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Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice?
Lauren Allen's life is the pits. Bobby Taylor's just jilted her. Her ninth-grade teachers are demerit-crazy. And she has to share her bedroom with messy younger sister who wants to be a stand-up comic, while her older sister seems to get everything she wants. Between her parents, her two sisters, and school, Lauren feels she's got no rights at all.
But then Lauren takes a course - "Law for Children and Young People" - and meets Zack, an eighth grader who's "nice and attractive and bright and funny."
Suddenly Lauren realizes that there are solutions to her problems. She can protest unfair policies at school. She can stand up to the kids who call her a cradle robber for going out with Zack. And she can sue her parents for malpractice...can't she?
But then Lauren takes a course - "Law for Children and Young People" - and meets Zack, an eighth grader who's "nice and attractive and bright and funny."
Suddenly Lauren realizes that there are solutions to her problems. She can protest unfair policies at school. She can stand up to the kids who call her a cradle robber for going out with Zack. And she can sue her parents for malpractice...can't she?
141 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
About the author
Paula Danziger
107 books331 followersBorn in Washington, D.C., and raised in New York, Paula Danziger knew since the second grade that she wanted to be a writer. Throughout her career, she wrote a collection of children's stories, including The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, The Divorce Express and, more recently, the Amber Brown series.
Danziger loved to travel and meet young kids all over the world. She was embraced by her audience for her ability to relate to children through the characters in her stories. She was often known for "borrowing" children (only the ones she knew) for her inspiration. The Amber Brown character was conceived during one of her trips with her niece.
Danziger was also the recipient of numerous literary awards, including the Children's Choice Award from the International Reading Association and the 2003 Garden State Children's Book Award. She spent most of her time in New York City and London, England.
She is survived by a brother, three nephews, and a niece. The Amber Brown Fund has been set up in memory of her. Donations for this fund will be used to allow authors and illustrators to speak at local schools and libraries.
Danziger loved to travel and meet young kids all over the world. She was embraced by her audience for her ability to relate to children through the characters in her stories. She was often known for "borrowing" children (only the ones she knew) for her inspiration. The Amber Brown character was conceived during one of her trips with her niece.
Danziger was also the recipient of numerous literary awards, including the Children's Choice Award from the International Reading Association and the 2003 Garden State Children's Book Award. She spent most of her time in New York City and London, England.
She is survived by a brother, three nephews, and a niece. The Amber Brown Fund has been set up in memory of her. Donations for this fund will be used to allow authors and illustrators to speak at local schools and libraries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 13, 2009
Remember the make-out egg timer?!
Read
November 27, 2009Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice? held up to rereading much better than the other Danziger books I've revisited of late. It deals with many of the same themes as The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, but more subtly and more effectively. The characters (teachers, parents, cool kids, and rebels) are more complex and believable and, perhaps as a consequence, the family and school dynamics rang truer to me.
I also note that this is one of the few children's/YA books I've come across that portrays lawyers in a positive light. Perhaps it was one of the heretofore elusive sources of my own legal ambitions?
Sadly, that scene will be nearly incomprehensible to contemporary readers who never experienced a time when one signed books out from the library by writing one's name on the card in the pocket affixed to the inside front cover of the book. (And can I just say that I miss the history lost to us with the shift to a computerized system, although at the same time I can recall the embarrassment that that public paper trail could cause on occasion.)
So, a happy rereading experience all in all, not just for the book itself, but because it rehabilitated Danziger for me somewhat after my disappointment on my recent reread of The Cat Ate My Gymsuit.
I also note that this is one of the few children's/YA books I've come across that portrays lawyers in a positive light. Perhaps it was one of the heretofore elusive sources of my own legal ambitions?
Finally, I must share the following passage because, holy dream date for the bookish girl:
"Remember when you said you already knew about me?"
He nods.
"Well how did you? Was it my charm, wit, and stunning appearance?" I pretend to model.
He grins. "No, actually it was books."
"Books?"
