Thank You, Lucky Stars

by Beverly Donofrio

It’s the first day of fifth grade, and Ally is psyched. She and her best friend, Betsy, are in the same class, and have already planned on singing in the annual talent show together. But it’s not long before she sees that Betsy has made a new best friend, and Ally is no longer on her radar screen. Not to mention that the weird new kid, Tina, has glommed on to Ally. In this phenomenally accurate and readable portrayal of the trials and tribulations of fifth grade, readers will watch a quirky, sensitive, and extraordinarily likeable girl try to survive. Narrated in Ally’s distinctive first person voice, Thank You, Lucky Stars beautifully illustrates that it is possible to be unpopular, individualistic, nice, and still have fun.

Genres: Friendship, Juvenile

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Beverly Donofrio is an author most noted for writing Riding in Cars with Boys, an autobiographical account of her life. The book was made into a movie with the same title and starred Drew Barrymore as Donofrio.

Her second memoir, Looking for Mary, or the Blessed Mother and Me, is about the Virgin Mary, faith and her own life as a mother.

Donofrio's father is of Sicilian descent and her mother is an Italian-American. Donofrio lives in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where she is a founder of San Miguel Workshops. Her first children's book was released in 2007 by Random House.

Reviews

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

For fuck's sake, why was a fifth grader dancing disco in 2008?!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"She'd never changed the way she was just so people would like her."

After a summer vacation, Ally's best friend Betsy suddenly drops her for Mona, a girl they used to consider an enemy. Ally is devastated and can't figure out why everything has changed. Then, the new girl who's a little different, Tina, makes friends with Ally. Tina is sometimes a bit embarrassing to Ally. But when Betsy asks Ally to join her band, she leaves Tina on her own for the talent show.

Great message about true friendship with a believable, not-perfect ending.

[Saule · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s really good but weird at the same time

[sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit odd at times. I mean, I have nothing against this book but you could pick a better book off the shelf. Just saying.

[Kat_The_Mysterious · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ally is actually excited to start the fifth grade. She and her best friend, Betsy, are going to wear the same outfit on the first day, and this is the year that they can enter the 5 th grade talent show. But when she arrives at the bus stop, Betsy isn’t wearing the same outfit as her. Worst of all, she’s talking to Mona, a girl that Ally can’t stand. Betsy’s and Mona’s families had vacationed at the same place that summer, and now they are the best of friends. Ally had never had a lot of friends – just one had been enough for her. Now she doesn’t have any. But then she meets the new girl, Tina, who is super weird. Her clothes are odd, she says the strangest things in class, and sometimes she wears her hair like Princess Leia! But Ally has fun with her. Tina doesn’t make fun of Ally the way Betsy did when she gets the heebie-jeebies and needs to dance around to get rid of her pent-up energy. Tina thinks the same way Ally does, and even agrees to dance disco with her in the talent contest. But then Betsy and her band decide that Ally would make a great go-go dancer for their talent show act. Will Ally go back to her old best friend, or stay true to her new one?

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ally is a girl who starts a new year of school with one less best friend and torment from a boy in her class. It is not looking good until Tina, a new girl with Princess Leia buns and too-short leggings, shows up and befriends Ally.
A story of what it is like to lose friends, gain friends and determine what real friendship looks like, Thank You, Lucky Stars is a good middle-school read, although the disco references may allude younger readers.

[Katie K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy I wish I had this book when I was in 7th grade. This book, about losing old friends and accepting new friends, should be required reading for every girl about to enter middle school. And the ending is just lovely. Great characters, heartfelt plot and quirky little details.

Okay, I'm done gushing. Just go read it!

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started out liking it quite a bit, but it had what I considered weak spots as it went on. It does show the angst that happens to so many grade school girls when their best friend finds another best friend (seems like friendships at that age always occur in even numbers) and addresses the feelings of the "social outcast".

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The one thing that I liked from this story is the main character realizes she is treating her new friend like her previous friend treated her. She makes things right with her new friend and apologizes. That is nice to read.

[Nhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucky Stars is a very kidish novel. I got kindof engaged to the book as I got to the 10th page of the book. It's a very interesting and amusing book. I really like how the author made Ally choose the right choice at the end. I think it's a great book and suitable for all ages ;)

[Addison Children's Services · Rating 4 out of 5]

When her best friend dumps her on the first day of fifth grade Ally is devastated. She is picked on and bullied. If that's not bad enough, the weirdo new girl thinks they are best friends. It turns she is. A nicely written coming of age story.

[Jeanne Zydallis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Beverly Donofrio. I love her books. A simple story with a good ending about a 'tween being true to herself. Middle school version of mean girls.

[carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4th-5th grade; realistic fiction; friendship; bullies; talent shows

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank You, Lucky Stars by Beverly Donofrio (2008)

[Althea · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was really weird. but it had an interesting title so i read it and it was pretty good.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved how she explored how we view ourselves, others, and what friendships we deem necessary and embarassing.

[Sarahilombrana]

Awesome Book I love it I would read it a hundred times!

[Brianna Brown]

IT was good sad to but it all worked out

[Jenna Tollefson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named ally who has a best friend named betsy but betsy left her and ally made a new friend named tina and she is crazy and weird

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute, but not a very challenging book for me!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

5th grade

[Nurya Parish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borrowed it from my daughter because I loved Donofrio's memoir. Fun YA fiction.