Children's Literature
- Jennifer Morrin
Upon first glance at its title, a prospective reader might shy away from this novel. Yet Leslie Margolis poignantly captures the ebb and flow of junior high through descriptive, realistic writing. Being the new kid is never easy, but in her two months at Birchwood Middle School, Annabelle Stevens has managed to make girlfriends, tolerate immature boys, and even adjust to life cohabitating with her mom's boyfriend. But all of these challenges pale in comparison to her newest obstacle, Taylor "Terrible T" Stansfield. Like any female bully, Taylor's sole mission in life seems to be damaging other, less popular girls' self-esteem. In addition to daily encounters with Taylor and her clique, Annabelle must simultaneously cope with embarrassing adolescent rites of passage, including leg shaving lessons from her mom, mall bra fittings, and an inexplicable crush on her soon-to-be stepbrother! Humorous and moving, this honest story is much more authentic than its simple title predicts. Reviewer: Jennifer Morrin
School Library Journal
Gr 4–6—In this well-written sequel to Boys Are Dogs (Bloomsbury, 2008), sixth-grader Annabelle continues to adjust to the changes in her life. She's happy and confident, but she feels a bit unsettled by the catty behavior of her new school's mean-girl clique, Taylor and the Terrible T's. They're expert in being sneaky and putting everyone down, and Annabelle just doesn't know how to handle it. In addition, her mom is getting married, and Annabelle's new stepbrother-to-be is so handsome that she can't help but have a crush on him. Margolis handles Annabelle's minor crises with sensitivity and humor, whether describing her first experience shaving her legs, buying her first bra, or standing up for herself even when it means losing a friend. A good addition to collections where the first book is popular, as well as an appealing stand-alone.—Susan Riley, Mount Kisco Public Library, NY
Kirkus Reviews
On the heels of Boys Are Dogs (2008), in which sixth grader Annabelle learned to control negative boy behavior with dog-training tips, comes this sequel, in which she discovers that girls can be very catty. Taylor and her entourage are a particular problem: They're the "populars," who all but terrorize the just-average girls who make up the majority of their junior high school. Inexplicably, given that Annabelle has come from an all-girls school, this cattiness is a new discovery for her, as she walks a fine line between earning Taylor's ire and alienating her true friends. Secondary issues include her mom's upcoming (and first) marriage and her future stepfather's hunky son's moving in, inspiring a serious crush. This average effort lacks the ironic humor of Annabelle's first outing with its useful dog (boy) manual advice. Annabelle's first-person voice rings true enough, but all others are stock characters, and the outcome is predictable. While an important topic, it has been covered innumerable times, and there's no new insight here. Purchase if Annabelle's first appearance was a hit. (Fiction. 9-13)
School Library Journal
Gr 5–7—In Leslie Margolis's sequel (2009) to Boys Are Dogs (2008, both Bloomsbury), sixth-grader Annabelle discovers that girls in her new public middle school can be very catty. Annabelle and her tight group of friends encounter mean girl "Taylor and her Three Terrors." Annabelle has enough to worry about with her mother getting engaged, meeting her soon-to-be older (and very cute) stepbrother, shopping for her first bra, and learning to shave (after Taylor makes a snarky comment). Add to this her naiveté and willingness to give Taylor the benefit of the doubt, even though her best friends warn her about the girl's nasty ways. Ellen Grafton's perfect voicing of a young girl wanting to believe the best about others will make listeners feel a connection to Annabelle. She shifts easily between the humorous and upsetting moments that Annabelle and her friends encounter while they try to navigate through the emotional maze of middle school. Tweens will certainly identify with the problems Annabelle encounters. This title can stand on its own and will also be a good addition to collections where the first book is popular.—Stephanie A. Squicciarini, Fairport Public Library, NY
