to some, this story couldn't be more true to teenage life. Both humorous and heartwrenching, i enjoyed every page of this book. i especially enjoyed the quotes that appeared at the beginning of each chapter. i think every girl can relate to one of the characters in some way or another. I find it almost scary how much i can relate to Lena. My two best friends (who are a lot like Tibby and Carmen) also love this book and we've started our own sisterhood v. similar to the one in the book, which has made us even better friends.

MUST READ FOR TEEN GIRLS OF ALL AGES
This book is an incredible look into the lives of 4 teenage girls as they face issues of their own and help eachother work through them. This is the best book I have ever read and I, like many teenagers do not like to read and finished this book within the first week I had it and right after I finished it I bought the sequel which is also incredible. I CAN'T wait for the third!!

I love this book!
"The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants?" you might ask.
All the people (well, at least, me.) who have read it will say "Yes. This is a great book. The idea is very creative. (Magical Pants?). The characters are fun and believable. Carmen, Bridget, Tibby and Lena were best friends since they could remember.
They always spend time together in the summer, but in this particular summer, they have to be apart. They discover that the pants Carmen had all along were magical!
They decided that the pants should be passed around the world to each other so they would be together without actually being together!
Ann Brashares is a great author, I could almost actually feel the sadness/anger/whatever emotions that the character is feeling!

This book is not like any other!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Great message for girls
Jada Pinkett-Smith is a terrific role model for girls.She is accomplished in her professional and personal life.Her book is another testimony to her great attitude for girls to follow.Any book that aims to help girls feel better about themselves and to stand up for themselves is commendable.

A Must
this book is a book everyone who has a daughter, niece, granddaughter, cousin..or even know a young girl or child should own. i would definitely recommend this book to EVERYONE!

pretty good
I found this book to be pretty good indeed, Nothing like a book to make one feel worth while, a truly feel good about yourself book, I would recommend this book to many females that just don`t have the self esteem that they should have, FOR WE ARE ALL WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

A recommendation from my point of view:
Poetry that holds, Stories untold,
Another wonderful book, that I would recommend to any and everyone!

A Luminous Tribute To Girls And Women Everywhere
"We are sisters of this Earth-members of one powerful tribe. Every color, age, and size, we're united by beauty inside." With girls comparing everything about themselves to others - and often forced to take a back seat to boys - books like this one are a treat. Author Jada Pinkett Smith celebrates women's diversity as well as our unity. We are magnificent, the author seems to be saying, each and every one of us. It's a thoroughly inclusive book; women and girls of all ages and ethnic backgrounds are lovingly photographed here. Delightful photographs illuminate the author's lovely, lyrical poem and show the many faces of girlish and womanly beauty. The effervescence of one cartwheel-performing child is simply delightful.

This is a book about warmth, caring, love, and the strength we get from female friends and family members. It's perfect for mothers and daughters to read together, and for girlfriends to share.

But it's not just a feel-good book. Feeling good about ourselves also takes effort: "We girls hold up this world as we build our self-esteem. We know that discipline will turn a princess into a queen."

Those who enjoy this book may also enjoy another picture book entitled: Ruby Lee the Bumble Bee - A Bee's Bit of Wisdom. In it, a young girl is encouraged to believe in her own abilities and inner strength. Books like Girls Hold Up This World and Ruby Lee the Bumble Bee are valuable tools in teaching children (especially girls) the importance of developing a strong character.

... Read more

Book Description

Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war. It's now 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews of Denmark are "relocated," Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life.


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Reviews (501)

NL-S Approved Book
Lois Lowry's book, Number the Stars, is the second best book about the Holocaust that I have ever read. This book is about Annemarie Johansen's family trying to help Ellen Rosen's family get away from the German Nazis. On the way to her uncle's boat, Annemarie is stopped by two Nazis and is late to deliver a special package. The Rosens are brought safely to Sweden where they could live without having to worry about the Nazis.

I relate to Ellen Rosen in several ways. One way is that I am part Jewish and my family went through the Holocaust. Annnemarie's family helped them to escape to freedom and some family helped mine escape. Another way I relate to Ellen is that by the description of her personality and ways, we are kind of the same.

I felt this book helped me to see what was actually happening during the Holocaust. I have read this book many times other the last several years of my life, realizing more and more what actually happened. The way Lois describes the setting really helps you visualize the scenes. She describes her scenes with easy understandable words and life like similes. I recommend this book to teenagers but anyone could read it because it is easy to understand and easy to follow. If you like books on the history of the world, read this book because it is a very good reference to the Holocaust.

Number the Stars
Remarkable, intense and suspenseful are just three of millions of words that describe this book. The book has a groundbreaking plot and keeps you in suspense after every chapter. Read Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. This story depicts a struggle between a brave girl named, Annemarie, trying to help her best friend, a courageous girl, Ellen, a Jewish neighbor. This touching book takes place in the year 1943 when Annemarie and Ellen are fighting for freedom from the Nazi soldiers in Copenhagen, Denmark. When the soldiers invade Annemarie's house, Ellen was disguised as Lise,Annemarie's older sister. Will the soldiers find out who Ellen really is? Lois Lowry wrote very simply, but is very well organized. She keeps you in suspense after every chapter. Read this book and you will find yourself sitting at the edge of your seat. Will Annmarie help Ellen and her family escape the Nazi soldiers?

History lesson in an exciting form
As Hitler secretly prepared to round up all the Jews of Denmark, someone (to this day no one knows who, although there are some theories) warned the government. The result is that almost all of the 7,500 Jewish people living in Denmark managed to escape the country in the space of a few days, even though the country was already under the occupation of watchful Nazi troops.

This book is about that escape. Annmarie is 10 years old and lives in the same appartment building as her best friend, Ellen, who is Jewish. One day, Ellen's parents must flee and Ellen moves in with Annmarie and pretends to be her dead sister. Annmarie, her parents, and her little sister must band together with the rest of the Danish resistance to get Ellen to safety.

