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Alice in the Know |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
 Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0689870922 |
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From Booklist
Gr. 7-10. The twenty-first book in the popular Alice series is an enthralling daily drama of a teen's "happy to be average" coming-of-age story, including awkward mistakes about family, sex, friends, and work, and thoughts about family and family tradition. As always, Naylor avoids heavy messages, even as she dramatizes hard, contemporary issues with pitch-perfect dialogue. Alice, 16, gets a tough summer job at an outfitting store and is fired for making a mistake, and she sends out intimate messages on e-mail ("How often do you masturbate?"), which go to all the boys in class. The teens also talk about date rape, and boys and girls have very different opinions. There are embarrassing moments (Alice gets her period early and makes a mess), as well as intense pain, prejudice, grief, and loss. This will grab Alice's fans as... |
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Shiloh |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0689835833 |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 24 hours. |
Book Review
When 11-year-old Marty Preston chances upon a mistreated beagle pup in his hometown of Friendly, West Virginia, he is not prepared for the ethical questions he has to face. Should he return the dog to its owner, only to have the animal abused again? Should he tell his parents? Should he steal food to help the poor creature? Marty's efforts to cope with these questions provides the moral backbone for this story, which is presented in a language and manner that will be understood by third- and fourth-grade readers. The heart and beauty of this 1992 Newbery Medal winner lies in lessons children will take away with them.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Publishers Weekly
This 1992 Newbery Medal winner revolves around an 1 1 -year-old boy who finds an abused... |
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Presenting Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
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| Author: |
Lois Thomas Stover |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0805778055 |
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From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up?Two volumes that will provide insights into the lives and works of two popular authors. Nilsen first looks at Kerr's development as a writer and its origins in her youth as Kerr herself described in Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Not a Novel (HarperCollins, 1983), then discusses her five most acclaimed books, as well as the remaining body of her work. She focuses on Kerr's thematic use of humor, names, style, and defense of the underdog. This revision of the 1986 edition includes an examination of the impact of Kerr's homosexuality on her works since she has explored these issues more openly with young people in the decade following the publication of the original book. Stover begins Phyllis Reynolds Naylor with a rationale for Naylor's place in young adult literature, even though she may be best known for... |
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Boys Against Girls |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0440411238 |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 24 hours. |
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-The Hatford-Malloy feud continues in this fast-paced sequel to The Boys Start the War and The Girls Get Even (both Delacorte, 1993). Their egos still smarting from the humiliation they suffered on Halloween at the hands of their female neighbors, the Hatford boys try to frighten them with tales of the abaguchie, a creature of local legend. A funny series of plans for revenge and retaliation from both sides follows. Ultimately, the children call a truce when they are united by a common cause-sharing a joke at their parents' expense. Although this title sums up the background of the story clearly, it relies on the earlier books for characterization. The girls come across as stereotypes-an athlete, a bookworm, and an aspiring actress-and the boys are virtually indistinguishable from one another.... |
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Shiloh |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0689835825 |
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Book Review
When 11-year-old Marty Preston chances upon a mistreated beagle pup in his hometown of Friendly, West Virginia, he is not prepared for the ethical questions he has to face. Should he return the dog to its owner, only to have the animal abused again? Should he tell his parents? Should he steal food to help the poor creature? Marty's efforts to cope with these questions provides the moral backbone for this story, which is presented in a language and manner that will be understood by third- and fourth-grade readers. The heart and beauty of this 1992 Newbery Medal winner lies in lessons children will take away with them.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Publishers Weekly
This 1992 Newbery Medal winner revolves around an 1 1 -year-old boy who finds an abused... |
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The Boys Start the War |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0440418410 |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 24 hours. |
From Kirkus Reviews
It's not the Hatfields vs. the McCoys, but a feud nonetheless when the four Harfield brothers square off against their new neighbors, the Malloy sisters. It begins when Caroline, Edith Ann (Eddie), and Beth Malloy catch the Harfields dumping dead animals into the stream separating their properties; in response, Caroline--a consummate actress--plays dead, and as the horrified brothers watch, her sisters sadly throw her in. Once school starts, it's open war. With quick wits and inventiveness on both sides, the antagonists are evenly matched; and even when their pranks go awry, they suffer more fury (or embarrassment) than harm. Naylor has to labor hard to keep the rivalry going- -whenever it's about to die away naturally, someone decides it's too much fun to stop--so that the plot seems a little forced, even though... |