"Yeah, books. I moved here during a vacation and didn't know people. So I spent most of my time reading books from the library. Almost every book I picked out had your name in it. Same with the school library. I figured we probably had the same interests. So I checked up on you a little. If I hadn't run into you and Bonnie that day, I would have met you some other way.
Books. I can't believe it. Books.
Sadly, that scene will be nearly incomprehensible to contemporary readers who never experienced a time when one signed books out from the library by writing one's name on the card in the pocket affixed to the inside front cover of the book. (And can I just say that I miss the history lost to us with the shift to a computerized system, although at the same time I can recall the embarrassment that that public paper trail could cause on occasion.)
So, a happy rereading experience all in all, not just for the book itself, but because it rehabilitated Danziger for me somewhat after my disappointment on my recent reread of The Cat Ate My Gymsuit.
March 15, 2024
A fantastic coming of age story from which I would happily accept a sequel. Alas, there isn’t one, and the compelling high school drama and budding romance ended much too soon.
June 18, 2007
Besides a hysterical title, it's a really good example of the kind of Y/A fiction around when I was a teen. It wasn't in a hurry to grow up but it wasn't prude either.
August 4, 2021
It's the last week before I head back to school, so I'm trying to cram in as much reading as I can. I feel like I won't want to read as much when I come home from work, and I am going to try and write more, but hopefully, they'll be enough time, and motivation to do both, and exercise on top of it all. Geez!
So I just finished reading Paula Danziger's 1979 novel, CAN YOU SUE YOUR PARENTS FOR MALPRACTICE?
I've come to expect something kind of formulaic in Danziger's work, which is not a bad thing. I'll be honest in saying that I seldom read authors who have this style. The closest has been Agatha Christie, but even the authors I read a lot seem to not follow too closely to the same pattern, but I'm here to give the formulaic writing some credit because it's nice to pick up a book and know a little before you open it just what to expect. There's a kind of familiarity to it and that can be a comfort to a reader when they don't want to be surprised. I think the same goes for when we pick movies by the same directors, or just watch a movie over again that we already know how it's going to end.
This story deals with some rather interesting issues. I feel like the 1970s must have been a wonderful time to be a writer. Because there still wasn't a young adult genre yet, people, like Blume, Zindel, and Danziger, were able to write a little more freely on subjects concerning young people before the crackdown of censorship erupted in the 1980s and parents all of a sudden thought they were doing right by taking away thoughts and ideas that were being expressed in these novels geared towards younger audiences.
In this novel, Lauren Allen is a ninth-grader who has just been dumped by her boyfriend Bobby and he's already going out with a girl who's must "faster", her younger sister is constantly telling back jokes, and her older sister is wanting to move away from their parents, who are always at each other over money and the way to raise their three girls. The father is the worst. A mean, overbearing, manipulative guy, a very toxic man. So it comes to no surprise that Lauren wants to become a lawyer and sue her parents for malpractice because they just aren't able to be the kind of parents to help their children grow and do what's right for themselves.
In school, Lauren takes a new class that's being offered that studies children's legal rights, and meets Zack, a new kid in school to who she starts to become attracted. The only problem is Zack is a year younger than Lauren, which sparks a lot of controversy within the school. Because whether we like it or not, a good deal of what we do in this world can be influenced by what others want and expect us to do.
And that's really the big takeaway from this book. Do we let others dictate our lives or do have to sooner or later do what's best for ourselves? And the troubles of how we must deal with that when our own parents are so awful at apparently.
It was a very well-paced, intriguingly written novel. I've read some reviews saying how dated it is, but I have to disagree. I work in a middle school and these themes are very much alive still, maybe the issue is people don't want to admit it because then they'd have to look into themselves as parents, and students, and faculty, etc., and really examine their part in it all.
Anyway, I'd definitely put this one as one of Paula Danziger's best books I've read so far. Although I still love THE CAT ATE MY GYMSUIT better, I think this one really was more tightly written and focused on the issues at hand. Definitely a deserving novel. CAN YOU SUE YOUR PARENTS FOR MALPRACTICE? My rating is 4/5.
So I just finished reading Paula Danziger's 1979 novel, CAN YOU SUE YOUR PARENTS FOR MALPRACTICE?
I've come to expect something kind of formulaic in Danziger's work, which is not a bad thing. I'll be honest in saying that I seldom read authors who have this style. The closest has been Agatha Christie, but even the authors I read a lot seem to not follow too closely to the same pattern, but I'm here to give the formulaic writing some credit because it's nice to pick up a book and know a little before you open it just what to expect. There's a kind of familiarity to it and that can be a comfort to a reader when they don't want to be surprised. I think the same goes for when we pick movies by the same directors, or just watch a movie over again that we already know how it's going to end.
This story deals with some rather interesting issues. I feel like the 1970s must have been a wonderful time to be a writer. Because there still wasn't a young adult genre yet, people, like Blume, Zindel, and Danziger, were able to write a little more freely on subjects concerning young people before the crackdown of censorship erupted in the 1980s and parents all of a sudden thought they were doing right by taking away thoughts and ideas that were being expressed in these novels geared towards younger audiences.
In this novel, Lauren Allen is a ninth-grader who has just been dumped by her boyfriend Bobby and he's already going out with a girl who's must "faster", her younger sister is constantly telling back jokes, and her older sister is wanting to move away from their parents, who are always at each other over money and the way to raise their three girls. The father is the worst. A mean, overbearing, manipulative guy, a very toxic man. So it comes to no surprise that Lauren wants to become a lawyer and sue her parents for malpractice because they just aren't able to be the kind of parents to help their children grow and do what's right for themselves.
In school, Lauren takes a new class that's being offered that studies children's legal rights, and meets Zack, a new kid in school to who she starts to become attracted. The only problem is Zack is a year younger than Lauren, which sparks a lot of controversy within the school. Because whether we like it or not, a good deal of what we do in this world can be influenced by what others want and expect us to do.
And that's really the big takeaway from this book. Do we let others dictate our lives or do have to sooner or later do what's best for ourselves? And the troubles of how we must deal with that when our own parents are so awful at apparently.
It was a very well-paced, intriguingly written novel. I've read some reviews saying how dated it is, but I have to disagree. I work in a middle school and these themes are very much alive still, maybe the issue is people don't want to admit it because then they'd have to look into themselves as parents, and students, and faculty, etc., and really examine their part in it all.
Anyway, I'd definitely put this one as one of Paula Danziger's best books I've read so far. Although I still love THE CAT ATE MY GYMSUIT better, I think this one really was more tightly written and focused on the issues at hand. Definitely a deserving novel. CAN YOU SUE YOUR PARENTS FOR MALPRACTICE? My rating is 4/5.
May 20, 2018
I read this in high school but lost my copy in several moves. Somehow the Pistachio Prescription stuck around though, which I read to my teen daughter a few summers ago.
I so want to read this one again. It's been soo long! I remember Zack and Lauren's make-out sesh, it was so innocent yet so desirable, I couldn't wait to have a boyfriend. I'm sure reading it now as an experienced adult, it will seem like nothing, just like Beverly Clearly's The Luckiest Girl, which I adored but hardly got a kiss. Books like these made a huge impact at the time.
One thing different about Paula Danziger's books is she writes in the first person. One thing I could do without is the harsh households. Parents are always at each others' throats. I get she was keeping it real, that not every marriage is happy and children often live in tug-o-war environments, but it could be toned down a bit. I am both a child and a wife of divorce, yet did not experience the brash static electricity Danziger plugs into her themes. Still, overlooking the instability is not hard because of her entertaining style.
I so want to read this one again. It's been soo long! I remember Zack and Lauren's make-out sesh, it was so innocent yet so desirable, I couldn't wait to have a boyfriend. I'm sure reading it now as an experienced adult, it will seem like nothing, just like Beverly Clearly's The Luckiest Girl, which I adored but hardly got a kiss. Books like these made a huge impact at the time.