This is an exciting, fast-paced book about bravery and doing what's right. The characters are very realistic and human. This is an inspiring story for any child, and it teaches a very interesting history lesson to any adult who might not know the story of how practically no Danish Jews died under Hitler.

girls in a really hard place to be
This book is exciting and scary. To think girls really had to llive like this is sad but it is a good book. I liked the way they took in the girl to stay with them and the way a girl had to do something scary to try and save her firend form the nazis. If you like this book you will also maybe like other books about girls in hard places to be like Camp of the angel and the bears house as well as pictures of hollis woods.

Cool Book!!! Ever!!!
This is a great book it is funny at some parts, but the rest is all sad. I think it is so cool at every part!!! Ithink everyone should read this book!!! ... Read more

Book Description

We are going to Hamburger-a-gogo land! We are going there so that I can follow the Luuurve God, Masimo. He has gone to visit his olds, leaving me, his new (and lurker-free) nearly girlfriend, in Billy Shakespeare land. So he thinks! Imagine how thrilled he will be when I pop up where he is and say “Howdy!” Or whatever it is they say over there.

Let the overseas snog fest begin!!!

Georgia can't wait to visit Hamburger-a-gogo land with Jas in tow so she can finally track down Masimo, the Italian-American dreamboat. But after a long week in America, Georgia only succeeds in learning importantish things -- like how to ride a bucking bronco -- before she's dragged back to England by Mutti and Vati. Will Georgia be able to reel in the Italian dreamboat, or is she destined to live forever all aloney on her owney?

Reviews (3)

Greeeeeeeeat!
This book was soooo great! I've read all the books and I finally read the lastest one, And Then he Ate My Boy Entrancers and it was sooooo not a dissapointment.

As usual, Gerogia is full of hilariosity and her boy troubles countinue. Who will she pick? Robbie, Dave, or Masimo? Ohhhhhh...I'm rooting for Dave the Laugh. Although this latest book made me like Masimo and Robbie more than usual, haha.

Her trip in America is hilarious, although I think I can safely say that all of Ameica is not "Howdy" and Overalls. Looks like there will be another book!!! YAY! Can't wait!

can't wait!
I haven't read it yet because it came out today but i know it's about georgia going to america (hamburger-a-gogo land) to find massimo and apparantly jas tags along aswell. this whole series is unbelieveably awesome and hilarious. READ THEM IF YOU HAVEN'T!My sister is picking it up on her way home from work for me so i just can't wait!

I love the Georgia books
I think that this book will be hilarious just like all the others. They are the funniest thing i have ever read! i love them and i cant wait untill they come out! ... Read more

Book Description

CAN WOMAN EVER CONQUER MAN?

Queen Serpot rules the Land of Women, where the Amazon women live free, without men, and hunt and fight their own battles. But one day their peace is broken. An army of Egyptian soldiers is approaching their land, led by their prince, Pedikhons.

Pedikhons has heard stories of these warrior women. Now he has come to see them with his own eyes -- and to challenge them to combat. But the brave Serpot and her women are full of surprises. Can woman truly equal man in strength and courage?

This story of love and war is based on an actual Egyptian scroll from the Greco-Roman period. Hieroglyphic translations of key phrases, intricate paintings in the Egyptian and Assyrian styles, and extensive notes about both cultures enrich this fascinating, untold legend. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful and Edifying
Applause to Tamara Bower for bringing back to life a story heard by ancient ears.Her attention to artistic detail makes this book a visual feast.With all of the information included in this book it is interesting for children as well as for adults.
Thank you Tamara Bower for this treasure!

Beautifully told and illustrated
This story is an ancient tale with a modern sensibility. Two great leaders, a prince and a queen, who do not know much about each other at first, rise to battle each other, then learn to respect each other and join forces. It's a great story of adventure, empowerment and acceptance, beautifully told with Tamara Bower's rich, colorful, hieroglyphic style paintings. This is a great book for anyone who likes Egyptian art and classic storytelling. ... Read more

Book Description

Hiroshima-born Sadako is lively and athletic--the star of her school's running team. And then the dizzy spells start. Soon gravely ill with leukemia, the "atom bomb disease," Sadako faces her future with spirit and bravery. Recalling a Japanese legend, Sadako sets to work folding paper cranes. For the legend holds that if a sick person folds one thousand cranes, the gods will grant her wish and make her healthy again. Based on a true story, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes celebrates the extraordinary courage that made one young woman a heroine in Japan.

Includes instructions on how to fold your own paper crane!

"An extraordinary book, one no reader will fail to find compelling and unforgettable." --Booklist

* A Puffin Novel
* Black-and-white illustrations
* 80 pages
* Ages 8-12

* An NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
* A Child Study Children's Book Committee Children's Book of the Year ... Read more

Reviews (117)

Sadako and the thousand paper cranes
The book was interesting, because it had a good story line. I give this book three stars. This story was based on a little girl named Sadako. The book was about the past,on war. The story did not have much action in this book. It was a really good story. The cover of the book looked interesting and the name of it souned interesting. It was a sad story, it was about a radiation sickness an atom bomb droped on Sadako's home villiage. I recomend this book to evrey body!

Sadako's Life
I think that "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" by Eleanor Coerr is one of the greatest books anyone can read. Now Sadako is one of my favorite books. When I read the book I felt sadness in my heart. If you read this book I don't think you would ever forget it. Usually the books that I get are boring in the beginning but this book is exiting in every little detail. The story is about a little girl that named Sadako, and was two years old when the World War 2 had started. One of the bombs made her sick. Then she had to go to the hospital because of the sickness. I guarantee you that this book is great, aswome, and interesting. But in the end it's sad. So read this book if you want to find out more!!

Very important children's literature
I received this book free as a child when another one of my books (from a school book order) didn't arrive in time. Reading it really made a big impression on me and definitely gave me a perspective of the WWII that I would not have heard about in school. It is a short read, but really gets a lot of great information and emotion in that short space. To me this book is just as important reading as the Diary of Anne Frank.

