Book Description

It's 1814 and five-year-old Charlotte Tucker lives with her family in the town of Roxbury, near the bustling city of Boston. Life in the Tucker's little house has always been pleasant and merry, but Charlotte's family worries more and more about the war that's been going on since 1812. Now the British have gone and blockaded Boston harbor, and that means no molasses for supper. Charlotte is just beginning to realize that events happening far away can change things at her very own dinner table. What will the rest of the year bring for Charlotte and the Tucker family? The Little House saga continues!

From Little House by Boston Bay:

Saturday night had a cozy, comfortable feeling. A Saturday supper meant thick slices of brown bread on the plates beside the baked beans. It meant coffee for Mama and Papa instead of tea. And it meant three things in the middle of the dining-room table--the three members of what Charlotte privately thought of as "the Saturday family." There was the mother, a tall, delicately curved cruet of cider vinegar; the father, a squat redware molasses jug with a jaunty handle and a friendly chip on the rim; and between them, cradled in a glass dish, the butter baby.

Charlotte had never told anyone about the Saturday family--it was nice to have a secret all her own. Besides, her brothers would tease her about it. Twelve-year-old Lewis would tease because he was a teasing kind of person, and Tom, who was seven, would tease because he did everything Lewis did. Lydia never teased, but she would either be not at all interested in the secret, or much too interested, and she would take over the game and change it. Charlotte did not want it to be changed. Like Saturday night itself, the Saturday family was perfect just as it was.

... Read more

Reviews (10)

Enjoyable, but not quite as much so as other LH books
I am really finding myself enjoying many of the new entries into the extended Little House family, this book included. However, I did not like it quite as much as others in the series (and of course not as much as the originals, but that goes without saying!). I don't think this is the writing, but perhaps just the setting, more urban than any of the others, so not as full of descriptions of self-reliant country life. This book is well written, and I do look forward to following Charlotte's life and seeing how it fits into the big story of the Little House family! I especially enjoyed the description of school life in the early 19th century Boston area.

If you like little House books, read this
It is !814 and Charolatte Tucker is 5 years old. Charolatte lives by Boston Bay with her many brothers and sisters. There is plenty to do, visit Papa's blacksmith shop and play with the brothers and sisters! I enjoyed tis book very much but it fades when compaired to the original Little House Books. But over all I suggest you read theis book.

This is a Great BOOK !
CHarlotte Tucker is Five years old and lives with her mama and papa Her Twelve yeared old brother Lewis who teases her, Tom whose seven and Lydia nine and little Mary whos not even one yet, Charlottes days are busy from helping mama in the garden to visting papas blacksmith shop or hearing mamas storys . Soon Charlottle goes to school and learns her ABCs , Theres one funny part where mama is making pounded cheese and red powder gets into the bowl and it tasted awfull ! Charlotte is a brand new American girl and she and her young country have a lot to learn!

Good story, but too short.
I really enjoyed the book, but it's the shortest "Little House" book ever written. The story ends abruptly when a family friend leaves to join the war; I would have liked to see the story continue on, like maybe what happened to the friend, whether he was killed in battle or came back to marry his sweetheart, etc. I'm assuming there just wasn't enough information available.

Awesome Book!
I absolutely LOVED "Little House by Boston Bay." Whenever I go to get my Laura & Rose books, I include this one right along with it. There seems to be a certain warmth and attractiveness about the book. From bold 12-year-old Lewis to doll-eating infant Mary, I love it! It's also nice to see Martha from "Little House in the Highlands" all grown up, with a mind and a voice of her own. Overall, the book was great and I recommend it to all people, fans or no fans. ... Read more

Book Description

"Girl, you're amazing, the things that you know!/How to write stories where fantasies grow,/When to pick pumpkins and how to fly kites,/Just where to search for the sky's satellites." In this upbeat rhyming tribute to girls, readers will get a boost of encouragement and feel their confidence and self-esteem grow page by page. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wow! My 4 year old and I are entranced and empowered!
I got this book out of the library yesterday and read it to my daughter. We both loved it. And to cap it off, the book ends with a lyrical listing of girls' names. My daughter, who has an unusual name, literally screamed with joy to see her name in a book for the first time. "I want to keep this book forever and ever," she told me so I am here on the site today buying her her own copy. Highly recommended. Julie. ... Read more

Book Description

Abby Hayes is a fun and quirky fifth grader looking to find her own "super-special" talent. Squeezed between two outstanding older siblings and her protege brother, Abby is determined to make her mark. She takes solace in the words of inspiration from the 73 calendars she has in her room, and records the quotes in her purple notebook. Kids will love Abby's humorous and hip approach to everyday issues. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

An excellent book for young girls
Have you ever felt singled out in your family and nobody understands? Well if you do you should read this book. It is a book about a girl around your age, who always thinks she is totally different from the rest of her family. Her name is Abby Hayes. Abby has a dream to be a great soccer player. She also wishes she weren't so different. Abby goes through some struggles in her way to becoming a soccer star. Will she succeed at her dream? Read the book to find out. I think that Anne Mazer did an excellent job on this book. I didn't really like the ending, but all in all this was a 5 star book.

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
This book was about a girl named Abby Hayes. She doesn't feel as good as her two perfect sisters and her genius brother. She feels left out and wishes she could change. Her many struggles make her a stonger person each day. She collects calanders and loves to write. She also wants to be a professional soccer player, but everyone is telling her different ways to play while she wants to learn on her own. It is very hard for her and she wants everyone to leave her alone. In her diary you can find out how everything goes in her new fifth grade year as she comes upon new challenges.

