How I Spent My Summer Vacation: (Parents' Choice Award Book for Illustration)

How I Spent My Summer Vacation: (Parents' Choice Award Book for Illustration)
Average customer rating:

Great "back to school" book!

Good starting school book

Great fun for back to school

Not as much to this story

Has it all

How I Spent My Summer Vacation: (Parents' Choice Award Book for Illustration)
Mark Teague
Manufacturer: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Wild West | Obsessions | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
School | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0517599988
Release Date: 1995-07-10

Book Description

Illustrated in full color. In a wildly funny twist on the annual "How I spent my summer vacation" school-essay ritual, Mark Teague shakes up a dull classroom with a young student's imaginative account of his adventures in the Wild West. Most kids go to camp, or Grandma's house, or maybe they're stuck at home all summer. Not Wallace Bleff. He was supposed to visit his Aunt Fern. Instead, Wallace insists, he was carried off by cowboys and taught the ways of the West--from riding buckin' broncos to roping cattle. Lucky for Aunt Fern, he showed up at her house just in time to divert a stampede from her barbecue party! Perfect for back-to-school read-alouds, here's a western fantasy with sparkling illustrations and enough action to knock kids' boots off!

Customer Reviews:

Great "back to school" book!.......2007-09-21

This is a fun "back to school" book with a twist. The main character is asked to write about his summer vacation and he chooses to write something that is obviously fiction. He tells about being kidnapped by cowboys and spends the summer with them instead of with his aunt. I read this book to my second graders on the first day of school and they love it.Part of the way through the book I start hearing comments from them such as "he's not telling the truth", and "he's just kidding". There are many fun activities that can be done using this book as a springboard. I usually have my students write about their summer vacation and it can be the truth or it can be fiction. After their writing is complete they share it with the class and we guess whether it is the truth, or like the boy in the book, fiction.

Good starting school book.......2005-08-21

I really enjoyed the book. I look forward to sharing this book with my students to start off our school year together. I'm going to use the book to help them get an idea to be creative about his or her own summer vacation to write a great story.

Great fun for back to school.......2005-08-05

I'm a teacher and like to read this book to my students in the first week of school. Then I pose a challenge to them. I challenge them to tell me about their own summer vacation, but like Wallace, start out with the truth, and then let their imagination take over. I get completely ridiculous and fun stories about trips to the lake that end up as coronations as supreme master of planet zoorg. I highly recommend it.

Not as much to this story.......2003-05-08

Nice story about a boy's imagination but not much else to the story. GREAT pictures, as usual by Mark Teague.

Enjoyable and worth purchasing (used in good condition) anyway - as I did.

Has it all.......2000-09-30

It has it all--a wild story, vivid drawings, great sense of humor. What an imagination!

Barfing in the Backseat #12: How I Survived My Family Road Trip (Hank Zipzer)

Average customer rating:

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE HENRY WINKLER

Barfing in the Backseat #12: How I Survived My Family Road Trip (Hank Zipzer)
Henry Winkler , and Lin Oliver
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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The Secret Life of a Ping-Pong Wizard #9 : Hank Zipzer The World's Greatest Underachiever (Hank Zipzer)
Summer School! What Genius Thought That Up? #8 (Hank Zipzer)

ASIN: 0448443287
Release Date: 2007-08-02

Book Description

HankÂ's dad has decided to enter a crossword-puzzle tournament, and he wants to make a family road trip of it! So the family piles into the carÂ—along with Frankie and Katherine the iguana (Hank and Emily each get to bring a Â“friendÂ”). When they reach their destination, theyÂ'll get to spend the day at a roller-coaster park during HankÂ's dadÂ's tournament! The only caveat is that Hank has a homework packet to finish before they get there . . . which he somehow manages to lose at a stop along the way. Suddenly, Hank doesnÂ't feel so good . . . Can Hank and Frankie rescue the lost packet and get Hank on a roller coaster?

Customer Reviews:

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE HENRY WINKLER.......2007-07-20

1ST OF ALL; I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FROM KIDS AGES 8-12. THEY MAY SOUND LIKE DUMB BOOKS, BUT HENRY WINKLER'S WRITING STYLE IS ENJOYABLE AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND. I ALSO ENJOYED READING THE OTHER 11 BOOKS. IF YOU'VE NEVER READ ONE OF HENRY WINKLERS BOOKS, START READING THEM AND YOU'LL BE ZOOMING THROUGH THE BOOK IN NO TIME. ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 12 MIGHT THINK THESE BOOKS ARE DUMB BUT I JUST READ THEM FOR THE FUN OF IT.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO BUY THIS BOOK BUT HAVEN'T READ THE OTHER 11, IT'S OKAY BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS PRETTY MUCH EXPLAINED TO YOU. YOU CAN READ THEM IN ANY ORDER.