One thing different about Paula Danziger's books is she writes in the first person. One thing I could do without is the harsh households. Parents are always at each others' throats. I get she was keeping it real, that not every marriage is happy and children often live in tug-o-war environments, but it could be toned down a bit. I am both a child and a wife of divorce, yet did not experience the brash static electricity Danziger plugs into her themes. Still, overlooking the instability is not hard because of her entertaining style.
August 13, 2017
This book is incredibly short and in the present day, it feels underdeveloped because of it. That being said, I was surprised by how deep this book goes. It's a book that was written in the 1970's that touches on romantic boundaries, the way judgement and teasing can effect decision making, conflict between parents, women working outside the home, a woman moving in with her boyfriend and the judgement that might bring, divorce, and schools violating/stepping on students' rights.
Of course, it's only 150 pages long so there isn't time to go into depth with a lot of those, but altogether it was a surprisingly good read.
Of course, it's only 150 pages long so there isn't time to go into depth with a lot of those, but altogether it was a surprisingly good read.
December 31, 2022
I've known Danziger's name all my life, but I finally caught up to her - and I wasn't disappointed. Really clever (and funny) dialogue, and she manages her various subplots beautifully. I did feel the dad character (as well as the heroine's ex-boyfriend) were written a bit too one dimensionally, though.
July 5, 2022
Danziger's books always have main characters that are relatable to the teenage experience with their thoughts, experiences, and humor. Found this book to still be entertaining 43 years after it was originally being published.
August 4, 2022
I was recommended this book by one of my best friends and I was a bit slow to read it, as for the length it is it is a bit of a slow burn. But it turned out to be absolutely amazing and is now one of my favourite books!
December 27, 2017
As relevent now as when it was written in 1979, except without the technology, this is an excellent book depicting the struggles of a 14 year old girl.
October 30, 2019
Not what I was expecting from the title - it's not about problem parents but about the teen taboo on girls going out with younger boys. Which maybe is out of date, but this was written in the 1980s.
April 1, 2022
Definitely dated (from the late 70s), but kids' issues, feelings, etc. are still very much similar.
November 25, 2022
I read this in 2014. I was in 5th grade then.
I was obviously angry with my parents and the title of this book with all its allure was gravely irresistible. The title of the book is a question, reading the book is the pursuit of finding out whether you can or cannot sue your parents for malpractice and I remember being disappointed because it turned out to be the latter.
I would love to re-read this..
I was obviously angry with my parents and the title of this book with all its allure was gravely irresistible. The title of the book is a question, reading the book is the pursuit of finding out whether you can or cannot sue your parents for malpractice and I remember being disappointed because it turned out to be the latter.
I would love to re-read this..
October 25, 2015
The interesting novel "Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice" written by the famous author Paula Danziger talks about a 14-year-old girl named Lauren and her teenage life. Lauren has 2 sisters, Mellisa who is 19, and Linda who is 10. Everybody knows that it is not fun when you have no rights in your household. Especially Lauren she has to share her room with her annoying little sister, she doesn't get enough allowance, she wasn't allowed to get her ears done, her parents decide at what time she comes home. Lauren wants to become a lawyer when she grows up. Her school is getting this new class on law, Lauren can't wait for it. At one point, Lauren decides if she can sue her parents for malpractice. As one can see this novel is very interesting.
I chose three questions: Which part of the book is most interesting to you? Explain. Do you think your friends will be interested in reading this book? Why or why not? What lesson can you learn from this person's life? Explain. First, the part when Lauren and her best friend sneaked out to get their ears pierced was my favourite part in this book because for me it was a suspenseful part, I was worried if Laurens dad would catch them and how she would explain to him what she did. Second, I think that most of my girl friends would be interested in this book because it helps you know what is good and bad in a teenage life and it also talks about boys and how to deal with them. Last, from this novel you can learn that everything you do has consequences, for example when Lauren and her best friend came back from the mall (where they got their ears pierced) her parents found out and got mad at her. As one can see, I really enjoyed this novel.
I find that this novel has some good and bad parts. A good part was when Lauren was talking to her sister about why she broke up with her boyfriend because it showed me that it is okay to finish something and to not forgive everything because some things you can forgive, but somethings you can't. My least favorite part of this novel was when Lauren's little sister, Linda tells her jokes because I find that she is a useless character. I would love to read another novel by this author because I find that she has gone through many teenage problems that she talks about in her novels. I would like to recommend this book to mostly middle school/ high school girls and even mabey boys too because this novel doesn't only talk about girl problems it also talks about teenage problems, so it could also probably help a boy too. As one can see, this novel is for a little bit everyone.
I chose three questions: Which part of the book is most interesting to you? Explain. Do you think your friends will be interested in reading this book? Why or why not? What lesson can you learn from this person's life? Explain. First, the part when Lauren and her best friend sneaked out to get their ears pierced was my favourite part in this book because for me it was a suspenseful part, I was worried if Laurens dad would catch them and how she would explain to him what she did. Second, I think that most of my girl friends would be interested in this book because it helps you know what is good and bad in a teenage life and it also talks about boys and how to deal with them. Last, from this novel you can learn that everything you do has consequences, for example when Lauren and her best friend came back from the mall (where they got their ears pierced) her parents found out and got mad at her. As one can see, I really enjoyed this novel.
I find that this novel has some good and bad parts. A good part was when Lauren was talking to her sister about why she broke up with her boyfriend because it showed me that it is okay to finish something and to not forgive everything because some things you can forgive, but somethings you can't. My least favorite part of this novel was when Lauren's little sister, Linda tells her jokes because I find that she is a useless character. I would love to read another novel by this author because I find that she has gone through many teenage problems that she talks about in her novels. I would like to recommend this book to mostly middle school/ high school girls and even mabey boys too because this novel doesn't only talk about girl problems it also talks about teenage problems, so it could also probably help a boy too. As one can see, this novel is for a little bit everyone.
December 30, 2021
Paula Danziger's, Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice was a heartwarming and heart-pulling story. Danziger starts off the story from the perspective of Lauren an aspiring lawyer and the middle child of two other sisters. At the beginning of the story Lauren is dating an entitled boyfriend who does not care much for her, constantly annoyed by her younger sister, and envious of her older sister. Lauren tries to stay focus and calm but becomes overwhelmed as her older sister moves out without the blessing of her parents, this situation only leads to more stressful arguments between her parents causing strife for everyone in her home. Suddenly a new boy named Zack moves into her town, Zack is enthralled with her and seems to appear everywhere she is. Eventually, Lauren breaks up with her current boyfriend and dates Zack, unfortunately for Lauren, this causes unnecessary opinions from everyone around her because Zack is in a grade younger than her. Zack and Lauren take a class elective called, "Young People's Law." In this class, Zack and Lauren grow closer and through it, they are able to shed light on some teachers tat are punishing students unfairly. Lauren's relationship with Zack has made Lauren calmer, and the situation with her sister slowly dwindles to peace. I gave this book a 4/5 because it did not fully finish the side characters' storylines, and left them to the readers' imagination. Although I did enjoy how she found the solutions to her problems and became stronger because of it.
November 4, 2009
the book is basically bout this girl named lauren. she and her two sisters live in their house with their mom and their dad. lauren devoloped early and so she doesnt get a lot of dates. she is in the ninth grade and there is this 8th grade boy who likes her. but he likes law and so does she. and so they both take law together. and they suddenly become partners in a project together. and so he likes her obviously and she does but doesnt want to like him because he is in the ninth grade. but her female instincts tell her to like him more and more.
i can connect to this because i went out with this girl last year and she was in the eighth grade and i was in the seventh grade. she broke up with me because of what grade i was in. but the following year she told me that she still liked me but that it was only me grade. and thatswhy she broke up with me. just like in the book she likes him but it is the grade that is the only difficulty.