THE BOOK THAT STARTED IT ALL!
I have read 10 books about Abby Hayes and they have all had problems, like a dull room or a dull newspaper job. But this book was the book that started it all. In the first book, we meet Abby, a fifth grader who has a superstar family. Abby has SuperSibs who can do anything from playing sports to debating to programming computers. Abby just wants to fit in! That's all she wants (except for her wish of pierced ears)! So Abby's friend, Jessica, a sporty girl who loves space and soccer, helps Abby train for the soccer team. Abby finally acheives her goal, until someting very embarrassing happens in one of the game. But it turns out all right when she sees what is in the newspaper the next day. This is a great book, so you should read this one and all of the other one to see how Abby grows up and experiences something that everyone can relate to.

Go Abby! Go Abby!
This book is about 10 year old Abby Hayes and her family. The first of the series, this book leaves you wanting more. I reccomend this book to all girls, probably ages 7 and up. It was great!

It's hard to keep a secret in the Hayes family!
Abby Hayes is starting grade 5.Ms. Bunder assigns an article
and Abby does not know what to write about.Her goal in creative
writing is to become a published poet.Meanwhile Abby wants to
become a soccer star.And she wants it to be a secret until she is a star. And boy is it hard to keep a secret in the Hayes family!Will her secret be kept? ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Awsome!
I loved this book! It was so realistic, and I have nothing bad to say about it. It is about this girl named Mary Anne who gets in a fight with the BSC and has trouble making up with them. Then she meets a new friend Dawn. Then a girl Jenny she was baby sitting for gets so sick that something drastic had to happen envolving Mary Anne and Dawn. If you want to know more, (which is what I'm trying to make you) read this book! I would reccomend this to all girls!

A good book
I read this over ten yrs ago and recently re-read it and still enjoy it. Although it is hard to get into initially and the beginning sort of dragged on (my friend Amber loaned it to me when we were in 5th grade and I don't think I got past chapter 1. I had never read BSC books until then so I didn't find the intro. boring, however. I think that the BSC is too judgemental towards each other. They think Mary Anne is immature but she was the one who wanted reconciliation after their dumb fight, and Kristy was the most difficult. Talk about immature! Also it was unprofessional the way they refuse to at least meet for the club and not function. Mary anne was the mature one in that respect.

Way to Go Mary Anne!
She proves she's the strongest babysitter in the club in this book and many others. Although she's shy, she has a good head on her shoulders and has a lot of strength. This is a wonderful book that teaches about responsibility, but it's also fun to read. And the arguments that the babysitters have with each other are so funny and lame!

The first Babysittes Club book I read
I'm 28 years old, and I recently moved. While cleaning out my house to pack for the move, I ran across a box of Babysitters Club books that I read when I was younger. I had forgotten about those since I hadn't read them in many years. I was 13 when my dad bought Mary Anne Saves the Day for me at the local grocery store. He said I could get a book and that one caught my eye. I read it when I got home, and I was hooked. Since then, I bought books 1-3, and then each book after that every month when it came out. I was 18 when I stopped reading them. I felt I had outgrown them. When I recently found those books, I reread them all, starting with Mary Anne Saves the Day. It brought back a lot of memories, and I am now collecting them all again for my own daughter, if I ever have one.

Mary Anne Saves the Day is about a shy 12 year old girl who lives with her single father, who is very strict when it comes to raising her. She belongs to a great group of friends who run a business called The Babysitters Club. During one of her jobs, a little girl grows ill while in her care, and Mary Anne must use quick thinking to get the child to the hospital.

These are wonderful books for children. It's a shame Ann M. Martin is no longer writing them, but they will be always cherished

poor jenny
Mary Anne is babysitting little Jenny,the pampered Prezzioso kid,when Jenny shows signs of being very ill!
Also,every single member of the BSC are mad at eachother.Their unpleasant fighting made me cringe. ... Read more

Book Description

This collection of inspiring quotes, real-life stories, whimsical poems, "friendly facts," and "pal projects" is a companion to the author's popular, award-winning Girls' Book of Wisdom: Empowering, Inspirational Quotes From Over 400 Fabulous Females. Geared for girls ages 10 and up, it features great advice about all aspects offriendship from famous actors, singers, businesswomen, and others -- women such as Mia Hamm, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Louisa May Alcott. Girls will come away with cool ideas for how to make friends, maintain connections, and celebrate all that friendship has to offer them. A staple for any teen girl's bookshelf. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Good gift for girls!
This book is a great collection of stories, quotes, and even poems from girls of all ages. Catherine Dee has put together advice from women and girls to help you understand and cherish the most important people in your life - your friends! Your friends can be members of your family, and your family can be your friends.

Famous women, including Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and many more offer their opinion and feelings about their friends.

This book is a great present to your best friend and is fun to read. Find out what all kinds of girls and women have to say about making and maintaining friendships, trust and secrets, celebrating friends, boy friends, and more.

Girlstart's featured book
We loved The Girls' Book of Friendship so much that it's our book feature for August and September. Catherine Dee has put together advice from women and girls to help you understand and cherish the most important people in your life -- your friends. Famous women, including Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and many more offer their opinion and feelings. This fun book is a great present to your best friend!
--Julie Shannan, program coordinator [...]

A great gift for any girl in your life
With all the attention paid to Odd Girl Out and Queen Bees and Wanna Be's, we all want to help our girls have healthful friendships. The Girl's Book of Friendship would make a great gift to inspire them-- for going back to school, for the holidays, for a pick me up.

really cool
my friends are the best, and this book made me like my friends even more and want to take care of my friend so we will grow into old age

A wonderful handbook
Inspired by women from all walks of life, this book should be required reading for preteen and teen girls as well as their families. With stories and quotes to share and compare, Dee has gathered words of wisdom perfect for empowering today's young girls.