HAPPY READING!

Grecian Holiday: Or, How I Turned Down the Best Possible Thing Only to Have the Time of My Life

Average customer rating:

Good
Not worth it!!
Grecian Holiday
This book was horrible
Grecian Holiday

Grecian Holiday: Or, How I Turned Down the Best Possible Thing Only to Have the Time of My Life
Kate Cann
Manufacturer: HarperTeen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Spanish Holiday: Or, How I Transformed the Worst Vacation Ever into the Best Summer of My Life
California Holiday: Or, How the World's Worst Summer Job Gave Me a Great New Life
Maine Squeeze
Tropical Kiss
Caribbean Cruising

ASIN: 0064473023
Release Date: 2002-06-04

Book Description

Dear Mike,

Arrived at the old villa 3 days ago. It's all blue shy, white walls and heat here -- you'll see. Jade's's already heading for trouble and I can't suss Sarah out. Hope you and your mates are having a blast on your trek, especially without me dragging you down. I bet deep down you're glad I bailed out. Ill see you before this postcard even finds you.

Miss you!
Kelly XOX

When Kelly opts out of a summer of roughing it with her intimidating, intense boyfriend, Mike, she doesn't realize she's opted into a summer that will change everything, especially herself.

Customer Reviews:

Good.......2005-07-12

This book was pretty good. It was a true story about someone finding out what they wany from life. It was about Shelly, who is invited to Grece after she turns down an invitaion from her controlling bf. She is having the time of her life w/o him until he showes up unannounced. The story had a nice plot yet I felt myself wanting to know more about Sarah and how she changes from being shy and timid to being outgoing and fun. It was a repition of the same thing: parties, parties, parties. Sarah seemed more deep and interesting yet u don't hear much about her. But, I still enjoyed the love triangle between Shelly, Nick, and Mike. I didn't really like Jade all that much. I thought she gaped in the limelight too much. She had to be the star or she had no fun. It was an attention grabber and well worth the read just not a perfect novel.

Not worth it!!.......2005-03-07

This book is boring!!!!!!!! The plot is bad and it isn't interesting. All it is about is these three girls who go to greece and basically do stuff and this author gives too many boring details!! it isn't engrossing!! I just read it because it was the only book my friend would let me borrow becuse it was so bad when I spent the night at her house. I would recomend it to girls from britain because the story takes place in europe and the girls are from england and they say british words and it is hard for me to understand it since I'm from Arizona! I am soo happy to be done with that book. It was so annoying and boring to read!! If you think this book is good than you have never read a good book. Try the A-list series

Grecian Holiday.......2005-01-21

Reading this book, parts of it reminded me of my friends and me just hanging out. As i went on i could definatly relate to somethings, I liked how she decided to vacation with her friends rather then her mean boyfriend. The descriptions in the book made you see everything going on. This Book wasnt as good as i thought it would be, but it is better then a lot of other books i have read. I recommend this to people who would like to read teen Drama, partying, adn other stuff.

This book was horrible.......2004-11-15

This is what my parents would call a "junkie teen book". It has no substance to it, and the whole theme of the book is sex. There is no substance, and no climax. All that happens is she goes to Greece with her friends instead of a trip with her jerk of a boyfriend, then they break up, then he comes to Greece and they get back together again. How can people think that is interesting? The only reason I gave this book 2 stars is because I thought the description of the house and the country sounded like it would be a neat place to go. I totally wasted my money buying this book, and I'm sure the Spanish Holiday book is just as bad.

Grecian Holiday.......2004-11-12

Many people say that this book is a "beach read", and that somehow makes it bad. Well, I disagree with that. This story is about a girl Kelly. Kelly turns down going to a camping/hiking trip with her bossy boyfriend Mike. Mike gets really mad at her, and even more so when she goes on vacation with her sort of friend Jade and Jade's friend Sarah to Greece. In Greece, they just have different things happen, if I explain it'll ruin the story. The language in this book is easy to understand and it hardly ever has any "British-isms". At the beginning, the story sort of drags, but later on, it gets better and you can't stop reading. Jade is sort of an antagonist at times, and so is Mike, but they have Good Moments too. The end was also sort of not how I wanted it, but I still liked Kelly's "speech". I would recommend this book to anyone who would want to read something that isn't unbelievably depressing.

