What do you think?
Rate this book
Pen Pals #1
Boys Wanted
Made heady by the intoxicating proximity of boys at a nearby school, Lisa, Shannon, Amy, and Palmer--boy-crazy seventh-graders in an all-girls school--decide to place an ad for pen pals in the boys' school newspaper.
136 pages, Paperback
First published August 2, 1989
6 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 27, 2016
As someone who loves to write letters, a series called "Pen Pals" caught my eye right away. (It was also a free book from my daughter's school - score!)
YA books are a treat for me, as I usually like the harder sci-fi. This was no different. I loved the 80s-ness of it. The girls talked about using a Walkman, Cyndi Lauper being a favorite artist, and one girl went to a Halloween dance as Joan Jett. It really appealed to my inner-third grader. ;)
The book is basically this: four girls at an all girl's school decide to place an ad with the neighboring boy's school for pen pals. The first book was all about them deciding how to go about meeting them. As this is a series, I'm guessing that the rest of the books are about their relationships with the pen pals and the trials of being a teenager.
I gave this book four stars not because it was bad, but because the book wasn't long enough for my liking. It was fluff and a quick read (it took me a month to read it because it was lost in my daughter's room) but it was GOOD fluff. The writing was good, the girls were likable and just about any girl growing up in the 80s could relate to them, right down to their clothing choices and their worries about chocolate causing acne.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to hunt down the rest of the series for my daughter. (Yeah, we'll stick with that.)
YA books are a treat for me, as I usually like the harder sci-fi. This was no different. I loved the 80s-ness of it. The girls talked about using a Walkman, Cyndi Lauper being a favorite artist, and one girl went to a Halloween dance as Joan Jett. It really appealed to my inner-third grader. ;)
The book is basically this: four girls at an all girl's school decide to place an ad with the neighboring boy's school for pen pals. The first book was all about them deciding how to go about meeting them. As this is a series, I'm guessing that the rest of the books are about their relationships with the pen pals and the trials of being a teenager.
I gave this book four stars not because it was bad, but because the book wasn't long enough for my liking. It was fluff and a quick read (it took me a month to read it because it was lost in my daughter's room) but it was GOOD fluff. The writing was good, the girls were likable and just about any girl growing up in the 80s could relate to them, right down to their clothing choices and their worries about chocolate causing acne.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to hunt down the rest of the series for my daughter. (Yeah, we'll stick with that.)
April 8, 2022
This was so much fun to read 30 years later!! Yup, Palmer is still a total snot 🤣
Did Not Finish
October 6, 2021DNF
January 14, 2009
Oh, man. If only they could show the cover it'd be a big trip down memory lane.
February 11, 2018
Boys Wanted
PLOT: Pen Pals Boys Wanted is the introductory book in the Pen Pals series. After a get to know you party thrown in their dorm, Amy, Lisa, Shannon, and Palmer (residents of Alma Stevens Boarding School) discuss the strict policies of privileges, dress code, and most importantly no boys! Lisa comes up with a way to have a life and suggests putting an ad in the Ardsley Lion (Ardsley is an all boy school not far away) by using a code name (The Foxes of the 3rd Dimension). They get busted by Kate (the stick up her butt) RA. But Miss Prynn the Headmistress after finding out it's not a sorority thing has a sense of humor about it and give them her blessing. They start to write to a group of guys called "The Unknowns" They decide on Rob Williams for Lisa. Simmie Randolph the Third for Amy. Mars for Shannon and John Adams for Palmer. Only Palmer wants Simmie (setting us up for the next book 2 Cute 4 Words). On the day they send them pictures Shannon gets a pimple. She slips her beautiful sister Doreen's picture into her letter to Mars figuring she'll never see him anyway. Coincidentally Doreen is the one that stole Kate's boyfriend away from her and when Shannon lets this slip to Kate she gets mad. The two make up though after a heart to heart talk. The Halloween mixer is coming up and the girls invite the guys. Shannon is scared because of her deception. She first is going to as a refrigerator. Then changes her mind and goes as an astronaut so she can wear a helmet covering her face. Palmer goes as She Ra. Lisa goes as a peasant and Amy goes as Joan Jett. The Unknowns tell the girls they are coming as the Four Musketeers but instead come as Chicken Heads. They explain later that was the only costume left. It was kinda amusing to imagine the girls keep seeing chicken heads and then are surrounded by them and cornered. Mars finds out and doesn't take the news so well. But in the end, he confesses to her that he was nervous about the way he told her he was a god in his letters. So they decide to keep writing and they're all happy. But are they?
MY THOUGHTS:
*The way the girls are dressed on the cover tells a lot about their personalities.
