Ten

The Winnie Years #1

by Lauren Myracle

New York Times bestseller Lauren Myracle's long-awaited prequel to Eleven! Winnie Perry is turning ten and ten is BIG. It means double digits, more responsibility, and being an almost-middle-schooler. Ten means that Winnie can handle anything, even a three-year-old baby brother and a practically teenage (and acting like it) older sister. And with her best friend, Amanda, by her side, Winnie plans on enjoying every last second of her last year in grade school.

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Friendship, Humor

219 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 17, 2011

About the author

Lauren Myracle is the author of numerous young adult novels. She was born in 1969 in North Carolina. Lauren Myracle holds an MA in English from Colorado State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. she has written many novels, including the famous IM books, ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r.

Her first novel, Kissing Kate, was selected as one of ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" for the year 2004. It was named by Booklist as one of the "Top Ten Youth Romances" of the year, as well as one of the "Top Ten Books by New Writers." Her middle-grade novel, Eleven, came out 2004, followed by its YA sequels (Twelve, Thirteen, Thirteen Plus One) .

Reviews

[Leah Middleberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Ten. I had already read the other books in the series. So when she came out with Ten it was a little odd because I had already read all the other books. I thought the book showed the realities of being a ten year old. And how people start to change and think about things you may not be interested in yet. The main character Winnie was very outgoing and is a very spunky fun girl. I think as she got older in the book she thought that the she would never adapt to the changes her friends were going through. And she would always be the " weird" one. She became a little less confident. I think the plot was that Winnie would start off the year not worried about anything. Then be shocked by what was happening and the stages and fads her friends were going through.The setting took place in Atlanta. Georgia. It was a very happy environment no matter where Winnie would go in the book.I liked how the author wrote the chapters in different months. I think it was nice how each month had a new challenge. I think the message of the story is that it's okay to be different and feel out of place sometimes because in the end you will always have friends that will be there for you and accept you for who you are.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ten is a pre-quill to the whole Winnie series and not my favorite. It was very good but was not as good as the rest. In this one Winnie gets bullied my a girl named Mindy, and learns about going to middle school. Mindy is very mean and everyday she picks a girl to be with her in her "group". One day she picks Chantelle, Winnie and Amanda (Winnie's other best friend) best friend to be in the "group". On the playground Chantelle (Winne's friend) is mean to Winnie with Mindy. The day before Mindy said Winnie's secret santa persent to her was babyish. Finally on the playground Winnie says something that was true to Mindy and Mindy slaps Winnie. After school ends (Mindy moves to Florida) Winnie tells her mom and her mom says she should have come and talked to her. The whole Winnie series all ways has a lesson. I guess I didn't like this one because I didn't like the lesson in it even though its important. I would still recommend it to people who read the series. Because even though you will know whats going to happen in the future. Its always fun to know!

[Artae the Silver Bookwyrm · Rating 5 out of 5]

[gr] Αξιολάτρευτο. Ευχάριστο και έκανε την ώρα μου να περάσει όμορφα. Ευκολοδιάβαστο με διασκεδαστική χρήση γλώσσας, γελούσα συχνά. Ναι, θα το έδινα στα παιδιά μου να το διαβάσουν (οοοοταν κάνω). Περνάει μηνύματα για το πως να συμπεριφέρεσαι όμορφα σε κάποιες καταστάσεις και να τις αντιμετωπίζεις «σωστά», και (σημαντικό) το να μη σε ενδιαφέρει τι λένε οι άλλοι για εσένα όταν σε κρίνουν.❤️
Όλοι έχουμε ένα παιδί μέσα μας, πόσο μάλλον κι ένα έφηβο παιδί. Ας μη κρατιόμαστε από το να διαβάζουμε βιβλία «όχι της ηλικίας μας»
.
[en] Adorable. I loved reading this, I passed my time calmly with it. Such a light book, perfect for the summer days. Yes, I’d love for my future kids to read this, it does pass tips for right behaviour and not caring about what other people say about you when they judge you. And that’s important.
I just made the teenager in me happy, let’s not be negative to reading books “out of our age range”.

[therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

took me right back to reading this series for the first
time but somehow i relate to winnie even more now

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! What a cute book! Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

[Saira · Rating 4 out of 5]

first of all; I promise I'm not ten, this book was recommended to me.
the book was pretty good, I'll read the others because it's supposed to help you with life... so yeah!
And that art on the cover is bothering me...

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book and I really recommend reading it. don't what else to say about this but I am really excited to read the next book in the series!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.2 stars

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sept 2025 - not my fav but still cute

aug 2022: I love her. I was always attached to this series growing up (at the same ages as Winnie!) bc Winnie always reminded myself of me. Except a little more spunky. Maybe. A lot of memories :) of being a kid came back and the way myself and others would talk. And the rocky friendships as you grow up also struck home to my heart. Love love love growing up books.

[Crys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVED this prequel to ELEVEN

Winnie Perry is an adorable female literary heroine; in the book, she hits double digits. With that comes the responsibilities of being ten: friends, boys, and mean girls. Winnie deals with them all in her own way, which is why I love her character.

With a cast of great supporting characters, Myracle creates another winner with this novel.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winnie is ten! She is a unique, funny, awesome character. Her BFF is Amanda. Winnie has an older sister Sandra(13) and a younger brother Ty(3). Winnie and Amanda have a second BF Chantelle. Even tho it's not October, Winnie has a Halloween birthday party. She is forced to invite a girl named Dinah. Winnie has some interesting adventures.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was kind of confused on why this book didn't come out before Eleven, because then it would've made more sense but other than that confusion, the book was awesome. I loved learning about Winnie's past friendships other than her and Cinnamon's or the other girl. (Haven't read this series in years) Nice touch, Lauren. I love your books!

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Ten by Lauren Myracle because I love realistic fiction. Anybody else who like stories about friends will like this book. With Winnie Perry turning ten, her best friend scared of Middle School, and her big sister going into High School, it is sure to be a year to remember!

[Fumble · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books actually changed my life. They’re so cheesy but they were so so relatable for me growing up. <3

[CaliNativeBalboa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The prequel to the "Winnie" series, "Ten" is a good, not great addition to the series. Maybe I'm overly critical since I'm not as involved with the age group anymore, but Winnie seemed overly goofy. I fear the excessive goofiness might turn off girls who could really benefit from the overall message of this book.
The important message "Ten" delivers is; be yourself and progress at your own pace. There's no magic age or grade when one needs to express interest in the opposite sex and it's FINE if you're not ready. I could relate to Winnie's reticence about having "crushes" on boys, just based on her entering the 5ht grade. I also had no desire to associate with the opposite sex until I was well into high school. Once I was interested, I was VERY interested but there was nothing wrong with me or any other kid who isn't ready at the same time as their peers.
With our society encouraging over sexualization of adolescents, "Ten" is a breath of fresh air and an encouraging novel that supports the concept that being a kid is still okay. I just think Winnie's extremely goofiness could dilute this message.

[Caterpickles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ten-Year-Old first met Lauren Myracle through her Upside-Down Magic series. Ten didn’t feature adorable cats on the cover, but it did have a protagonist exactly The Ten-Year-Old’s age, so she agreed to give it a try.

What The Ten-Year-Old thinks about it:

“It’s about a girl who lives in Atlanta and her life. Very good storytelling. The whole thing about the crack in the wall and her storing stuff in it was cool. It’s more realistic than you’d think given the first couple of lines about unicorns.”

“It doesn’t exactly capture my experience of being ten, but Winnie had problems with her friendships that I could totally understand. One friend was really kind of mean. I think those friendship problems are something anyone–even a seven-year-old–can relate to. Well, maybe not babies.”

Who would like this book, according to The Ten-Year-Old:

“Anybody looking for something good to read that won’t make you laugh out loud super hard and freak your parents out while they’re driving. It is funny in parts, though.”

[Melody Loomis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought since I was reading the Alice prequels that I’d check out the first book in the Winnie series, which is the only Winnie book I hadn’t read yet. I read the series completely out of order, starting with 12 (since I own this copy), then 11, then 13, and finally the last one. You can mostly read it in any order but I think I would have preferred to have read it in order. In this one, you get to see Amanda and Winnie actually be friends, no hint of trouble yet. Amanda is a completely different person almost, though not that I think the change is unbelievable. I think that just happens when you’re kids growing up…you start to change. Anyway…I digress…cute book.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why I read this book out of order. It was fine the other books still made sense, but if I were giving this set to a child I would recommend giving the books in order as Winnie does age appropriately. As a ten year old she is finding her independence. Deciding that she doesn't have to like boys just because someone's mom said she would/should be boy crazy in fifth grade. Also, note that Mindi is a horrible person. She moves at the end of the book and is an early achiever Mean Girl. Which is important for kids to learn and expect.

[Laura P · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very good! I actually read the second book, eleven, before I read ten, so it was kind of confusing, but still as funny and exciting as ever! I think Winnie Perry is very relatable to me (not just by the last name, but still.) She's very silly and random, and just positively funny at all times. She can make the most unfortunate of situations seem hilarious, and that power is what makes these books so good! I definitely recommend reading this series.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for upper elementary girls by one of my favorite authors! Children and tweens will love Winnie. She is spunky, vocal, and descriptive with her stories and antics. I love the way the author makes you feel as if you're ten years old again and revolves the book around things that happen with family, friends, and Winnie's personality.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.

[710Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book was a okay start to the series. I love how Amanda and Winnie are friends.

[Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because I'm ten. i checked this book out at the library right after I turned ten. And I love how Winnie learns the changes that happen when you turn ten.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was on ok book

[Myles · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amazing! Great for anyone that just turned ten. Or anyone really!

[myrsini_ppd · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winnie is a spunky girl and I think this is a good book for girls to read.

[Bibi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little book about a spunky little 10 year old girl. Humorous. I would definitely recommend. Good book to ready together and has lessons on friendships. Will be reading 11 next.

[Chloe]

No rating

First sentence:

March

The thing about birthdays is that they are shiny and sparkly and make the birthday girl feel special, no matter what.

[Layla W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four in a half stars.