What Every Girl (Except Me) Knows

by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Twelve-year-old Gabby Weiss is in the market for a stepmother. If only her father would cooperate, Gabby would have someone to tell her what is and isn’t happening to her body. For awhile her father’s girlfriend, Cleo, forms a bond with Gabby. But when the adults break up, Gabby’s hopes for a stepmother are shattered. Still, sharing feelings with a woman has awakened Gabby’s curiosity about her own mother’s mysterious death. Once and for all, Gabby is determined to discover the truth.

Genres: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Coming Of Age, Family, Childrens

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

About the author

I am seriously an open book. I've been writing semi-autiobiographical fiction since I was in 6th grade (1972) then, in 2001, Little, Brown published my first middle grade novel, about my life in 6th grade! titled "What Every Girl (except me) Knows." Twenty years and fifteen books later, that still, pretty much sums things up.

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice story that does tackle a tough issue but that doesn't feel like an "issue-y" teen book. The main character has something missing in her life that most other people have, and while the author treats this issue with the right amount of heft, it's not all dark and depressing. And she makes sure there are other story elements going on besides just the main "problem" this character has. Also the characters were fairly well developed, instead of just feeling like "the brother," "the dad," etc. They actually had personality traits. Overall I would have liked the main character's' voice to be more funny or quirky, I guess, but that's maybe just a personal preference. It's a sweet story.
I picked up this book out of curiosity because I took an online creative writing course with the writer, Nora Raleigh Baskin.

(It's for grades 5-7; ages 9-12)

[Zoe G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I liked this book because I could relate to the book and you felt like you were the main character in the story. I would recommend this book to girls ages 12-14.

[Molly W · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a realistic fiction novel where a young adult girl living in New York is experiencing the transition to becoming a woman without the guidance from a mother figure because of a horrible accident that occurred causing Gabby’s mother to pass away. It begins with a female named Cleo going out and getting very serious up to the point where marriage is discussed with Gabby’s father. Although this is a major change Gabby is nothing but excited for the opportunity to look up to a women figure in the household to learn from, unfortunately her brother Ian wasn’t so ready. However abruptly the relationship is broken up and Gabby is finding her comfort in her new best friend Taylor. Taylor begins to dig deep into the story about Gabby’s mothers death and it leaves Gabby wondering, what was her mom like. She decided that the only way to cure this curiosity was returning to the last place she had remembered her in hopes it would spark memories and she brought Ian on this adventure as well. Although they do not find their mother they do find something much more important, they find the closure that they both seemed to need and embraced there mother completely.

I do not believe What Every Girl (except me) Knows was a great book for two reasons, the first one is that it lacks the emotion this story line so much desired. After finishing my reading experience I began reflecting on the plot of the entire story and it seemed to me that the main character especially didn’t express the emotion or characteristics that would make this interesting plot come to life. For example Gabby had begun to grow close with Cleo and actually started treating her as a mother however she abruptly disappears from her fathers relationship and hers without even saying goodbye. This situation would be emotional for any young adult to experience however it just says she was sad at first but then it was a few months later and she no longer really cared. I personally just believe some of the main points in the story like Cleo leaving were skipped over while as a reader I would have enjoyed it more. Also this book was very slow paced in general and the theme was unclear until the end of the story. Throughout a lot of the book it focuses on Cleo attempting to guide Gabby however that relationship ended so it felt as if the beginning was all for nothing. Then we approached them trying to explore more about their biological mother which was very short but more important. Overall because of the slow pace and lack of emotion I felt it wasn't a very exciting novel to read and hard to experience.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabby worries she won’t know how to be a woman because her mom died so long ago Gabby can’t remember her. When Taylor moves nearby, Gabby finally has a best friend. She thinks Taylor’s mom is perfect, but Taylor knows differently. Gabby’s thrilled when her dad gets engaged to Cleo, crushed when Cleo leaves. Maybe finding her mother is the only way Gabby will let her go.

WHAT EVERY GIRL (EXCEPT ME) KNOWS is a special coming of age story about a tween longing for her the mother she can’t remember. In assuming having a mother will give her what she’s missing, Taylor teaches her that mothers don’t always have the answers, and that they aren’t always skilled in giving their daughters what they need.

Nora Raleigh Baskin avoids sentimentality in this pitch-perfect story about family, friendship and growing up. I wish this was part of a series, because I’d love to see more of Gabby and Taylor. I wish I had a book like this when I was growing up.

[Annabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Every girl knows (except me) is a realistic fiction book by Nora Raleigh Baskin, it talks about gabby Weiss struggles to find herself, she has a hard time in this book because she doesn't have many friends and her mom is out of the picture, her father also does not listen to her and doesn't pay much attention to her. I think the reason for the book being called what every girl (except me) knows is because in the book it says that she doesn't know what is supposed to happen to her body and what scene her father is in is so separated from her. I think that the author wants you to know that it is ok if things don't go the right way.

At the beginning of this book, they introduce us to her and what is happening to her. She doesn't have a mother and doesn't know anything about being a girl and what is supposed to happen, scene her father is unwilling to tell her she is in desperate need of a stepmother. She doesn't have many friends and doesn't talk much at school. Late in the book her father starts to date someone named Cleo, they start to form a bond and Gabby tells her everything. This book takes place mostly at the sixth-grade school and home. I think that the genre of this book is realistic fiction because this can happen to many people and many people probably experience this daily.

The main characters in this book are Gabby and Cleo because they form such a big bond and talk to each other about everything. Cleo helps her find who she is and why things are happening to her body. The people in her school are the antagonists because they aren't so nice to her and they don't talk to her.

I like this book, I like how it was very descriptive and how so many people in all grades could relate to it. It also had so many times where you didn't know what would happen next and if the conflict would be resolved. I personally really enjoyed this book because it taught me more about what others have to go through and if gabby would get a mother figure in her life. I would give this book to friends or re-read it.

In all, I would suggest this book to everyone of all ages. I thought I would probably give this book to middle school grades of fifth grade because they could relate to Gabby more since they are in similar grades and ages. The reason why I would recommend it to everyone is because it tells the story that not everyone's the same and not everyone has the same family background. Overall I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend this book to my peers.

[LiaF · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read What Every Girl (Except Me) Knows, by Nora Raleigh Baskin. This book is realistic fiction because the events in this book could happen. However the event, and characters in this book are not real. What Every Girl (Except Me) Knows, is about a 12 year old girl named Gabby who lives in New York. She is simply trying to find her place in the world. She meets her new best friend, Taylor, at the same time she’s dealing with the loss of her father's girlfriend, Cleo. She goes through the year discovering more about her family, herself, and her mom as well as her mom's death. An example of internal conflict, man vs self, is on page 99 when Gabby doesn’t know if she should call Cleo, “mom”. She struggles with the back and forth in her head on whether or not she would be betraying her real mom, but she really wants to have somebody she could call “mom”. An example of external conflict, man vs man, is on page 151. Gabby and her older brother Ian start arguing. They begin fighting over each other’s actions, what the other person does wrong, and they eventually begin arguing over their mom. I liked this book because I can somewhat relate to the book since I do argue with my siblings, similar to Ian and Gabby. I also liked this story because it was really good and showed the rawness of heartbreak and hurt, but also friendship and family. The audience who I would target this book to is 11-13 year old girls. They would probably relate most to the events and storyline of this book.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the ideas in this book might be a little dated. But it was written in the early aughts and doing some reading on it, this story is actually based on the actual experiences of the writer. Also, there's a part in the end where she realizes that losing your mother and the things she could teach you isn't just a girl thing. I was a huge fan of this book as a little girl and I still enjoyed it today, I thought it would be less of a good experience because I was older and it was a middle-grade book written at a very particular time but it exceeded my expectations and I'm glad I decided to revisit it.

Definitely worth reading no matter what the generation is or what you're experiencing in life.

[Harper Holden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was different from most other coming-of-age stories I’m familiar with. It touches on serious topics without being gloomy and dark. “What Every Girl (Except Me) Knows” may contain hefty content, but it is a low-level and not-up-to-par read. I did, however, enjoy it’s many perspectives of characters. The dialogue kept me interested and is, in more ways than one, relatable and mysterious.

[Annabelle Wall]

I enjoyed this book a lot because I know many teenage girls like myself can relate to it. Girls today are still discovering new things about their bodies; we all need someone to answer our questions.

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book when I was a kid, I would get it from our local library every time we went and we went a lot! I recently remembered it and had to reread it after a good 15 or more years, and It brought as much joy at 31 as it did at 12.

[Enia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Gina Facciolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was a sweet story. It wasn't the most exciting to read, but I could relate to it because I am in school like the main character is. Overall, I would give it a 3.5/5 stars.

[kae · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this in 3rd grade and it taught me what a period was

[⋆ ˚｡⋆୨ ʚvicɞ ୧⋆ ˚｡⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow!! I loved this book i really can’t move on!! My teacher gave it too me for a assignment and I loved it . I honestly cried which is pretty stupid but it touched my heart and it’s a heart breaking story especially near the end definitely recommend <3

[Alondra]

This passage was about how a girl doesnt have a mom but only a dad and doesn't have anyone to depend on .She wants to have a girl in her life.So her dad meets a girl . they date but then they break up.It made me feel good and blessed that I have a mom.I learned that having only boys in your family is hard.I would recomened this book to my friends that are girls beacuse it really helps you feel blessed and happy that u have a mom.

[Kashfia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book review
In What Every Girl (Except Me) Knows by Nora Raleigh Baskin,the character Gabby Weiss is going through puberty. A mom is who guides you through these awkward changes, but a mom is what Gabby doesn't have. She is in the market of finding a stepmom only if her dad would cooperate. Finally her dad found a girlfriend Cleo. Now bonding with Cleo Gabby was very excited to have a door open to womanhood. When the adults go their separate ways Gabby was again left with her dad and her brother. With Cleo gone Gabby now feels lonely as if she is blinded in a dark room all by herself. Bonding with Cleo Gabby has opened a door of curiosity about her mom. How did she die or more importantly why did her mom die? All secrets will be revealed.
This was a great and amazing book! It was full of mysteries. I especially loved how the author put the book in two parts. One part was life with Cleo and the second part was about how she goes to find out about her and her adventure to where her mom took her last breath. I like the author's writing style because you can't tell right away if Gabby will like Cleo or will she find out what happened to her mom. She is also descriptive with the characters feelings and perspective. I also like the ending because it was so sad and happy at the same time. This is why the book was so great.
After reading this I had great respect for my mom. I would recommend this book only to girls. This book will be a great book for sixth graders and older. I hope no elementary kids read this because there are some inappropriate plots. Also if you like despairing and relationship books you would like this book. I would recommend this to many of my friends. Enjoy!

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always grateful for book surprises, especially when the cover design hasn't particularly called to me. What Every Girl (Except Me) Knows is about Gabby Weiss, a young teenager who is working hard in converging directions. She is trying to figure out who she is as well as trying to understand what it means to be a girl. Her mother died when she was three and so she has no one to ask about such ideas, having only a dad and an older brother. Her father is dating Cleo, someone Gabby hopes will become a permanent family member. Although Gabby enjoys Cleo's straight-forwardness--direct, honest conversation-- and the fact that Cleo clearly likes her, Gabby is not sure if she can risk asking her deepest concerns.

While most reviews pay attention to Gabby's lack of first-hand memories of her mother and the seeming mystery of it, I find the salient aspect of the story to be how Gabby reacts to the absence in her daily life. That absence is underlined by how the words "your mother" are only rarely said in her presence, as if etiquette requires people to remain silent about family members who have died. Even the language commonly used about death, such as "passed on", contributes to that silence in which Gabby lives.

I loved the missteps Gabby makes, in light of how she works to maintain her integrity and friendships. And so how she comes to terms with her daily life, her past, and her loss, can only come about as part of her bigger work of self-discovery.

Usual borrowers: Grades 5-8
Genre: People and Relationships

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't typically like middle grade contemporaries, but this one was pretty good! I mean, it was still strange for me as an adult because I found I identified more with the protagonists' father and I understood what was really going on better (and sooner) than she did. I also didn't like how gender-specific things got. The things Gabby thinks of as "girl things" like what to wear or how to wear makeup, cooking, being a good hostess, ect I found kind of problematic, and the other things, e.g being nice to people, or talking about emotions, to be things that everyone, not just girls, should know and things people don't necessarily have to learn from their mothers alone. I think the story would have been better served if it had stuck with things Gabby really couldn't talk to her father about, like what to do when she got her period for the first time, or whether or not her side-boob fat was "normal" (which was a great scene by the way.)

But, I also think this could be an important book for a 12 or 13-year old girl to read. I remember having the same emotions and fears that Gabby does when I was in middle school, and the way she navigates them isn't perfect, but that's okay. This book depicted the problems faced by a girl in middle school in a much more real way than I am used to seeing. Plus the river metaphor running throughout the story was pretty sophisticated for a middle grade story. It definitely would have been too "nail on the head" for an older audience, but for a middle school reader its pretty smart.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Every Girl (Except Me) Knows
by Nora Raleigh Baskin
224pp USA
Yearling
ISBN 9780440418528



TO be a teen without a mother is like your missing someone to help you with your personal problems. 12 year old gabby can't wait and wants her father to get a wife so she can talk and be like a girl growing with help.Finally her father gets a girlfriend and gabby and her are starting to get used to each other.But then Gabby's hopes are shattered when the parents break up.Then during all this brother and sister want to learn more about the mystery of how their mother died.And why didn't they have help.

This story really show how life can be cruel and turn back to being good when you try and work things out.Also this book tells about the experiences of girls and guys who don't have a mother to listen to and talk to. Both bother and sister want to know the story of their mothers death which is interesting because they only have bits and pieces.

My favorite part was when Gabby and her brother work together and go back to where there mother died to find out more about the death and at the end they found somethings the forgot. And also when cleo leaves and things change.This was interesting especially when she leaves she tears a page out and gabby by this is devastated and left of that page was just the side and a post it "I'm sorry..".

[Elida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elida Almaraz
Ms.Kwan
Advisory
901/9D

What every Girl (except me) knows
By: Nora Raleigh Baskin

Book Review

What every Girl (except me) knows by Nora Raleigh Baskin is about a twelve year old girl named Gabby.
Gabby lives with her father and stepmother. Gabby 's mother died when Gabby was three. It is hard For a girl to grow up when they don't have their mother. this is how the character Gabby expresses herself. Gabby hates the fact that nobody has taught her anything about going through women hood. She wants to know more about her mother and decides to retract and find clues that would lead to news or information on her mother.
This book is very touching, I could easily make connections to it. There are certain themes that are stronger than others such as: hate, love, trust, anger and confusion. confusion is a stage in which Gabby has to go through very often. Gabby feels left out because she isn't sure of certain things and has many fears she is going to have learn how to overcome. Gabby feels love trust and anger towards her father and stepmother Cleo because she feels like they are no help, although she has affection towards them. Determination is an important theme because it is what makes Gabby want to go back to the past to find out about her mother.

[Jessica Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Mitchell, 10
Review for 'What Every Girl (Except me) Knows'
Nora Raleigh Baskin

I really, really, liked this book. I felt like i could relate to it a lot, even though i'm only in fifth grade, and i'm only 10. I felt like the friendly relationship between Taylor and Gabby kind of represented me and my best friend, Tamara, so as you can imagine, i really liked reading the parts with Taylor in it.
I also think that a certain part in this book will help older elementary schoolers and middle schoolers because in those...certain pages, Gabby had her first period. This book tells girls to stay calm when it happens, if they're by themselves.
The reason I didn't give this book 5 stars was that the writing was a teensy tiny bit slow, and some things sort of repeat. Example, in just about every 3 chapters, Gabby thought about how many secrets the river held. And by slow, I mean that the thing sort of sounded like a list. (But not all of it!) I know that doesn't really mean slow..so what I mean is, sometimes, the story didn't seem like it was going anywhere.

[Chrisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with a 15 year old that I have mentored and tutored for many years. She struggles with reading so it can be difficult to find a book she wants to read and will read. We both enjoyed reading and discussing this book. It's well written and tells a unique story that opened my eyes to how very difficult it is for a girl to grow up without a mother or adult female to guide you through life as a pre-teen and teen. Gabby, the protagonist, was likable and realistically created as an intelligent, observant girl trying to find her place while her body and family dynamics changed in somewhat unexpected ways. I recommend this book.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girls, this book is amazing.It's about a girl who's mother died when she was younger, and now she has a stepmom. Her stepmom is really mean to her, and sweet when the girls father is around. Finally, the girl decides that she is going to find out how her mother died. This requires a HUGE adventure. From wandering into the city alone without permission, to trying to find her mom's room, she finally finds out about the mysterious curse that killed her mom....

I recommend this to every girl in Fountain 6!

[Victoria Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was amazingly good. This book is one of those books where you feel like everything that is happening to her is happening to you. This book leaves off at a happy ending and makes you want to read more of her books. This book is about a girl who is trying to figure out how to become a woman without having a mom. It has some suspense in it and in the middle becomes a little sad but like I said ends with a happy ending. If you like more action I would not reccomend this book to you. However, I do suggest reading this if you like fiction.

[Diana Hochhalter]

I thought this book was a great story. The main character in the story is Gabby and she is looking for a new best friend. Her luck has come when a new girl named Taylor shows up and they become best friends. My favorite part of the book is when Gabby went up to the popular girls at school and stood up for Taylor. The part I didn't like was when Gabby called Amber a bad word. Overall this book was very good and I encourageyou to read this book.

[Amy DeMordaunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A coming of age book that had its moments. Of course her mom died, so that's why she doesn't know girl stuff, and sometimes I just want all the kids to have 2 parents and love in their lives.

A happy quote from the book, "These were such friendly people, they didn't notice how crabby we were, and before you knew it everyone was as happy as they were." We need to be that kind of family!

[Cathe Fein Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great coming-of-age book about 12-year-old Gabby who has grown up without a mother and desperately wants one so she can know what all the other girls at school know. She seems to always say, do, and wear the wrong thing. This is a great story of friendship and growing up. Highly recommended for 5th grade and up.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.
Gabby (Gabrielle) Weiss is a girl growing up without a mother who is trying to find answers both about her changing self and her mother's early death when Gabrielle was only three.

Poignant and thoughtful, magical and praiseworthy, this is a great book, especially for girls in grades 5-8.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I'll fully admit I'm a big ole softie, but this book made me tear up a bit. SPOILER! I have a wonderful mother and a wonderful step-mother and I was just heart broken when Cleo left. I loved the characters, I loved YBFs and I just feel all nice and warm inside after reading it. Quick and easy read, with a lovely and cute message.