Rating: 
Summary: The Luckiest Girl
Review: Becca
11/30/03 The Luckiest Girl
Written by Beverly Cleary Have you ever went into a new environment not knowing anything at all about it, and found everything in it interesting? This book was about a girl named Shelley who receives a letter asking if she would spend the winter with a family friend that lives in California. A little while later, she gets in a fight with her mom, and decides to go. Everything is interesting to her, and she becomes popular...especially with boys. This book was good because there was so many exciting things happening and made me want to keep reading. I would recommend `The Luckiest Girl' to almost any girl probably around the ages of 9-16. This book was a page-turner because it always had something interesting happening and made me want to keep reading. It was not hard at all to concentrate on the story, and is very easy to follow what is happening. I kind of connect to the main character, Shelley because any new place I visit, I find almost everything in it interesting. The genre is fiction, and that's my favorite kind because the author isn't basing it on anything real, and you get to imagine what everything looks like in your head. I think the style of writing the author used was very good. There was a lot of dialogue in the story, and the author was very descriptive. There were many surprises in the story that held my interest. One example would be after Shelley got the letter, and had the fight with her mom, when she said she wanted to go to California for the winter, and accept the invitation. almost every chapter ended with a cliff-hanger(left me in suspense) except for a couple. The main chapter ended with her saying she decided she wanted to go, so you wanted to keep reading to see if her parents would let her, or if she would change her mind, or what would happen. this book was not boring at all because it almost always left you in suspense, and something exciting was always happening. My mind did not wander at all because when you read the book, you get really into it and dont want to put the book down. The plot was unbelievable because in every chapter something exciting was happening. I think almost any girl would enjoy reading this book because it is very interesting and it talks about some of the things girls go through with their moms, like getting in fights and sometimes doing things they might regret.
Rating:
Summary: The Luckiest Girl
Review: Becca
11/30/03 The Luckiest Girl
Written by Beverly Cleary Have you ever went into a new environment not knowing anything at all about it, and found everything in it interesting? This book was about a girl named Shelley who receives a letter asking if she would spend the winter with a family friend that lives in California. A little while later, she gets in a fight with her mom, and decides to go. Everything is interesting to her, and she becomes popular...especially with boys. This book was good because there was so many exciting things happening and made me want to keep reading. I would recommend 'The Luckiest Girl' to almost any girl probably around the ages of 9-16. This book was a page-turner because it always had something interesting happening and made me want to keep reading. It was not hard at all to concentrate on the story, and is very easy to follow what is happening. I kind of connect to the main character, Shelley because any new place I visit, I find almost everything in it interesting. The genre is fiction, and that's my favorite kind because the author isn't basing it on anything real, and you get to imagine what everything looks like in your head. I think the style of writing the author used was very good. There was a lot of dialogue in the story, and the author was very descriptive. There were many surprises in the story that held my interest. One example would be after Shelley got the letter, and had the fight with her mom, when she said she wanted to go to California for the winter, and accept the invitation. almost every chapter ended with a cliff-hanger(left me in suspense) except for a couple. The main chapter ended with her saying she decided she wanted to go, so you wanted to keep reading to see if her parents would let her, or if she would change her mind, or what would happen. this book was not boring at all because it almost always left you in suspense, and something exciting was always happening. My mind did not wander at all because when you read the book, you get really into it and dont want to put the book down. The plot was unbelievable because in every chapter something exciting was happening. I think almost any girl would enjoy reading this book because it is very interesting and it talks about some of the things girls go through with their moms, like getting in fights and sometimes doing things they might regret.
