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Rating: 
Summary: Fun can be found in life's little truths.
Review: For years Judith Viorst has found humor in life's everyday truths and rites of passage. She continues her work in this book. While lightly exploring the subject of kids flying the coup,Viorst highlights the feelings of both the children and the empty nesters they are leaving behind. A great graduation gift for the graduate and their parents.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Gift for the High School Graduate
Review: I thought that the title and the content aimed the book more at the high school graduate than to the college graduate. Many of the situations described have already been experienced for those who live away from home during college. Receiving the book after high school will also be more beneficial to the college student than the college graduate. The funniest part of this book comes on the back of the jacket cover where members of Ms. Viorst's family comment on the book. For example: "'Hilarious. Insightful. Possibly the best book I've ever read. Now can I borrow the car?' -- Alexander Viorst, Son" In almost all cases, the illustrations are funnier than the poetry. Let me give you an example. Here's the poetry: "You're ready to take/On your future./This could be a major mistake./So you'll make a mistake./You're officially a grown-up." Here's the illustration: A blonde suburban young woman in sweater and matching skirt is accompanied by boxes and bags full of her possessions in front of an open door next to a sign that says "Room mate wanted." The woman looking out from the open door has a python draped around her neck. I only saw one place where the poetry and the illustrations were equally funny, and mutually supportive. Here's the poetry: "That people who don't change their underwear/May be lonelier people than those who take regular showers." The illustration has a young woman happily talking on the telephone in the shower with the bathroom floor covered with showering paraphernalia. Some of the illustrations are great gags, just by themselves. One of my favorites was of a young woman offering her library to a waitress in order to pay at Edna's Diner. As a gift, I think this book would be better received from a friend than from a parent. The tone is almost a little too parental. The book's themes include: you're leaving home now (at least during the day and night to do things); you have to take care of issues as they arise (like buttons that fall off); you are free to do things that may not be good for you, but you have to deal with the consequences (daisies die if you don't water them); don't be in a rush to leave home . . . because life's pretty good there; take set-backs in stride (they are inevitable); learn to focus on what you want (because that's what you will get); ask for help from friends and God; and pay more attention to what you can change than what you cannot. The nicest part of the book is it catches the mood of bitter sweetness that most people feel at least a little as they get more freedom, but feel a little apprehensive about leaving behind the comfortable tried and true. I think most people will agree that these poems are not Ms. Viorst's best. As you think about the messages in these books, consider what lessons you should learn the hard way (by trying and experiencing the consequences) and which you should learn from observing the experiences of others. May your physical and ego bruises mostly be ones you have chosen to risk! What habits will you have to shed in order to be more effective in the future?
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