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Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls #1
Moving Day
The author of the Princess Diaries series makes her first foray into books for midde-grade readers, with this first installment of a new series starring nine-year-old Allie Finkle, who is trying to adjust to a new town, a new school, and a new room. The book jacket unfolds into an oversized poster. Consumable.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2008
177 people are currently reading
2722 people want to read
About the author
Meg Cabot
190 books35.4k followersLibrarian note: AKA Jenny Carroll (1-800-Where-R-You series), AKA Patricia Cabot (historical romance novels).
Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.
She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.
Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.
Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.
Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator
Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.
She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.
Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.
Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.
Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator
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June 12, 2019I thought these books were the peak of literature in elementary school. I think I still do.
December 30, 2009
I am impressed with Meg Cabot's voice in this series. She typically writes for teens, so I wasn't sure if her writing would translate well to the tween set, but I found Allie to be a pitch perfect tween. Her worries about friends, her new house, and school are all things that are important to tweens and Meg Cabot doesn't trivialize any of Allie's fears. They're all a big deal to her and that's ok and understandable.
I found that there was a lot happening in this novel-from Allie's worries about moving, her fight with her old best friend and trying to find a new one, and her desire to save the turtle at the Chinese restaurant, but it all worked and Meg Cabot tied everything together. I loved Allie's relationship with her uncle. She had an adult to go to and talk to about things that wasn't a parent and he didn't talk down to Allie or tell her her fears were silly. He helped her through them. I think many young girls who are worried about starting at a new school would love reading Allie's story and knowing they're not alone.
I also enjoyed the premise of Allie's rules for girls. Each chapter had a rule that Allie learned, whch in some ways made each chapter have it's own mini-lesson or story. But it never felt moralistic or preachy. Many of Allie's rules were silly too-like "don't stick a spatula down your best friend's throat" while others have a more serious tone.
Overall I found this book to be a great start to a series for tweens. There's humor and heart and a little bit of a lesson tucked into a fun package that I think would be a great book talk to this age group.
I found that there was a lot happening in this novel-from Allie's worries about moving, her fight with her old best friend and trying to find a new one, and her desire to save the turtle at the Chinese restaurant, but it all worked and Meg Cabot tied everything together. I loved Allie's relationship with her uncle. She had an adult to go to and talk to about things that wasn't a parent and he didn't talk down to Allie or tell her her fears were silly. He helped her through them. I think many young girls who are worried about starting at a new school would love reading Allie's story and knowing they're not alone.
I also enjoyed the premise of Allie's rules for girls. Each chapter had a rule that Allie learned, whch in some ways made each chapter have it's own mini-lesson or story. But it never felt moralistic or preachy. Many of Allie's rules were silly too-like "don't stick a spatula down your best friend's throat" while others have a more serious tone.
Overall I found this book to be a great start to a series for tweens. There's humor and heart and a little bit of a lesson tucked into a fun package that I think would be a great book talk to this age group.
April 11, 2011
In order to create some sense in her life, 9-year-old Allie Finkle decides to create a list of rules to live by, including such rules as: ‘Don’t stick a spatula down your best friend’s throat’, ‘Never eat anything red’, and ‘You can’t take your rocks with you.’
This list is even more helpful to Allie when she finds out that her family is moving to a huge, old house across town. She doesn’t want to move!...even though a Dairy Queen is right around the corner, she’ll be allowed to get a new pet kitten, the girl next door is her own age and awesome (unlike her current best friend that she doesn’t like very much and who is known to cry over everything), and her new teacher is very nice. Allie thinks this new house is haunted and has no desire to move in there, despite all of the cool things that promise to be a part of that new life. She’s going to do everything in her power to sabotage the sale of her current house using her new book of rules!
This is a great book and I liked Allie right away. She’s funny, honest, and has a good heart. Moving Day is the first book in this series; read more about Allie in The New Girl . Those who enjoyed this book might also enjoy the Just Grace series (Harper) or the Clarice Bean novels (Child).
This list is even more helpful to Allie when she finds out that her family is moving to a huge, old house across town. She doesn’t want to move!...even though a Dairy Queen is right around the corner, she’ll be allowed to get a new pet kitten, the girl next door is her own age and awesome (unlike her current best friend that she doesn’t like very much and who is known to cry over everything), and her new teacher is very nice. Allie thinks this new house is haunted and has no desire to move in there, despite all of the cool things that promise to be a part of that new life. She’s going to do everything in her power to sabotage the sale of her current house using her new book of rules!
This is a great book and I liked Allie right away. She’s funny, honest, and has a good heart. Moving Day is the first book in this series; read more about Allie in The New Girl . Those who enjoyed this book might also enjoy the Just Grace series (Harper) or the Clarice Bean novels (Child).
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December 16, 2009i am really liking this book so far my favorite part was on page 2 when Allie stuck the spatula down Mary kay's throat that was one of the rules.I think that these are really funny.I just decided to read this because a girl in my class read it and said it was really good.And she's rigt so far.I think this book is realistic fiction because the events in this book could really happen to people.Like anyone could be moving.And anyone could get in a fight with their best friend.
November 18 2009
My least favorite part in this book is when it says the streets aren't even busy so you don't have to worry about getting your head splattered in the middle of the street YUCK!!!!!!!My favorite rule is rule # 8 because it is very funny the rule is Don't Put Your Cat In a Suitcase I wouldn't even do that.But I do have a connection to that rule because me and my sister try dress our cat up in baby doll clothes and our cat actually jumps into the bottom of my sisters baby doll stroller and we like to push him around the house and it's really cool,cute and funny.Alot of the rules are funny in here.I don't really like how Allie's trying to stop her parents from moving because I wouldn't do that to my parents.
December 2 2009
Now I'm on page 147 and there is a total of 228 pages.My least favorite part is still the part when Allie says you don't even need to wear a helmet when your riding a skateboard in the street because there not even busy so you don't even have to worry about getting your head splattered all over the street YUCK!!!!!
My favorite part in the book is when Allie saves the cat because I don't think Brittney Hauser should do that to her mom's show cat.
November 18 2009
My least favorite part in this book is when it says the streets aren't even busy so you don't have to worry about getting your head splattered in the middle of the street YUCK!!!!!!!My favorite rule is rule # 8 because it is very funny the rule is Don't Put Your Cat In a Suitcase I wouldn't even do that.But I do have a connection to that rule because me and my sister try dress our cat up in baby doll clothes and our cat actually jumps into the bottom of my sisters baby doll stroller and we like to push him around the house and it's really cool,cute and funny.Alot of the rules are funny in here.I don't really like how Allie's trying to stop her parents from moving because I wouldn't do that to my parents.
December 2 2009
Now I'm on page 147 and there is a total of 228 pages.My least favorite part is still the part when Allie says you don't even need to wear a helmet when your riding a skateboard in the street because there not even busy so you don't even have to worry about getting your head splattered all over the street YUCK!!!!!
My favorite part in the book is when Allie saves the cat because I don't think Brittney Hauser should do that to her mom's show cat.
February 7, 2022
peak fiction. not talked about enough.
the actress slash pop star slash veterinarian career path really stuck with me. in an alternate universe allie finkle and i are one. i am convinced that our souls are connected. our bond transcends space and time.
the actress slash pop star slash veterinarian career path really stuck with me. in an alternate universe allie finkle and i are one. i am convinced that our souls are connected. our bond transcends space and time.
November 25, 2009
This book is totally AWESOME!! I really, really like it and I bet I will like the other books! It was REALLY, REALLY GREAT!
September 1, 2022
Was a wholesome re-read of a beloved book growing up. Five stars because I’ll never not love it! 😄
May 14, 2015
I think that girls do rock and I agree with her and all the rules she has but I don't think that she rules for girls I think it was a good book for girls wh like funny books and chapter books. when they move from house hoe she and her brother get when their parents tell them they have to move from house.
January 31, 2016
Good series.
May 27, 2021
Allie Finkle annoys me so much but the book was okay but I totally anticipated the ending.
October 31, 2017
This was a fun audio book for my trip. Meg Cabot is very good at expressing the things that most 9 year-old girls think, feel, and do. The reader is excellent.
April 24, 2021
i don’t know what i’d rate these books now, but i loved them when i was 8. they’re like a clean version of princess diaries
books-i-read-during-my-childhood
August 31, 2025I totally forgot about this book until I spotted it on Goodreads! 😂
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March 7, 2026Moving Day (Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls)
The book opens with Mary Kay and Allie making strawberry frosting for Mary Kay’s birthday cupcakes. Mary Kay is crying because Carol (the housekeeper) lets Allie lick the spatula. Allie thinks to herself she doesn’t even know why she and this girl are friends other than the fact that they live on the same street. So, Allie shoves the spatula down her throat as a “birthday joke”. Mary Kay cries. Allie runs home to her tree house.
It’s because of this that Allie starts a notebook for rules about friendship (and other things mixed in about life). Carol then tells Allie to come back because Mary Kay is even more upset that she left and there was no permanent damage done. Mary Kay forgives her and says she knows she didn’t mean to hurt her. Allie tells Mary Kay about her secret notebook and makes her promise not to tell. Mary Kay tho is uninterested and wants to play “Lions” (a game where they pretend to be lions). Allie thinks about how she wishes she could have a new best friend. Ironically when she gets home, her mother tells her they’re moving.
Allie finds out that she’ll have to give up her (geode) rocks, she’ll have to go to a new school, and she won’t get to see Mary Kay (her parents say they’ll arrange play dates). But they say if she doesn’t cry, they’ll get her a kitten (which is something she’s wanted her whole life). They also throw in that the new house is so close to Dairy Queens they can walk there. They go to Dairy Queens and then drive by the new house. It’s old and it looks haunted.
Mary Kay becomes upset (and cries) when Allie tells her she’s moving. She makes her not to talk about it or tell anyone because its her birthday. (Allie’s forgotten this). She doesn’t keep her promise and tells a boy named Scott (whose not really popular so she thinks it won’t get back to anyone else). But Scott makes a card for Mary Kay that says “Too bad Allie’s moving, now you’ll have no friends at all. Happy Birthday!”
Allie has an argument with her brother Mark over the new house and walks down the alley. She sees a girl her again in the front yard of her house doing back springs. There’s also another girl tossing a baton. The girl introduces herself as Erica Harrington and the girl with the baton as Missy (Melissa). Erica is in the fourth grade (like Allie) at Pine Heights and Missy is in the sixth grade. Erica tells her she hopes Allie will be in her class. (There are two 4rth grade teachers). They bond over their love of kittens and Erica invites her inside to see her dollhouse and cat Polly.
Allie and Erica are getting along fabulously playing one of the crime games she likes, when Erica’s brother John (whose in the 8th grade come in). When he finds out she’s moving in next door, he hints that something happened with the last family in the attic. (Tho Erica says they retired and moved to a condo in Miami. Allie immediately thinks of the movie she saw where the zombie and came out of the attic and killed people.
Allie gets in trouble for not telling her parents where she was. She tries to tell them about the hand in the attic, but they tell her its nothing up their but boxes. She tells them maybe the hand is in the boxes. Mrs. Finkle says there’s nothing up there but some old junk and she’ll show her next time but Allie says nope. Not going up there! That night, Allie removes the FOR SALE sign in the yard. She decides its worth giving up the kitten (that she’d name Mewsie).
Brittany Hauser and some of the other girls keep trying to get Allie and Mary Kay back together by making up reasons they should sit next to each other. Allie knows things will never be normal between them again. It doesn’t work because Mary Kay just walks away or stays away from Allie. Brittany says leave it to her. She has a plan. Allie’s even gone up to Mary Kay in private and asked for her forgiveness but she just flounced away. So, Allie knows that whatever Brittany’s planning will be a lost cause. Allie’s mom tells her to put the rocks up because there are carpet cleaners (professional) ones coming before Open House. This gives Allie an idea.
Allie goes to Pine Heights Elementary to meet the two 4rth grade teachers. Pine Heights is … The cafeteria is also the gym and the auditorium. Its also dark like the new house and smells funny. The principal promises she’s trying to find space for Allie. Mrs. Danielson’s classroom doesn’t impress Allie. It looks old fashioned and has thought bubbles on the wall. She’s teaching about photosynthesis -which they’ve covered at Allie’s old school- and everyone is looking bored. There are no seats, but the teacher says she’ll be welcomed.
In Mrs. Hunter’s room, Erica squeals and waves. Allie is more impressed with Mrs. Hunter’s style and the look of her room (moons, clouds, and stars). This is the classroom Allie wants to be in. She’s also reading the class Allie’s favorite book “A Wrinkle In Time”, Erica invites Allie to hang out with her at recess. She shows her a place in the bushes and a little private alley. She introduces her to her friends Caroline and Sophie. They introduce her to the game “Queens” When she has to leave, they tell her they hope she’ll be in their class.