Girls will thumb through page after page, searching for the perfect sentiment. This collection of would make a nice boost for a friend who's moving away or staying behind, a new friend, an old friend, even a graduation present. For whatever occasion, The Girl's Book of Friendship: Cool Quotes, True Stories, Secrets, and More fits into the must-read category for the teen-age girl. ... Read more

Book Description

The Body Book not only offers accurate up-to-date information on personal issues that pre-teen girls experience, but also shares it from a positive biblical perspective. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

great book
this book helps girls to understand whats "going on" with their bodies.it helped me:)

a great book!
I love this book. No girl should be without it. To me it's like...a must. Without it i wouldn't survive "the girl thing." This book answers all your "girl stuff" questions from diets to excercise and MUCH MORE! Check this book out. It's great. I'm sooo glad i got it for Christmas.

godly book for 8years-preteens
I bought these book for my girls when they were 9. They poured over them. It was a great way to open the door to body changing talks! I like the journal areas where the girls can write their feelings. With permission from my girls, I would read the entries while sitting with the girls. Helps me to see where their thought lie. The whole series of these "It's a God thing" have my 5 star rating!

This is great!
This is a wonderful book! I wish they had books like this when I was a little girl. This makes an uncomfortable subject very comfortable. My daughter really enjoyed this book - she said "Mom, I'm glad you bought this for me - it's really informative." And she is only 10 years old. The author did a really good job of answering the "what if this happens to me" questions. It also addresses the subject of eating correctly, exercising, and staying away from things that will harm your body. My daughter understands that her body is a special gift from God and that she needs to treat it like a precious jewel. The author adds humor to it which makes it fun reading.

Need a book to explain some of the trials of adolescence?
Have you ever heard of the American Girl book, "The Care and Keeping of You"? This is the Christian version! Ms. Rue and the girls from the Lily series explain, talk about, ask questions, give tips, and more on the subject of adolescence. What's better about this one? It's got God in it. Ms. Rue encourages girls to take all of their problems to God, and provides spaces in the book to write out prayers to our Heavenly Father. I loved reading it, as it has given me knowledge about changes, and what to do with my problems. I suggest it for girls ages 8-14. ... Read more

Book Description

Thirteen tales are unspun from the deeply familiar, and woven anew into a collection of fairy tales that wind back through time. Acclaimed Irish author Emma Donoghue reveals heroines young and old in unexpected alliances--sometimes treacherous, sometimes erotic, but always courageous. Told with luminous voices that shimmer with sensuality and truth, these age-old characters shed their antiquated cloaks to travel a seductive new landscape, radiantly transformed.Cinderella forsakes the handsome prince and runs off with the fairy godmother; Beauty discovers the Beast behind the mask is not so very different from the face she sees in the mirror; Snow White is awakened from slumber by the bittersweet fruit of an unnamed desire. Acclaimed writer Emma Donoghue spins new tales out of old in a magical web of thirteen interconnected stories about power and transformation and choosing one's own path in the world. In these fairy tales, women young and old tell their own stories of love and hate, honor and revenge, passion and deception. Using the intricate patterns and oral rhythms of traditional fairy tales, Emma Donoghue wraps age-old characters in a dazzling new skin.

2000 List of Popular Paperbacks for YA

Reviews (22)

Wonderful, almost cryptic retellings of classics
I picked up the book on a whim. My friends gave me curious looks as I explained it was a retelling of fairy tales. As I started to read it (I consumed it in one sitting), I realized it was much more. The problem with fairy tales is that they provide this bland, generalistic view of what romance is, what a woman is, what a man is. And the view is incorrect. These tales are wonderful in their change of the old stories. These are not simple retellings. Quite often it took me a lot of the story to realize which fairy tale it was. It is great for any age, either sex, and people who prefer pretty much any genre of story. I loved this book as a writer and a reader.

Perfection.
This is one of the loveliest books I have ever read, period. I'm counting full-length novels, anotholgies, poetry, everything. The writing style is absolutely wonderful, the retakes on the classics astoundingly subtle and haunting. What can I say? It's a beautiful book. Ms. Donoghue's writing style far surpasses those of Patricia Mckillip's, Robin McKinley's, even Elizabeth Knox's, in sheer marriage (uh-oh, getting a little swept away, here!) of words and images while using the sparest of styles. Nothing is wasted or superfluous in this lovely collection of fairy-tales. All of the stories are haunting, with nice twists and turns and oddly strong characters with strong and individual voices, no easy feat for such short tales. My favorites were the remakes of Donkey Skin, Beauty and the Beast, and Snow White. Lovely, lovely.

I'm almost shocked that this book is to be found in the children's section of a bookstore, it seemed to me to be a bit too grown up for children. But that's ok. With what many will view as lesbian themes, or at the very least feminist themes, letting children read literature that accepts such normally taboo or looked-down upon concepts might just inadvertantly teach them tolerance and acceptance. That's definitely a good thing, and I know from experience that what a child reads is more than a little influential in her life.

The sum of it is, this book is superbly written with finely, finely crafted stories, and I highly recommend it to everyone.

Gorgeous.
Fairytales are retold and rewoven in this collection of thirteen stories by Emma Donoghue. It begins with The Tale Of The Shoe, in which Cinderella ends up running off with her fairy godmother, and finishes with The Tale Of The Kiss, an original take on the theme of witches in fairytales and the story from which the collection gets its name. The language is smooth and sensual; the new perspective or new twist brought to the familiar tales is sometimes surprising, always innovative. Highly recommended.

Original perspective for the lover of fairy tales
An original twist on 13 of Grimm's fairy tales. Some of the stories were somewhat disturbing, others every bit as grim as the original Grimm. Each will make you think and reflect upon its outcome.

Everything old is new again
'Kissing the Witch' is a gorgeous, eccletic fusion of myth and magic. Emma Donoghue has taken familiar tales and given them a spin that leaves the reader spellbound. Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, they are all there, in 'new skins', recorded in a tone that is both new and ancient. ... Read more

Book Description

Valerie's life is pretty good. While she's not the most popular girl in school, she does have decent grades, great friends, and a potential boyfriend. All a girl could want.

Then her mother announces that (1) she's gay, and (2) she's leaving Valerie's dad for her girlfriend. Not what Valerie envisioned for her future. And just when Valerie is getting over this bombshell, her father tells her he's gotten a new job as protocol chief for the royal family of some obscure European country.

