Dear Mom, You're Ruining My Life

by Jean Van Leeuwen

Samantha Slayton worries about everything. Like her height (tall), her feet (big), and Brian Finnegan. Not to mention being forced to go to dancing school. It doesn't help to have a mother who's a poet, a father who's a mathematician, and a brother who wins prizes for his paintings. The final blow comes when Sam's mother makes a scene at the parent-child basketball game and really embarrasses Sam. Sam begins to wonder: can she trade in her family for somebody else's?

Genres: Young Adult, Humor

153 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Jean Van Leeuwen was an American children's book author, of over forty children's books, including the Oliver Pig series, and Bound for Oregon.

Reviews

[Lachelle Opp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, because it was very interesting to read and also very funny. Sam is a 6th grader and thinks that her mom and dad likes her older brother, bradley more than her. She was new to school and it was different for her to change classes and meeting new friends. She saw some of the popular girls wearing new clothes and wearing makeup. So she knew that her mom wouldn't let her buy expensive pairs of jeans or let her wear makeup in 6th grade. She had a birthday party and she invited some of her friends and become really good friends with the popular girls. I think that girls should read this book because it is really good and funny and some girls might actually relate to Sam's character in this book.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mildly amusing period piece, but not one of the 80s classics. Would most likely appeal to grades 4 through 6.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but not very memorable.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because I knew it would be a quick read during my vacation. This was the story of Sam a 6th grader, growing up and discovering boys for the first time. Characters include her best friend Katy, her older brother Bradley, her mother and father and various classmates and friends. The book isn't great but it was a fun, quick read. It is essentially, a year in the life of Sam as she navigates friendships, homework, home life and petty arguments with her mother.

This book was written in 1989 so reading it today has a nostalgia feel for us kids who grew up in the 80's. The book talks about Ash Can jeans and all I could think about when they talked about them were acid washed Guess jeans.

One thing I really loved about the book was the little notes between Sam and the Tooth Fairy (her father), Sam and her mother and Sam and Katy. Even though Sam was a brat about a lot of things I laughed at a lot of her petty reactions to her mother's so called abhorrent behavior. Anyone with kids will find this extremely funny. As the mother of a kid who is going into 9th grade in the fall I have heard the title of this book and various other interpretations too many times to count.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Dear Mom, You're Ruining My Life!” Is a book about, and self conscious 6th grader Sam Slayton, who finds out her mom who is talking about “running away” wasn't kidding. But after straightening things out, her mom was happy with her family and life. As life goes on her parents just always find a way to embarrass Sam. Her mom makes her do dance classes with her school even though she's a klutz. At the mother daughter volleyball game she punts the ball and hits sam's crush right in the nose. Her mom won't buy her the new cool jeans that everyone has

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really really funny and poignant book about the relationship between a 'tween girl and her family. As a mom, I learned lots of insights about challenges of being a tween or young teen and how parents can help.

[Pratibha · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read it in my pre teen years and could always relate to it it was like samantha was my bvest friend when i didnt have any the author captured the soul of every middle class girl who is trying to move up in social strata!!!! recommended to every 12 yr old!!!!

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember much of the book, but it is a really good book it doesn't take much effort to read.

[SR · Rating 3 out of 5]

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A SEVENTH-GRADER except somehow? This book is awesome.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simple story of Sam, a sixth-grader who has lots of worries and an embarrassing mom. Recommended for ages 9–12.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

haha funny book!!!