Mark likes his new school. Kevin doesn’t. This reminds Allie that even tho she likes Erica, Sophie, and Caroline, and Mrs. Hunter she can’t let them move. So, she tells her mom she hates Pine Heights. On the day of Open House, Allie gets dropped off at Brittany’s house. When Allie gets there, she sees it’s a set up. Mary Kay is also there. Courtney is also there. Mary Kay tries to leave but gets scared that Brittany might throw something -she’s been known to do this A LOT-.
Allie immediately falls in love with Lady Serena Archibald (Mrs. Hauser’s Persian show cat). After she leaves, Brittany wants to play “pop star”. This game involves singing (with a microphone) to a song on a tape recorder (it turns out the same song) and whoever wins gets a brownie. Courtney and Mary Kay do the same dance. (Mary Kay’s with more hip wiggling). When its Allie’s turn she throws in some ballet movements. This doesn’t go over well with Brittany. She tells Mary Kay she wins the brownie and sends her out of the room.
They talk about what to do to get Mary Kay and Allie back friends. Allie suggests making lunch but she and Brittany end up arguing because Allie doesn’t want to make pizza. Allie suggests they play “Queens” but Brittany calls this stupid when Allie tells her how its played. Lady Serena comes upstairs with Mary Kay. Then Brittany and Courtney start to play this game called “Lady Business Executive”. They put Lady Serena in a suitcase, zip her up, and start rolling her around (which the cat HATES!). Allie has enough and lets the cat out. It flees.
Allie finds her by a door in the kitchen and she lets the cat out. She finds out it’s the door to the garage and that Lady Serena has never been outside before. Allie apologizes to Mrs. Hauser and tells her the cat “accidently” got out, but she’s nice about it. She calls the police and they go out to look for Lady Serena (but they don’t find him).
Brittany isn’t so understanding. She says she’ll get Allie for this. She did this for her and now she sees why Mary Kay doesn’t like her. Allie starts to feel happy she’s moving and will never see these people again. Her mother picks her up and assures her Lady Serena will come home. She confesses to Mrs. Hauser before she leaves about Brittany’s “game” and thanks her. In the car, her mom tells her she knows about the trick of the rocks she put on her shelf. Allie supidllly thinks she’s succeed but her mom tells her they’ve gotten an offer.
Lady Archibald comes back Monday. Courtney tells Allie but Brittany tells her not to tell her Except that Courtney was mad at Brittany for telling her that she wasn’t her best friend anymore. Mary Kay is Brittany’s new best friend. Courtney is now Brittany’s second-best best friend. It turns out Brittany was planning the whole thing all along (which is why she gave her the brownie).
Brittany is now being punished by having her karaoke machine and tv privileges taken away. Courtney offers to be Allie’s best friend until she moves. Brittany gives Allie the nickname “Allie Stinkle”. Brittany calls Allie pathetic that she keeps a rule book and realizes Mary Kay told her. Brittany insults her further when she burps in response to something Scott says by saying she’s practically a *boy*, This really hurts Allie’s feelings. Allie decides tho to keep writing her rule book. She just won’t tell anyone else about it.
Allie’s old house gets sold. To celebrate they go to Lung Chung, the fanciest restaurant in town. There’s a turtle that’s been there forever. Allie wonders if any day now it’ll be turned into turtle soup. She starts to sympathize with the turtle and thinks of how it should have a choice where it wants to stay. Then she makes up an excuse to go to the bathroom and she steals it. Uncle Jay sees her and then so does the waitress. So, she runs.
Jay finds Allie hiding in his car and makes a deal with her. He’ll take the turtle home and it’ll be their secret and in return she’ll stop giving her parents such a hard time about the move and pretend to be ok with the whole thing. Then maybe in time she actually will be ok with it. Allie meets Jay’s girlfriend Harmoney while she’s getting rid of her geodes and she interviews her about her rescue of the turtle. Mary Kay and Brittany Allie notices keeps walking past her house and whispering.
Allie has a goodbye party at school. Mary Kay tries to beg her to take her back as a friend all the way to school. Brittany is nicer too and asks if she wants to sit with her at lunch. Allie says no. Brittany asks if she wants to come over after school. Allie says no and asks her why. Brittany says she’s over what happened and besides they had fun. It turns out they saw Allie’s article in the newspaper.
Courtney gives Allie half of a BFF necklace. Mary Kay apologizes about telling about the book of rules and says they’ll always be best friends. While she’s listening to this, Allie’s passing out cupcakes. She takes the last one and smooshes it in Brittany’s face. This starts a food fight. Allie gets sent to the principal office with Scott and they kinda bond over his imitation of Brittany whining about the cupcake in her hair. Allie’s mom comes to get her and tells her she can forget about getting a kitten. She says goodbye once and for all to her old school.
Mom fixes up the new house and makes it look less creepy. Allie loves her new room. Her dad’s made her a window seat. Allie sees that there’s nothing in the attic but boxes after all. Each box is full of dozens of Christmas cards. Allie finds out from Erica -whose outside- that she’ll be in Mrs. Hunter’s class. John asks Allie if she’s heard any noises coming from the attic and she says no because there’s nothing up there. Just boxes (which they cleaned out). She tells him to stop messing with her and he backs off asking if she’ll tell his mom but she says no.
Later at their new house, Allie finds out when Lady Serena got out she found a gentleman friend and she’s having kittens. Mrs. Hauser says she’ll first pick. Her mom says she can have the kitten after all.
Rating: 5 For the first book in the series, I wasn’t very impressed with Allie. In this one she just seems immature (even for a twelve-year-old). It does get better as the books go on. But in this one the first impression we get of her is shoving a spatula down someone’s throat and describes it as “a birthday joke”.
Even tho I do admit, having a best friend like Mary Kay would drive me crazy, she wasn’t all that good a friend to Mary Kay to break her promise to her with such ease. Then had the *nerve* to get mad when the same thing was done to her. It’s not even a question why Mary Kay told Brittany about the rule book. She broke her promise to a boy she didn’t even *like*. Really if we’re being honest, Allie is as much a half a friend as Brittany.
Then with moving. I was the exact same age as Allie (maybe a year older) when I was told I was moving to a new house. I was in the fifth grade. I’m sure I didn’t like it either. I (like Allie) had a bed in a special spot and I liked to look out the window and fall asleep in my old home, but I wouldn’t have *dared* tried the tricks Allie tried like taking the FOR SALE sign down and making rocks fall from my shelf. Cause when your parents say you’re moving and your 12 THAT’S IT! Do you think I got promised a kitten? (Snorts). Then to get “revenge” she acts out and steals a turtle from a restaurant SMH.
Then what is going on with this psychopath girl that likes to torture cats? Allie really should have been glad from the *jump* she was leaving. I didn’t understand why she was so upset. FOR WHAT? These girls CLEARLY were not her friends.
The book opens with Mary Kay and Allie making strawberry frosting for Mary Kay’s birthday cupcakes. Mary Kay is crying because Carol (the housekeeper) lets Allie lick the spatula. Allie thinks to herself she doesn’t even know why she and this girl are friends other than the fact that they live on the same street. So, Allie shoves the spatula down her throat as a “birthday joke”. Mary Kay cries. Allie runs home to her tree house.
It’s because of this that Allie starts a notebook for rules about friendship (and other things mixed in about life). Carol then tells Allie to come back because Mary Kay is even more upset that she left and there was no permanent damage done. Mary Kay forgives her and says she knows she didn’t mean to hurt her. Allie tells Mary Kay about her secret notebook and makes her promise not to tell. Mary Kay tho is uninterested and wants to play “Lions” (a game where they pretend to be lions). Allie thinks about how she wishes she could have a new best friend. Ironically when she gets home, her mother tells her they’re moving.
Allie finds out that she’ll have to give up her (geode) rocks, she’ll have to go to a new school, and she won’t get to see Mary Kay (her parents say they’ll arrange play dates). But they say if she doesn’t cry, they’ll get her a kitten (which is something she’s wanted her whole life). They also throw in that the new house is so close to Dairy Queens they can walk there. They go to Dairy Queens and then drive by the new house. It’s old and it looks haunted.
Mary Kay becomes upset (and cries) when Allie tells her she’s moving. She makes her not to talk about it or tell anyone because its her birthday. (Allie’s forgotten this). She doesn’t keep her promise and tells a boy named Scott (whose not really popular so she thinks it won’t get back to anyone else). But Scott makes a card for Mary Kay that says “Too bad Allie’s moving, now you’ll have no friends at all. Happy Birthday!”
Allie has an argument with her brother Mark over the new house and walks down the alley. She sees a girl her again in the front yard of her house doing back springs. There’s also another girl tossing a baton. The girl introduces herself as Erica Harrington and the girl with the baton as Missy (Melissa). Erica is in the fourth grade (like Allie) at Pine Heights and Missy is in the sixth grade. Erica tells her she hopes Allie will be in her class. (There are two 4rth grade teachers). They bond over their love of kittens and Erica invites her inside to see her dollhouse and cat Polly.
Allie and Erica are getting along fabulously playing one of the crime games she likes, when Erica’s brother John (whose in the 8th grade come in). When he finds out she’s moving in next door, he hints that something happened with the last family in the attic. (Tho Erica says they retired and moved to a condo in Miami. Allie immediately thinks of the movie she saw where the zombie and came out of the attic and killed people.
Allie gets in trouble for not telling her parents where she was. She tries to tell them about the hand in the attic, but they tell her its nothing up their but boxes. She tells them maybe the hand is in the boxes. Mrs. Finkle says there’s nothing up there but some old junk and she’ll show her next time but Allie says nope. Not going up there! That night, Allie removes the FOR SALE sign in the yard. She decides its worth giving up the kitten (that she’d name Mewsie).
Brittany Hauser and some of the other girls keep trying to get Allie and Mary Kay back together by making up reasons they should sit next to each other. Allie knows things will never be normal between them again. It doesn’t work because Mary Kay just walks away or stays away from Allie. Brittany says leave it to her. She has a plan. Allie’s even gone up to Mary Kay in private and asked for her forgiveness but she just flounced away. So, Allie knows that whatever Brittany’s planning will be a lost cause. Allie’s mom tells her to put the rocks up because there are carpet cleaners (professional) ones coming before Open House. This gives Allie an idea.
Allie goes to Pine Heights Elementary to meet the two 4rth grade teachers. Pine Heights is … The cafeteria is also the gym and the auditorium. Its also dark like the new house and smells funny. The principal promises she’s trying to find space for Allie. Mrs. Danielson’s classroom doesn’t impress Allie. It looks old fashioned and has thought bubbles on the wall. She’s teaching about photosynthesis -which they’ve covered at Allie’s old school- and everyone is looking bored. There are no seats, but the teacher says she’ll be welcomed.
In Mrs. Hunter’s room, Erica squeals and waves. Allie is more impressed with Mrs. Hunter’s style and the look of her room (moons, clouds, and stars). This is the classroom Allie wants to be in. She’s also reading the class Allie’s favorite book “A Wrinkle In Time”, Erica invites Allie to hang out with her at recess. She shows her a place in the bushes and a little private alley. She introduces her to her friends Caroline and Sophie. They introduce her to the game “Queens” When she has to leave, they tell her they hope she’ll be in their class.
Mark likes his new school. Kevin doesn’t. This reminds Allie that even tho she likes Erica, Sophie, and Caroline, and Mrs. Hunter she can’t let them move. So, she tells her mom she hates Pine Heights. On the day of Open House, Allie gets dropped off at Brittany’s house. When Allie gets there, she sees it’s a set up. Mary Kay is also there. Courtney is also there. Mary Kay tries to leave but gets scared that Brittany might throw something -she’s been known to do this A LOT-.
Allie immediately falls in love with Lady Serena Archibald (Mrs. Hauser’s Persian show cat). After she leaves, Brittany wants to play “pop star”. This game involves singing (with a microphone) to a song on a tape recorder (it turns out the same song) and whoever wins gets a brownie. Courtney and Mary Kay do the same dance. (Mary Kay’s with more hip wiggling). When its Allie’s turn she throws in some ballet movements. This doesn’t go over well with Brittany. She tells Mary Kay she wins the brownie and sends her out of the room.
They talk about what to do to get Mary Kay and Allie back friends. Allie suggests making lunch but she and Brittany end up arguing because Allie doesn’t want to make pizza. Allie suggests they play “Queens” but Brittany calls this stupid when Allie tells her how its played. Lady Serena comes upstairs with Mary Kay. Then Brittany and Courtney start to play this game called “Lady Business Executive”. They put Lady Serena in a suitcase, zip her up, and start rolling her around (which the cat HATES!). Allie has enough and lets the cat out. It flees.
Allie finds her by a door in the kitchen and she lets the cat out. She finds out it’s the door to the garage and that Lady Serena has never been outside before. Allie apologizes to Mrs. Hauser and tells her the cat “accidently” got out, but she’s nice about it. She calls the police and they go out to look for Lady Serena (but they don’t find him).
Brittany isn’t so understanding. She says she’ll get Allie for this. She did this for her and now she sees why Mary Kay doesn’t like her. Allie starts to feel happy she’s moving and will never see these people again. Her mother picks her up and assures her Lady Serena will come home. She confesses to Mrs. Hauser before she leaves about Brittany’s “game” and thanks her. In the car, her mom tells her she knows about the trick of the rocks she put on her shelf. Allie supidllly thinks she’s succeed but her mom tells her they’ve gotten an offer.
Lady Archibald comes back Monday. Courtney tells Allie but Brittany tells her not to tell her Except that Courtney was mad at Brittany for telling her that she wasn’t her best friend anymore. Mary Kay is Brittany’s new best friend. Courtney is now Brittany’s second-best best friend. It turns out Brittany was planning the whole thing all along (which is why she gave her the brownie).
Brittany is now being punished by having her karaoke machine and tv privileges taken away. Courtney offers to be Allie’s best friend until she moves. Brittany gives Allie the nickname “Allie Stinkle”. Brittany calls Allie pathetic that she keeps a rule book and realizes Mary Kay told her. Brittany insults her further when she burps in response to something Scott says by saying she’s practically a *boy*, This really hurts Allie’s feelings. Allie decides tho to keep writing her rule book. She just won’t tell anyone else about it.
Allie’s old house gets sold. To celebrate they go to Lung Chung, the fanciest restaurant in town. There’s a turtle that’s been there forever. Allie wonders if any day now it’ll be turned into turtle soup. She starts to sympathize with the turtle and thinks of how it should have a choice where it wants to stay. Then she makes up an excuse to go to the bathroom and she steals it. Uncle Jay sees her and then so does the waitress. So, she runs.
Jay finds Allie hiding in his car and makes a deal with her. He’ll take the turtle home and it’ll be their secret and in return she’ll stop giving her parents such a hard time about the move and pretend to be ok with the whole thing. Then maybe in time she actually will be ok with it. Allie meets Jay’s girlfriend Harmoney while she’s getting rid of her geodes and she interviews her about her rescue of the turtle. Mary Kay and Brittany Allie notices keeps walking past her house and whispering.
Allie has a goodbye party at school. Mary Kay tries to beg her to take her back as a friend all the way to school. Brittany is nicer too and asks if she wants to sit with her at lunch. Allie says no. Brittany asks if she wants to come over after school. Allie says no and asks her why. Brittany says she’s over what happened and besides they had fun. It turns out they saw Allie’s article in the newspaper.
Courtney gives Allie half of a BFF necklace. Mary Kay apologizes about telling about the book of rules and says they’ll always be best friends. While she’s listening to this, Allie’s passing out cupcakes. She takes the last one and smooshes it in Brittany’s face. This starts a food fight. Allie gets sent to the principal office with Scott and they kinda bond over his imitation of Brittany whining about the cupcake in her hair. Allie’s mom comes to get her and tells her she can forget about getting a kitten. She says goodbye once and for all to her old school.
Mom fixes up the new house and makes it look less creepy. Allie loves her new room. Her dad’s made her a window seat. Allie sees that there’s nothing in the attic but boxes after all. Each box is full of dozens of Christmas cards. Allie finds out from Erica -whose outside- that she’ll be in Mrs. Hunter’s class. John asks Allie if she’s heard any noises coming from the attic and she says no because there’s nothing up there. Just boxes (which they cleaned out). She tells him to stop messing with her and he backs off asking if she’ll tell his mom but she says no.
Later at their new house, Allie finds out when Lady Serena got out she found a gentleman friend and she’s having kittens. Mrs. Hauser says she’ll first pick. Her mom says she can have the kitten after all.
Rating: 5 For the first book in the series, I wasn’t very impressed with Allie. In this one she just seems immature (even for a twelve-year-old). It does get better as the books go on. But in this one the first impression we get of her is shoving a spatula down someone’s throat and describes it as “a birthday joke”.
Even tho I do admit, having a best friend like Mary Kay would drive me crazy, she wasn’t all that good a friend to Mary Kay to break her promise to her with such ease. Then had the *nerve* to get mad when the same thing was done to her. It’s not even a question why Mary Kay told Brittany about the rule book. She broke her promise to a boy she didn’t even *like*. Really if we’re being honest, Allie is as much a half a friend as Brittany.
Then with moving. I was the exact same age as Allie (maybe a year older) when I was told I was moving to a new house. I was in the fifth grade. I’m sure I didn’t like it either. I (like Allie) had a bed in a special spot and I liked to look out the window and fall asleep in my old home, but I wouldn’t have *dared* tried the tricks Allie tried like taking the FOR SALE sign down and making rocks fall from my shelf. Cause when your parents say you’re moving and your 12 THAT’S IT! Do you think I got promised a kitten? (Snorts). Then to get “revenge” she acts out and steals a turtle from a restaurant SMH.
Then what is going on with this psychopath girl that likes to torture cats? Allie really should have been glad from the *jump* she was leaving. I didn’t understand why she was so upset. FOR WHAT? These girls CLEARLY were not her friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2012
I JUST FINISHED THE BOOK FINKLE RULES FOR GIRLS MOVING DAY.I REALLY LIKE THIS BOOK BECAUSE ITS BY MY FAVORITE AUTHOR MEG CABOT.THIS BOOK IS ALSO THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE PRINCESS DIARIES.ONE REASON WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK IS BECAUSE ON PAGE.164 A CHARACTER IN MY BOOK NAME ALLIE WENT TO A RESTAURANT NAMED LUNG CHUNG.SHE WASN'T ALL THAT PROUD BECAUSE HER FAMILY WERE MOVING TO A DIFFERENT NEIHBORHOOD AND SHE WAS GONNA LEAVE ALL HER FRIENDS.SO WHEN SHE WENT TO THE LUNG CHUNG RESTAURANT SHE LOOKED AT THAT TURTLE THATS WAS THERE WHEN SHE WAS 4 NOW SHE SIX. ALLIE COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THE TURTLE BEEN THERE FOR 4 YEARS AND NO ONE STILL DIDN'T ORDERED IT TO EAT.SO ALLIE LIED TO HER PARENTS THAT SHE WAS GOING TO THE BATHROOM. BUT INSTEAD SHE WANTED TO LET THE SNAPPING TURTLE FREE.SO SHE SNUCK AND TOOK THE TURTLE AND RANNED IN HER UNCLE CAR BECAUSE HE NEVER LOCKS IT.TO RAP THIS EXPLANTION UP ALLIE UNCLE JUST TOLD HER HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE TURTLE.
YOU WOULD LIKE THIS BOOK IF YOU ARE THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO DON'T LIKE TO MOVE OUT OF YOUR OLD HOUSE AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR BEST FRIENDS.ALSO IF YOU HAVE A BEST FRIEND THAT CRIES TO MUCH FOR NOTHING AND THAT'S BOSSY LIKE MARY KAY,AND BRITTANY ALLIES FRIENDS.YOU WOULD ALSO LIKE THIS BOOK IF YOU THINK YOUR NEW HOUSE IS HAUNTED LIKE ALLIE FINKLE. I SAY THIS BECAUSE ALLIE DIDN'T LIKE THIS HOUSE BECAUSE A MOVIE THAT SHE WATCHED WITH HER UNCLE DAVE.THERE WERE A ZOMBIE HAND THAT CHASE PEOPLE AND TEAR THEM UP.
ONE BIG CHALLENGE OF THIS BOOK WAS HOW TO CHOOSE A REAL BEST FRIEND BY THERE ACTIONS.I THINK THAT COULD ALSO BE A THEME IN THIS BOOK.I SAY THAT BECAUSE ALLIE HAD A BEST FRIEND AND THEY BOTH MADE A PROMISE TO NOT TELL NO ONE THAT ALLIE IS MOVING ON MARY BIRTHDAY. BUT ALLIE BROKED THAT PRMOMISE AND TOLD SOMEONE.
I THINK ALLIE FINKLE IS THE INTERESTING AND MAIN CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK.AT FIRST YOU MAY THINK THAT SHE'S A WEIRD GIRL THAT WRITE HER RULES THAT SHE ALWAYS TAKE EVERY PLACE.BUT INSTEAD SHE KEEPS THIS BOOK FOR FRIENDSHIP BUT SHE BROKED HER PROMISE AND ALSO MEESED UP HER FRIEND SHIP AGAISNT HER AND MARY KAY.
YOU WOULD LIKE THIS BOOK IF YOU ARE THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO DON'T LIKE TO MOVE OUT OF YOUR OLD HOUSE AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR BEST FRIENDS.ALSO IF YOU HAVE A BEST FRIEND THAT CRIES TO MUCH FOR NOTHING AND THAT'S BOSSY LIKE MARY KAY,AND BRITTANY ALLIES FRIENDS.YOU WOULD ALSO LIKE THIS BOOK IF YOU THINK YOUR NEW HOUSE IS HAUNTED LIKE ALLIE FINKLE. I SAY THIS BECAUSE ALLIE DIDN'T LIKE THIS HOUSE BECAUSE A MOVIE THAT SHE WATCHED WITH HER UNCLE DAVE.THERE WERE A ZOMBIE HAND THAT CHASE PEOPLE AND TEAR THEM UP.
ONE BIG CHALLENGE OF THIS BOOK WAS HOW TO CHOOSE A REAL BEST FRIEND BY THERE ACTIONS.I THINK THAT COULD ALSO BE A THEME IN THIS BOOK.I SAY THAT BECAUSE ALLIE HAD A BEST FRIEND AND THEY BOTH MADE A PROMISE TO NOT TELL NO ONE THAT ALLIE IS MOVING ON MARY BIRTHDAY. BUT ALLIE BROKED THAT PRMOMISE AND TOLD SOMEONE.
I THINK ALLIE FINKLE IS THE INTERESTING AND MAIN CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK.AT FIRST YOU MAY THINK THAT SHE'S A WEIRD GIRL THAT WRITE HER RULES THAT SHE ALWAYS TAKE EVERY PLACE.BUT INSTEAD SHE KEEPS THIS BOOK FOR FRIENDSHIP BUT SHE BROKED HER PROMISE AND ALSO MEESED UP HER FRIEND SHIP AGAISNT HER AND MARY KAY.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2014
Utterly disappointing. Allie Finkle is unlikable as a main character. At least she has a redeeming quality in that, through her rules, she TRIES to be better. She also makes the very hard (and correct) decision to tell on an acquaintance who was being cruel to an animal. Otherwise, I was surprised at how flat this character was, there is no development. Her "friends" are just as bad. I know a good part of my reaction is reader bias - I have a 10 year old, a 9 year old, and a 15 year old, (all girls) and we've moved a LOT. I also grew up moving. I kept trying to relate either to Allie myself (one of my childhood moves being at 8) or relate Allie to one of my daughters, and I just couldn't. My kids aren't perfect, but if they behaved like this on a regular basis - there would be some parental intervention.
The move itself is anti-climatic as well- Allie is making this big of a deal about moving across town? A half an hour tops and her world is collapsing, it just doesn't ring true.
Allie's parents are upset when Allie goes to her new neighbors house without telling them, but are perfectly fine with her roaming her old neighborhood and sneaking out of the house (twice) at night. They are okay with her Kindergarten and 2nd grade brothers roaming free- the second grade brother gets to run to the new school by himself, but the parents need to walk Allie and the Kindy brother? The family is banned from Waffle House for the boys behavior, but not banned from the fanciest place in town for stealing a turtle? The lack of consistency is annoying.
The move itself is anti-climatic as well- Allie is making this big of a deal about moving across town? A half an hour tops and her world is collapsing, it just doesn't ring true.
Allie's parents are upset when Allie goes to her new neighbors house without telling them, but are perfectly fine with her roaming her old neighborhood and sneaking out of the house (twice) at night. They are okay with her Kindergarten and 2nd grade brothers roaming free- the second grade brother gets to run to the new school by himself, but the parents need to walk Allie and the Kindy brother? The family is banned from Waffle House for the boys behavior, but not banned from the fanciest place in town for stealing a turtle? The lack of consistency is annoying.
October 28, 2015
Moving Day is about a nine year old girl named Allie who is moving to a new house. Allie went to her best friend Mary kay's house to make cupcakes for her birthday. Mary kay does not want Allie to leave. Either does Allie. Allie's family went to see their new house and Allie met a girl her age. Her name was Erika. Erika went to the same school that Allie was going to, this new year. Ericka's brother told Allie that their house was haunted. But over time she saw that the house was not haunted and that she will acually enjoy staying at the house and going to a new school.
I thought this book was really good. There are so many good chapters. I reccomend this book to people if they like funny "rules for girls books". And also if they like books that they can"t put down. The part that was really shocking was when Allie put a spatula down Mary Kay's throat on accident. This was one of the best books I have read.
I thought this book was really good. There are so many good chapters. I reccomend this book to people if they like funny "rules for girls books". And also if they like books that they can"t put down. The part that was really shocking was when Allie put a spatula down Mary Kay's throat on accident. This was one of the best books I have read.
April 15, 2010
Allie Finkle is adorable! This combination tomboy/girlygirl 4th grader has a very authentic, down-to-earth voice. In this first book of the series, Allie learns that her family will be moving...into an old Victorian style house (that is possibly haunted). And one of Allie's rules is that you can't let your family move into a haunted house. (The book is full of rules to live by. Some practical and some just quirky Allie-funness). Her escapades with pets, friends, and family were very entertaining!
Meg Cabot knows how to write for girls! I wouldn't hesitate to give this to any 2-6th grade girls-who aren't quite up to the Princess Diaries stage.
(I wasn't crazy about the narrator--her voice was just a little too girly and shrill for my liking, but it might really be a hit with the intended audience).
Meg Cabot knows how to write for girls! I wouldn't hesitate to give this to any 2-6th grade girls-who aren't quite up to the Princess Diaries stage.
(I wasn't crazy about the narrator--her voice was just a little too girly and shrill for my liking, but it might really be a hit with the intended audience).
November 29, 2010
This book is very good. It is about a girl named Allie. Her parents decide to move to a bigger house in a different part of the city. Allie finds out from the kid next door that the house is very scary. Now she wants to convince her parents that there is something scary going on in the attic because she wants to move back to the old house they lived in. She misses her old friends and tries to do anything to move back to the old house. You need to read the book to find out if there was something scary in the attic and to find out if Allie moved back into the old house.
Read
September 30, 2011This was a cute story. Girls who grew up on Junie B Jones but are ready for bigger books will find a heroine that feels familiar in Ally Finkle. She has the same spunk and general disregard for rules as Junie B.
I think my favorite part of the book was the fact that Ally lists the rules she learns from her experiences. That's a nice jumping off point for a mother-daughter book discussion on rules.
I think my favorite part of the book was the fact that Ally lists the rules she learns from her experiences. That's a nice jumping off point for a mother-daughter book discussion on rules.
April 18, 2009
I went through periods of listening to this just to know what Allie Finkle's all about to several laugh-out-loud moments (guiltily, I admit, most of them were gross kid moments that I also thought were extremely funny.) It was a'ight. Would try another book in this series on for size. Could be the next Ramona, you never know.
April 20, 2011
I HATED IT!!!! THE MAIN CHARACTER IS SUCH A BRAT!!!!
August 19, 2012
i thought this book was good. i liked it but not on my top ten list
June 5, 2013
Very good book
I hope I can read the next one!!!!
The book was awesome!!!!!!
I'm glad I read this book. It was DEFINITELY worth my time!!
I hope I can read the next one!!!!
The book was awesome!!!!!!
I'm glad I read this book. It was DEFINITELY worth my time!!
January 12, 2014
amazing
Want to read
December 2, 2014I read the first book in my class with my friends, and I really was interested in Meg 's books.
When i finish all my books in my house, I will buy all Allie fickle's books. ❤️❤️
When i finish all my books in my house, I will buy all Allie fickle's books. ❤️❤️
August 3, 2020
I thought it was really funny. Sometimes she almost can relate to me. I also like the author. This is a pretty good book.
Read
November 13, 2019-dem audiobooks as a kid tho
February 9, 2024
Reread from middle school ish time. I was surprised that I didn’t find Allie as annoying as I thought I would. She was aware of what was happening and knew what consequences would be. She realized that her best friend was not a healthy relationship and moved on from it. Even the crap she got from other students, I think she handled it well for a 9 year old!
Allie reminds me very much of Ramona from Ramona and Beezus (LOVED that movie as a kid and I am so glad Selena Gomez has announced she wants to go back to her acting roots! LOVE!!!! HER!!!!!)
On a personal note, while reading this, I kept remembering when I switched school districts. I remember meeting 2 different teachers and the last night at my old house. Switching schools is not easy and I applaud how easy Allie made it look. She made friends before she even moved! I had pretty much only the 1 friend for a whole year until I got to a new classroom with new kids the next year.
This may not deserve the rating it’s getting, but the nostalgia and the connections to my life bumped it up
- Friends with her best friend because she’s on her side of the street
- Doesn’t really like mary kay
- Moving means to cut down what they don’t need and going to new school and not being near best friend every day
- Excited to get a kitten and being close to Dairy Queen. House doesn’t look very nice
- Mary kay is mad that allie is moving and found out on her birthday
- Allie doesn’t like her new room. Creaky and cold
- Sees girls her age in the neighborhood
- Allie likes ballet sometimes. Mary kay got mad and quit
- Erika is in her grade, also has a cat, and has a cozy house
- Play with dolls in synch
- Erika’s brother told allie her house is haunted from the previous owners
- Hopes that old house won’t sell so they’ll have to sell new house
- Meet two possible teachers. Nervous to make first impressions on not only teachers but also other students
- Meet erika’s friends and they all are very imaginative
- Setup to make allie and mary kay friends again
- Friends are all copying each other. Becoming clones
- Karaoke contest for a brownie
- Brittany wants everything to be perfect and her way
- Show cat is let out of the house
- Mary kay is now best friends with brittany and they make fun of allie’s rule book
- House is sold for more than asking price
- Allie is nervous someone will order turtle soup so she rescues the turtle
- Have to return “geodes” to construction site instead of selling them
- Uncles girlfriend interviewed allie
- Mary kay and brittany started being nice to allie on her last day of school
- Only nice because she was in the paper
- Courtney have allie a friendship necklace
- Allie started a food fight by smashing cake into brittany’s face
- Allie LOVES her new room and got the teacher she wanted
- Checked out attic and only had old Christmas cards
- Lady sarina is having kittens. Allie gets first pick
- Extra story: RULE: you shouldn’t make light of other people misfortunes
- Steve asked Chrissy to the dance but she said no and went with mike.
