Donna Parker in Hollywood

Donna Parker #5

by Marcia Martin, Mary Stevens (Illustrator)

Donna Parker is off to Hollywood! Staying with her aunt and uncle in glamorous Hollywood is the trip of a lifetime for Donna.

An exciting plane trip, dashing boys, movie studios, parties and a mysterious neighbor are all waiting for Donna as she spends time with her relatives and tours California.

It is not long before Donna learns some important lessons, in particular, the importance of looking beneath the surface.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Mystery

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Pen name of Marcia Lauter Obrasky Levin.

A popular children's book author, creator of the Donna Parker series, 22 books for beginning readers, and some of the first enrichment text books in the "New Mathematics". She was born and raised in Philadelphia, and lived in Rye, New York for 56 years.

Reviews

[Susann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The salmon pink cover of this grinned up at me as I was scanning the Faulkners and Hemingways on my host's bookshelves last weekend. I'd never read a Donna Parker (DP) before, and I can't say that I'm going to seek out the rest of the series, but it was still a lucky find during a weekend trip.

The cover image makes it look as if it were 'Donna Parker in Hawaii,' but whatever. Within the first 20 pages, Donna had taught me that I should refrain from eating what my brother does, in order to watch my complexion and waistline. I should also dumb myself down when chatting with the cad on the airplane. I enjoyed seeing Los Angeles from the mid-20th century perspective, but DP is no competition for Frances Clarke Sayers' lovely and poetical Ginny and Custard.

If Donna had been a more adventurous eater, I may have bumped this up one more star, but what can you do with a girl who won't even try pumpkin seeds?

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I owned all these books as a child, and have kept them into adulthood, even though I find Donna annoyingly prissy and occasionally smug, and her parents extraordinarily annoying. But this was one of my favorites of the series.

[Donnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. There's a plot that holds one's attention, some intriguing mysteries and light, but not paper thin, characters.

A total time trip to Los Angeles circa 1961--complete with pumping oil wells along Wilshire Blvd. as well as several billboards advertising cemetery plots. Ah, how times have changed.

**Spoiler Alert!!**

This book is also notable as possibly being one of the first times a paparazzi appears in literature. Of course the photographer here is not called a paparazzi, that won't happen until Jackie Kennedy starts dating Aristotle Onassis in several years time. In 1961, JFK has not yet been killed.

This paparazzi is a lone photographer who takes to sitting in a tree day after day. A sign of the times is that our heroine has no idea why he is there and his presence is one of the mysteries in the book. Today, given the reason he is there, that quiet suburban street in the Hollywood Hills would be swarmed with photogs for days.

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I read the whole Donna Parker series, this was my favorite. I think that's because my original reading of this book coincided with my first trip to New Mexico to visit relatives. I felt that Donna and I had parallel lives. We were both about the same age (I was 12) and we were both visiting exotic new locations on own our without our families. New Mexico was to me what California was to Donna, a land of enchantment. Of course, that was long before the internet and satellite tv and those places really were foreign to a little girl from PA.

Oh, joy of all joys - I found a copy at Half-Price Books that is in very good condition - only five bucks. How lucky am I?

[Toni Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the last word of this book, I found inscribed in my copy, "This is a very good book." The handwriting was small and looked as if it had taken great concentration to make each and every letter perfect. Is there any better endorsement of a book meant to capture the imaginations and hearts of young girls on the edge of adolescence? I don't think so. At least not from an author's point of view.

Donna Parker is a young girl who has just graduated from middle school. As a symbolic step into young adulthood, she takes a trip by herself across the country to visit her aunt and uncle. Along the way, she meets new friends, runs into some trouble, loses an artifact, and solves a mystery. Although she's not quite Nancy Drew, she is a good representation of what girls of this age think, feel, and question.

I would recommend Donna Parker to any young girl, and so would another previous reader. It is a very good book.

[Susan Liston · Rating 3 out of 5]

ha, haven't read this in SOOOO many years, but I used to reread it all the time. What was especially interesting about this now was Donna's 1961 visit to Los Angeles...Farmer's Market pre-The Grove...."lemons as big as grapefruit! " Pacific Ocean Park..(on the skids and then closed before I was old enough to go) Olvera Street, where "the waitresses have names like Rosita and Teresa! So Spanish sounding!" (although New Yorker Donna is afraid to try "spicy Mexican food") I have always wondered why aunt and uncle didn't take her to Disneyland. And of course she meets "Movie Stars", they are lurking on every corner, all just waiting to happily sign autographs!