Valerie's world has come unglued. She can either stay in Virginia with her mom and her über-organized, veggie-burger-eating girlfriend, or go with her dad, leaving everything she knows for some place she's never heard of. Valerie opts to go, and quickly discovers that it was a mistake -- until she meets the prince, and all bets are off! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

I loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I started reading this book I thought it was a little slow. But after I'd read more, I really started to get into it. It fuses comedy, drama and romance all in one. The story begins with Valerie learning that her mother is gay and wants to move in with her girlfriend, Gabrielle. Soon after, her father tells her that she has two choices. 1. she can move to a small German speaking country called Schwerinborg (which, no seems to know how to pronounce, calling it Smorgasbord instead). Or 2. she can move in with her mom and her vegan girlfriend, Gabrielle. After much thought of how her friends and every one she knows would find out about her mom, she chooses to live with her dad. There, she learns the German word for exit is "ausfahrt", that the McChicken sandwiches here have a strange onion sauce on them, and that at the end of every fairy tale, not every prince falls for the princess.

Typical Story But Awesome Still
Valerie has everything a girl in high school could want. She may not be Miss Popularity, but she's not looking to be either, which is relieving because going after the Popularity Crown is getting a little old. Valerie does go after another crown though-- the one that sits on top of a royally cute Prince.

She moves to a country in Europe with her father because she refuses to live with her lesbian mother and life partner. The life partner is what bugs Val the most, but nonetheless, Val loves her mother deeply. Suddenly, Val is in a whole new world and is being swept away by Prince Charming (literally!).

This is a very cute read, and while the story is familiar, it's not SO familiar that you won't like this book. It's very funny, cute, and charming. Check this one out girls (or boys, if that's your pleasure!)... YOU'LL LOVE IT!!

May be under other name
Just a warning: my library had this book under Nicole Burnham, so if you are checking your librarys card catalog and you cant find "nikki burnham" search for nicole.

pretty entertaining.
this book was pretty entertaining. at first i was reluctant to even cotinue with the book b/c i just was not interested enough by the cover lol. yes i kno i'm shallow, u're not suppose to jude the book by its cover but i did. it looked to me something a 12 year old would read. and i just not interested in that type of book. but i read it anywayz out of sheer boredom and i was hooked on it! i admit some of the parts were somewhat juvenile but i stilled enjoyed. i will read the sequel Spin Control: The Sequel to the Hit Royally Jacked Is Here!
By Niki Burnham when it comes out in jan. 2005 i believe.

Royally Funny
This book is great. I wish that it would never end. There needs to be a second written to tell us what happened between Val and her dad and when her friends found out about Georg. ... Read more

Book Description

Meet Jenna Boller, star employee at Gladstone's Shoe Store in Chicago. Standing a gawky 5'11'' at 16 years old, Jenna is the kind of girl most likely to stand out in the crowd--for all the wrong reasons. But that doesn't stop Madeline Gladstone, the president of Gladstone's Shoes 176 outlets in 37 states, from hiring Jenna to drive her cross country in a last ditch effort to stop Elden Gladstone from taking over his mother's company and turning a quality business into a shop-and-schlock empire. Now Jenna Boller shoe salesperson is about to become a shoe-store spy as she joins her crusty old employer for an eye-opening adventure that will teach them both the rules of the road--and the rules of life.Joan Bauer lives in Darien, CT. ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Great Summer Read
The basic plot may sound dumb (Shoe Salesgirl and Old Lady Tour Country?s Shoe Stores to Save Old Fashioned Values) but there are a lot of other things under the surface. Jenna has just gotten her license and is happy to take this trip with Mrs. Gladstone because her absentee, alcoholic father is back in town. Jenna also has a grandmother suffering from Alzheimer?s so Jenna has to help her hold on to her memories for as long as possible. Like many children of alcoholics, Jenna feels that she has to protect everyone, so this trip away from home gives Jenna time to focus on her.

Like most teenagers, Jenna has a lot of opinions that most adults tend to ignore, so this trip also gives her a chance to be heard. I loved how Jenna developed over the story and came to trust herself more. The ending wraps up the shoe store story line a little too perfectly, but beyond that I loved this book! It would be great poolside reading. Have a good summer.

Rules of the road apply to life too.
Jenna is a tall girl who can't play basketball and has a crush on a boy who doesn't know she exists. But can she sell shoes! Like her heroine in "Hope Was Here", Bauer creates a teenager who actually enjoys her job and is good at it. Her talent causes her crotchety old boss, Mrs. Gladstone, to whisk her away from the store and place her behind the wheel of her enormous Cadillac. As the two wind their way from Illinois to Texas, they inspect each Gladstone store where, "We're Not Just Selling Shoes, We're Selling Quality." Jenna spies on the salespeople and races to serve ignored customers, blowing on her initialed shoehorn after each sale. It's a race against time to stop the sale of the chain by Mrs. Gladstone's evil son, "The Rat", to a discount shoe warehouse. As Jenna learns the rules of the road, she also learns about life from Alice, a former shoe model, and Harry, the best salesman around. Over the summer, Jenna grows into a young woman with confidence and the courage to confront her alcoholic father back home in Chicago. A touching and funny coming-of-age novel.

A book that's worth it
I could relate to this book. It taught me that some things that hurt the most can keep you strong. by the end i was crying, but this book helped me a lot.

Rules of the Road RULES!!!
Rules of the Road is book about a teenage girl finding her place in life. Jenna is a tall, lanky girl, who works at a shoe store named Gladstone's. Mrs. Madeline Gladstone, the owner, is threatened by her money-hungry son, Elden, who wants to take over the buisness. Mrs. Gladstone, needs someone to drive her to Texas, to stop him, and keep her company. After observing her work, Jenna is the perfect candidate to drive her. Once Jenna accepts Mrs. Gladstone's generous offer, and becomes her personal driver, things start falling apart at home. Jenna's father is an alcoholic, and has made Jenna and her family live through hard times with him before the divorce. Jenna needs to get away from problems at home, and a road trip to Texas is the perfect exit. The journey's experience teaches Jenna, and the reader determination, courage, and friendship. This book didn't only make me laugh out loud, and make me never put it down, but it taught me that friendship has no age limits. Jenna and Mrs. Gladstone are the perfect example of that. I think this book would appeal to anyone who likes sarcastic humor, continuous plot, and characters they can relate to.