i rated this book 3 stars because it was a good book. i liked how it ended. i liked the way it connected to my life. what it could of used was more action because those are perticuarlly the types of books that i like to read. i would reccomend this book to the people who like to read books that are kind of funny and that tell a good story.
i can connect to this because i went out with this girl last year and she was in the eighth grade and i was in the seventh grade. she broke up with me because of what grade i was in. but the following year she told me that she still liked me but that it was only me grade. and thatswhy she broke up with me. just like in the book she likes him but it is the grade that is the only difficulty.
i rated this book 3 stars because it was a good book. i liked how it ended. i liked the way it connected to my life. what it could of used was more action because those are perticuarlly the types of books that i like to read. i would reccomend this book to the people who like to read books that are kind of funny and that tell a good story.
December 10, 2022
It's funny how a book with a simple plot can turn out so good. This is one of my go-to late night reading sesh picks, and it never fails to fill me with that warm, fuzzy feeling. I love that Lauren is in her prime teen years, although now that I think about it, we have a lot in common; annoying younger siblings, friends who care a little too much about social status, and ex-boyfriends who are idiots.
Lauren and Zack are perfect for each other, and I love the forbidden love theme throughout the book. It's surprising how relevant the issues in this book still are today, even though it was written a good 40 years ago. All in all, I loved this book, and would greatly recommend it to everyone. Enjoy!!!
Lauren and Zack are perfect for each other, and I love the forbidden love theme throughout the book. It's surprising how relevant the issues in this book still are today, even though it was written a good 40 years ago. All in all, I loved this book, and would greatly recommend it to everyone. Enjoy!!!
December 5, 2014
My book Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice? Written by Paula Danziger. The main character of this book is Paula she is 14 years old. She has 2 sisters named Linda she is 10 years old and Melissa she is older. Paula think Linda is annoying because she want to by a stand-up comic.
Melissa she don`t have a curfew and no hand-me-downs. The father likes Melissa more than others sisters. Paula is taking a class called law for children and young people and she`s excited for the class. I like this book because is interesting and Paula is relatable. is a good book but is a little difficult for me to understand.
January 18, 2014
Just 'cause I was looking for something short, I dug this out of my "i read this as a teen" shelf. It's so wonderfully dated. I think it was written in the 70s, or possibly the early 80s, and it shows, but in a good way. Danziger's books often deal with what were the relevant issues for teens in that era, ie the idea of a mother daring to start working again, divorce, and the use of the title "Ms.". Her books for teens were always awesome and I enjoyed them when I was young. They are still fun to read even if I seem to somehow be the age of the adults/parents in the book now. Scary.
January 13, 2010
Just 'cause I was looking for something short, I dug this out of my "i read this as a teen" shelf. It's so wonderfully dated. I think it was written in the 70s, or possibly the early 80s, and it shows, but in a good way. Danziger's books often deal with what were the relevant issues for teens in that era, ie the idea of a mother daring to start working again, divorce, and the use of the title "Ms.". Her books for teens were always awesome and I enjoyed them when I was young. They are still fun to read even if I seem to somehow be the age of the adults/parents in the book now. Scary.
May 23, 2013
CAN YOU SUE YOUR PARENTS FOR MALPRACTICE?
The author,Paula Danziger,has a good understanding of kids and teenagers.This book was written in the last year of her teaching.
Lauren,who is a ninth grade girl has a dream of becoming a lawyer to sue her parents for malpractice due to her wierd mom and crazy and strict dad but gets distracted by some teenage things just like in any teenage life.After all,maybe sueing her parents for malpractice isn't the most important thing.
I gave this book 3 stars,almost just right.
The author,Paula Danziger,has a good understanding of kids and teenagers.This book was written in the last year of her teaching.
Lauren,who is a ninth grade girl has a dream of becoming a lawyer to sue her parents for malpractice due to her wierd mom and crazy and strict dad but gets distracted by some teenage things just like in any teenage life.After all,maybe sueing her parents for malpractice isn't the most important thing.