*One of the 1st things we're told is that Alma Stevens doesn't allow phones in the dorm rooms (raises eyebrows). Now take it I've never gone to boarding school other than the lights out thing they sound pretty similar to typical college life minus the dress code and the formal dinner. And just out of curiosity because this sounds SO absurd (for the year it's written) I googled "Do boarding schools allow phone access?" And most of the replies were yes they do. I think I would HATE Alma Stevens and I'm not even a phone person but I kind of think that's a basic necessity, but I guess that's just me. It just feels wrong!
* Random thought: I'm reading about the Pen Pals eating pizza and I'm eating pizza.
*What I think of The Foxes idea is that back when this book was written I wonder would it have been a thing versus today with all the other ways to communicate going on with Skype, social media, and texting. Today guys frankly have gotten lazy and they (some not all) barely want to text you. Or either on the other hand, they just want to text you. I'm sure there are some guys out there that don't mind reading letters and maybe even writing them, but personally, I find it a very rare thing today that they'd want to actually sit and write letters. It just seems kind of dated.
*"All that stuff about single-sex education made us sound like bookworms. Boys don't like that?" And I suppose the like shallow,, conceited, ones much better hunh Palmer?
*This bike trip where to start with what the Foxes decide is appropriate? Ok, so when you think of bike trips you think of warm weather, sunny days. Maybe spring. Maybe fall. Maybe summer. If this is August, which typically is when school starts (or September) it's still relatively warm. Lisa has on a turtleneck with bike shorts? I'm burning up just thinking about this combination. I hope these are the longer tights version. Amy has on cowboy boots. To ride a bike? This isn't a square dance. Palmer a tweed pantsuit. Is she going hiking? She also has binoculars. Just the closest to being dressed for what I think would go is Amy's bodysuit and tee shirt. Shannon has tights on under the biking shorts. (Sighing). Just NOOOO!
*I would make a smirky comment about wanting to be a recording artist and not being able to sing, but then again they do amazing things in studios so I'll leave that alone.
*(Sighing) John's poetry in these books. He tries so hard to be deep, but they fall more in the WTH category. I don't usually agree with Palmer about anything but in this case, she was kind of right about him being the most boring of the batch.
*Either Shannon's pimple was HUGE or Kate was right in Shannon's face. She could have easily taken the picture at an angle where a pimple wasn't showing. I'm sensitive to pictures myself so I get Shannon's anxiety about her facial blemish and her looks.
*Alma's rules are strange! They're strict about phone calls and potential sororities but they're lax locking up the kitchen after hours.
*Umm I think a mask, a wig, and contact lenses would be easier.
*Being surrounded at a dance by a bunch of chicken heads sounds like a bad dream just waiting to happen!
RATING: The first time I read this book, I gave it a 6. On this read, I'll give it a 7 because it was a pretty good intro to the series. It really shows how far we've come in ways of communication. And it shows that you can't compare yourself in looks to someone else (unfavorably) because how you see yourself isn't necessarily how the person that your trying to get to know might see you. Then it just puts you back in the setting of dorm life if you've ever lived it.
PLOT: Pen Pals Boys Wanted is the introductory book in the Pen Pals series. After a get to know you party thrown in their dorm, Amy, Lisa, Shannon, and Palmer (residents of Alma Stevens Boarding School) discuss the strict policies of privileges, dress code, and most importantly no boys! Lisa comes up with a way to have a life and suggests putting an ad in the Ardsley Lion (Ardsley is an all boy school not far away) by using a code name (The Foxes of the 3rd Dimension). They get busted by Kate (the stick up her butt) RA. But Miss Prynn the Headmistress after finding out it's not a sorority thing has a sense of humor about it and give them her blessing. They start to write to a group of guys called "The Unknowns" They decide on Rob Williams for Lisa. Simmie Randolph the Third for Amy. Mars for Shannon and John Adams for Palmer. Only Palmer wants Simmie (setting us up for the next book 2 Cute 4 Words). On the day they send them pictures Shannon gets a pimple. She slips her beautiful sister Doreen's picture into her letter to Mars figuring she'll never see him anyway. Coincidentally Doreen is the one that stole Kate's boyfriend away from her and when Shannon lets this slip to Kate she gets mad. The two make up though after a heart to heart talk. The Halloween mixer is coming up and the girls invite the guys. Shannon is scared because of her deception. She first is going to as a refrigerator. Then changes her mind and goes as an astronaut so she can wear a helmet covering her face. Palmer goes as She Ra. Lisa goes as a peasant and Amy goes as Joan Jett. The Unknowns tell the girls they are coming as the Four Musketeers but instead come as Chicken Heads. They explain later that was the only costume left. It was kinda amusing to imagine the girls keep seeing chicken heads and then are surrounded by them and cornered. Mars finds out and doesn't take the news so well. But in the end, he confesses to her that he was nervous about the way he told her he was a god in his letters. So they decide to keep writing and they're all happy. But are they?
