Children's Literature
- Haley Maness
Alice desperately wants to get her ears pierced and fit in with all of the other seventh grade girls. Having pierced ears symbolizes a big step to growing up for her. Although the days when having your ears pierced as a rite of passage are slightly behind the times, the idea of trying to be inconspicuous in seventh grade is still prominent today. Alice wants to be an "identical twin" to every girl in seventh grade. She easily bonds with all women and potential female role models in her environment. Alice feels the need to have a mother figure in her life after losing her mother when she was young. Alice, like many twelve year olds, is very self-conscious and does not want to draw attention to herself no matter what the cost. Alice sees all of the good in everyone, and is an honest, trustworthy, character that readers will try to emulate. At this difficult transition point in her life, she does not bow to peer pressure but stands up to bullies for what she believes in, creating a role model for young readers. The introduction to the story is repetitive in each addition to the "Alice" series, and a bit tedious, but newcomers to the novels get a good general background of the characters and their histories with one another. A delightful reprint of an old favorite. Reviewer: Haley Maness
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
Children's Literature
- Haley Maness
Alice desperately wants to get her ears pierced and fit in with all of the other seventh grade girls. Having pierced ears symbolizes a big step to growing up for her. Although the days when having your ears pierced as a rite of passage are slightly behind the times, the idea of trying to be inconspicuous in seventh grade is still prominent today. Alice wants to be an "identical twin" to every girl in seventh grade. She easily bonds with all women and potential female role models in her environment. Alice feels the need to have a mother figure in her life after losing her mother when she was young. Alice, like many twelve year olds, is very self-conscious and does not want to draw attention to herself no matter what the cost. Alice sees all of the good in everyone, and is an honest, trustworthy, character that readers will try to emulate. At this difficult transition point in her life, she does not bow to peer pressure but stands up to bullies for what she believes in, creating a role model for young readers. The introduction to the story is repetitive in each addition to the "Alice" series, and a bit tedious, but newcomers to the novels get a good general background of the characters and their histories with one another. A delightful reprint of an old favorite. Reviewer: Haley Maness