Clinton @ Richview Middle School @ Clks. Tenn.
The book starts off in a shoe store, where Jenne Boller is working. She is a tall girl and she can sell anything to almost anybody. She is also facing family problems. To add on to that her dad is an alcoholic he even interrups her at her work. Sometimes it gets so bad she wants to leave town. So one day Madiline Gladstone,owner of a shoe company,hires her to be a driver. She takes a long journey across the U.S.. Then she meets the great Harry Blender And he teaches her the rules of the road. This Book was very interesting because of the lesson taught in it. It shows you that anybody can do anything. ... Read more

Book Description

Summer camp means lots of things: new friends, roommates, bug bites, bathroom duty...But it's also a chance to be on your own and to reinvent yourself. A shy girl can become the belle of the ball, and ajock might find new competition. Natalie, Jenna, Grace, and Alex have all found themselves at Camp Lakeview for different reasons. And each is keeping a secret. But if everyone is hiding something, how will they ever become friends?

Jenna Bloom is a Lakeview legacy. She's been coming to campfor three years and so have her brothers. All of her brothers. Jenna used to think that was cool, but lately she's been dying for some independence. Bubbly, outgoing Jenna has always been known for her pranks. But now her jokes are less and less funny. Are the family ties pulled too tightly-or is there something else going on? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Jenna's Dilemma
-Jenna Bloom has been going to camp for four long years. But lately she feels like she is being babied by her twin brother and older sister and that she is a snob to her friends.It seems like she is getting in more trouble with pranks than before. Not only is she faced with a trouble at camp, but one at home. What's up with Jenna?

-This book includes in the story:
pranks
boys
loads of yummy packages
Jenna's problems
and more!

-I loved this book as much as the first! I read it in one day! It really make we want to go back to camp this year. ... Read more

Book Description

The editors of Girls' Life have collected their best advice from five years of their popular magazine in one hip, honest, and street-smart guide to growing up. The Girls' Life Guide to Growing Up is written in the magazine's direct, funny, and inspiring style that millions of girls across the country have come to know and trust. Touching on every topic important to girls today, the book contains stories, articles, and quizzes on such topics as: Friendship ("Avoiding Toxic Friendships," "Is Three a Crowd?," and "Avoiding Your Worst Buddy Battles"); Life ("What to Do About Gossip," "Surviving the Mom Wars," and "Saying Goodbye to Loved Ones"); Girl Stuff ("Your First Dance" and "Beauty Secrets You Can't Live Without"); Crushes ("He Likes You, Now What?" and "Meeting Cool Guys the Smart Way" ). The book also offers expert guidance on self-confidence, parents, and schoolwork and features a resource guide, book recommendations, cartoons, and Girls' Life magazine's popular Last Laughs feature. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Practicly over-loaded with Info!
This book just has EVERYTHING in it, and I mean everything, from friendships, to siblings, divorces, steparents, boys, dating, bras, braces, glasses, moving, and all the wacky stuff teenagers go through! It even has some really fun tests! I highly recommend it!

I highly recommend this one
I first ordered a copy of this for my daughter when she was 9. She didn't actually get into it until she was about 10, but I have noticed her going back to that book over and over again. She asks questions, and it has opened up the way for a lot of discussion. Everything is in it from manners to clothes to making new friends to schoolwork and bras. It's all in a neat organized manner and written so it's easily understood and followed. I bought another copy for a friend's daughter, too.

**One word - WOW!**
I had wanted this book for as long as I could remember - when I got the book, all I could think was "WOW!" it goes everywhere from what to do when your body starts changing - to how to deal when a loved one or friend dies. If you are (or know of) any special Pre-teen girls in your life, this is the PERFECT reference book for them! They will find themselves referring to it over and over, and sometimes just reading it to see the comments other girls wrote in. If you like Girls' Life Magazine - you'll love The Girls' Life Guide to Growing Up!

Great Book!
This book has so many facts about growing up about everything! I got this book and it's helped me so much! It has all of the advice I'd ever want and it can answer all of your questions! There are many stories from other girls that reasure you that you're normal, but special. If you read this book I'm guarenteing that when you finish it, you can answer anyone elses questions! Be sure to read everything becasue nothing's boring! Happy Reading!

GREAT
This book is really informative! Going throught life as a girl isn't easy! This book really helped me out during that time period. It discusses subjects from "All That" to Zits! It's a great book with a lot of helpful hints. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Who Needs Boys?
At first, the chance to spend the summer working on a farm holds no appeal to Ally; after all, she is going to go see her dad in LA, finally, and she is so not into dirt, even though there might be the chance to see boys. For a girl in an all female school, that's a big deal. Then, her plans crash and burn, so Ally is forced to either face a summer all alone while her friends work on the farm with boys or finagle herself a job with them, despite all the slots being filled. Her finagling is successful, therefore, Ally soon finds herself teamed up with the best worker on the farm, who happens to be the younger brother to both her teacher and the hottest of the guys there and has a real attitude problem in regards to her. Tad seems to consider her fluff, and a waste of his time. Well, that's okay, his very fine brother likes her, even inviting her on a family camping trip with him. Despite not being an outdoors person, Ally accepts. Then, a chance comment or two, a bet, and a bit of kindness change everything.

**** Like Ally, the book itself is more than it seems. Her lostness and neediness will speak to the young readers who are in a broken home, and her triumph will give them hope. With the feeling of an old fashioned romance from years ago, Ally and Tad's story is heartwarming on multiple levels. ****

Allie's Turn to Talk
Fourteen-year-old Allie Morrison is ecstatic about leaving boring Massachusetts behind, and heading to hot, celebrity-filled Los Angeles to spend the summer with her father. Sure she'll miss her three best friends, Frances, Blue, and Natalie - all whom have summer jobs working at their Latin teacher, Sam Novak's, shop Sam's Farm Stand - but getting to see her father is going to be a blast. That is, until Allie's father calls to say that the trip is cancelled due to his pregnant wife's latest ailment, leaving Allie on her own for the summer, with no father, or mother - seeing as how her so-called loving mother isn't ever around for more than 5 minutes at a time. Luckily, Allie is able to find a position working alongside her friends at Sam's Farm Stand, where she is quickly assigned to work with Sam's fourteen-year-old brother, Tad, who is nothing more than a turd. Allie prefers Rand, Sam's eighteen-year-old brother, who makes her mouth water at the mere sight of him. Now, if he would only start to notice her.

Stephie Davis has a knack for creating characters that every teenage girl can relate to. Her true-to-life situations bring each story she tells to life, and make the reader feel as if they are reading about themselves, or their best friend. Her hip prose will appeal to pre-teen and teenage girls, as they will feel as if they are being spoken to, rather than spoken down to, which is always a plus when choosing books. A fabulous book that MUST be read by all.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

fabulous young teen angst tale
In Massachusetts, fourteen years old Allie Morrison looks forward to spending the summer with her father in Los Angeles.Since her parents divorced, she rarely sees him.For that matter she never sees her mother either though she lives with her.Mom is too busy at work or on dates so Allie lives on frozen pizza.While she is in California, her best friends, Blue, Natalie, and Frances all have jobs at Sam's Farm Stand, run and owned by Latin schoolteacher Sam Novak.

The day before she is to fly to the West Coast, her father cancels the trip claiming his pregnant wife is ailing.A despondent Allie has no mom around to empathize with her.Allie manages to get work at Sam's Farm Stand.Sam assigns her to work with his younger brother Tad who is Allie's age.He is nasty to her besides being too young; his eighteen years old brother Rand is much nicer towards her and the right age.As Allie adjusts to field work from being a teen Fashionista, her three friends bet stuffed bras as to whether she becomes the girlfriend of the younger brother.

WHO NEEDS BOYS? is a fabulous young teen angst tale starring a terrific lock key protagonist.The story line focuses on Allie, inadvertently abandoned by her parents, but the consequences of feeling discarded are powerful and deftly described in her philosophy of life:be dumped or do the dumping rather quickly.Though a confrontation with mom deals to easily with the estrangement, young adults will appreciate Stephie Davis' fine tale that requires Natalie the runner needing a boyfriend, preferably a non-athletic nerd.

Harriet Klausner
... Read more

Book Description

Jane Purdy tells herself this as she begins an afternoon of babysitting. Luck is on her side, too -- for whom should she meet but Stan Crandall: good-looking, friendly, and brand-new in town. And he wants to take Jane out! But Jane, just an ordinary girl, is filled with doubts. Suppose her parents won't let her go? What if she makes a fool of herself? Or worse -- what if her father embarrasses her in front of Stan? Jane has finally met the boy of her dreams. Is she ready for him?

Reviews (63)

A Classic from a Simpler Time
I was so happy when I saw that preteen girls are still reading this book! I didn't think it could still be as sweet, as heartwarming, as absolutely perfect in this modern day of bras at 8 and significant others at 12.

"Fifteen" was my hope when I was a gawky preteen girl, positive that I would never have a date in my life. So thinks Jane Purdy, our heroine, a nice, ordinary (in her eyes) babysitter who gets good grades and has a reasonable enough life--except at 15, she has yet to date, yet to be kissed, yet to unlock the mysteries of just what one is supposed to do on a date!

Along comes just about the most popular boy in the entire class, Stan, who not only asks her out, but who TAKES her out. Jane is excited beyond belief, but so nervous, she is sure she has flubbed her chances of every seening Stan--or any boy--again. I could relate completely when I was a preteen, and even now, Jane's anguish rings so true!

I won't give away the ending, but suffice to say that it is absolutely perfect. If there is a young girl in your life, buy her this book. She might make noises about "old-fashioned" and "in YOUR day..." but I'll bet she reads it--and loves it.

For the "Hopeless Romantic" in each of us
"Fifteen" takes us back to 1959 - back when milk was delivered to your door and dogs ate horse meat and girls didn't call boys on the phone. Babysitter Jane Purdy resolves that "Today, I will meet a boy." And, by golly, she DOES! Stan Crandall, doggie meat delivery boy, strolls into her life as she's having a nightmarish time babysitting an eight-year-old monster (actually, I know kids like that one -- not much has changed since the fifties). How many 16-year-old boys today can date a girl for months without even asking for a kiss? How many 16-year-old boys today (or 30-year-old men, for that matter) are gentlemen enough to wait for the young lady to be seated before sitting down himself? Stan is perfect. And after some miscommunication and misunderstandings, they finally connect. And it's absolutely beautiful. A "must read" for all romantics, ESPECIALLY the hopeless ones.

Loved It
I read this book in the 70's. I loved reading young adult fiction set in the 50's and 60's - life seemed a lot simpler and more innocent then. Jane is the heroine of "Fifteen" - and most young girls entering adolescence would be able to relate to her fears, embarrassments (such as the cat seemingly deliberately licking his bottom in front of company), and her hopes of requited teen-age love, or at least "going steady". To me, a realistic look at one ordinary girl's summer experience.

The exact life of a 15 yr. old girl
This book was an amazing book by Beverly Cleary. It talks about Jane a fifteen yr. Old girl who is just struggling with regular teen age problems. She meets a boy named Stan and they start dating. She doesn't know what they are... like boyfriend/girlfriend, just friends, or dating buddies so she gets really confused. Her trials between her parents meeting her new friend and the anticipation of if Stan is going to call again for another date makes this book exciting and having the reader wait for what's going to happen next.