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Saving Shiloh |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0689814615 |
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From Publishers Weekly
The finale to Naylor's Shiloh trilogy "retains the same flavorful style" of its predecessors, said PW, and favors a "high-action plot, involving dead bodies, runaway prisoners and life-and-death rescues." Ages 8-12. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8-The sequel to the 1992 Newbery Medal-winning story of a boy and his dog.Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews
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The Grand Escape |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0689874073 |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 24 hours. |
From Publishers Weekly
The droll escapades of two cat brothers who leave the safe and cozy confines of their home in search of adventure will readily enchant ailurophiles--and perhaps even convert aficionados of things canine. Marco and Polo are the beloved pets of the Neals, a well-meaning couple whose only fault is their reluctance to let the twin tabbies explore the great outdoors. Inspired by his single illicit visit to the backyard, as well as his gloriously muddled dreams of life on a ranch (gleaned from reading the newspaper lining his litter box), Marco convinces his brother to accompany him in his break for freedom. Once outside, the intrepid felines discover the joys of a Burger King dumpster and make the acquaintance of the winsome cat Carlotta and the territorial tom known as Texas Jake, "The King, The Boss, The Cat... |
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Shiloh Season |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0689829310 |
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Book Review
In a follow-up to her Newbery Medal-winning story Shiloh, Phyllis Naylor brings Marty Preston and his beagle back in another tale sure to push the emotional buttons of her young audience. Marty doesn't want to lose the dog he struggled so hard to gain, but when he sees Shiloh's old owner, drunk and out hunting on Marty's property, he is afraid of losing Shiloh for good. Along with the moving story of boy loves dog, Naylor offers a sympathetic portrayal of life in West Virginia. Certain to please her many fans, this sequel likely marks a fuller series of stories of Marty and Shiloh. (Ages 8 to 12)
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Publishers Weekly
It should startle no one that the prolific Naylor (the Alice books) should continue the... |
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The Girls Get Even |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0440418429 |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 24 hours. |
From Kirkus Reviews
In the rivalry that began with The Boys Start the War (1992), the Hatford boys once again square off against their neighbors, the Malloy sisters, when both agree that the winner of the school Halloween costume contest can exact a month's ``slavery'' from the losers. After fruitless attempts to winkle out each other's ideas, both sides resort to sabotage, which gets them disqualified. As in the first book, the Hatfords and Malloys are evenly matched and their pranks generally backfire, causing fury or embarrassment but no harm. Naylor's young characters are lively and distinct (adults are seldom seen, existing only to avoid or manipulate), but the ``war,'' again, seems forced. Generally, the combatants want to call it off, but each time it's about to flicker out, some contrived circumstance heats it up. The plot is... |
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King of the Playground |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0689718020 |
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From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-- Sammy, self-proclaimed ``King of the Playground,'' will not let Kevin play on the swings, slide, or monkey bars. Fortunately, Kevin's father, who believes that words are stronger than fists, subtly suggests ways to best the bully, and a friendship between the two boys begins. There are several admirable touches here: the relationship between son and father (shown making soup, washing the car, digging in the garden--no mother is mentioned); the typical reactions of the boys to one another; and the father's humor and gentleness. Malone's pictures are reminiscent of Lillian Hoban's illustrations for Miriam Cohen's ``First Grade'' stories (Greenwillow), with their subdued colors, rumpled T-shirts, and heads just a little too large for the bodies. Kevin, the creatures of his imagination, and... |
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The Agony of Alice |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0689816723 |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 24 hours. |
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-7- Alice's mother died when she was four. Now a sixth grader, she finds her all-male household no help with the process of growing up female. Through a series of incidents both hilarious and poignant, Alice searches for a female to help her cope with her adolescent anxieties. At first repulsed by her physically unattractive teacher, Mrs. Plotkin, Alice gradually realizes that although surrounded by a variety of role models, it is kind, sensitive Mrs. Plotkin who she wants to be like. The lively style exhibits a deft touch at capturing the essence of an endearing heroine growing up without a mother. Alice's forthcoming fans will agonize with her and await her further adventures. Caroline Ward Romans, Vermont Department of Libraries, MontpelierCopyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This... |
