| | | | | 0330398067
| 9780330398060
| 0330398067
|
196
pp
| 3.85
| 5,993
| Oct 01, 1993
| 2001
|
really liked it
| |
As Rachel’s English teacher explains how to make a biography “come alive,” Rachel’s mind thinks about what home life will be like if her brother gets
As Rachel’s English teacher explains how to make a biography “come alive,” Rachel’s mind thinks about what home life will be like if her brother gets kicked out of boarding school. Her parents’ are in Vermont right now dealing Charles’ latest escapade. Rachel begins writing the biography about her life, she’s careful not to include personal details of her family life. She certainly isn’t going to discuss Charles. Rachel does tell about her early academic accomplishments- speaking in short sentences by eighteen months, reading by age three, and playing the piano at age four. She talks about knowing that she was different from other kids her age when in first grade she was reading the Little House books and adding long columns of numbers. School has always been easy for Rachel. She wishes home life was, too, but Charles just makes everything difficult. He’s rude and insulting. For example, when Rachel gets home from school, she finds Charles sitting at her desk reading her biography and making fun of what she wrote. Then, he has to make fun of their older sister Jesse’s cystic acne. One bright glimmer in the sea of doom, Charles won’t be finishing ninth grade at Rachel’s school. As tensions build at home, Rachel has other reasons for her anxiety and insomnia. Stephanie wants her to run for class president. Her English teacher thinks she should join the drama club. Then the school counselor tells Rachel that she’s been chosen to become a peer counselor in the Natural Helpers program. Rachel thinks this is an “incredible joke.” How can she help other kids when her own life is falling apart? She’s, also, been chosen to attend college classes through the Challenge program. How can she do all of these things? She likes being smart and doing her best, but people often make her feel like something’s wrong with her because she is so smart. And, then there’s her crush on Charles’ tutor and the kisses exchanged with a ninth grade boy. She knows she’s not average, but she would like it if others saw her as normal.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
...more
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Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 27, 2019
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Paperback
| |
| | | | | 0330398040
| 9780330398046
| 0330398040
|
202
pp
| 4.08
| 12,926
| Jan 01, 1986
| Apr 09, 2001
|
really liked it
| |
Rachel and Stephanie have been best friends since second grade. Then seventh grade starts, and things change. Alison moves into the neighborhood. Step
Rachel and Stephanie have been best friends since second grade. Then seventh grade starts, and things change. Alison moves into the neighborhood. Stephanie really likes her and hopes that Rachel will feel the same but it doesn't work out that way. As the year goes by, Rachel seems to pull away. She tries out for the school debate team and joins the band. Somehow Rachel seems more grown-up and aloof. Over Thanksgiving, Stephanie learns that her parents have separated. She wants to tell Alison about her parents but she can't tell Alison without telling Rachel, and Rachel seems too much of a stranger to tell. Stephanie refuses to talk to her father. She eats everything in sight and is noticeably heavier. Stephanie finds it hard to carry on a normal life while she keeps her big secret hidden. At school, Stephanie writes an essay about being an optimist until her parents' separation. She sends it to her father to try to get back at him for hurting her feelings so deeply. Then, Stephanie's mother goes to New York to help a friend give a party and arranges for Stephanie to stay with Rachel. Rachel doesn't seem excited to have her there, and Stephanie would rather be at Alison's house. On Saturday, the three girls go clothes shopping for the Ground-Hog Day Dance. They see other classmates, and Stephanie talks about Rachel and a boy at school. Rachel is mad and confronts Stephanie about her parents. She accuses Stephanie of keeping secrets and not being a true friend. Stephanie spends the rest of the weekend with Alison. After seven weeks of silence, Rachel and Stephanie talk out their feelings. Rachel expresses her jealousy over Stephanie's friendship with Alison. Stephanie helps Rachel see that three girls can be best friends.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
...more
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Notes are private!
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|
1
| | |
Aug 09, 2014
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Paperback
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