A Charming Tale of First Love
Today, I'm going to meet a boy, this is what Jane Purdy repeats to herself over and over again, as she walks to her babysitting job. And for once, luck is definitely on her side, for she does meet a boy. A very handsome, and special boy, named Stan Crandall, who just happens to be new in town. Stan invites Jane out on a date, which Jane thought she wanted, but soon her head is filled with all sorts of worries and doubts. What if her parents won't allow her to go? What if she doesn't know what to say? Jane never realized that going on a first date would cause so much stress in her young teenage life.

This was my first TALE OF FIRST LOVE by Beverly Cleary, and I was not disappointed at all. Cleary makes the thoughts and worries that go through Jane's head about her date with Stan so realistic, and relateable. Even now, in the year 2003, I feel that teenage girls will be able to sympathize and relate to Jane's situation. A charming tale of first love to give to any teenage girl in your life.

Erika Sorocco ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (5)

Way too violent
This book has a great title, but that's about it. My 10 year old daughter thought the stories were boring. We were very surprised by the amount of violence in these stories, and cannot recommend the book for that reason.

A bit too didactic
Although Jane Yolen is an excellent story-teller (her descriptive language and easy dialog make for a very fun read), I didn't enjoy this collection as much as I might have.

The book begins with an "open letter" to the author's daughter and granddaughters which contains quite a good summary of the various women warrior-types throughout history and throughout the world and hints at sources where you can find more information. However, she also makes several alarming statements that colored my reading experience.

First, she states that stories about heroic women have been "hidden... disguised... mutilated... truncated." Now, I'm not a scholar of folklore, or even an avid reader of it, but even I was familiar with many of the tales she included in her book. So I feel that Yolen may have been a bit over-dramatic on this point.

Another alarming statement is her explanation of why she only uses the term "hero" even though her protagonists are female--"Because heroines... sound like lesser or minor heroes, just as poetess and authress sound as if they are not as good as their male counterparts." This sentence caught me by surprise, since, as a woman, I would take no more offense at being described as an authress as I would at being described as a "chica" rather than a "chico" in a Spanish class. Using a specialized word such as "heroine" simply allows more clarity if it better suits the purpose of the author.

At any rate, I felt that this letter revealed the author to be super-sensitive to feminist issues and perceives her gender to be attacked at any hint of a difference between men and women. The letter was flavored with a bitterness that presented the book almost as a revenge against men rather than a valuable collection to be enjoyed.

That being said, I couldn't help but read Yolen's stories without a heightened sensitivity to issues of male vs. female. Here's what I found...

First out of the gate is "Atalanta the Huntress" which begins like this: "There was a king named Iasus, a cruel, unfeeling man who took his newborn daugter into the Calydonian forest on the far borders of his kingdom. There he put her down on the forest floor saying, 'I wished for a boy, and this is what I got. I will not have you.' Then he turned and left." Lovely. Here I'm thinking, "Gee. Jane Yolen really hates men." But there's more! Later in the story, Atalanta seeks help from the royal court. There all the "heroes" ignored her. One says, "Who is this mere girl who would hunt with heroes?" Even the prince, who agrees to take her along on the hunt, is only sizing her up as a potential wife.

The second story begins by describing a tall, strong man who also happened to be ugly. Very ugly. His daughter is also tall and strong, but she is also beautiful and smart. Hmmm..... Later when the daughter offers to help fight the evil hippo, the ugly man refuses, echoed by his hunter pal, "You are but a female... this is too dangerous a thing for a mere girl."

In the next story the man kidnaps young girls and cuts them into pieces. In the next story the man ties the woman to a tree, exposed to the elements and the wild animals because she disobeyed his orders. In the next story, the authorities (presumably men) ask the brave young girl who is volunteering to try to kill a giant serpant plaguing their village, "What can you, a mere girl, do that ten men could not?" And so on...

Sure, these same character types are in countless folktales and legends. But placed in the context of the author's introduction, they take on a whole new potency of evil. It's as if Yolen is trying to teach the reader by repitition that men are unfeeling, men are untrustworthy, men are dangerous...

The final nail in the coffin was Yolen's choice to include the ending part of the story, "Atalanta the Huntress." In it, Atalanta challenges each of her many suitors to a foot race. The first suitor to defeat her wins Atalanta's hand in marriage. We've all heard the story... the suitors never even have a chance, so strong and swift is Atalanta. But finally, one wily suitor tosses golden apples on the path before her and, as Yolen says, "Atalanta could not take her eyes off the golden fruit. She desired it above all things. Stooping down, she picked it up. And [the suitor] passed her by." As far as I'm concerned, this is a huge jab at women--a statement that women are fickle and unstable, ruled by their passions and incapable of overcoming obstacles. Why in the world would Yolen choose this story for a book she wrote to liberate the "disguised" and "mutilated" heroines--I mean, heroes--of world folklore?

The high point of the book is the section of notes at the end. Yolen explains where she found the stories and what parts she changed as she rewrote them. This, and the bibliography, allows for further research and perhaps a more objective look at the tales as they have been passed down through the ages.

In conclusion, I feel this potentially thrilling collection is extremely devalued by the author's political intent. If you are looking for a great collection of stories with strong female protagonists (but without the anti-male didacticism), I recommend "The Serpent Slayer and other stories of strong women" by Katrin Tchana. This volume celebrates the differences between the genders, which I feel is far more empowering and constructive than forcing women to live up to--or out-do--a standard set by the actions of men.

What a disappointment!
Jane Yolen fans hungry for female heroes will be sorely disappointed by this collection. The "heroic" deeds in many of these stories are pointless. The epic tone and flat characters make for dull reading. The stories are drawn from diverse cultures, but so many details are left unexplained that we are left with a pageantry of exotica. None of the heroes feel like real people with whom girls can identify. The 1 star is awarded to Yolen's introductory comments about girl heroes and her granddaughters' letter of response.