MY THOUGHTS:
*The way the girls are dressed on the cover tells a lot about their personalities.
*One of the 1st things we're told is that Alma Stevens doesn't allow phones in the dorm rooms (raises eyebrows). Now take it I've never gone to boarding school other than the lights out thing they sound pretty similar to typical college life minus the dress code and the formal dinner. And just out of curiosity because this sounds SO absurd (for the year it's written) I googled "Do boarding schools allow phone access?" And most of the replies were yes they do. I think I would HATE Alma Stevens and I'm not even a phone person but I kind of think that's a basic necessity, but I guess that's just me. It just feels wrong!
* Random thought: I'm reading about the Pen Pals eating pizza and I'm eating pizza.
*What I think of The Foxes idea is that back when this book was written I wonder would it have been a thing versus today with all the other ways to communicate going on with Skype, social media, and texting. Today guys frankly have gotten lazy and they (some not all) barely want to text you. Or either on the other hand, they just want to text you. I'm sure there are some guys out there that don't mind reading letters and maybe even writing them, but personally, I find it a very rare thing today that they'd want to actually sit and write letters. It just seems kind of dated.
*"All that stuff about single-sex education made us sound like bookworms. Boys don't like that?" And I suppose the like shallow,, conceited, ones much better hunh Palmer?
*This bike trip where to start with what the Foxes decide is appropriate? Ok, so when you think of bike trips you think of warm weather, sunny days. Maybe spring. Maybe fall. Maybe summer. If this is August, which typically is when school starts (or September) it's still relatively warm. Lisa has on a turtleneck with bike shorts? I'm burning up just thinking about this combination. I hope these are the longer tights version. Amy has on cowboy boots. To ride a bike? This isn't a square dance. Palmer a tweed pantsuit. Is she going hiking? She also has binoculars. Just the closest to being dressed for what I think would go is Amy's bodysuit and tee shirt. Shannon has tights on under the biking shorts. (Sighing). Just NOOOO!
*I would make a smirky comment about wanting to be a recording artist and not being able to sing, but then again they do amazing things in studios so I'll leave that alone.
*(Sighing) John's poetry in these books. He tries so hard to be deep, but they fall more in the WTH category. I don't usually agree with Palmer about anything but in this case, she was kind of right about him being the most boring of the batch.
*Either Shannon's pimple was HUGE or Kate was right in Shannon's face. She could have easily taken the picture at an angle where a pimple wasn't showing. I'm sensitive to pictures myself so I get Shannon's anxiety about her facial blemish and her looks.
*Alma's rules are strange! They're strict about phone calls and potential sororities but they're lax locking up the kitchen after hours.
*Umm I think a mask, a wig, and contact lenses would be easier.
*Being surrounded at a dance by a bunch of chicken heads sounds like a bad dream just waiting to happen!
RATING: The first time I read this book, I gave it a 6. On this read, I'll give it a 7 because it was a pretty good intro to the series. It really shows how far we've come in ways of communication. And it shows that you can't compare yourself in looks to someone else (unfavorably) because how you see yourself isn't necessarily how the person that your trying to get to know might see you. Then it just puts you back in the setting of dorm life if you've ever lived it.
September 2, 2019
I remember loving this book when I was younger, but reading it again made me wonder how I stuck with it. It really dragged the first few chapters, but when it did finally pick up pace it was a smooth and easy read.
April 19, 2019
As an adult reading these, 3 stars, but loved this series as a kid.
August 14, 2021
This dddrrraaagggeeeddd on and on. The girls are all thinly sketched personalities and the boys are literally all interchangeable.
January 4, 2024
It’s a good book and I am obsessed with the pen pal series now .
March 3, 2011
I read this book for my "YA of the 80's & 90's" challenge. I vividly remember reading this series in school, and not only do I remember reading the series, but I found a few penpals through the books as well. It's hysterical to read the book now as an adult, and there definitely some things I wanted to nickpick about the book (for example, all of the friends were so supportive & understanding off one of the girls when she decided to lie. 13 year old girls are not known to be understanding of anyone!) But the charm of the book just shines through, and I admit to laughing out loud, literally, on more than one occasion & sharing bits of the book with my coworkers (of my age group) who I knew would enjoy the flashbacks (for example, one of the characters dresses up as She-Ra for a costume party). This is a must read!
November 8, 2012
I read some of this series when I was younger, so thought I'd try to get through the whole lot. Read this one in just a few hours. One of the characters is annoying me already and I'm sure that'll continue. Really enjoying my trip down memory lane
May 23, 2011
Oh my gosh I loved these books!!! They were some of my absolute favorites! I think I must have been somewhere between 6th and 8th grade or something, but I loved them!
November 30, 2012
Palate cleanser.
January 27, 2016
I loved this series when I was young - can't remember the age that I was - perhaps 11-13. I just know I loved these books!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews