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The Amazon Papers
Fifteen-year-old Iris gets into hilarious trouble when her mother goes on vacation and leaves her alone
- GenresYoung Adult
150 pages, Library Binding
First published September 1, 1996
1 person is currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Beverly Keller
40 books4 followersBeverly Keller is a published author of both children's and young adult books. She lives in Davis, Ca.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 26, 2025
Clearly, the title is unfortunate in hindsight. "Amazon" refers to the tall height of our nearly 16-year-old protagonist, Iris.
If you go into this book knowing it's basically a screwball comedy, it's so fun, smart, and entertaining. Published in 1996 when I was 15 myself, from what I can gather it's Beverly Keller's final novel. (I am sad that when I moved to Davis for college in 2000, I didn't know she lived in Davis! Wonder if she ever spoke at schools or did readings...)
The premise of the story is that Iris's mother and adult cousin go on vacation while leaving the cousin's two little kids with Iris. Her aunt Blanche is supposed to come and stay with them nights but gets the flu... And so begins a series of ridiculous events, with a whole cast of fun teenagers appearing.
What shocked and delighted me is that Iris is vegan! A fifteen-year-old vegan in the 1990s, wow. (I don't think I knew what vegan meant until 2001 or 2002, and I didn't become vegan until 2015). She has soy cheese on her pizza, and mentions veggie burgers, Rice Dream, Tofutti, and nutritional yeast. Unfortunately, that's all early on in the story, and then other people are making her soup and pancakes and scones and it never comes up again. No one asks why she has no milk, eggs, or butter in her fridge. I'm glad no one tries to talk her out of it or anything, but it would have been nice if it didn't just disappear.
I *love* that Iris is into sports and fixing cars and also loves poetry, philosophy, and mythology. Everyone is so articulate while being deadpan funny, including the 14-year-old who comes to help Iris with the kids, and the 17-year-old who accidentally stomps her foot at the pool hall... I had to look up several words and I loved it!
If you go into this book knowing it's basically a screwball comedy, it's so fun, smart, and entertaining. Published in 1996 when I was 15 myself, from what I can gather it's Beverly Keller's final novel. (I am sad that when I moved to Davis for college in 2000, I didn't know she lived in Davis! Wonder if she ever spoke at schools or did readings...)
The premise of the story is that Iris's mother and adult cousin go on vacation while leaving the cousin's two little kids with Iris. Her aunt Blanche is supposed to come and stay with them nights but gets the flu... And so begins a series of ridiculous events, with a whole cast of fun teenagers appearing.
What shocked and delighted me is that Iris is vegan! A fifteen-year-old vegan in the 1990s, wow. (I don't think I knew what vegan meant until 2001 or 2002, and I didn't become vegan until 2015). She has soy cheese on her pizza, and mentions veggie burgers, Rice Dream, Tofutti, and nutritional yeast. Unfortunately, that's all early on in the story, and then other people are making her soup and pancakes and scones and it never comes up again. No one asks why she has no milk, eggs, or butter in her fridge. I'm glad no one tries to talk her out of it or anything, but it would have been nice if it didn't just disappear.
I *love* that Iris is into sports and fixing cars and also loves poetry, philosophy, and mythology. Everyone is so articulate while being deadpan funny, including the 14-year-old who comes to help Iris with the kids, and the 17-year-old who accidentally stomps her foot at the pool hall... I had to look up several words and I loved it!
August 3, 2016
Always responsible, very dependable, almost sixteen-year-old Iris is having a very bad week. Her mom nearly suffers a nervous breakdown so her doctor recommends a vacation. Since its' summer, Isis figures she'll join her mom on a cruise. Problem is- it's Iris that her mom needs to get away from. So instead, Isis' cousin leaves her two bratty kids with Iris so she can go on the cruise. Iris, who's never babysat and is somewhat afraid of kids, calls for back-up, when the great Aunt Blanche, who promised to help out, comes down with the flu.
In the meantime, Iris finds a guy who likes her, ends up at a pool parlor, get her foot broken by the guy's ex and leaves her mom's car behind at the pool hall and ends up in some zainy job with the ex trying to raise money to fix her mom's car before she returns home.
It's been one hell of a week and Iris has never had more fun.
In the meantime, Iris finds a guy who likes her, ends up at a pool parlor, get her foot broken by the guy's ex and leaves her mom's car behind at the pool hall and ends up in some zainy job with the ex trying to raise money to fix her mom's car before she returns home.
It's been one hell of a week and Iris has never had more fun.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews