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TodaysGirls.com #9
4Give & 4Get
The TodaysGirls plan a Mother's Day singing performance, but what Alex Diaz doesn't know-what everyone hides from her-is that she can't carry a tune in a clear vinyl backpack. Even her backup musician tactfully encourages her to learn how to play an instrument. Events spiral to prevent Alex from discovering the truth about her voice, misunderstandings lead her to believe that her friends and her Mom actually can't stand her. It takes the patient love of her Christian friends for Alex to realize that only through understanding can forgiveness come-forgiveness of her friends, for her mom, and even for herself.
138 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2001
23 people want to read
About the author
Kristi Holl
67 books16 followersKristi Holl is a best-selling award-winning author of dozens of middle-grade novels. With additional background as an elementary school educator and instructor of writing for children, Kristi's books are on many recommended reading lists and have been nominated for numerous Children's Choice Awards. Kristi has three grown daughters and lives in Texas.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 29, 2018
4give and 4get
PLOT: Alex Cruz really wants her mother to come down and spend Mother's Day with her. She misses her even though she saw her six months ago. Alex mother has sent her to stay with her grandparents while she works through some issues between she and Alex's dad Carlos back in Texas. (Although we don't get to know what they are). At the Gnosh a handsome, older, boy shows an attraction to Alex and they begin to communicate via email. Alex's grandfather tries to shut it down when he finds out Kevin is a junior and Alex is just a freshman. But Alex continues to see Kevin on the sly. Alex's mother surprises her but things get rocky when Maya and the rest of her "friend's" push her to change her appearance to keep Kevin, her sneaking out catches up with her, and she finds out a truth that the others have kept from her with the upcoming banquet coming up and the song they've all planned to sing their mothers.
My Thoughts:
*Maya is just as annoying in this book as the last book I read. Alex is comfortable with how she looks. I've never been very big on makeup and what's in either. Alex is an individual and that's a good thing! And then Kevin is attracted to her and thinks she's pretty without all that. Which she really is (going by the pictures). Maya really needs to get off Alex's back about the way she dresses! I'll even go out on a limb and say that Alex is 100 x's prettier than Maya.
*I kind of get what it's like to be in high school and have a parent (or in Alex's case guardian) that's over protective and strict and the effects of that are a need to be more private because it feels like they are always checking up on you. It can be a good thing. I get that Alex's grandfather probably cares and doesn't want Alex to end up like her mom. But it's unfair of the grand-dad to judge this guy just because of his age without really getting to know him. I don't think it would be a bad thing to at least let them spend time or "sofa sit." I could at least do that at 14. I was also able to go out if a adult was with us.
*14 and 17 do seem kind of far apart when you're in high school (looking at this if I was a parent and yes I did have a younger cousin that tried to get away with hitting up older guys in chat rooms so I get it) but jerks come in ALL different ages and Kevin doesn't seem to fit the category at all.
*And how cute is it that Alex goes to watch him play in his garage and he's singing to her? How aww was it that he also did that in front of everyone at the Gnosh while he was on stage?
*So much cuteness! "Come on. I'll help. I'd rather bus tables than sit here without you." Making me wish I had a boyfriend-a good one that is.
*Bren is sort of a bitch to Jamie. Can't she see it's crowded and she snaps her order at her. I could not work in a restaurant or a fast food joint.
*(Rolling my Eyes) But then Kevin seems a little dense. DUH? Her grandfather said he didn't want her seeing you. What did you think he changed his mind and just let her come over that late at night? REALLY Kevin?
*But then he won me over again with the cyber-date. So creative! I kind of love Kevin!
*Alex rationalizes that Bren doesn't know how she feels but COME ON. She's not so blind that she doesn't see how much he wants to be around her. And tell her or not there are some things you just kinda pick up on. So why is she up in his face all the time? I think it's kind of insensitive. Bren is horrible in this book. She's also on the team of Maya and Jamie dissing Alex's clothes.
*And then Jamie, shy, sweet Jamie? That seems kind of out of place.
RATE 8. I liked the message in this book about forgiveness. It's summed up nicely on page's 108 and 80. It's such a hard thing to learn to do. Especially when you have anger and resentment inside. There's also a colorful illustrative story about a butterfly that Alex wants to set free but it isn't time. And how we all have to go through "the process" and how it will make us stronger in the end. I also liked that there was so much cuteness in this book between Kevin and Alex. So many times I awwwwed! This was a decent book and a really good read. I enjoyed this one! The ending was something different than I thought it would be. I was thinking the solution was to let Alex lip-sync I was thinking just let her lip sync but I forgot all about her lessons. So I really loved what Kevin did in the end for her. He has definitely proved himself to date Alex and I wish the grandfather would open his eyes and see that this guy is one of the good ones.
PLOT: Alex Cruz really wants her mother to come down and spend Mother's Day with her. She misses her even though she saw her six months ago. Alex mother has sent her to stay with her grandparents while she works through some issues between she and Alex's dad Carlos back in Texas. (Although we don't get to know what they are). At the Gnosh a handsome, older, boy shows an attraction to Alex and they begin to communicate via email. Alex's grandfather tries to shut it down when he finds out Kevin is a junior and Alex is just a freshman. But Alex continues to see Kevin on the sly. Alex's mother surprises her but things get rocky when Maya and the rest of her "friend's" push her to change her appearance to keep Kevin, her sneaking out catches up with her, and she finds out a truth that the others have kept from her with the upcoming banquet coming up and the song they've all planned to sing their mothers.
My Thoughts:
*Maya is just as annoying in this book as the last book I read. Alex is comfortable with how she looks. I've never been very big on makeup and what's in either. Alex is an individual and that's a good thing! And then Kevin is attracted to her and thinks she's pretty without all that. Which she really is (going by the pictures). Maya really needs to get off Alex's back about the way she dresses! I'll even go out on a limb and say that Alex is 100 x's prettier than Maya.
*I kind of get what it's like to be in high school and have a parent (or in Alex's case guardian) that's over protective and strict and the effects of that are a need to be more private because it feels like they are always checking up on you. It can be a good thing. I get that Alex's grandfather probably cares and doesn't want Alex to end up like her mom. But it's unfair of the grand-dad to judge this guy just because of his age without really getting to know him. I don't think it would be a bad thing to at least let them spend time or "sofa sit." I could at least do that at 14. I was also able to go out if a adult was with us.
*14 and 17 do seem kind of far apart when you're in high school (looking at this if I was a parent and yes I did have a younger cousin that tried to get away with hitting up older guys in chat rooms so I get it) but jerks come in ALL different ages and Kevin doesn't seem to fit the category at all.
*And how cute is it that Alex goes to watch him play in his garage and he's singing to her? How aww was it that he also did that in front of everyone at the Gnosh while he was on stage?
*So much cuteness! "Come on. I'll help. I'd rather bus tables than sit here without you." Making me wish I had a boyfriend-a good one that is.
*Bren is sort of a bitch to Jamie. Can't she see it's crowded and she snaps her order at her. I could not work in a restaurant or a fast food joint.
*(Rolling my Eyes) But then Kevin seems a little dense. DUH? Her grandfather said he didn't want her seeing you. What did you think he changed his mind and just let her come over that late at night? REALLY Kevin?
*But then he won me over again with the cyber-date. So creative! I kind of love Kevin!
*Alex rationalizes that Bren doesn't know how she feels but COME ON. She's not so blind that she doesn't see how much he wants to be around her. And tell her or not there are some things you just kinda pick up on. So why is she up in his face all the time? I think it's kind of insensitive. Bren is horrible in this book. She's also on the team of Maya and Jamie dissing Alex's clothes.
*And then Jamie, shy, sweet Jamie? That seems kind of out of place.
RATE 8. I liked the message in this book about forgiveness. It's summed up nicely on page's 108 and 80. It's such a hard thing to learn to do. Especially when you have anger and resentment inside. There's also a colorful illustrative story about a butterfly that Alex wants to set free but it isn't time. And how we all have to go through "the process" and how it will make us stronger in the end. I also liked that there was so much cuteness in this book between Kevin and Alex. So many times I awwwwed! This was a decent book and a really good read. I enjoyed this one! The ending was something different than I thought it would be. I was thinking the solution was to let Alex lip-sync I was thinking just let her lip sync but I forgot all about her lessons. So I really loved what Kevin did in the end for her. He has definitely proved himself to date Alex and I wish the grandfather would open his eyes and see that this guy is one of the good ones.
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