How Do You Lose Those Ninth Grade Blues?

Elsie Edwards #2

by Barthe DeClements

Part of the Elsie Edwards series

Will Elsie be able to accept her (beautiful!) new self? — Elsie Edwards, star of Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade, is back! She's a whole lot thinner, but not much happier. Sure, she's got a lot of friends now; and she's going out with Craddoc, one of the cutest guys in the whole high school. But even though Elsie looks like "a thin Dolly Parton," she still can't quite believe that Craddoc really likes her. Her insecurity threatens to ruin their relationship. To make matters worse, Elsie's mother just won't realize that Elsie's growing up and doesn't need to be watched over all the time. It all adds up to make ninth grade a lot more trouble than Elsie had counted on

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Teen, High School, Humor

137 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1984

Reviews

[Cheryl]

If Craddoc turns 18 and does anything the least bit naughty w/ Elsie, he could be in big trouble for pedophilia. This book is just too dated; I couldn't even get past the sexist bit about home ec. before becoming annoyed.

[Taima · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book fell short of what it could have been. Elsie is a fascinating character, and the idea of life after weight loss is seldom discussed in young adult novels.

It was still good ,and I do recommend to Barthe DeClements fans.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually don't give 80's books such low ratings, but this one was a disappointment after her others were so good. Plus I was really grossed out that Jenny's mom thought it was acceptable to kill baby rats by freezing them to death..... hopefully the author doesn't think pets are expendable as well...

[CurtTheGamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was, I think, a worthy sequel to Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade. Although it was told with Elsie as the protagonist rather than Jenny, it was a fun book to read, and, much like the first, captured the feelings and experiences of a teenager almost to a T. Even the very first chapter in the story, detailing Elsie getting confused when following the school map and thinking the gym door was locked when in reality she'd gone to the wrong door, actually pretty much exactly mirrored my exact experience on my first day of high school back in the day.

This book was also much better written than the first book, with more "showing" rather than "telling," and much better pacing. The characters retained their arcs from the previous book, and we even got to see Elsie finally stand up to her mother. Her relationship with her little sister (Robyn) got a lot more focus as well. Early in the story, Robyn tells Elsie that she hates her, but it becomes obvious (to the reader) that Robyn really does love Elsie and is just in denial about it, and she finally admits it towards the end and forms a closer bond with her, and is the reason Elsie chooses to stay with her mom rather than go to live with her dad (at least for the time being). I loved this aspect of the story so much.

Perhaps intentionally, this book is more mature than the first one, the idea I guess being that kids would read this at the same age that the characters were in the story, rather than necessarily reading the books in the series on after the other in succession. The book has themes of teenage alcohol consumption, and foul language as well, both of which were not in the first book at all. For how the books were intended to be read, it works fine, but unfortunately kids don't always necessarily wait to be the proper age to read books, especially when they're part of a series to a book that they actually *are* old enough to read. This is probably why the author later wrote books in the same continuity for 6th graders (a book taking place between the first book and this one despite being written afterwards) and 4th graders (a prequel to the entire series), and also likely the reason that this book and the following one (Seventeen and In-Between) eventually went out of print entirely, leaving only the first book and the two spin-offs (which feature side characters that barely played a part in the first book). Quite a shame, because I feel that Elsie's story wasn't quite completed in the first book, and this sequel at the very least (I haven't read the next one yet) was necessary for continuing her story.

So, since I have been praising this book so much, why did I still rate it four stars just like the first book? Well, because I didn't really find the story as interesting as the story from the first book. The main storyline was about Elsie's relationship with a boy she likes named Craddoc, so the story is much more about romance and similar things, which I'm not really as into (mostly because I was never in a relationship in high school or even, as of this writing, ever, so I couldn't really relate to it). As bad as the pacing was in the first book, it, at the very least, pertained more to issues I actually went through in school, so it was more relevant to me. I get why the sequel chose to focus more on romance, and I have no problem with that, it just wasn't what I rather would have read about, and I don't think I would have as much nostalgia for the first book if it had involved romance like this sequel did.

In the end, I think it balances out. The first book felt more relevant but the writing wasn't as good, while the second book had much better writing but didn't feel as relevant. Four stars for both.

[Agnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know there were 2 more books following "Nothing's Fair in 5th Grade"!
2 great things-this switched to Elsie's p.o.v. and it jumped 4 years.

Is it dated? sure!
But I loved the references to MS. magazine, Phyllis Sclafly, and when she said she felt like Princess Di being swept away by Prince Charles!

I don't remember "prime" being a choice word in the 80's.
I love it when he says she is "assuming I'm some kind of butt."

I think it does have strong messages about emotional abuse and self esteem and how losing weight does not solve all of your problems.

[Reading with Cats · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh dear. This had some serious squickiness going on:
1. Craddoc tells Elsie he's glad he "got her young" so he can "train" her. And then jokes about dog collars.
2. Elsie's best friend's mom kills baby rats by putting them in her freezer. And no one seems the least bit upset by this.
3. So much fat shaming.
Nope, I can't even with this.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Read for a mother-daughter book club.]

A fast read, but a good one. I like Craddoc's character and how he isn't like most 'jocks'. After I finished a chapter, I had to continue and read the next one, I needed to know what happened next. It's definitely a cute story.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has not aged well.

[Rose 'I Have Too Many Books To Read And No More Room' Barrientos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Haven't read this in years.... totally forget how nasty Craddoc is. The smugness, condescending, victim blaming behavior. Poor Elsie.

[Alison Fuentes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Craddoc is a walking ⛽🚨🛑 flag

[Liz Rewolinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick re-read to help make my new reading goal for 2025. Still love Elsie, but this did not age well. Oof.

[♥ Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating based on my young mind when I read it lifetimes ago ;-)

[Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was legit. Not as good as the other ones, but ok nonetheless. Read it for the series but not for fun.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, memories....

[Rakiyyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

[Pamela Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a long time ago but I still remember loving how it relates to all the insecurities young people have.

[Salsera1974 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was a kid!