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The Grooming of Alice (Alice Series) |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0689846185 |
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Book Review
The summer between eighth and ninth grade is looming for Alice and her friends. "It's going to be one of the most exciting summers of our lives.... All the stupid things we've ever done will be behind us, and all the wonderful stuff will be waiting to happen." First things first. The girls decide it's time to get in shape. Elizabeth tells Alice her waist is a little thick and her legs are too straight. With friends like these... They embark on a summer of discovery, with jobs, a sex-education seminar, and flirtation with an eating disorder. As Alice tests the waters of adolescence, her relationships with her father, brother, and friends are challenged. When her friend Pamela runs away from home--to Alice's house--Alice must decide where her loyalties and ethics lie. And when her father goes off to Europe, will... |
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Alice on Her Way |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0689870906 |
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From School Library Journal
Grade 7-10–This 16th book in the series (not counting the three prequels) is as frank and candid as its precursors. Alice, now almost 16, has a new boyfriend, goes to New York with her school, and participates in a program at her church. At first, she bristles when her dad signs her up for "Our Whole Lives," but is won over by its open exploration of sex, commitment, and responsibility. Sam, attentive to a fault, tests Alice's feelings about intimacy. Her relationship is contrasted with that of Faith, whose boyfriend is abusive, and Pam, who has oral sex with a boy she doesn't know well and regrets her impulsiveness when they get back to school and he ignores her. Homosexuality and interracial dating are given brief and accepting mentions. Alice faces all challenges with her trademark mix of confusion... |
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Jade Green |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
068982002X |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 24 hours. |
Book Review
"Then at the end of the street, the house--the large brown house with the two eyes--made me suddenly clutch at the driver's arm as if to say, Turn back! Turn back!" At the first sight of her uncle's house--her future home--an inexplicable cloud of foreboding engulfs orphaned teen Judith Sparrow. Unfortunately, her fears are confirmed when she hears a mysterious scratching at the back of her closet and senses a ghostly presence hovering over her at night. Even more chilling, Judith learns of the death of a girl named Jade Green from the town gossip--a girl who lived in her uncle's house before Judith and died a horrible death on the attic stairs. As it turns out, Jade dearly loved the color that was her name. Suddenly, Judith knows the reason she was forbidden by her uncle to bring anything green into the house. She fears... |
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Patiently Alice |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Mass Market Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0689870736 |
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From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9-Alice's many fans will be delighted to see the heroine back in action. Having survived her first year of high school, Alice and her friends are off to be counselors at a coed camp for disadvantaged children. Her father and his longtime love, Sylvia Summers, are finally preparing to walk down the aisle, and her brother, Lester, is planning to move out. Can one girl handle all this change? The summer challenges Alice's patience at every turn, but she sails through with her usual charm and good humor. Some of the camp scenes are racially charged as one camper calls another "the n-word" and Alice must deal with her emotionally needy young charges. She realizes that she is not the center of the universe and is all the wiser for it. Readers will appreciate Naylor's skilled handling of all of the above.... |
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Wrestle the Mountain |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0822957906 |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 24 hours. |
Card catalog description
Frustrated by the narrowness of his West Virginia mining town, a boy with a talent for woodcarving yearns for a different way of life.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Outrageously Alice |
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| Author: |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0689805969 |
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From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8. Alice is, as always, likable, humorous, and true to life. Now 13 and in the eighth grade, she worries that she is too ordinary. Alice admits she has done embarrassing things, but never anything outrageous, and she decides to do something about it. She dresses up as a showgirl for Halloween, with unhappy results. She starts wearing makeup and goes to school with her hair spiked up and green, even though her father forbade it. Her brother's former girlfriend, Crystal, has asked Alice to be a bridesmaid, and this brings an array of new questions for Alice such as, what kind of bra do you wear with a backless bridesmaid dress? Does Crystal still think about Lester? What if you find out on your wedding night that you don't like sex? When she goes to the lingerie shower for Crystal, she realizes she... |
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