A Wonderful Story
I read this book called "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" because it was so interesting and please buy this book!!! I thought it was sad and exciting. Sadako gets leukemia and she likes to run and make paper cranes. Sadako likes to celebrate Oban Day and go to Memorials. If you want to learn more about "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" buy it now!!!

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes
Sadako is a fine story and it shows how to do a paper crane in the end it is a very sad story to read and when Sadako almost made it to 1,000 paper crane and only made 644 paper cranes she was a great girl who lived in Japan and her friends helped her make 1,000 paper crane her sprit stilled lived.

By:
Eduardo ... Read more

Reviews (78)

Beginnings of a Very Good Series for Teenage Girls
Anna, a high school girl from New York's elite society decides to make the move across the country to live with her father in "Hollywierd." She is trying to reinvent herself into a new, more exciting Anna and within her first 24 hours in California she does just that.

Anna meets a college boy on the plane trip who invites her to a celebrity wedding. Anna accepts his invitation and attends the wedding where she meets Cammie, Sam, and Dee- The A-List. Cammie, Sam, and Dee are not overly happy with a new girl showing up to the wedding with the guy they all secretly have crushes on themselves. Anna's first few days in her new hometown are quite an adventure. This book ends with Anna attending her first day at the same school as the rest of the girls, setting up what is sure to be an entertaining school year to come.

What makes this book different from other series featuring young girls in California is that this one has some class. There are various references to classical music, poets, and theater which is refreshingly different. Anna, is very smart, well educated, and has good morals. Also, all the characters have at least some likable qualities. Cammie, who is easily the most difficult to like character even has a secret tender side that the reader is let in on. If the rest of the series keeps up these qualities then it should be an entertaining but intelligent read.

The Best Book Since A long Time
The A-List is a novel about a privileged girl named Ana who moves from New York to live with her dad in California for an internship with a literacy company. Ana is not your typical rich girl, she has depth, feeling, and wants more out of life than her new off the runway Prada handbag. Her parents are divorced, and her dad was hardly around since his work is his life and her mother will only do whats in her How to Live Rich Book. She leaves behind her best friend, Cynthia. Cynthia is everything that Ana isn't. Shes aggressive, outgoing, and not afraid to voice what she feels. Ana wishes to have some of these characteristics, and those wants are put to test the very moment she arrives on the plane heading towards Beverly Hills, California. She will encounter drunken old men, Cali. girls that have their noses stuck so far up that they don't even know whats bellow them, and a guy that could ultimately be "the one." Read and find out how Ana's life will end, or begin?

Wannabe Gossip Girl
It was interesting at first. It was catty and entertaining but as i turned each page, I could see how superficial and unrealistic the events in this book were. Its about a rich girl, Anna Percy, who decides to move to LA for a while so she can let loose. She gets to attend a celebrity wedding and meets hot guys and mean girls. All the characters in this book are spoiled, mean, brats with Louis Vuitton bags and money doesnt matter to them. Its too unrealistic and like Anna Percy said, "are these bad lines from a trashy teen novel?"...or something like that.

It tries to be like Gossip Girl and Sloppy Firsts but it doesnt succeed. I say, don't waste your time on this. Instead, try the ones I just compared with: Gossip Girl and Sloppy Firsts.

mediocre, at best
I picked up this book because it was recomended in the Gossip Girl series. I was, however, disappointed. The story is too slow-moving and the narrator was quite boring. I didn't like the style in which it was written, because it gave no depth or excitement to the story. I couldn't even get through the entire book, and had to stop midway. The A-List is one of those books that you have to keep putting down to go and do something else, otherwise your brain will explode from boredom. That's how I saw it, anyway. None of the characters were especially interesting, the plot pretty much reeked, and it moved. so. slowly. I definitley wasted my money on this book. (...)

very average
plotless. dry. there are many other words to describe dean's THE A-LIST, but most of them are too foul for FCC regulations.

The book is basically one girl's journey through L.A, while she falls in love with the wrong guy and gets on the bad side of the "a-list": bitchy Cammie, insecure Sam, and oversexed pseudo-hippie dee. when i first bought it and read it, i thought wow, this is like MEAN GIRLS, when it's really not. rereading it, it seemed boring, unfunny, and not even in the LEAST way similar to Gossip Girl, it's obvious parent.

there's a line between catty and stupid. THE A-LIST is neither. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

addictive
Gossip Girl series is about a girl basically spying on these teenagers in high school, either freshmen or seniors, living in New York City's Upper East Side. If you read the first gossip girl, you'll read the fifth, even the sixth... even if it's only because you are wondering if Blair got into Yale or ever has sex with Nate. Or if you are dying to know about how Serena got kicked out of private school... well in the fifth one, I Like it Like that, you find out neither of those things. But you do find out more about Jenny's boyfriend and Dan being a poet. I Like It Like That is as good as the other four, and it makes you wait until the sixth comes out. It shows no signs of Gossip Girl series ending, and it kind of makes you wonder when you will ever find out the stuff you really want to know. But it's Gossip Girl... you know you love her.

You Know You Love Me
I Like It Like That, the fifth novel from the Gossip Girl series was the least eventful out of the five but still kept me on the edge of my seat. Blair, Serena, and Serena's older brother Erik spent their spring break on the slopes in Sun Valley while Aaron and the rest of Blair's family is off surfing on one of the many Hawaiian Islands she has already frequently traveled to. To Blair's dismay, her ex-boyfriend Nate, his current girlfriend Georgie, and Chuck were staying at Georgie's Sun Valley mansion the exact same dates. Blair developed a crush on Erik as their trip progressed which landed Serena in an uncomfortable position. Back in New York, Dan began to lose interest in his poetic partner Mystery and realized he was still in love with Vanessa as she realized the same. Jenny became overly obsessed with her boyfriend Leo and stalked him while he was meandering through the busy Upper East and West sides of Manhattan taking care of his jobs chores and job as a dog walker. Jenny's best friend Elise was attracted to Jenny's brother Dan but Dan knew it was not appropriate to have feelings for a girl his younger sister's age. Nothing serious happened between Blair and Erik which Serena was relieved to learn. After break, when school started again, as always, many rumors floated about regarding the flawless duo. I wonder if Blair is still secretly lusting after Nate and does he has feelings for her? I am looking forward to reading all the future Gossip Girl books and discovering whom the secretive gossip queen actually is.

In my opinion, the first four books in the Gossip Girl series were more enjoyable and had deeper plot lines. I would recommend the entire Gossip Girl series for girls age thirteen through fifteen years old. They are a quick read and the entire series could be covered in just a few short weeks. This is great summer reading full of flirty fun and romance. The books are entertaining and easy to toss into a beach bag or suitcase. Blair, Serena, Dan, Nate, Vanessa, Jenny, Erik and the rest of the Gossip Girl characters are loveable and find themselves in situations that girls can relate to. Okay, Cecily von Ziegesar, bring on Gossip Girl number six. I know that I will be ready to sink my teeth into the next novel as soon as it is available.

I Love them all
READ GOSSIP GIRL! ALL OF THEM!! THEY ARE AWSOME BEST BOOKS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD...NEXT TO HARRY POTTER OF COURSE! READ! READ READ!

Dangerously Addictive
The whole Gossip Girl series has all the gossip anyone could ever want in a book. The tales of socialites lives are just so interesting that you want to be part of the story. It is extremely difficult to even put the book down until the final words are read, and even then you just want some more of it.

i dont like it like that...
After seeing quite quite a few reviews and a woman clearly over thirty buying this book, i decided to give it a go. The book revolves around a few disgustinly stuck up socialites. It's all about wearing designer clothes, partying, and of course-getting adorable rich boys. Gossip girl seems to be filled with things people gossip about. Silly things. Stupid things. And for lack of better words, this is a horrible book. ... Read more

Book Description

The Breadwinner brings to life an issue that has recently exploded in the international media — the reality of life under the Taliban. Young Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan. Because he has a foreign education, her father is arrested by the Taliban, the religious group that controls the country. Since women cannot appear in public unless covered head to toe, or go to school, or work outside the home, the family becomes increasingly desperate until Parvana conceives a plan. She cuts her hair and disguises herself as a boy to earn money for her family. Parvana’s determination to survive is the force that drives this novel set against the backdrop of an intolerable situation brought about by war and religious fanaticism. Deborah Ellis spent several months talking with women and girls in Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan and Russia. This suspenseful, timely novel is the result of those encounters. Royalties from the sale of The Breadwinner will go toward educating Afghan girls in Pakistani refugee camps. “A potent portrait of life in contemporary Afghanistan, showing that powerful heroines can survive even in the most oppressive ... conditions.” — Booklist ... Read more

Reviews (31)

The BreadWinner
The BreadWinner is a fantastic book.It is full of adventure.It's about a little girl,named Parvana,who lives in Afghanistan during a time when girls wern't alowed to go outside without a man to work and get money.But one day her father went away to prison wich meant they had no other boy to go out and get the food and milk they needed. One day they needed food so bad they shaved Parvana's hair off so she could look like a boy and could get the food.This was a new experience for Parvana.Every day she would go out and raise money by selling things and reading and writting letters for the people to get money then she would get the food for the family.If you want find out more about this book I think you should read it.

The Breadwinner
The BreadWinner is a fantastic book.It is full of adventure.It's about a little girl, named Parvana, who lives in Afghanistan during a time when girls weren't allowed to go outside without a man to work and get money. But one day her father went away to prison wich meant they had no other boy to go out and get the food and milk they needed. Soon they needed food so badly they shaved Parvana's hair off so she could look like a boy and could get the food.This was a new experience for Parvana. Every day she would go out and earn money by selling things or reading and writting letters for the people. Then she would buy the food for the family. If you want find out more about this book I think you should read it.

Fabulous
I taught this book to my sixth grade class last year-an easy read technically but mature ideas, but easily 90% of the students loved it so much that I had to order the next book-and then the next one as well! Thought provoking for everyone who has grown up with all the necessities and more. A great perspective on the real world right now. Even though it is about a young girl, boys thoroughly enjoyed reading about her adventures. The best part? All proceeds go to Women for Women, a charitible organization in Afghanistan.

Breadwinner
I really liked the book The Breadwinner. It had some exciting moments that just made me want to keep reading. Every day Parvana dressed up like a boy and went to sell things in the market place. While she was sitting on her mat a mysterious lady would drop little presents down to her from her room above Parvana. I always wanted to find out what she would give Parvana the next day and the next day. There were also some sad parts to this story about Parvana and her life in Afghanistan. Women and girls had to wear turbans on their face and they couldn't show any skin. Girls could only go outside with men. She had a hard time being a girl in Afghanistan. Her father was in jail and she had to act like a boy and work the family jobs. Parvana is a very smart and courageous girl with a strong mind.

A Must Read
This story takes place in Afghanistan. It's an amazing book. It's so realalistic that you're imagining it in your head. The main Character is Parvana. She goes on an adventure to find money to buy food and belongings for her family. When you are done reading this book yoou will want to read more and more of the book. Also, It tells you alot about the things they do in Afghanistan. I recommend this book to everyone to read because it's so good!! ... Read more

Book Description

In You Know You Love Me, the sequel to Gossip Girl, it's brunette vixen Blair Waldorf's seventeenth birthday, and she knows exactly what she wants-Nate, her studly troubles boyfriend of three years.But Blair's been too busy filling out Ivy League college applications to notice that Nate has found himself another playmate. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

What do I think? -Clark PLC-
Having read the first book in this series, I understand Cecily Von Ziegesar's writing style. I am a fan of how she writes about bizarre occurrences which fall in the way of her characters path of life. By writing mostly about upper-class families, this book is alluring to most teens and I recommend it to all girls who are looking for a fun story. The diverse personalities of Von Ziegesar's characters, makes this novel more dramatic and entertaining to read. The young adults in the book have to deal with many hardships and obstacles to make it through graduating and applying to colleges. They must attend interviews which they aren't quite yet prepared for, and must use wit and charm to overcome the slack and nerves that they have gathered. Dan, a writer who is too involved in his up scaled girlfriend Serena, plays a big role in this story while being not as well-off as his companions. Other than having to deal with Dan's emotional poems, Serena must try to bring back her lost relationship with her old best friend while being stuck with her after a horrible wedding of an imperfect couple. Throughout this climactic novel, all characters must find a way to be victorious in their strenuous battles of being a graduated teen.

A complete guilty pleasure!
After a stressful junior year full of books like The Scarlet Letter, The Great Gatsby, and The Grapes of Wrath, I was eager to fill my summer with some lighter literature. I found the first Gossip Girl book (...)and read it about five times. After what seemed like an endless wait, the second novel came out, and I ate it up. Although you may not want to do your AP English 4 book report on it, You Know You Love Me is an awesome book if you're into gossip, money, shopping, scandal, and relationships (and who isn't???). The storyline, about a group of devious high society New York kids, may not relate to many people, but that's why we love it so much! However, I WAS able to relate to some of the things the characters are going through, especially their college applications and interviews (...). I would definitely reccomend this book, and the first Gossip Girl, to any teenage girl who's looking for a book that will make you smile but not make you think too hard.

Another great and addicting Gossip Girl novel!
This great book in the series was so addicting, I literally couldn't put it down. I took it everywhere with me! The lives of our favorite Upper East side teens get even more intense and realtionships really start to get interesting in Gossip Girl #2. These books just bring out the gossiper within us all.Keep reading, I know I can't wait to get my hands on the next one!

Gossip Girl at her best
The title, YOU KNOW YOU LOVE ME, is most likely derived from the way Gossip Girl signs her web posts on her site, gossipgirl.net. All the fans know this!

Blair may be bitchy but she does have the most depth out of all the characters - and she is bright, unlike...

...Nate, who acts like an utter jerk at Mrs. Waldorf's wedding, the worst day of Blair's life, a time when she reallllly needs some support. He takes it up with Jenny Humphrey, a stalker freshman at Constance Billard, a prestigous all-girls school where she gawks at and aspires to be the kinds of girls Blair and Serena Van der Woodsen already are without any effort required on their parts. All Nate does is smoke weed and he expects to get into Brown because his interviewer convinced him to apply early action. So suddenly, right before the application date, he's completely diligent and absorbed with his school work. Nate is instantly drawn to Jenny because he feels he doesn't need to strive to impress her, which is the opposite of the state of his relationship with Blair.

Serena is no longer the leper she was in book one. Nope. Now she is officially cool again, despite the fact Blair hates her guts. Now that Serena is herself again, boys flock to her as if they have been beckoned. She is beautiful, graceful, and lithe, just like a delicate nymph. Still, she is the source of a lot of Blair Waldorf's anger and frustrations, especially with her constant nonchalant and carefree attitude. She too wants Brown admission. She too has mediocre grades. So she figures she'll win the film festival and show Brown she's something more. With Vanessa Abrahms, film lover and admirer of Dan, who once swooned over Serena (romantic triangle!!!), things work out in Serena's favor. Even if they didn't, you know she'd persevere. And if Brown doesn't want to accept her, "&@#$ it!" as her hot older brother and Brown enrollee, Erik, tells her.

Dan is pathetic. He writes poetry expressly for Serena, all about his "love" for her. Alas, Serena wants no more than friendship. Dan and Vanessa get together over his caffeine and nicotine fix, and suddenly, everything is peachy and Serena is old news. I love how GG's pressing issues are always solved, if not in the first, then usually by the next. Except for...

...Blair's Yale admission. It's her father's alma mater. Blair is gorgeous and has brains to boot. She could probably even do Harvard if she felt like it. But she only has eyes for Yale, which is a shame since she totally screwed up her interview. Of course, she can always blame her stepbrother, Aaron, being he had her in a cheesy motel room eating Chee-tos and chocolate bars and didn't wake up (and wake her up) until a half hour before the very interview began. Still, she can't blame Aaron for the fact she KISSED HER INTERVIEWER! ::ouch::

Aaron is laid back and Ivy League bound. The son of fat and rosacea-faced Cyrus Rose, his existence thrives on herbal cigarettes. He's a good character addition to the series and although Blair seems to loathe his existence at first, by the end of the book, she's coming around to being okay with him, in the tiniest way imaginable, that is.

Now for Mrs. Waldorf's wedding to homely Cyrus! Everyone has a part in it, whether it be a guest or a maid of honor, like Serena, Kati Farkas, and Isabel Coates. Everyone will be there, including the staff of Vogue magazine, to take pics for an upcoming issue. Blair seemingly at first has no support or a way to channel her teen angst and anguish over the fact her mother is marrying a rich nitwit. Rich, yet a nitwit nonetheless. Nate is no help, as he totally blows her off and then goes off to smooch with Jenny behind her back. Mrs. Waldorf herself is urging Blair Cornelia Waldorf to become Blair Cornelia Waldorf-Rose. Until Serena finds her amidst a hysterical sobbing fit, complete with mascara-laced tears, it seems as if Blair is destined for doom.

I love that Blair and Serena rekindle their friendship in Blair's time of need. You knew their reconciling was going to pop up sooner or later. Everything usually does go right in the world of Gossip Girl. :) Read this one. Von Ziegesar has her great and okay Gossip Girl books and I have yet to hate an installment of the series. This second book is one of the better novels!

