Oh Boy, Mallory

Mallory McDonald #17

by Laurie B. Friedman, Jennifer Kalis

Mallory has a new diary, and big news to write in a cute fifth-grade boy LIKES her! The only Mallory's friends are more excited about it than she is. Mallory's not sure what to do, what to say on the phone, or even how she feels. Her best friend, Mary Ann, however, is sure about what Mallory should feel and do. But when Mallory follows Mary Ann's advice, she winds up hurting another friend—and gets in BIG trouble. Can Mallory make things right and learn to follow her own heart?

Genres: Childrens, Romance, Friendship, Realistic Fiction

157 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Laurie Friedman is the author and ghostwriter of over 300 award-winning picture books, easy readers, chapter books, and novels for young readers including the bestselling Mallory McDonald series, the Moose the Dog easy reader series, the Camp Creepy Lake and Wendy & Willow chapter books, and may picture books including Cows in the House and Love, Ruby Valentine.

Reviews

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Oh Boy, Mallory, Mallory McDonald starts writing in a diary after she learns through the school grapevine that an older boy has a crush on her. This news is both exciting and bewildering, and Mallory turns to her new diary to help her sort out her feelings and decide what to do. As usual, her decisions are not completely well thought-out, and she winds up owing quite a few apologies, but her heart is in the right place, and she learns yet another valuable lesson about growing up.

I love the Mallory books, so I hate to say that this one disappointed me, but it did a little bit. Mainly I’m confused as to why we once again have to revisit the issue of boys and crushes, when just two books ago, in Mallory's Guide to Boys, Brothers, Dads, and Dogs, Mallory determined she wasn’t ready to be interested in boys yet. I agree that the subject matter is interesting to girls in the book’s target audience, and I loved reading Mallory’s secret diary, but it just felt very inconsistent to me, as though I’d missed something in the last couple of books.

Another issue is Mary Anne’s personality. In the past, she has always been a reliable and level-headed best friend, but in this book she does nothing but egg Mallory on, and encourage her to start a relationship with this boy who supposedly likes her. Half of the mistakes Mallory makes in this book happen at Mary Anne’s insistence, which seemed completely out of character for her.

I feel like this series is trying to remain relevant as Mallory ages, which is important, because ten-year-olds have different concerns than eight-year-olds, and it makes sense that Mallory’s interests will change as she grows up. I like the fact that Mallory is getting older and that she turns to a diary to say things she can’t say to anyone else. I kept a journal when I was younger, and I can remember exactly how it felt to sit in my bedroom writing furiously about my first crush. I just hope the Mallory series won’t become permanently obsessed with boys. There is lots more to being a girl than pining away for boys, and I like the series best when it focuses on a variety of life experiences and lessons.

[Crys · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel seemed to be more of a cautionary tale: always listen to your heart, not what others say.

Mallory is feeling the waters of her age, and when she hears a boy has a crush on her she must decide if she feels the same. But what if she doesn't? By listening to her friends, she finds herself in hot water - and almost a friend short.

Told with honesty, humor, and through illustrations, Mallory's Guide will enthrall younger readers with her fresh, fitting voice. She is a heroine to keep on the reading shelf for young girls.

I read a review where someone complained that we just dealt with this issue a couple of books back, and this is true; however, Mallory is growing up, and lessons are not always learned. In the previous book she was working through how to handle having a crush. With this novel, she is working through how to handle her friends. I feel this one is not really about boys as much as staying true to your own feelings instead of giving in to peer pressure.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good readalike series for the Dork Diaries fans. Written in a journal/diary format (think Diary of a Wimpy Kid) these books features doodles and diary entries. The reading level is simpler than the Dork Diaries series so this would be a good series to recommend to the younger set interested in those books and also the younger Lauren Myracle fan set. Fast read I'd recommend for girls in middle grades (3-5).

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

jake has a crush on mallory and invites her to his birthday party. she gets invited to april's party. she has to choose which one and her friends convince her to go to jake's party. april gets mad because mallory didn't go to her party.

[Maria Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!

[Kailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a great book if you like dork diaries it is funny cute cool and sort of strange I think you will like it dork diaries fan

[Mady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This was not a book, it was a diary. Mallory wrote about her everyday feelings.

My little sister recommended this book, begging me that I should read it. After I read it, I realized I liked it.

This series had like 30 some books, and I only read two. I will probably keep it that way.

[Mootchie Alcin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so funny ha ha

Thank you for writing these great book I'm in love with them I loved the way you made Mallory really like him I can tell this is Esther from you or your daughter that was so surprising Maryann goes coo coo all the time I think your 23rd book should be about Mallory at 14 Years old and is thinking she's an old women at the same time she is having a little brother she's babysitting if you want to talk send back Skye I'm also a big friend from Nativity

[Canda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read I'll recommend to my granddaughter

[Manju Katre · Rating 5 out of 5]

i dont know please let me read the book so that i can know what i want to so that i can tell you what i know

[Almira Manesia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really just something you could read if you're feeling in a good mood. This is kind of like dork diaries so if you like that you should read this book. This series has not only 1 book but so many reading those were fun too. I read this book series about 2 times now and I still love it.

[Kaytee · Rating 5 out of 5]

i can not not believe mallory actually thought that the boy actulley liked her if he did not give her sign but she still went to his party i thought that was dumb of her.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourth and fifth graders are too young to have boyfriends and girlfriends.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with Jamie - she says it’s 4stars!!

[Stephanie Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.75 stars

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have a crush, or any other types of boy problems? well if you do you should read this bood.

[Anosha]

finished long time ago

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't ask me why I even got this book. The only reason I get these Mallory books is to snicker, because they're aimed for an age group far below mine and so, naturally, the plots are silly to me. But the plot of this was especially strange. . . A lot of the drama was centered on an event that was never even confirmed. And then the quiz in the end--if you answered most of the questions with "yes", you were "ready" for a boyfriend. But some of the questions were ones that no one should answer yes to, ones like "Your friends all have boyfriends, so you feel like you should have one."

I think it was an interesting effort at trying to make a book about boys for younger girls, but the advice given in it was a little unsound.