Spanish Holiday: Or, How I Transformed the Worst Vacation Ever into the Best Summer of My Life

Average customer rating:

only so-so
Who will he pick?
A good book to start your Summer reading
English Cinderella meets Spanish Hunkalicious Perfect Man
OMG!

Spanish Holiday: Or, How I Transformed the Worst Vacation Ever into the Best Summer of My Life
Kate Cann
Manufacturer: HarperTeen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Grecian Holiday: Or, How I Turned Down the Best Possible Thing Only to Have the Time of My Life
California Holiday: Or, How the World's Worst Summer Job Gave Me a Great New Life
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ASIN: 0060561602
Release Date: 2004-04-13

Book Description

Dear Bella and Bobby,

Thank you SO MUCH for letting us stay at your villa. It's gorgeous, and we're having a fab time looking after it and enjoying the view of the mountains and the lovely olive grove. I figured out the bus to Ercos on the first day here -- it's as easy as you said! And Miguel's son Juan is helping us take care of everything, so you needn't worry at all!

Love,
Laura

Customer Reviews:

only so-so.......2006-08-14

Laura Harvey and two of her friends, Yaz and Ruth, plan on spending part of their Gap year travelling to Spain. But then Ruth's boyfriend comes along, and the trip starts going downhill. All he wants to do is stop at junky, touristy, restaurants where "the prices are in English," and cheap, dirty motels so he can "spend some time" with Ruth. And since he's driving, he gets the casting vote. But then a Bella, who Laura and Yaz meet in a hotel restaurant, offer to let them stay in their villa to take care of it while they go to the States. They take them up on it, and their trip changes for the better, especially when they meet Juan, the caretaker's son. He's a total dish, and Yaz and Laura both fall for him. But will Juan pick one of them? And if he does, will it change the girls' friendship? This book is flat, but funny, and you can easily finish it in one sitting. I was expecting more zing from the cover, but I've read worse.

Who will he pick?.......2006-04-24

I read Spanish Holiday. The book was about three girls that went on a trip. Ruth is one of the girls, and she took her boyfriend Tom with her. Yaz and Laura didn't like him. The four people travel and travel till Laura meets a couple, and they ask Laura and Yaz to stay at there home and watch over their house. They all go there. Yaz and Laura loves it. Tom, Ruth's boyfriend didn't like it there so, they left. Yaz and Laura meet this guy named Juan and they both like him. You will have to read to find out who Juan likes!

I liked this book a lot. Some of my favorite parts were toward the end. I also liked it when they all moved into the house. The part I didn't like was when Tom was always yelling at Laura and Yaz.

I would recommend this book to girls. This book is a mixture of things like romance, drama and excitement.

A good book to start your Summer reading.......2006-04-21

A couple years ago, I read "Spanish Holiday" to start my Summer reading and it is truly a really good book to do so. The book starts at the beginning of the summer when a group of friends go to Spain. This book is a really fast read, I remember I read it in less than a day. The book is in a first person narrative of Laura, the main character. You'll find yourself rooting for your Laura and all that Laura finds herself getting into. The ending really satisfying too. There aren't many books that I would reread over again but "Spanish Holiday" is definitely one that I can read over and over. So if you're looking for a good beach read for the upcoming summer season, "Spanish Holiday" should definitely be in your beach bag.

English Cinderella meets Spanish Hunkalicious Perfect Man.......2005-06-15

The target audience for this novel is the high-school girl crowd. Laura and friends, one with boyfriend in tow, spend their "gap" year in Spain. There's all kinds of drama, torrid romance, betrayal, etc. It brought me back to my adolescence. Falling in love! Sex on the beach! However, the main male character in the book, Juan, is very unbelievable. He sounds soooooooooo understanding and balanced, and says things like: "but i know you need to think about it. I'll get you another drink". What was he, 50 and a counselor? I never met a Spanish adolescent with such an empathic head on his shoulders, and i've met a few.

This fluffy novel is perfect when you're semi-comatose and can't handle heavy writing but still want to have a book to move your eyes through.

It has a Spanish lexicon on the back. The spelling of Spanish words was quite good. No mistakes! My only objection is that in Spain you don't go into a café and ask for a capuccino. That's Italy. Other than that, no complaints for geographical or social veracity. My main objection remains Juan's maturity.

OMG!.......2005-06-05

OMG! when i read this book i thought omg this is soo boring at the beginning but once laura met juan i waz like omg here we go! so yeh this book rocked my socks!

Melanie Martin Goes Dutch: The Private Diary of My Almost Bummer Summer with Cecily, Matt the Brat, and Vincent Van Go Go Go (Melanie Martin Novels)

Average customer rating:

Are you ready to go Dutch?
Melanie Gets Better and Better
Melanie Martin Goes Dutch: A real "that's just like..." book
My summer vacation with a Dutch Touch
Melanie Martin is the Best!

Melanie Martin Goes Dutch: The Private Diary of My Almost Bummer Summer with Cecily, Matt the Brat, and Vincent Van Go Go Go (Melanie Martin Novels)
Carol Weston
Manufacturer: Yearling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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With Love from Spain, Melanie Martin (Melanie Martin Novels)
The Diary of Melanie Martin: or How I Survived Matt the Brat, Michelangelo, and the Leaning Tower of Pizza (Melanie Martin Novels)
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For Girls Only: Wise Words, Good Advice
Girltalk Fourth Edition : All the Stuff Your Sister Never Told You

ASIN: 0440418992
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Book Description

Written by the advice columnist of Girls’ Life magazine, this hilarious companion to The Diary of Melanie Martin finds Melanie off to Holland–with her best friend!

Dear Diary, You will never ever believe this! It is too good to be true!! Guess who is going with us to Amster Amster Dam Dam Dam? Cecily!

Since Cecily’s mom is having surgery, Melanie’s parents invite Cecily on their family trip to Holland. Melanie thinks having her best friend along will be terrific. But things don’t go exactly as expected. First Melanie loses her luggage, and soon it looks like she’ll lose Cecily’s friendship.

But Holland isn’t a total disaster. Along the way, Melanie learns to look through the eyes of van Gogh, Vermeer, and Anne Frank. Soon she discovers that being a good friend means seeing the world through your best friend’s eyes, too.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Are you ready to go Dutch?.......2005-06-03

Are you ready to go to the Netherlands where bicycal riding, canal site seeing, and tulips are done almost all year long? Do you want to know the real story? Know what's happening with Cicily's family. Join me into a world where the Netherlands are the best place to be!

Melanie Gets Better and Better.......2005-03-15

The sequel to The Diary of Melanie Martin is just as charming and rings with the same truthful voice, as Melanie records the ups and downs of a vacation in Holland with her family and best friend. Melanie is reading the Diary of Anne Frank on this trip, and this historic diary lends a thoughtful note to Melanie's own diary, which includes dealing with the threat of the cancer which has infected her best friend's mom. With the heroine's observations as witty as ever, Melanie Martin Goes Dutch will delight young readers as they experience both van Gogh paintings and topless beaches through Melanie's eyes.

Melanie Martin Goes Dutch: A real "that's just like..." book.......2004-09-14

When you open this book, you will find yourself peeking into the private diary of Melanie Martin, a ten year old girl living in New York with her mom, dad and Matt the Bratt (aka little brother!). Her mom is an art teacher who teaches her kids to appreciate art, and she loves when they do, even if its only because it includes naked people or blood scenes!
The story starts when summer vacation has just got out, and our girl Mel is getting bored. She and her mom do puzzles. It is one utterly boring day when Melanie's mom gets a phone call telling her that she's got the grant (for her teaching) and they're going to Amster Amster Dam Dam Dam!
They barely get this news before it is discovered that Cecily's mom (Cecily is Melanie's best friend) has got breast cancer.
Mel's mom invites Cecily on the trip and Melanie is overjoyed!
They all leave together for Amsterdam. They all expirience lots of adventures including lost luggage, a topless beach, LOTS of museums and a HUGE argument.
Mel thinks Cecily is getting way too much attention so they silently fight.
Will the fight turn this best-friend bliss into a bummer summer?
Read and find out!
Melanie Martin Goes Dutch is a great book that plenty of kids can empathize with - even grown-ups too!
I hope everyone will enjoy this book as much as I have, including Carol Weston's other fantastic books!
3 cheers, two thumbs up, plus five WHOLE stars as well!

My summer vacation with a Dutch Touch.......2004-06-27

Wishing you could take a trip this summer? The title of this book just makes me smile. Melanie's mother has a grant to study Van Gogh in Amsterdam for the summer and the whole family gets to go along. Melanie's diary of their trip is a fun read. Travel disasters such as lost luggage, an annoying little brother, and a fight with her best friend are not what she imagined her vacation would be like. Melanie is reading Anne Frank: the diary of a young girl. As events unfold on their trip Melanie finds herself empathizing with Anne. Her visit to the Secret Annex is very poignant.

I loved "hearing" the Dutch phrases (complete with pronunciation,)smelling the food and seeing the sights through the eyes of a character who is the same age I was when I lived there. This is a very funny book. The presence of Anne in the background of the story gives the story a sweetness beyond the humor.

Melanie Martin is the Best!.......2004-02-21

This is the best book ever! It taught me a lot about Holland, and I learned a LOT of dutch. Now I can speak a little of a different language!

Average customer rating:

These books are great learning tools!

My Car Trip (We Both Read)
Sindy McKay
Manufacturer: Treasure Bay
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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My Day (We Both Read)

ASIN: 189132764X

Customer Reviews:

These books are great learning tools!.......2007-07-25

My son just turned three and we purchased three of these for his birthday. We have "My Car Trip" My Day" and "My Town". Of the three the My Day and My Car Trip have been his favorites. Infact he doesn't want me to read him anything else. The pictures in "My Town" are a little harder for him to identify (more obscure ideas like down, right, top and map). But he thinks these books are great because he gets to participate in the story and it really does keep his attention. I love the idea that long before he can actually read he may begin to identify words such as tree, cup, dog etc...
I was surprised at the negative editorial review on one of these books because he called the story "unoriginal". These stories are equipped to encourage a response from the child. These books are not intended to be fantastic stories but educational tools. I think the editor should read it in the manner in which it is intended. I will be purchasing more of these and would encourage parents of toddlers to do so as well.

Average customer rating:

In the company of my sistahs
Get it from the library, if at all
Are you serious?
Great Read!
Pleasantly Surprised

In The Company Of My Sistahs
Angie Daniels
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Friendship | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0758207433

Customer Reviews:

In the company of my sistahs.......2007-07-15

this book was a page turner, you will not be able to put it down, it has everything from down and dirty sex to finding yourself. If you need something to keep you interested this is the book for you.

Get it from the library, if at all.......2007-06-07

After reading mixed reviews about this book I decided to buy it anyway. It wasn't the worst book I've ever read but it wasn't all that great either. The main character, Renee, was immature and irritating, which it made hard to get into the book since the story mostly revolved around her. And the other 3 charcters weren't very well developed either.

The author dragged what was supposed to be a 7 day trip into like 300 pages. And then the book ended so abruptly like she was tired of writing. The women didn't change or mature at all, so I'm not sure what the lesson was supposed to be, if there even was one. I definitely wouldn't reccommend spending money on this book. If you feel the need to read it, borrow it from the library or a friend.

Are you serious?.......2007-03-02

I picked this book up thinking I was getting a good sister story, just you know a quick enjoyable read.

Well that couldn't be further from the truth! I am not sure what people look for in a story but the repetitiveness in this book drove me up a wall! 448 pages of the same story chapter after chapter, only to end and nothing changed! There was no growth in any of these woman, none of their stories it didn't have to be a fairy tale ending but for it to be a year later and they were all still crying over the same things the whole book to end the same way come on! I am not being mean I am just being honest. It started off interesting enough you wanted to know what would be their defining moment's pugh!!!!!!!!!!!! There never was one. Please don't take this wrong I am not saying Ms. Daniels doesn't have talent, I am saying this could have been broken down in 200 pages maybe and maybe a little more something in between instead of the same thoughts each character had over and over and over.

Great Read!.......2007-02-13

I found the book hard to put down. It was fun. It was a great read from being to end!!!

Pleasantly Surprised.......2007-02-11

I was desperate to read a good book, and I read this book and was really pleasantly surprised by how good it was. I liked all the characters in this book. This book was easy to follow and hard to put down once you start reading. I initially thought this would be in similarity to How Stella Got her Groove Back, but I think it was better. This book is about 4 women who share special bonds. One woman is dying of cancer and suggests a trip, so that she can break it to her 2 friends and sister that she is fighting a losing battle. Her sister is in a loveless marraige, and is very promiscuous with others. One woman's marriage has fallen apart and she is now fighting to find out who she is and has discovered she is a Lesbian. The other woman is overweight, and a single mother, and as many insecurities, she rely's very much on her religion. She has accepted a relationship with the Reverend at her church, and is convinced he will eventually leave his wife for her. This book is good, its about the love and bonds, that these women share, and acceptance of one another. They gain closure from eachother. You wil grow to love and hate the women in this novel, but overall it was really good. I think whoever purchases this book will really enjoy it, I did!!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation (An Amanda Pepper Mystery)

Average customer rating:

Sasha Is The Leading Suspect
A little heavy handed for my taste..

How I Spent My Summer Vacation (An Amanda Pepper Mystery)
Gillian Roberts
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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In the Dead of Summer
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Claire and Present Danger (An Amanda Pepper Mystery)

ASIN: 0345385942
Release Date: 1995-08-01

Book Description

"DELIGHTFUL...COLORFUL...Roberts plunks her mystery amid the glitter and grime of casino life."
--L.A. Daily News
After a tough year of teaching at Philly Prep, Amanda Pepper decides to go to Atlantic City with her friend, Sasha Berg. Yet a beach vacation turns deadly when a bludgeoned corpse shows up in their hotel room--and Sasha is the prime suspect.
So Amanda hits the boardwalk to track down the real killer, chasing down clues around the surf and in the casinos, and discovering along the way that appearances are more than deceiving: they can be criminal and, sometimes, downright murderous....
"Roberts combines appealing characters, a good puzzle and some serious messages in an entertaining whole."
--Publishers Weekly
"The Dorothy Parker of mystery writers."
--Nancy Pickard
"Gillian Roberts is a mystery reader's dream come true."
--Lia Matera

Customer Reviews:

Sasha Is The Leading Suspect.......2002-07-13

When Amanda goes on vacation in Atlantic City with her friend Sasha Berg, a corpse ends up in their hotel room. In this case Sasha is the leading suspect. In order to clear Sasha, Amanda has to scour the boardwalk and the casinos.

I have enjoyed all of the Amanda Pepper Books. HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION was no exception.

A little heavy handed for my taste.........1998-11-19

I love the Amanda Pepper series, but I could have done without the moralizing in this installment. I love mysteries that transport you to another place for a few hours, not preach about the dangers of casinos, and the need for women to save more to avoid becoming the bag lady under the steps on the Boardwalk! Hopefully the author will get back to what she's best at...mystery minus the soapbox!

Average customer rating:

My Family Vacation
Dayal Kaur Khalsa
Manufacturer: Tundra Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Snow Cat
Green Cat
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Shortcut

ASIN: 0887766293
Release Date: 2003-03-11

Book Description

This warm, nostalgic tale and the author’s brilliantly colored paintings evoke a real sense of time and place and family fun that children and parents alike will find irresistible.

May and her parents and her older brother Richie are off to Florida – May’s first vacation far from home. After a long hot drive, full of fights with Richie, they reach their destination. Ahead lie sunny days filled with new adventures and unexpected pleasures that will bring May and Richie closer together. And when they get home, her Florida vacation is a happy memory for May all winter long.

From the Hardcover edition.

Average customer rating:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
A summer at Farnsworth House
Sooo Good!!
Not just for the YA crowd!
A not-so-terrible Book

My Not-So-Terrible Time at Hippie Hotel
Rosemary Graham
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Divorce | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Being a Teen | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0142403032

Amazon.com

Fourteen-year-old Tracy Forrester is resigned to having the worst summer of her life. Her dad has booked her and her siblings into this weird place in Massachusetts, where divorced parents and their kids hang out with other split-up families. It's called Farnsworth House, but dubbed the "Hippie Hotel" by Tracy's dad, mostly due to the fact that long-haired proprietor Sharon Farnsworth really believes in the healing power of togetherness. Tracy doesn`t buy it. "I think the idea is that if you get divorced kids together with other divorced kids, they won't feel so bad about being divorced. So far it hasn't worked." Ever since her parents' split, Tracy has gained 15 pounds and a terminal case of low self-esteem. At Farnsworth, she's terrified of Beka who smokes and only listens to punk, and her mother Lorraine, who seems to have designs on Tracy's father. She likes Kelsey, who's also there with her dad, except she's so cute she makes Tracy feel even plainer by comparison. But things start looking up when she catches the eye of Kevin, a cute local, discovers that Beka is more bluster than bite, and that Kelsey really is as nice as she is pretty. Suddenly, the Hippie Hotel is actually "not-so-terrible"--in fact, it's kinda great. A solidly written story disguised as a frothy summer read, debut author Rosemary Graham's gentle, funny tale about family life after the big "D" will be eagerly embraced by middle-grade fans of Judy Blume and Barthe DeClements. (Ages 12 to 16) --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

Tracy's summer vacation couldn't start off any worse. Her father has dragged her to Farnsworth House, a.k.a. the Hippie Hotel, on Cape Cod. It's a place where divorced parents bring their children for quality "Together Time." Tracy dreads the whole idea, until she meets the other girls her age at the hotel. They seem friendly and fun. But they're also great at flirting, which Tracy definitely isn't. When Tracy meets Kevin, a cute, smart guy, she panics. With pretty friends like Kelsey and Beka around, how can Tracy possibly interest Kevin? Then again, maybe she is someone worth knowing, and maybe Kevin thinks so too. Filled with strong, appealing characters and heartfelt narration, this is a touching and memorable first novel.

Customer Reviews:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-03-15

When Tracy's father drags her along on a summer vacation designed for divorced parents and their kids, it turns out to be a lot better than she expected.

Insecure Tracy finds friends in Kelsey and maybe even Beka. She even meets a guy! Maybe "Together Time" isn't as bad as she expected...Or maybe it is. If she can find it in herself to be confident, to actually go for a guy, maybe it'll happen, despite what she may think. Of course, if she keeps thinking that way, her summer's not going to be exactly stellar. In the end, it's all up to Tracy.

MY NOT-SO-TERRIBLE TIME AT THE HIPPIE HOTEL is a cute, predictable feel-good story. It's a well-written novel, populated with enjoyable characters.

Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce

A summer at Farnsworth House .......2006-02-18

Tracy's father decides he needs some "Together Time" with his kids after divorcing their mother. So he books a stay at Farnsworth House on Cape Cod, a place for divorced parents to bring their kids and spend some quality time with them. Two other families are also there: a divorced mother with three troubled kids (one a girl Tracy's age) and the other another divorced father with two more well-adjusted kids (and another girl Tracy's age).

The house is run by Sharon and her hottie son Paul. They cook for the families and even set up excursions to local attractions. Even though the house itself isn't too bad, Tracy's not having a great time. Beka, Lorraine's daughter and the first other girl that arrives, is a skinny dancer with an attitude problem and a nicotine addiction. They don't hit it off at all. When Kelsey, the tanned and friendly California girl, arrives, things start to look up.

Soon, though, Tracy is feeling left out again. Both Kelsey and Beka seem to be able to talk and flirt with boys without any problem. Tracy can barely make her mouth work to get a word out. When she meets Kevin and he seems interested in her, she is practically paralyzed.

I recommend this book for ages 12 and up. Told in Tracy's voice, the book is an easy and compelling read. Tracy's eating disorder (overeating for comfort) and internal conflict is dealt with honestly. Readers watch as she slowly begins to come out of her shell.

Overall, this is a very good read. My only complaint (and it's a small one, since the main focus of the book is Tracy) is that only some of the other characters are developed to any extent within the story. I didn't feel like I got to know any of the minor characters - in fact, it wasn't until I was writing this review and looking up references that I realized Lorraine had three kids. I only recalled Beka and Sean from the story. That's a small issue, however, and definitely not one to dissuade you from picking up this fun book.

Sooo Good!!.......2004-02-12

this book was really good. i hope rosemary graham will write a sequel. it's a book i picked up and i literally couldn't put it down, except while taking notes in class (those are important). but whenever i had the chance to read during class...I DID!! i'm looking for another book kind of like it, but it's so hard to find one. the cover may not be interesting, but the book really is!

Not just for the YA crowd!.......2003-10-30

I picked up this book, thinking it would be for a much younger reader...and I loved it! Tracy's adventures at the Hippie Hotel are both moving and funny. She is a winning character and Rosemary Graham is a winning storyteller.

A not-so-terrible Book.......2003-09-01

I won this book in a contest held by the author. It was one of the best books ever. I am 14 years old, and this book was wonderful. Full of the problems most girls face every day, and a few more unusual ones, this book is a great read for anyone!

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