[jess adelina · Rating 3 out of 5]

putting this on my vision board for 2026
randomly found in a little free library, cute!
she hopped off the plane at lax with a dream & her cardigan

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, cute little (kinda boring) mystery, and some 1960s garbage, mostly centring on the 13 year old girl protagonist (? she just graduated middle school) dieting and worrying about her "figure". Also some shaming of Hollywood women for plastic surgery while simultaneously shaming another 13 year old for not caring about her appearance and only ever wearing shorts. There's a fine line between slob and whore, ladies, and don't you fuck it up!!

Less garbage but more dated and funny: (a) mid-century hatred of introverts. God, why isn't Love Interest Number 2 MORE FUN?! (Though this becomes a bit of a lesson at the end of the book. Gotta find solid husband material, 13 year old girl! Definitely go with dull but dependable!), (b) embracing car culture to the max. Nobody walks in the suburb the teen is stuck in! She has to be chauffeured everywhere and is dependent on an older dude with a car! Good thing he's dull but dependable. (c) Surprisingly not that racist (I mean, there's just no minorities except maybe the maid) but the 1960s sure embraced cultural appropriation to the max. Oh and protagonist never tries Mexican food because she's scared it's too spicy! Bahahahaha.

[Brittanee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Donna Parker is just the sweetest girl. I liked this book. It was quick and easy and fun. It was more of a mystery than a romance.. Which is okay but I was hoping for a romance.

I would recommend this book to YA girls because it shows how the girls used to be when they were all proper and elegant. :) very fun and sweet.

Language: none
Sex: none
Violence: none
Drugs: none

[taylor :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3/5) this is a very cute book. i think that is the best word to describe this.

cute.

its nice and fluffy. nothing bad or complex happens. its simply about a kid going to hollywood to visit her aunt and uncle and she makes friends. its cute

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first-ever Donna Parker book. It was fun to try one out after seeing them on thrift store shelves for years, but I won't actively seek out any more. I think Donna Parker in Hollywood counts as a mystery, but it's a slow-paced, low-stakes one. The focus is on interpersonal problems and lost property, rather than anything criminal. I guessed the mystery around Jennifer's mother pretty easily:that she was really the actress Adrienne Hope, and that the guy in the tree was a paparazzo. It was suggested briefly that Jen may have been on the big screen at some time, because she looked familiar to Aunt Adele, but this part was never fully addressed. I partly guessed right about the missing Ganesha: I theorized that Bruce stole it for some reason, but it turned out he just couldn't be bothered to tell Donna that he found it in his pocket after the coat mix-up. The mystery aspect isn't especially riveting.

The characters are alright. Donna is mostly a blank slate, but does have some character growth at the end. There are a couple of moments when someone acts uncharacteristically nasty. Aunt Adele reams Donna out for losing a figurine that she didn't even know existed until then. And Jennifer completely overreacts when Donna expresses a desire to get some stars' autographs. Mike was the most likable character, mostly because he was refreshingly drama-free.

My introduction to Donna Parker wasn't terribly compelling, but it's cute enough as a sort of time capsule. It feels odd to see a character communicating from Los Angeles to New York by letter even though telephones were commonplace then. Presumably it would have just been very expensive to make a phone call from coast to coast in the '60s. I like these little mundane details that pop up in older books, that actually remind you of what would be different and the same if you lived in that other time.

 

[Karen Szyszko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my absolute FAVORITE Donna Parker story - and not because the book is pink. Altho, I will admit that has a lot to do with it because I "judge a book by its cover." :)

I LOVE all the characters Donna encounters in her six-week vacation in California with Uncle Roger and Aunt Adele. Bruce with the stereo-typical California surfer dude attitude who causes more trouble than he's worth. Mike, who is the total opposite of Bruce, obviously, likes Donna but she can't see past how boring he is. Linda, whose sole ambition is to be better than everyone else no matter the cost. Jennifer, the struggling artist, who's reluctant to make friends because she has encountered too many Lindas in her short life.

I LOVE all the little mysteries that suddenly unfold and get solved. This book is definitely a true summer read from way, way back for girls young and old.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I read this book back in the day but the only thing I remember about it is the trip to the Farmer's Market. Definitely a book of its time. My two criticisms of it are (1) does the author make a habit of setting up things in the previous book only to totally ignore it in the next one? Ricky, in the last book was supposed to go to Europe after graduation - this is never mentioned again. And (2) While it's nice that Donna doesn't fall all over herself to please the boys she meets (so yay for that) she also does seem to be a bit of a mean girl when they don't fall all over themselves to please her exacting standard.

[Lynne Biberdorf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I ever bought, with babysitting money I had just earned, so it was a pivotal book and memory. I bought and read all the Donna Parker books that were available to me and enjoyed them all. (I can see why they are mostly no longer in print as they were a little dated and too wholesome to be believed. I kept the, for my daughter, who also read them, and only surrendered them to a charity shop when they were dog eared and falling apart during our last move. I finally felt I had outgrown that chapter of my life at 57!

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Donna is so horribly judgmental in this book - more than usual, anyway. I really didn’t enjoy much of it, which is sad for wish-fulfillment fiction. I’ll be keeping it as part of the set, but I’m not sure I’ll read it again.

[Ellen Heter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Donna Parker series over and over starting when I was in 5th grade, and loved them. This particular one was my very favorite, I found my copy at a garage sale. I read it now, and I still enjoy it, it’s almost like visiting a good friend.

[Tresha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a young girl, and when I found my copy of it packed away I couldn’t resist opening it and be transported back in time. I have always had my nose in a book! It really took me back to a simpler times me, yet it was timeless.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donna goes to Hollywood, gets into scrapes and makes new friends. Ah, the 1950s....

[Nancy Zubiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun look back at the 1950s/60s. Not much of a mystery, but an enjoyable teen book.

[Carly · Rating 2 out of 5]

**1.5 Stars**

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read several Malt Shop books now, and they are all not created equal. After having read a couple of duds, this one was fun. The story makes sense, there is no loose ends or meandering thoughts, and it’s charming. So much so that I will pick up more Donna Parker stories.

If you’re looking for a cute Malt Shop book, this ones not too bad.

What I did enjoy is the fact that “back in the day” things we are accustomed to were much less known. For example, she had never eaten an enchilada. It was exotic and foreign, and most Mexican food was. Same with Chinese food. It’s weird to think that these everyday foods were once exotic and strange.

Overall, it’s a cute story for younger readers.

[Scarlett Perry · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very interesting...it was in all a good book but very unrealistic for our time period. I would never give this book to a young adult and tell them that this is reality, because in a way its almost fiction. This book is about young girl, named Donna Parker, who just finished Junior high and because she got all A's she gets to fly out to california to stay with her Uncle. Of course she meets a super hot guy on her flight and the rest is history.

I don't think I would ever recommend this book to anyone because I do not feel that this is a must read book. That being said,I would never make this book be a mandatory read, however, I think that reading this book and finding parallels between our world today and the world of Donna Parker could be a great extra credit project. There are many differences from our time period and the time period this book was written in and finding what makes them different and alike would be a great way for high school students could see how different their life could be if they were born in a different time period.

Warnings:
Sex: NONE
Drugs: NONE
R&R: This world is to perfect and unrealistic, there was one part when a man is in a tree and talks super creepy to Donna.
Violence: NONE

[Madeleine Sherratt · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Donna Parker in Hollywood" is about as interesting as a book written about a 14 year old in the late fifties could be. Very little heroism, very little surprise, and very little girl-power. In fact, Donna herself is a bit self-righteous and downright dim-witted. The dialogue was a bit unbearable and the character, including Donna, were so unbelievable, but it was written over almost 60 years ago, so I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt.

I suppose this would be a fun read for an older child, maybe a nine or ten year old. The glitz and glamor of Hollywood was greatly exaggerated, but for a child who has never visited Los Angeles or California, this book could serve as a mental getaway to fun in the sun. Donna's summer is honestly amazing and I'm convinced there are young girls out there who would enjoy living vicariously through her.

Warnings: (There is nothing even remotely inappropriate about this book, so allow me to be sarcastic)
Drugs: Aspirin use
Sex: Mild flirtation
Rock & Roll: Rollar Coaster Rides at the Pier
Language: "Yeesh," "Golly," and "Oh Dear."
Violence: They get a flat tire at one point...

[Jessica Novak · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book solely because it was required for class and boy, it was awful. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, but if I had to it would be to middle schooler's or children who aren't the strongest readers. The text is big and it's an easy read. If I was trying to get someone interested in reading, this is definitely not the book I would choose. The language isn't really what you would here today-no one says "golly" anymore (unless they're an old person). The plot isn't very exciting either.

This book is something that I could use in the classroom for those who struggle with reading. However, like I said, I don't think this would get anyone excited to read. Maybe it could be an example of a bad book in which students can be prompted to think of things that would make it better.


-WARNINGS-
Sex: no
Drugs: no
Rock n Roll: no
Language: no
Violence: no

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this whole series as a young girl. My daddy brought home the first one for me to read when I was in about 4th grade and home sick from school. It was the first "big" book I remember reading and I was hooked on reading from that point on!

[Melodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did so love these books when I was a kid!! I remember buying them for $.59 at Kresge's when I had money or asking for them for Christmas. Man, were things a LOT simpler then!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigh. I loved the Donna Parker books!

[Laura Langston]

I read all the Donna Parker books when I was a kid, and I loved them. But I think this was one of my favorites.

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMGSH!!!!!! Total Throwback....Read this in the 5th grade. Loved it...started my love of reading.

[Freyja Vanadis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, another Donna Parker book that makes her look shallow, clueless, and hateful when it comes to other people's feelings.