The First Lady of storytellers does it again
Jane Yolen has struck in the gold yet again with this collection of folktales starring clever, brave, daring, courageous women from all over the world. There is a lovely poignancy in her introduction and in the response from her daughter and granddaughters, showing how absolutely right she is to revive these stories, to sing out these tales that celebrate the power of women through the ages. Like Ms. Yolen, I too was Robin Hood and Arthur when I was a girl, desperate to play the hero and not knowing any heroic women to model myself on. Well, my sisters, here they are, a grand selection of them, Atalanta and Bradamante, daring Princesses and bold, clever wise women from many cultures. Their stories are all told with the sure and lilting voice - or voices, for she is a wildly talented writer and able to make each tale ring with its own cultural music - of a trusted modern bard. Thank you, Ms. Yolen, for giving new life to these tales with your consummate artistry.

Not One Dasmel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls
I really liked this book because it tells stories about girls who made a difference in their communities. Ms Yolen has done an excellent job in retelling these folk tales. Each story can be read-a-loud and the illustrations are great. It teaches girls to stay cool and use their brains. Everyone who reads this book will enjoy it. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (255)

I would reccomend this book to any age fantasy lover.
If you are a fantasy or fairy-tale lover and have never read this story then you must (I emphasize) MUST go right over to your nearest library and borrow it immediatly! It has everything traditional fairy tales do kings, queens, handsome princes, flaxen-haired princesses, wizards, knights, and dragons. But Cimorene (the main character) isn't your normal empty-headed, perfect, princess. No, Cimorene isn't a normal princess. Though she takes as many princess lessons as she can bear once in a while she just can't stand it and slips off to secretly take fencing, cooking, or magic lessons. She is repeatedly told "Princesses don't do that sort of thing." The last straw is when her parents try to make her marry handsome but boring Prince Therindill and Cimorene runs away and becomes princess to the dragon Kazule. For once she is glad she is a princess! Life is exciting being a dragon's princess though the knights are bothersome. Once you meet Cimorene and her friend Aleanora you'll want to visit them everyday

Definitely a book to read!
This was definitely one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. "Dealing with Dragons" is about a princess named Cimorene. (The book is written in a third-person view.) She is not as pretty as her sisters, but she's not as dumb either. Cimorene is very bored with life as a "proper" princess-she doesn't want to learn how to scream as she gets carried off by some creature or another. She wants to lead a more exciting life. The last straw comes when her parents try to make her marry a prince who she doesn't even love. She gets her way when she comes upon a group of dragons, among them being the polite female dragon named Kazul. She becomes the dragon's princess, and soon becomes caught in the conspiracy of some unfriendly wizards. This book is a fantasy story, but it also has humor in it, so it's good to read if you're looking for a light book. The characters are very pleasant, and humerous, and I was absorbed into the story. I reccommend this book for people who like fantasy, but who don't want anything too heavy. This book changes a lot from beginning to end, in terms of meeting characters, getting to know characters, and solving problems. There are three other books, all sequels, that are in this series: "Searching for Dragons," "Calling on Dragons," and "Talking to Dragons." If you like fantasy and some comedy, you'll like this book!

a MUST read
this book captivated me the moment i read the first page. i love this book and i have read it over and over and i still like it! I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequal. It is a MUST read!

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT WAS A GOOD BOOK AND IT IS ADVENTURERAND A STORY THAT COUD HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Engrossing Fantasy
Sixteen-year-old Cimorene, Princess of Linderwall, is everything that a Princess should not be. She's headstrong, curious, stubborn, opinionated, smart, and tomboyish. Not only that, she is bored. Utterly, and completely bored. So when she has the chance to runaway, she takes it. Now she's living with Kazul, one of the most dangerous and powerful dragons around. A dragon who looks vicious, but is really quite sweet to her. However, Cimorene being Cimorene, she has a knack for finding and befriending dangerous characters such as a witch named Moranz, a stone Prince, a death-dealing talking bird, some wizards who are up to no good, and more. Adventure was what Cimorene was looking for, and this little Princess certainly got it!

Fans of fantasy novels will be overjoyed to find DEALING WITH DRAGONS, which is the first book in the ENCHANTED FOREST CHRONICLES. Cimorene is an extremely fun character who will warm the hearts of children of all ages, especially females, as DEALING WITH DRAGONS is one of the few fantasy series heralding a female as the main character. The descriptions of the dragons, both personality and looks-wise, will charm even the grumpiest of people, as they are vivid and enchanting and make you feel as if you are right there alongside them. Patricia C. Wrede has done an amazing job with this novel, and I look forward to reading Book Two in the series SEARCHING FOR DRAGONS.

Erika Sorocco ... Read more

Book Description

Based on situations encountered in girls' lives, Girl to Girl encourages young girls to explore new interests as well as further develop current strenght. It also stresses the importance of intimate connections with others, the inclusion of all peers, and the normalcy of feeling fearful and apprehensive. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is a great book
I found this book in the library one day and I have already read the entire book myself. It is actually for girls age 11-15 but I enjoyed it too. You can't keep books from the library forever and I knew I had to have a copy for my daughter. So I came here and YES amazon.com had it, I was thrilled and ordered it right away. The book is like a daily devotional book, giving girls a quote at the top of the page , then a story , then another quote at the bottom. All of the stories are insightful and inspirational. This is a GREAT book. ... Read more

Book Description

Lisa Shilling is 16, smart, attractive--and she is losing her mind. Some days are "light," and everything is normal; during her "dark" days, she hides deep within herself, and nothing can reach her. Her teachers ignore what is happening. Her parents deny it. Lisa's friends are the only ones who are listening--and they walk with her where adults fear to tread. This classic novel of a teenager's descent into madness, in the tradition of Go Ask Alice and I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, has remained a best seller for close to thirty years.

"Compassionate and tragic, an indictment of adults who refuse to get involved."--The Ne