I gave this book 3 stars,almost just right.
November 22, 2014
4 STARS
"It's absolutely disgusting being fourteen. You've got no rights whatsoever. Your parents get to make all the decisions: Who gets the single bedroom. How much allowance is enough. What time you must come in. Who is a proper friend. What your report card is supposed to look like. And what your parents don't tell you to do, the school does. None of this seems fair to Lauren Allen, but then she finds a way to fight back. She can even sue her parents for malpractice...can't she?" (From Amazon)
Children vs. parents...haha. Another classic Danziger.
"It's absolutely disgusting being fourteen. You've got no rights whatsoever. Your parents get to make all the decisions: Who gets the single bedroom. How much allowance is enough. What time you must come in. Who is a proper friend. What your report card is supposed to look like. And what your parents don't tell you to do, the school does. None of this seems fair to Lauren Allen, but then she finds a way to fight back. She can even sue her parents for malpractice...can't she?" (From Amazon)
Children vs. parents...haha. Another classic Danziger.
January 5, 2012
It's books like these that are a good example of why "children's lit" used to have a bad name. The story itself was ok, but the writing was not very good. These days, you've got writers like J.K. Rowling or Shannon Hale that can write a story for children but the writing is still phenomenal. This was just wasn't good. The title was the thing that grabbed me, and it was the most clever thing about the book. It wasn't awful, but it just wasn't good.
June 1, 2012
Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice?
Paula Danziger
The Putnam & Grosset Group
1979
Paula Danziger was one of my favorite authors in middle school, so when I saw this novel recently I knew I had to read it. It turns out, that I had read it previously, each chapter spurring remembrances in my brain. This is a light story about a teenage girl dealing with family drama, boys, and peer pressure, typical teenage fare.
4 stars.
Paula Danziger
The Putnam & Grosset Group
1979
Paula Danziger was one of my favorite authors in middle school, so when I saw this novel recently I knew I had to read it. It turns out, that I had read it previously, each chapter spurring remembrances in my brain. This is a light story about a teenage girl dealing with family drama, boys, and peer pressure, typical teenage fare.
4 stars.
May 17, 2007
I really like the storytelling, it's so fun and teenager-ish. It's about a middle-kid stuck between a goofy younger sister and mature, more beautiful older sister. Eventually she starts to think about what she really wants and needs.
Truly enlightening and fun for me to read. This book helped me in my darkest teenage years.
Truly enlightening and fun for me to read. This book helped me in my darkest teenage years.
January 31, 2015
Rescued from the book warehouse. I definitely read this as a kid, but all I remembered was the title and the cover. Sadly, as I read it, the only things that felt familiar were the little sister's terrible, terrible jokes. I certainly didn't notice the parents and their issues at all when I read this 30-some years ago.
October 19, 2015
I hated how much of an arrogant unloving and sexist chauvinist the dad was. It almost bordered on misogyny. I wanted to deck him. I mean I know it was uncommon for unmarried couples to move in together in the late 70's but it wasn't exactly unheard of or that scandalous either. Times really have changed. Now it's seen as bizarre to marry someone you haven't first lived with.
July 15, 2016
If you're looking for a cute romantic book about social issues this is your read.. WoW
I mean really, the title is a bit misleading and I eleive tht I borrowed that book at the library because I was mad at my mother but I know I ended up happier because of this.. there is everything here but all in all it's a pretty regular story that could happen to anyone... just cute really.
I mean really, the title is a bit misleading and I eleive tht I borrowed that book at the library because I was mad at my mother but I know I ended up happier because of this.. there is everything here but all in all it's a pretty regular story that could happen to anyone... just cute really.
June 1, 2007
Confused about her life at home and at school, fourteen-year-old Lauren learns the importance of being her own person. I was curious when I saw the title, and like it instantly when I finally read it. A very good book about adolescence.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews