Millicent Marie Is Not My Name

by Karen Pokras Toz

Twelve-year-old Millicent Marie does not like her name. After all, she was named for a woman who died more than fifty years ago and was not the most loveable member of the Harris family. Her friends call her Millie, but when she writes in her diary she refers to herself as Amanda – the name she always wished she had.

When Millie’s younger brother finds her diary on her computer, he decides to publish it as a blog for the entire world to see, including the boy Millie has a crush on. In the midst of all the mayhem, Millie/Amanda discovers she is suddenly Springside Elementary’s most sought after sixth-grade mystery gossip and advice columnist.

But not all is fun and games, as Millie quickly learns, once she realizes feelings are at stake. Nobody, least of all Millie, expects things to turn out as they do in this tale of friendship and respect.

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Young Adult, Ebooks

162 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2012

About the author

Karen Pokras is a writer, daisy lover, and occasional baker who will definitely begin playing the piano tomorrow. Always an avid reader, Karen found her passion for writing later in life and now runs all of her stories past the furry ears of her two feline editorial assistants before anyone else. A numbers geek at heart, she enjoys a good spreadsheet almost as much as she loves storytelling. Karen writes under both Karen Pokras and Karen Pokras Toz. A native of Connecticut, Karen is the proud mom to three brilliant children who still provide an endless stream of great book material. She lives with her family outside of Philadelphia.​. For more information, please visit www.karentoz.com and www.karenpokras.com

Reviews

[Book Him Danno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millicent Marie Is Not My Name is the story of a 6th grade girl who feels like she is good at nothing and worst at everything.

The story opens with Millies mother calling her down stairs, while she is writing in her diary on her computer, she does not close it and her brother comes in and publishes her diary on the web. After getting away with this, he finally decides to make a blog out of her diary which is signed Amanda, because Millicent Marie is not her name only the name her parents call her. She longs to have a fun name, a cute name so she has chosen Amanda to sign her diary, which by the way, she thought was being kept private, but found to her horror it was now a blog. “DOOGLE”

"Dear Amanda
“I just read your diary and it was very good, I am so glad your brother posted it on the web and that now you are giving advice on a blog for those of us at Springdale that feel like we are not popular as we want to be. I need someone to talk to about my problems and so I want to tell you….”"

The problems at school, not to mention the problems at home, such as parents who want to come to everything she is in and are always making her help out around the house, are just too much for her, so she finds writing advice to the kids at Springdale school helps to relive the pressure, until that fateful day…..

This 6th grade year is just beginning and Millicent Marie, who goes by Millie at school and Millicent Marie at home, let’s Nat, her best friend since kindergarten, talk her into doing the 6th grade play. She does not want a part she only wants to work on the scenery but while holding the scenery up one day she see Romeo and falls in 12 year old love. The 6th grade dance is going to be held in a few months and her heart’s desire is to have Romeo “Jordan” to ask her, Millicent Marie, to go, but how to get him to even notice her???

In between problems with her 6th grade love life and dealing with “demanding parents” she is writing a blog about the problems at Springdale such as the elimination of 6th grade recess and while we are at it how about having 6th grade graduation like all the other schools have?

The blog starts out just to be a fun activity where she is receiving emails from some of the most popular kids in school, even boys!! But as time passes, it all gets out of hand and “Amanda” loses control of the blog so that…..

Well I guess if you want to know more you will just have to read the book. Good book for ages 10-12, mainly girls. I give this book five stars, it is well written for the age group it is intended for.

Thanks go to Eileen for this review.

[Pam Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Toz has really hit the mark with this middle grade novel about what it's like to be in middle grade. When Millie's talking to her brother, her voice is genuine and angst drips from the words. "Go ahead and tell who ever you want. Just be prepared to have to explain to Mom and Dad why it was you were in my room, looking at my personal diary, and then setting up a blog to send it off over the Internet – cause in my book, that’s way worse than anything I’ve done. Now beat it!” The plot is great and everything keeps moving quickly. I love all the blog posts, too.

To see the entire review go to http://soimfifty.blogspot.com/2012/10...

[Dan Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Nate Rocks the World I was interested in seeing what Karen Pokras Toz would do with a female character. Boy did she ever "hit it out of the park." I am amazed at how she seems to be able to tap so well into what it must be like for middle schoolers. She has such a gentle way of discussing bullying that you don't even realize that this is what she is doing. By the time I finished with this book I was a bit misty eyed. I will be sharing this, not only with my fifth grade students, but also with their guidance counselor as well. Loved it!

[Alysses · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOODNESS! This was such a great read! I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

This is one of those books that everyone and anyone, of all ages, can relate to. Within these pages you will find the unique and funny voice of a girl who is trying to figure things out like all kids do. Millicent Marie is a good kid and just gets caught up with the intrigue and freedom anonymity gifts you, when all you really want to do is let it all out there, even if no one is out there listening. She obviously wasn’t expecting there to be someone “listening” or reading. She soon realized that the blog gave her power because words can be powerful. The good news is that although Millicent Marie was venting and the way she was going about things was pretty mild (IMO), she realized that her blog was still a form of bullying. She also realized that just maybe not all bullies were bad people but just people that had a lot going on and didn’t know how to deal with all that was going on.

This is a book that EVERYONE should pick up and read. It is definitely a book I will have my son, nieces and nephew read because of its wonderful approach in addressing so many issues they are currently experiencing. Adults can find this book useful too...some need a friendly reminder about the effects of what they say and do...Just saying. This book is empowering in every sense of the word. It teaches kids to be proactive, that it’s ok to have thoughts and to voice them, to rally together and make changes. It teaches that words have power but use that power responsibly because it can totally backfire and cause a good intention to turn bad within seconds. It teaches to think about the other person and that perhaps there is something more to what people see. It speaks of second chances and forgiveness along with that understanding. Kudos to Karen Pokras Toz on a wonderfully written book that flows so well, has fantastic characters and is bursting with positive energy!

ARC was provided by the author for the tour.

[Fiona Ingram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not content with saddling their daughter with a mouthful of a name like Millicent Marie (after a grumpy family member), Millicent Marie’s parents insist on calling her by that very same huge mouthful. Known to her school friends as Millie, Millicent Marie is grateful that she did not end up with a cool, arty, celebrity kid name like Organza. However, Millie decides that if she’d had a choice, her name would have been Amanda. Amanda has such a nice ring to it. After all, Amandas are beautiful, wildly popular, and talented. When Millie begins a diary in which she signs her name as Amanda, little does she realize what a ten-year-old annoying little brother (Douglas aka Doogle) can do to wreak even more havoc in her life. Doogle finds Millie’s diary on her computer and publishes it as a blog for the entire world to see. Amanda’s soul is suddenly laid bare and, amazingly, people love her. She becomes Springside Elementary’s most sought after sixth-grade mystery gossip and advice columnist. Can Millie keep up the pretence? And for how long before her cover is blown?

This is a lovely read for tweens (and their parents!). Millie has the usual slightly disparaging attitude towards her prehistoric-age, totally embarrassing parents who (in the nature of all parents) seem to be incapable of treating her as the almost-adult she considers herself. Millie was given the choice of a computer or a cell phone when she turned twelve. Everyone knows that any self-respecting tween needs both. Author Karen Pokras Toz captures Millie’s life angst—from disillusionment with sixth grade, to decisions about doing soccer or drama, to denying she has a crush on the utterly handsome Jordan Cowell—with humor and inside knowledge. I also enjoyed Millie’s coming of age and gradual maturing. As Amanda, Millie learns huge life lessons about friendship, respect, and the fact that other people have feelings and problems. As Millie, Millie learns about her identity, who she really is, and decides if she is happy being herself. Highly recommended.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC

There is nothing more annoying than younger brothers, and Millicent Marie’s 10 year old brother Douglas has the shorts on irritating. He takes every opportunity he can, to go in her room and get into her stuff, always giving the excuse that ‘mom sent me to fetch such-a-thing’…yeah right!. On September 23rd he went beyond irritating and straight to infuriating when he decided to start an online blog, and used an entry from Millie’s private journal as the first post….

I smiled, a lot, while reading this book… As a parent I thought Millie’s idea about a parent swap library was fantastic, though I would change it to a ‘children swap’ lol. She had a very dry sense of humour and her diary entries were often extremely funny. Douglas was without doubt a sisters worst nightmare and I have a soft spot for his character, it would be nice to see the world from his POV at some point in the future *hint hint*. He was typical of the 10 year old boys I know and it’s interesting to see that his behaviour is a ‘gender’ thing that spans the world…This book is American and I am English, but clearly boys are boys whatever their country of origin!!

The moral of this story is to be honest, and not to say things behind peoples backs, and I think the author did a great job of getting this message across without lecturing. We see how Millie has an inner battle between 'knowing' what is right and 'doing' what is right and we get to witness the outcomes to her various choices.

Karen Pokras Toz has proved herself to be an exceptional writer for children, first her 'Nate Rocks' books and now 'Millicent Marie is Not my Name'. She uses language that is age appropriate and situations that are relatable for the target audience. Millicent Marie is a witty story, written in a style that is easy to read, this is a book my eleven year old daughter would definitely enjoy, a ‘gossip girl’ for pre teens I can see it appealing to most young girls.

Copy supplied for review

[Patricia Kemp Blackmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millicent Marie is the definition of a twelve year old girl. She keeps a daily journal under the fake name Amanda. Parents she is willing to trade in for new ones but only temporarily. A younger brother, Doogle who is always up in her business. Best friend Natalie that always seems to have a solution for Millie's problems. She even thinks she has found her dream boy and has three months to nonchalantly convince him to take her to a school dance. Then there is the girl at school that is a thorn in her side. That girl thinks she is all that and more. Not!

Millie aka Amanda begins giving advice from her new blog Doogle set up for her. It started innocently and then she realized it was not going as well at all. People could get hurt.

Sounds like a twelve year old girl to me. Since I raised four daughters myself I know what goes on with twelve year old girls. The things I have had to endure! I teased my granddaughters that when they turned twelve they were not allowed to come stay the summer. They knew better. The three granddaughters are now sixteen going on twenty.

The author did a great job of getting in the mindset of a twelve year old girl's daily antics and routine. The transitions of a twelve year old girl is full of hormonal changes and crying fits for no reason as they edge from little girls to young ladies.

'Thank Heaven for Little Girls'

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure
I received a free digital copy of this book from the author/Girl Who Reads Tours for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. It is my own opinion.

[Kimberly Kinrade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millicent Marie Is Not My Name is a funny, sweet and relatable book that elementary and middle school kids will thoroughly enjoy. Told from the first person voice of Millie herself, it's a tale of one girl's attempt to finally fit in with her peer group after her little brother starts a blog with her private journal and inadvertently makes her the most popular girl at school--only no one knows it's really her. Young readers will relate to Millie's struggles to be liked, and will find her journey entertaining, her advice to her friends often wise, and the lessons she learns about bullying timely and important. I highly recommend this book for parents and their children.

From my 9yo daughter, who loved the book: (she wrote this review herself)

The book is about a girl named Millicent Marie Harris, it all started when her little brother thought it would be funny if he posted what she was writing in her diary, and when Millicent found out, she was going to delete it but then she started getting emails about how everyone liked her post and to keep writing, she liked the attention and kept posting things that she wrote.

I liked the end when Millicent Marie told everybody that Amanda was just someone that she wanted to be.

That was a great book, I liked it so much I only read it in one day!

Madelynne Kinrade age 9 turning 10 on October 31

Grade 3 I'm in fourth grade next year.

(Mom's note: Madelynne is also contributing story creator to her own book, Maddie World.) :)

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millicent Marie writes a secret diary under the name Amanda, why not under her real name? Well she hates her name and doesn’t understand why her mother would call her Millicent Marie in the first place. When her younger brother posts her diary on a blog for the world to see Millie is distraught, after all it was her secret diary! As the emails start rolling in she realises that she is gaining popularity. She wants to fit in and so she carries on with the blog but things get out of control.

The book was great, highlighting the topics of what harm can be done through bullying and why people bully others.
I laughed was sad and every other emotion in between.
A brilliant book and will definitely be keeping this one for when my daughter is a bit older.

[Literary Chanteuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the title you certainly get the idea that Millicent Marie is a girl who knows her mind. She proves this time and time again in this book. Such a great character who so many tweens can relate to. The story covers a lot of interesting subjects like bullying, kids with the internet, cliques at school and the list goes on that I enjoyed reading about from the characters view point. A lot of fun and humor, this author is on her way to becoming a must read for all middle graders. Liking Nate Rocks just a little more than this book I give it 4.5 stars.

[Donna Huber]

I'm currently conducting the Millicent Marie Tour with Karen Pokras Toz. Check out the full schedule for great stops, lots of fun, and, of course, PRIZES!

My 10 year old niece reviewed it on Kid Who Reads

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!!!!!!!! THIS read this book together with my 10 yr old and we both loved it. He stopped me once and asked if his sister had written the book. Severals throughout he would ask if I was sure she hadn't written it. Great read for anyone who has siblings.

[Sue Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realize I am long past the age reader for whom this book was intended, but as a retired teacher, I like to read the occasional book written for children, middle schoolers, even high schoolers. As a student, 6th grade was one of my worse years that started with discovering that the boundary lines for the new elementary school were changed without notice and the bus I expected to take me to the new school where all my old friends were going instead took me back to the old school with the leftovers. Then later that afternoon while at recess, I was pulled from the top of a teeter totter by the person next to me who was falling. She regained her balance while managing to pull me off thus breaking my right elbow requiring a 90° angle cast from knuckles to armpit! Maybe I should write a book. I ended up teaching English in the HS from which I graduated for 20 years and then being a Title I reading teacher in two elementary schools for grades K-6; the last one before retiring was the one where I spent my miserable 6th grade year.

I bought this book 10 years ago, but somehow it sank to the bottom of my YA to be read Kindle folder. I found it when I made a vow today to start clearing out some of the older material by reading the oldest book in every folder. Thus, I came to Millicent Marie.

I liked her right away. In many ways, she reminded me of myself. I never had to deal with a sibling, but I did once find a friend reading my diary and making fun of my entries.

The internet has gotten so much meaner in the last decade, that I wonder if this book would be a lot darker if written today. I hope not. I hope current 6th graders are still discovering it, enjoying "Amanda's" rise and downfall, and learning the gentle lessons the book is attempting to convey.

I would like to think that Millicent Marie grew up to be a teacher.

[Sue Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars
Back Cover: Twelve-year-old Millicent Marie does not like her name. After all, she was named for a woman who died more than fifty years ago and was not the most loveable member of the Harris family. Her friends call her Millie, but when she writes in her diary she refers to herself as Amanda – the name she always wished she had.

When Millie’s younger brother finds her diary on her computer, he decides to publish it as a blog for the entire world to see, including the boy Millie has a crush on. In the midst of all the mayhem, Millie/Amanda discovers she is suddenly Springside Elementary’s most sought after sixth-grade mystery gossip and advice columnist.

But not all is fun and games, as Millie quickly learns, once she realizes feelings are at stake. Nobody, least of all Millie, expects things to turn out as they do in this tale of friendship and respect.

Millicent Marie is a typical middle grade kid. She plays soccer, has a best friend, doesn't hang with the popular kids (most kids don't), and has a crush that could be that all important first love. Like most girls her age, Millie keeps a diary, but instead of a gold-leafed book with a lock so fragile it pops open with a bobby pin, Millie's diary has a CPU, RAM, HD, and keystrokes. Like some girls her age, Millie has a younger brother and, like most younger brothers, is a pest.

Doogle, or Douglas if their mother is around, gets into Millie's laptop and posts her diary entries into Millie's new blog Behind the Scenes at Springside School. A blog Millie cannot recollect starting—because she did not. Amanda takes credit for the posts that contain school gossip, an occasional protest, and advice to classmates. Even the teachers read each wildly popular post. Millie is not thrilled, but then gets caught up in the attention (many, many, many . . . emails to her, uh, Amanda), and kids were listening to her and needed her advice. Millie had become—anonymously—popular. Millie wants to get rid of the site but is addicted to the positive attention and cannot press Delete Blog.

I found Millicent Marie is Not My Name to be clever and timely. Give a girl a laptop and she'll throw out that secure diary for a Word document every time. Little brother's little act of annoyance causes a bigger stir than I think he even thought would happen. This was supposed to be a prank to get back at Millie for the things she pulls on him. Simply normal sibling behavior exhibited mostly while living at home with mom and dad.

Millicent Marie is Not My Name will resonate with young girls. Boys will easily enjoy the story, but girls will understand Millie. She is an average kid who could be any one of her readers. She's not the cheerleader or the quarterback's girlfriend, yet with the anonymous blog Millie becomes a star even bigger than that cheerleading quarterback's girlfriend could ever be. And she has influence. Whether Millie uses that influence wisely or not is part of the fun in this story.

Chapters begin with Amanda's post for the day and gives a clue to what is to come, but only if you pay very close attention. Those posts do not interrupt the story or jar the reader, as they could have in a less capable pen. Instead, posts and prose all fit nicely together like a jigsaw puzzle, one chapter piece at a time. When shelling out advice, Amanda is gentle and wiser than her years. She also finds forgiveness and mercy along the way.

The pre-teen angst, likable characters, and a literary classic, all make Millicent Marie is Not My Name a favorite of 2012.

received book from the author
originally reviewed at Kid Lit Reviews
http://kid-lit-reviews.com/2012/10/30...

[Grampy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author provided me a review copy of this book for free, through a third party. She requested only that I post an honest review of the book, which I have done.

“Millicent Marie is Not My Name” by Karen Pokras Toz is a fun story, written for 4th – 6th Grade readers. The main character, 6th Grader Millicent Marie Harris, hates her name. She has always wanted an exotic name, like “Amanda”. When she starts keeping a daily diary on her computer, she signs each entry with the name “Amanda”. But one day her snoopy, pain-in-the-neck little brother reads her diary, and thinks it would be funny to post her diary as a blog, for the entire world to read. When Millie starts getting emails from people she doesn’t know, telling her how much they enjoy her blog, she quickly figures out who is to blame. But she finds she enjoys the notoriety, so she secretly continues the blog as an advice column for her elementary school. Something is bound to go wrong, though, and it does… at the worst possible moment. Will Millie ever be able to show her face at school again? Will her classmates ever forgive her?

This story is a fun, clever tale with a timely moral, well-suited for the target age group. Millie, like many other kids, tries to keep a low profile and avoid being noticed at school. Still, she gets picked on now and then by other girls who seem to enjoy making themselves look better by mocking “flaws” in others. Once she begins to become a popular, if anonymous, persona, she begins “payback” by printing rumors about some of the bullies. Only when she is found out, does she realize that she, too, has been a bully. She posts her final blog with a very good anti-bullying message, and is humbled when some of the targets of her gossip forgive her because she made them realize that they, too, had been bullies. I thought the ending was quite believable and appropriate, and was the icing on the cake of a very enjoyable little story. Parents, Grand-parents, and God-parents – I recommend you get this book for your 4th through 6th grader to read and learn from. I’m quite sure they will enjoy and appreciate it!

[Lissette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Millicent Marie has spent quite a bit of time in coming up with a suitable alternative to her name. She's never liked it much, and fancies something that's shorter, and much easier to handle. She knows that whatever she comes up with, the name will define her in more ways than one. But alas, it's a name no one will actually know belongs to her. Or so she thinks.

When her brother inadvertently uploads her journal online, Millicent is forced to make a choice. Keep the blog, or continue writing in it since no one knows who she is. While it's a tough call to make, she decides to keep the diary anyway. It's her way of venting about her every day life, and the guise of writing as Amanda let's her do just that.

Yet never once did she imagine the chaos that would ensure upon updating her blog every day. Soon, everyone in Springside Elementary is interested in the elusive Amanda. They live to read about her inadvertent gossip, as well as for the spur-of-the-moment advice she's spews out right and left. Advice, she realizes, gets things done, even though she never intended for things to go as far as they have.

When things get out of hand, Millicent begins to realize that she'll eventually need to come clean about who Amanda really is. The thought of doing so is daunting at best. She's enjoying the attention, and has been helping people in the process. At least, that's what she keeps telling herself. As the situation comes to a head, she soon realizes that pretending to be someone you're not can hurt someone else's feelings, even when you think you're doing the right thing. Sometimes being yourself in the best way to go.

This was such a delightful story. I honestly enjoyed it immensely. It tackles subjects such as bullying, gossip, and every day life in a child's world. Karen has beautifully crafted a world in which anyone of any age can relate to the trials and tribulations Millicent goes through each and every day. It's a book that's meant to be read and re-read, time and time again.

[Kristy James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC (Advance Reading Copy) of Millicent Marie is Not My Name to read and review for Karen Pokras Toz. Wow, did it bring back a lot of memories…like spelling my name ‘Christie’ for my entire ninth grade year (because back then, I hated the way my parents spelled it), being the least talented student in drama…and having a crush on the most talented guy (although I had a crush on him for all of junior high).


Millicent Marie, aka Amanda, is the poster child for almost all tween and teenage girls in the world. Because most girls are never part of the coveted clique. You know, that group of pretty, talented, and popular girls who either don’t know you exist…or do know…and go out of their way to make your life miserable. Because everyone knows that members of the clique aren’t known for being kind.


Thanks to an annoying, mischievous little brother, Millicent Marie finds herself the owner of a blog, under the name she wishes were hers-Amanda. Yes, her brother set it up and published part of her diary. To her surprise, fellow students loved it so, rather than deleting it as planned, she continues with it as a sort of tell all, dirt-dishing expose of her school, classmates and life in general.


Millie loves her new-found fame, even though people don’t know her true identity. Along the way she struggles to keep her secret, even from her best friend, has fun when the blog also turns into a bit of an advice column, and she gets the chance to help a very troubled student. Millie learns a bit about bullying, too, which is (I think) the main theme of the book. It’s a good, and much needed, theme.


I’ll admit that I am a little nervous about reading and reviewing middle-grade books, but I really enjoyed Millicent Marie is Not My Name. In fact, I was very surprised at how much I liked it. I would highly recommend it for daughters, granddaughters, nieces…and girls in your life. There might even be some boys who would get a kick out of it.

[Phaedra Seabolt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. I found it very interesting to see how Millie reacted to finding her diary turned into a blog. She was very lucky that in her diary she never used people's real names. You may ask yourself, "Why would a 6th grader not write real names in her own diary? It's not like she was planning to let someone else read it." That's a good question. It's one I have as well and honestly cannot answer other than when I was that age, I was always afraid of who might accidentally get a hold of my diary. I used real names in mine, but I can see how that fear just might make someone want to keep names out of even their private writings. Brother's are a strong motivating factor when they are in the same school as you.

I found it also very neat to think about a 6th grade girl with a blog. What would one write about? They probably would mostly write about the happenings of school. The idea that someone from school actually found her blog and then everyone in her grade began reading it was a little out there for me. I know I have had to work hard to increase my readers at times, so how did it become so popular within her own school overnight? The best part of this popularity though is what she actually does to help people with it. She learns a lesson on what it's like to be bullied and what it is like to be the bully. Seeing that both situations are wrong is a huge step for her. She discovers that bullies don't happen overnight and that there is normally a very real reason for their behaviors. This story is put into a perspective that I think will help kids understand how to deal with bullying a bit better than some books that just say, "Don't bully." I will definitely be keeping it in mind if I hear of anyone in need of that sort of help.

Read more reviews at Identity Discovery Blog.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millicent Marie is a 6th grader and although she is not a popular girl at school, she has a few friends that she can talk to. She would love to be popular and who wouldn’t want to be since she is in her last year of elementary school. Millicent has a lot of things on her mind and she has taken to writing her diary on her computer. Life is good, until her brother decides to publicly publish it and Millicent feels as if her life is over. But is it? See, Millicent has hated her name for a long time but when she posts in her diary she goes by the alias Amanda and when the diary goes public, a new girl Amanda has suddenly become popular and a celebrity around the school. People begin to send emails to this new Amanda and seek her advice and Millicent has finally become the person she has always wanted to be, only behind closed doors. The problem is, how long can she lead this double life? As the story progresses, you are introduced to the typical students that make a class body. It’s not just about Millicent anymore but how the whole class surrounds around this new Amanda and adjusts to where she fits into their group. The issue of bullying is the main issue of this book which is true but it also hits upon friendship and honesty.

I really enjoyed reading it and although the main character was a girl, by no means is this book only for girls. I can see boys enjoying the story as it talks about events happening at school and her diary too deals with issues relating to girls and boys alike. I think this would make a great read-a-loud in a classroom.

A really clean book – no sex, drugs and great language. Only one word that might be offensive: OMG. Excellent book and everyone should read this if you have a younger child.

[Gregory Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contemporary - not just for girls or "tweens"

I loved this story for so many reasons. To begin with , the author must be a master observer to have been able to capture the voices of good dialogue between twelve year old girls. The story's structure was perfectly suited to present some real world issues important to the target age group.

Bullying in schools has always been an issue for students of all age groups, but presently, with the wide spread use of social media, cyber bullying is now a reality. Although bullying is one of the themes Toz presents, it doesn't over power the other messages the story hits on. "Millicent Marie is Not My Name" addresses issues important to young people facing that awkward period of pre-adolescence.

Millicent Marie, uses the alias Amanda on her blog because she doesn't like her name. She thinks her parents are weird and her younger brother is a nuisance. She just wants to fit in and be noticed by other students in her 6th grade class. She wants to go to a dance with a boy she likes but is too shy to talk to and she also wants the meanest girl in her class to quit bothering her. The tables turn when she discovers that by using her blog, she actually has influence. In the end, she feels bad when she discovers that she too has participated in bullying to some degree. The story is also about self discovery and forgiveness.

Toz's writing is perfectly suited to the target age group. She gave her main character a sense of humor that every young person could relate to. I would recommend this young adult novel to teachers, parents and pre-high school aged youth. It is a fun read and packed with wholesome themes.

[Susan M (MomBlogger) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I have enjoyed author Karen P. Toz's books about Nate. Nate Rocks the World and Nate Rocks the Boat are both books that my son and I really enjoyed reading and reviewing. When I was told that Karen wrote a book for girls, I jumped at the chance to review it.

Millicent Marie hates her name. Not only that, but she is most definitely not popular in school, and would love to be, which is normal for most kids her age. When her little brother posts her diary by making it into a blog, she is of course mad - until she starts getting fan email and realizes that through her diary alias name of Amanda, she can feel popular.

I love how the story shows the normal dynamics of the different cliques in school, and how difficult it can be for those kids who are not popular. I also loved the insight into a few of those "popular" kids' lives depicted in the story. I love how Karen shows that it is possible to overcome the stereotypes set on kids, and how if someone would just show some kindness and honesty, great things can happen. Millicent Marie is able to make some great changes in the heirarchy of her peers and a few things in her school as well, but also comes to see that although the right words can make things better - words can hurt too.

Another amazing book by Karen Pokras Toz, and one I will definitely have my kids read as they get older! Check out Millicent Marie Is NOT My Name for yourself. I recommend it for ages 10 and up!


*I received a free copy of this book for this review from the author. ALL reviews are my personal and honest opinion.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's funny how some books really take me back to my childhood, sometimes in pleasant ways and sometimes in not so pleasant ways. Millicent Marie reminds me so much of what life was like in 6th grade. Her voice is so genuine. I found myself cheering for her at some moments and shaking my head at others, even flinching at some of the things that Millie does. With the 'help' of her brother, Millie ends up with a blog where she details life at Springside Elementary under a false name. Unfortunately, she includes a lot of gossip in her posts, she avoids mentioning names most of the time, but she gives enough clues that her readers often know what she is referring to. The gossiping made me wince, but it is an accurate depiction of what goes on at a school. I appreciated that Millie does some good through her blog as well. Millie is a character with both strengths and weaknesses and both come shining through in this story. I appreciated the secondary characters as well, Millie's brother, "Doogle", her best friend, Nataly, Haylee, the 'mean' girl, and Jordan, Millie's crush, they added to the story by creating believable tension and/or conflict. I liked how realistic this book was. I put it up with Dork Diaries and Diary of a Wimpy Kid in terms of kid appeal. Lots here to discuss with kids as well.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millicent Marie Is Not My Name by Karen Pokras Toz is a fantastic middle grade book that will keep you turning the pages to finds out what happens to Millie and her friends. Right from the start I could relate to the main character, because I would be furious if my brother put any part of my diary online for others to read. I would be worried even if he changed the name on the blog or the post! Millie is very much a typical 12 year old girl and her thoughts and feelings reminded me of my own. I think she is someone I would like to be friends with because she is smart and funny. The fact that Mille was running an anonymous blog had me worried because I didn’t know what would happen if everyone found out it was her blogging. I was glad the storyline was happening to her and not me- I couldn’t handle the stress! Mille is funny and anyone with a sibling will be able to relate to her relationship with her brother. Even though the main character is a girl, I think that this is a book that could be enjoyed by both boys and girls in the middle grades. I am amazed at how the author created such believable characters. After reading this book you just may want to start your own blog. This is a book you don’t want to miss!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Millicent Marie hates her name, her little brother, and being invisible in school. After her brother shares an excerpt from her personal diary on her blog she's not invisible anymore. People listen to her! But what happens when you're young and power goes to your head and your lies unravel? Millicent will soon find out. Will she learn her lesson and learn to love herself? Guess you'll have to read to find out!

I loved this book! I read the ARC and will definitely be buying it for my niece; a shy girl who loves to be on her computer. The character of Millicent Marie had a quirky inner monologue that caused me to laugh at times. As parents we tend to forget how tough school, and our peers, were ... we also forget that our children tend to have adult feelings and thoughts. This book is a great read for ages eight and up ... and parents to be able to "refresh their memory". With the cyber world growing daily, this is a great way to help assist in teaching your child that what you put out there is seen by many others.

[KyBunnies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I know this book is not intended for an adult. However, the meaning behind the book goes for anyone. Karen has taken a kids perspective and written a book that will have adults thinking about their own actions. This is a perfect book for that reading child in your life. If I read the normal books when I was younger, I know I could rate Karen's writing to someone. However, I never read what I was supposed to read. I always read any and everything I was NOT supposed to read. Yes, I guess you could say I was a problem child with books.

Millicent is the average tween. She likes sports, has friends and a little brother that is always causing her trouble. When her little brother finds her diary and turns it into a blog the drama starts.

If you have a young reader in your life this is the perfect gift for them. Get it in digital and print format. This will be one of those books they will remember when they grow up. Help them along with their reading while providing a tool for their imagination.

Thanks for such a great read Karen.

The bunnies and I give this book 5 carrots.

[Stacey Rourke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millicent Marie is a wonderfully written book about a hot button topic that kids NEED to be educated about right now. When Millicent stumbles into her own active blog she gets sucked into her own hype as her cyber alter ego becomes the most popular girl in school. Millicent quickly learns the impact of her words and just how fast information can go viral. I may date myself a bit by saying the premise reminded me a bit of the movie Pump Up the Volume starring a young, and at that time hunky, Christian Slater. While the message of understanding the power of our words is featured in both works I believe the timing of it in this book has far more impact considering how "connected" the youth of today is. As a Nate Rocks fan I will say that Karen out did herself with Millicent. This book is a gem from a truly talented author.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen has an amazing way of getting into the mind of a middle-schooler. This is exactly how I remember feeling as a 13-year-old: scared, insecure, and trying to figure out yourself and the world. This book brings it all back. I’m not sure that’s a good thing, but it does mean that Karen is a fabulous writer who is able to pull out real emotions.

This amazing book cuts to the heart of bullying: Scared and insecure kids hurting other scared and insecure kids to try to make themselves feel better. This is a book that kids will enjoy and identify with, but it’s not to juvenile for parents to read. This would be a great book to read together to start a discussion about bullying and treating others the way you would like to be treated.

I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Alicia Justice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic children's book that has so many great topics inside. These topics are all topics in my opinion are topics children these days need to be learning and reading about. The great thing about this book though is that it does it in a fun way, instead of a beating it down the readers throat she does it in a way that they can relate to.

This is a book that I will share with my little girl when she is in the age group to read it. The plot is tremendous and the characters are relateable. Reading this book has me now wanting to read all the other books written by this author.

Even though this is a children's book, I really enjoyed reading it. This book will teach kids a lot about bullying and doing things that they really shouldn't. Its a must read for kids between seven and twelve if you ask me.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!
Twelve-year-old Millicent Marie does not like her name. After all, she was named for a woman who died more than fifty years ago and was not the most loveable member of the Harris family. Her friends call her Millie, but when she writes in her diary she refers to herself as Amanda 13 the name she always wished she had. When Millie 19s younger brother finds her diary on her computer, he decides to publish it as a blog for the entire world to see, including the boy Millie has a crush on. In the midst of all the mayhem, Millie/Amanda discovers she is suddenly Springside Elementary 19s most sought after sixth-grade mystery gossip and advice columnist. But not all is fun and games, as Millie quickly learns, once she realizes feelings are at stake. Nobody, least of all Millie, expects things to turn out as they do in this tale of friendship and respect.

[Jennifer Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I signed up to read and review this book because honestly I liked the cover.

I’d have to give this book 5 star‘s for a kids book.

It is in fact a middle school age book and actually asked my son, Antonio, who is 11 years old and in 7th grade.

His opinion was great seeing he is a boy and in that age bracket.

Millicent Marie was a very good read and it sucked me in. Millicent was quite funny and had a lion inside of a kitten’s body. She was fierce, loyal, and compassionate, but those traits were hidden because she felt slightly bullied.

To see more and the review of my 11 year old son, please go to my blog Italian Brat's Obsessions