Rating: 
Summary: Just Not as good as "Fifteen"
Review: Beverly Cleary rightfully occupies the pedestal of supreme excellence; her books were my girlhood favorites (I'm 49) and my daughter's girlhood favorites (she's 14). Beverly Cleary's characters are more real to me than some people, along with Elizabeth Enright's Melendys and Eleanor Estes' Moffats. No one writes books like these anymore...a tragedy! Like many Beverly Cleary fans, I'm sure, I remember all of her books vividly, and though I'm a library mom all the way, I actually BUY Beverly Cleary books because I want to own them for all time. But this one fell a bit short. First, it's so dated, unusual because her books mostly transcend time. The dialogue sounds so stilted, maybe because there are precious few contractions used. Has our speech really become that much more casual? Also, I agree with the reviewer who observed that Shelley Latham's experiences are a bit too perfect. New girl... instantly popular...snags the coolest guy in school...it seems like such a cliched and dated definition of success/happiness. My daughter told me, though, that girls still become popular through the boys they attract...guess we haven't come that far after all! I noticed also that most of the kids reviewing this book gave it glowing 5-star reactions, which makes me think girls today probably long for a more innocent, more civil time, when they weren't expected to be sexualized by 5th grade (chiefly by the media's relentless bombardment). I still felt like Shelley, Philip, Hartley, etc. were very real people, just antiquated and living in a world long gone, whereas Jane, Stan, Marcy, etc. from "Fifteen" seem to ring more true even today. Oh well, like all Beverly Cleary books, this one had me looking forward to reading each night, and I finished it this morning when I should have been cleaning the bathrooms! The master still retains her magic touch, even if a bit off kilter in "The Luckiest Girl."
Rating:
Summary: A bit too perfect
Review: Beverly Cleary's greatest talent is not only for first rate and vivid writing, but for portraying situations with which children (or anyone with past experience as same) can identify. This book falls short of the latter promise. Shelly's situation is the sort that most teenaged girls would envy as far off, and ache at heart to see as unattainable. Her first suggestions in a meeting at a new school, for example, are eagerly accepted and set her off on instant popularity. Beverly's usual adeptness with presenting realistic teen romance scenarios is absent as well. A woman of any age would hope to have the gallant fellow here in her stocking for Christmas. Little of the pathos and awkwardness (let alone rejection!) typical of that age comes through.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun reading
Review: Hi, I'm Anna and I'm going into 7th grade. This book was really good, it's reallistic, and it's enjoyable to read because it was written in the late '50s and there are words like "swell" in it, so that's really cool about it. I read Fifteen, and all the Ramona books [when I was younger, but I still love 'em] and I plan to read Jean and Johhny and Sister of the Bride! Read these books,I'm sure they're ALL great!
Rating:
Summary: enjoyable
Review: i enjoyed the book, but it was a little pretentious, and the story was similar to that of Jean and Johnny. it did make me want to go to a different school for a year, though. a good, if not excellent, book.
Rating:
Summary: This book is really exciting and fun.
Review: I love this book. It is a fun, woderful, interesting book! ItTalks about real-life situations based towards teenagers.It also talksabout Love , and relationships.It also proves that kids need a brake from thier "life" for a while.Some things I didn't like about the book were The family that she stayed with were odd. I mean Ironing day! Is that weird or what? the younger girl she stayed with was very rude watching the Shelly on the porch saying goodbye to her date.The other thing I didn't like was she only liked the " popular" boy. When the other guy (s) she meant had alot in common with her , but she took that for granted. I think teens would enjoy this book because it covers all teen problems. It would also be nice for older people It will make them remember how it was when they were younger. I think they should make a sequal to this book.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites!
Review: I loved this book. It is a little old-fashioned, but I guess that's what we need in this fast-paced world we live in. Definitely a girl book because it has romance and boys would not understand very well.
Rating:
Summary: A Review Like No Other
Review: I think this book is preety good. It is funny, sad, and exciting. I enjoyed reading this book very much. If you are craving adventure and want to know what it would feel like to leave your home and change schools for one year I highly suggest this book. The reason I gave it 4 stars is because it was good, but there are things I would change. Over all this was a realistic book and Beverly Cleary is an superb writer with a lot of talent!
Rating:
Summary: it is so-so
Review: it is a good book for girls . it will not be a good book for boys because it has a tinge of romance in it and that is not the ideal thing for boys. reccomended for girls starting their romance life........
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