Synopsis
There are, Alice decides, 272 horrible things left to happen to her in her life, based on the number of really horrible things that have happened already. She figures that out after the disaster of the talent show. And she realizes that there is no way to fend them off.
But, she reasons, if you don't have a mother, maybe a sister would help. Maybe lots of sisters, a worldwide sisterhood. Be like everyone else, do what others do, and best of all, be part of the "in" group. Then you have sympathy and protection.
It is with this in mind that Alice joins the All-Stars Fan Club and the earring club and becomes one of the Famous Eight. It helps, even when it's a bit boring. On the whole, Alice thinks, she is enjoying seventh grade more than she had ever expected.
Yet Sisterhood, even Famous Eighthood, does not take care of all of her problems or answer all of her questions about life and love. Can she be Sisters with all three girls who want to be her brother Lester's girlfriends? How does she treat the fact that her father is dating her teacher, Miss Summers? How do you accept a box of valentine candy from a boy? In fact, how do boys fit into Universal Sisterhood — or is there a Universal Humanhood? How far do you go when being part of the crowd means doing something you don't want to do?
As in the earlier Alice books, Alice copes with life in her own way, and her answers to her endless problems are often funny and surprisingly right.
School Library Journal
Gr 5-8-- In the winter of seventh grade, lovable, motherless Alice McKinley believes that life's problems require the guidance of a wise and kind female. Lacking that, she decides that all females represent a universal sisterhood, and, lemminglike, joins in the popular activities of her peer group. In addition to writing fan letters to stars and buying earrings weekly, Alice tries to feel sisterly solidarity with the women pursuing her older brother, and wishes her father would marry the attractive teacher he has been dating. Alice thinks she's outgrown Patrick, but is soon bored with handsome Brian's pranks; when loyal Patrick is slated for victimization, Alice must reevaluate her decisions. In the end, intelligence and loyalty triumph over superficiality. Only an author of Naylor's nimble skill could hold these ingredients together in a readable, laughable, and, yes, sensitive story. Alice is the same delightful character from The Agony of Alice (Atheneum, 1985), although, naturally, more mature. Carefully structured, strongly characterized, this book is sure to be the most popular yet of the series. Naylor's light, but deft touch with important thematic concerns is most appealing.-- Cindy Darling Codell, Clark Middle School, Winchester, KY