You know you love me is the best book ever!
The book You know you love me was the best. My friend Kelly told me about it while we were talking so I decided to give it a try. I am a senior in high school so many of the things that Blair and Serena experienced I may have to experience sooner or later that's why the book was helpful to me. In New York it seems a lot different than California, I understand that the girls attend private school but there is still a big difference in schools. I attend Narbonne High School in Harbor City, California and, there are still 'cool' people and then there are the losers. At my school there is "DA POLE" where all the cool people hang out and well every where else is just there. I hang out there and I don't think that I'm a better person because of it I really enjoy the attention at times. At other times it can be rather frustrating. Buying a pair of jeans one week and the next four other girls have them I hate that. I am sure Blair has gone through that plenty of times. But that is the least of her worries in this book. With Nate cheating on her with a younger girl that has to hurt. All of this at the most important time in her life, her mother is remarrying, her father is Gay and she is ready to lose her virginity. My instincts tell me that she is glad she made the decision that she did. With this book now being my favorite now I would recommend it to anyone whom loves gossip. Sure no one loves gossip when it's about him or her but who doesn't like to hear a good story from time to time. Read it, it will change the way you look at things. It definitely changed me! ... Read more

Amazon.com

S and B and J and N are back, along with A, D, V, and assorted other rich, catty Manhattan teenagers in this third installment of the Gossip Girl series. An omniscient and anonymous narrator keeps track of the scene in www.gossipgirl.net (now an actual site), where the rumors fly, backs are stabbed, and celebrity sightings are dutifully reported. Serena (S) and Blair (B) are best friends again, shoring each other up as Blair faces life without her ex, Nate, who has hooked up with a sweet, busty 14-year-old, and Serena fends off advances from drop-dead-gorgeous rock star, Flow. Life’s rough. Meanwhile, Vanessa and Dan play the will-he/won’t-he game of sex, and Aaron tries to thwart his own crush on new stepsister Blair.

They’re the teens you love to hate, and yet it’s not all trash. Beneath the designer name-obsessed veneer and the nasty soap opera quality of Gossip Girl novels, there’s plenty that’s true and real for any teenager. Angst, creative passion, love, college applications, drinking, smoking, sex…sure, these kids are obnoxious and spoiled, but their core issues are not a million miles away from every other teen’s. And you know you love it. (Ages 14 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (56)

AWESOME!
This book, along with the other Gossip Girl novels, are some of the few extremely good books i have read. Cecily Von Ziegesar knows how to truely make you care for these materialistic, sterio-typing teens.
I was completely happy to see that for once, things were going good for Blair, and i was eve more happy to see that Nate was coming to his sences and realizing Jenny didn't even compare to Blair. I have already bouth the fourth Gossip Girl novel and I am planning on startng that very soon!

Until next time
You know you love me!
-Ohio Reader

This is all I've ever wanted!
Okay I finished reading "All I Want is Everything" about a month ago and it's still buzzing in my head. Blair and Serena become so happy together. Blair made me laugh out loud with some of the stuff she thinks and Serena's beauty and... blondness is hilarious. Nate is absolutely wicked in this book which makes me love him more. Jenny turns into a creepy physco. Aaron brings in the picture his hot friend Miles who gets dirty with Blair... hint hint. This is absolutely captivating and I finished it in half an hour. You just want more and more. This is the best book yet personally. There's way more clothes, drinking, sex, and drugs in this one which makes it even more juicier. You're steaming over who's Gossip Girl and you get a few hints. Every gossiper should read this book.

I can really relate to this book!
This book was really good! I loved every moment of it. I normally dont read that much but I read the whole thing in one night. I thought it was really cool cause Jennifer in the book is like me. My name is Jeninfer, I'm short with brown curly hair, and a freshman liking a senior.

I think any high school girl can relate to a lot in the book. The whole thing about seeing your ex boyfriend with another girl bothering you and stuff like that.

Good, but not great.
Okay, I'm only 3/4 through the 3rd installment of this witty series, but I'm beginning to get bored. The problem with series is that they just become embellishments of the intro novel. Gossip Girl #1 was AWESOME because all the characters were new and exciting. Now, I'm just plain tired of reading about Nate's constant state of 'baked-ness', Serena's 24/7 'hotness', Vanessa's rebelliousness, Dan's torturedness, Blair's whininess and Chuck's sliminess. Having an international rock star hot for 17 year old Serena is just plain unbelievable.

Also, this series said that these kids are consumed with drugs, drinking, smoking, partying and sex. I've seen a LOT of the first four, but where's this 'sex' thats so touted? So far, no one's had sex, although its been 'alluded' to (Nate and Serena in the first novel and Blair and Nate TRYING to, but....thats it. Its made to seem like its a constant orgy, which its not.

I will continue this novel and also read the last two, if only because I feel an attachment to these kids, but I hope their plots aren't contrived and predictable (I'm tired of shopping at Barneys, smoking pot in the park, etc.)

I hope the last two installments are fresher than this one. Ho-Hum. The one thing that keeps me smiling is von Ziegesar's wit and humor, especially describing these kids' thoughts of the other kids (especially Blair's thoughts about Serena's eternal lovliness) and Cyrus and Blair's mother's PDA. Hilarious!

This Book is on my top 3 fav. books!!!
I loved this book! When i went to the book store and just bought it i didnt think it would be this great!! Most of the book was great but when it came to the end between jenny, nate, and blair it was sorta stupid, there should've been a waaayyy better ending. But other then the weird ending the book was totally great! I just love this book, it's addictive, its fun to read, especially how it describes how rich they all are! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Don't miss this amazing book
This is Mark Peter Hughes's first novel, and I can't recommend it enough. It has everything you could ask for -- it is funny, touching and never ever boring. The characters are very likable. I really hope he is going to write another one soon!

What a fun read!
This book is great!It is a fun, fast-paced read that pre-teens and teens will love!The characters are people they will recognize and relate to!

... Read more

Reviews (57)

Burning questions left unanswered.
Will Nate and Georgina, his new rehab pal, end up being an item?
Will Jenny and her new man live happily ever after? Will Jenny's new best friend Elise interfere?
Will Blair get into Yale? Will Elise's father ever get the chance to explain why he tried to get with Blair romantically? Will Blair stop loving Nate?
Will Serena continue to be famous, ditzy, and wanted on all the runways?
Will Dan and Mystery Craze, the yellow-toothed and yellow nailed poetess, fall madly, deeply in love?

Will Vanessa, Dan's girlfriend, find out that he hasn't merely been cheating, but CHEATING CHEATING??? Will she survive?
Is Chuck Bass bisexual?
And, the most burning question of them all...
WHO IS GOSSIP GIRL?
All of these questions are left unanswered till book number five. Quite frankly, it's infuriating. What leads to the end is suspenseful and enthralling - you will be so absorbed you'll be unable to put this book down till it's over. Nate ends up caught for his weed smoking and is forced to attend rehab meetings, where he meets a beautiful Snow White lookalike named Georgina Sparks. Blair decides she wants to go to rehab too for her bulimia, yet really wants to be close to Nate again. She sees him with Georgina and her entire plan is thrown off. Not only that, but she finds that a handsome Yale graduate who she senses has feelings for her is the FATHER of one of her younger classmates at Constance Billard. Dan, on the other hand, thinks he is in love with Vanessa until he meets eccentric Mystery Craze and ends up cheating. Clearly, his fame over his poetry has diluded his mind. Jenny meets her admirer and bonds with Elise, her new best friend, over nude figure painting and 'experimentation,' which she deems 'overrated.' Serena lives a carefree, no-worries life, becoming a model and having success practically knock at her door. So much more happens in this book, you'll be dying to read the next so that all of these loose ends can finally be tied together. Recommended age: 13 and up.

Sex, fashion, drugs and...Yale?!
This, in my opinion, is one of the better Gossip Girl books, despite some of the less kind reviews. The GG gang makes a plethora of effortless achievments: Dan's published poem in the New Yorker, Serena suddenly transforming into a glam model, Vanessa's film being used as a backdrop for the long-anticipated NYC fashion show.

And then there are some things not to flaunt and take pride in. Like Blair's botched Yale interview and Nate's getting busted for smoking weed, for example. Blair tries to redeem herself by speaking to one of the Yale alumni and prospects of him putting in a good word for her seem good. But then, an affair begins between them (innocent type, I'd say). As for Nate, his landing into a clinic for problem teens introduces Georgina Sparks, an ethereal Snow White-type beauty who has an ugly problem with prescription drugs. They chill at her grandiose palace and Nate saves her from nearly dying of a prescription overdose. Blair, meanwhile, realizes her sexy leading man isn't the Clark Gable to her Audrey Hepburn she thought he was. When Blair tries to win back Nate's love, she humiliates herself at the clinic, first by admitting to her bulimia. Plus, she meets her new competition. Now, Georgina Sparks is vying for Nate's affections, only the vying really seems to be over with. Georgie's clearly won.

I find it irking Serena has no real issues in any of the books, unless you count her almost being a leper when she first returned to New York from boarding school. Still, she was quickly able to bounce back from that "trauma." Now, she debuts as a runway model in the fashion show, one in which Christina Ricci is a guest. Meanwhile, she's fallen head over heels in "love" with Aaron, Blair's sexy, herbal cigarette-smoking stepbrother.

Vanessa submits Dan's poem, "Sluts," to the New Yorker. "Sluts" proceeds to head on towards worldwide fame. Mention the title and instantaneously, the New York population knows just what you're talking about. And despite the fact that Dan is angry at Vanessa (he channeled the anger into the poem), he is pleased to have that recognition - it goes to his head. Proof of this is his affair with Mystery Craze, the yellow-toothed and yellow-nailed poet who Dan finds incredibly sexy for some peculiar reason. Also proof of his insanity is his agent, who feels the need to use the expression, "%$^& me!" in almost every sentence. I wanted to smack her, strangle her, or both.

In conclusion, Von Ziegesar's novel can either make you yearn to be one of the members of the GG gang or feel sorry for them. Their parents are self-centered and don't care at all for the well-being of their children. These spoiled Manhattanites are permitted do do whatever they want, whenever they want, as long as they keep up their appearances up so that it doesn't reflect badly on the family. No matter what, however, this novel is entertaining and an ideal addition to the GG series.

Great book!
I really love this book. Being 17, being their age, really makes it a lot more enjoyable to read. I even suggested this book to my 14 year old cousin! It truly is a pretty accurate representation of teens today, even though these teens are uber-rich, super cool, trendy, and did I mention rich? I love the interesting, dynamic people (even though Serena is pretty shallow, I still think she'd make a pretty awesome best friend), and I like the way the author balanced the super rich kids (Blair, Serena, Nate, etc.) with the kids that live in their world, but live in it rather on the outskirts (Dan, Vanessa, etc.) I loved this book so much, I couldn't resist buying the newest Gossip Girl (number 5!) a few days after it was released. Super read, pure fun, great beach/teen fiction!

addictive
these books are so addictive! i read them in one sitting (usually becuase i cant tear myself away from them) i suggest if you want to read one, get the other ones because you will want to read those ones too!
i am so pissed that lindsey lohan is playing blair in the gossip girl movie. i just dont see her as that part at all. shes a little too---immature, i guess. i mean shes a good actress but she just doesnt fit the part. i think that someone like samarie armstrong of rachel leigh cook should play her. it will probably be rated like PG even though the books are more PG-13-R.
ANYWAY i really reccommend these books to everyone they are light easy addictive funny and amusing. Have fun!
~you know you love me

Because I'm worth it
My 14 year old Daughter read this book rather quickly. She said it was interesting but predicatible and the ending was weird. ... Read more

Book Description

A vicious captain, a mutinous crew --
and a young girl caught in the middle

Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. But I was just such a girl, and my story is worth relating even if it did happen years ago. Be warned, however: If strong ideas and action offend you, read no more. Find another companion to share your idle hours. For my part I intend to tell the truth as I lived it.

Reviews (266)

The book was great, I loved it
I have just read the book "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" by Avi. This book was both an adventure novel and a mystery. There are three main characters in this book; Charlotte, Captain Jaggery, and Mr. Zachariah. Charlotte is thirteen years old. Before she went on her voyage she attended the Barrington School for girls in Liverpool, England. Captain Andrew Jaggery was a brutal captain to his crew. He also befriended Charlotte in the beginning of the story before she accidentally whipped him in the face. Zachariah was the cook on the ship for awhile until he faked death and lived in the steerage. He also became good friends with Charlotte throughout the whole book. The story takes place in 1832, on a ship called the Seahawk that left Liverpool, England and sailed for Providence, Rhode Island. The book was very interesting. It was about a girl, named Charlotte, who had just finished school and was ready to come home. Her parents got her a boat ride so she could get back to Rhode Island. When she got on the ship everyone seemed very nice, until the crew decided to take avenge on the captain. This is where it started getting hectic. Zachariah faked death they found a stowaway and Charlotte decided to become on of the crew. When she was blamed for murder and found guilty, I got scared. Well, if you want to no the ending read the book yourself. Some of my favorite scenes were with Zachariah in the steerage, because they were talking mostly about what was happening in the book and I could understand it more. I Also liked the scenes because Zachariah was my favorite character. The book was exiting. I would rate it an eight out of ten. I think you would like the book if you like adventures and aren't afraid of reading

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle/a must read
Sahana Rajan 11/23

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle By: Avi
0-53105-893-X

Join Charlotte Doyle on a historical fiction voyage across the Atlantic on the "Seahawk". Piloted by the murderous, yet cunning Captain Jaggery, the "Seahawk" has all of its ups and downs with Miss Doyle on board. During the summer of 1832, Charlotte is to return to America from England in what her father thinks is a posh way. Yet, to his unknowing, there is a huge plot forming in which Charlotte must lose her fancy ways and join as a sailor. At the same time she is accused of murder.
The reason I like this book is probably because the suspense keeps you reading. I would recommend this to any young teen who likes to read. Charlotte is always making puzzles and putting them back together and it's fun to do it with her. Your mind wanders while you read this book- but not off of the book. It wanders to parts of your brain where you can tap into to discover what's happening.

Live vicariously through Charlotte!
I first read this book at age 11 when I received it as a birthday present. That was 12 years ago, and I've re-read it many times since then. To a sheltered, suburban kid, the idea of a young girl being thrown into a difficult situation on her own and then making a success of it was thrilling. I loved escaping into the adventure. Unlike most children's books, this one wasn't afraid to throw in some real danger and suspense ... along with important lessons about finding out who your real friends are and being true to yourself.

dis book sux
this is the dumbest book i have ever read in my entire life besides the secret garden that book is even dumber the rating that i gave this book is too high. I would have liked to have given it negative stars. If you read this book be prepared to be bored out of your mind for approximately 210 pages. Enjoy! (not really) lol

Thrilling High Seas Adventure
The year is 1832, and thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is excited to make an interesting voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, being transported from Liverpool, England, home to her family in Providence, Rhode Island by way of ship. She is lead to believe that other families with children her age will be accompanying her on this trip, as it is improper for a girl of her age to be traveling with a group of men, but when they never show up, she is forced to board by herself, and is soon thrown into a tailspin. Before Charlotte even knows what is going on, she is not only accused of murder, but brought to trial, and found guilty, as well. This is her story. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as she lived it.

THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE is an amazing work of literary fiction, that will stay with the reader for years and years to come. Charlotte is an intelligent, strong willed, strong minded, and brave young girl, who makes the best of all of the challenges she faces on her journey. She is not afraid of a little hard work, and even enjoys it to a certain extent. Through her adventures she keeps her head up and a smile on her face, just to prove to everyone around her that she can do anything that a man can, and sometimes she can even do it better. A must have book for anyone interested in historical fiction, as this is one of the best.

Erika Sorocco ... Read more

Book Description

Mary Alice's childhood summers in Grandma Dowdel's sleepy Illinois town were packed with enough drama to fill the double bill of any picture show.But now she is fifteen, and faces a whole long year with Grandma, a woman well known for shaking up her neighbors-and everyone else!All Mary Alice can know for certain is this: when trying to predict how life with Grandma might turn out . . . better not.This wry, delightful sequel to the Newbery Honor Book A Long Way from Chicago has already taken its place among the classics of children's literature. ... Read more

Reviews (96)

A Year Down Yonder
A city girl named Mary Alice, moves in with her rigged, cunning Grandmother in the horribly small country town of Wabash, Illinois. Because of the Depression , Mary Alice is sent to live there while her family goes through their own rough time in Chicago. She is forced to adapt to the totally new life style of her grandmother which some would not wish on their worst enemies. Her grandmother has a very rugged way of going about things, that creates quite a stir in this little community. Before long, Mary Alice gets accustomed to her grandmothers tricks and schemes against the towns people and realizes country life isn't that bad after all.

I couldn't put this book down the first time I read it because the author writes about their adventures so vividly and exciting. Each trick they play on the town keeps the reader in suspense for the next clever and humorous adventures to come. This book is a laugh-out-loud kind of book so be prepared.

This book would be a great book for children to understand the struggles in forming a good relationship between Grandchildren and Grandparents.

A Year Down Yonder - - A wonderful book WE LOVED IT!!!
A historical fiction book designed for children around the
fifth grade, it is a wonderful story of how a "rich
Chicago girl," Mary Alice, is forced to go live with her
grandmother in rural Illinois after her father looses his
job during the Great Depression. Thinking such destiny
could be nothing short of sheer misery, Mary Alice dreads
her trip to live with crazy Grandma Dowdel. Throughout the
book, however, she goes through various adventures-a
tornado, Halloween p