- Steve wanted a witch to make a zombie hand so his needed to be cut off
- Talked with jenny and realized he liked her not chrissy all seemed well
- Zombie hand went to the dance and attacked chrissy and mike
- Zombie hand attacked steve’s family too
- Still became a surgeon with a prosthetic
- RULE: Never try to get revenge on people
Rules (only the chapter titles):
1. Don’t stick a spatula down your best friend’s throat
2. Don’t get a pet that poops in your hand
3. If you don’t want a secret spread around, don’t tell it to Scott Stanley
4. Brothers and parents can be very insensitive
5. You can’t let your family move into a haunted house
6. Whatever Brittany Hauser says, just do it (if you know what’s good for you)
7. First impressions are VERY important
8. Don’t put your cat in a suitcase
9. When you do something wrong, always apologize. Even if it’s not entirely all your fault
10. If you get a new best friend, it’s rude to show off about it
11. When you finally figure out what the right thing to do is, you have to do it. Even if you don’t want to
12. When you are setting a turtle free, and people are chasing you, the best thing to do is hide
13. You can’t take your rocks with you
14. Celebrities live by a different set of rules than the rest of us
15. Don’t judge a house by how it looks before you fix it up
16. Don’t be a braggart
Other rules:
- Everything that goes up must come down
- Don’t let go of helium balloons outside
- Treat your friends the way you want them to treat you
- Never eat anything red
- Always wear a helmet while skateboarding
- Don’t scare your little brothers
- You should only say nice things to your friends. Even if they’re not true
- You’re not supposed to heater people. Especially grown ups
- It doesn’t count if it doesn’t hurt
- If someone is yelling from excitement, the polite thing to do is yell back
- Never be catcher when Brittany hauser is up to bat
- Liverish is gross
- You can never make a second first impression
- It’s never polite to correct a grown up
- Listen politely when a grown up is telling you something. Even if you already know it
- You can’t let your guests starve
- You can always explain later
- Pretend like you don’t care when someone is insulting you. And don’t cry. That way, you win
- Say thank you what someone gives you a compliment. Even if you aren’t sure it’s a compliment
- Sometimes but not always it’s better to keep things to yourself
- Even if somebody gives you something you don’t really want, you have to say thank you if it is something they meant kindly
Allie reminds me very much of Ramona from Ramona and Beezus (LOVED that movie as a kid and I am so glad Selena Gomez has announced she wants to go back to her acting roots! LOVE!!!! HER!!!!!)
On a personal note, while reading this, I kept remembering when I switched school districts. I remember meeting 2 different teachers and the last night at my old house. Switching schools is not easy and I applaud how easy Allie made it look. She made friends before she even moved! I had pretty much only the 1 friend for a whole year until I got to a new classroom with new kids the next year.
This may not deserve the rating it’s getting, but the nostalgia and the connections to my life bumped it up
- Friends with her best friend because she’s on her side of the street
- Doesn’t really like mary kay
- Moving means to cut down what they don’t need and going to new school and not being near best friend every day
- Excited to get a kitten and being close to Dairy Queen. House doesn’t look very nice
- Mary kay is mad that allie is moving and found out on her birthday
- Allie doesn’t like her new room. Creaky and cold
- Sees girls her age in the neighborhood
- Allie likes ballet sometimes. Mary kay got mad and quit
- Erika is in her grade, also has a cat, and has a cozy house
- Play with dolls in synch
- Erika’s brother told allie her house is haunted from the previous owners
- Hopes that old house won’t sell so they’ll have to sell new house
- Meet two possible teachers. Nervous to make first impressions on not only teachers but also other students
- Meet erika’s friends and they all are very imaginative
- Setup to make allie and mary kay friends again
- Friends are all copying each other. Becoming clones
- Karaoke contest for a brownie
- Brittany wants everything to be perfect and her way
- Show cat is let out of the house
- Mary kay is now best friends with brittany and they make fun of allie’s rule book
- House is sold for more than asking price
- Allie is nervous someone will order turtle soup so she rescues the turtle
- Have to return “geodes” to construction site instead of selling them
- Uncles girlfriend interviewed allie
- Mary kay and brittany started being nice to allie on her last day of school
- Only nice because she was in the paper
- Courtney have allie a friendship necklace
- Allie started a food fight by smashing cake into brittany’s face
- Allie LOVES her new room and got the teacher she wanted
- Checked out attic and only had old Christmas cards
- Lady sarina is having kittens. Allie gets first pick
- Extra story: RULE: you shouldn’t make light of other people misfortunes
- Steve asked Chrissy to the dance but she said no and went with mike.
- Steve wanted a witch to make a zombie hand so his needed to be cut off
- Talked with jenny and realized he liked her not chrissy all seemed well
- Zombie hand went to the dance and attacked chrissy and mike
- Zombie hand attacked steve’s family too
- Still became a surgeon with a prosthetic
- RULE: Never try to get revenge on people
Rules (only the chapter titles):
1. Don’t stick a spatula down your best friend’s throat
2. Don’t get a pet that poops in your hand
3. If you don’t want a secret spread around, don’t tell it to Scott Stanley
4. Brothers and parents can be very insensitive
5. You can’t let your family move into a haunted house
6. Whatever Brittany Hauser says, just do it (if you know what’s good for you)
7. First impressions are VERY important
8. Don’t put your cat in a suitcase
9. When you do something wrong, always apologize. Even if it’s not entirely all your fault
10. If you get a new best friend, it’s rude to show off about it
11. When you finally figure out what the right thing to do is, you have to do it. Even if you don’t want to
12. When you are setting a turtle free, and people are chasing you, the best thing to do is hide
13. You can’t take your rocks with you
14. Celebrities live by a different set of rules than the rest of us
15. Don’t judge a house by how it looks before you fix it up
16. Don’t be a braggart
Other rules:
- Everything that goes up must come down
- Don’t let go of helium balloons outside
- Treat your friends the way you want them to treat you
- Never eat anything red
- Always wear a helmet while skateboarding
- Don’t scare your little brothers
- You should only say nice things to your friends. Even if they’re not true
- You’re not supposed to heater people. Especially grown ups
- It doesn’t count if it doesn’t hurt
- If someone is yelling from excitement, the polite thing to do is yell back
- Never be catcher when Brittany hauser is up to bat
- Liverish is gross
- You can never make a second first impression
- It’s never polite to correct a grown up
- Listen politely when a grown up is telling you something. Even if you already know it
- You can’t let your guests starve
- You can always explain later
- Pretend like you don’t care when someone is insulting you. And don’t cry. That way, you win
- Say thank you what someone gives you a compliment. Even if you aren’t sure it’s a compliment
- Sometimes but not always it’s better to keep things to yourself
- Even if somebody gives you something you don’t really want, you have to say thank you if it is something they meant kindly
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2018
I first read The Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series, when I was leaving my tweens and entering my teens. I'm now reading this series again as an adult, so obviously I'm not the intended target market anymore, but I wanted to see whether I'd still enjoy The Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series years later.
Allie Finkle is a 9 year old who acts and sounds like a real 9 year old. She's a well-rounded character and animal lover who's adventurous, brave and likable. She also has a book of rules that she lives by; some silly such as "Never eat anything red", some hilarious such as, "Don't stick a spatula down your best friend's throat" and some that are life lessons, such as "Pretend like you don't care when someone is insulting you, and don't cry. That way, you win."
In Moving Day, the Finkle family is moving into a dark and old Gothic-looking house that could possibly be haunted and Allie is trying her best to stop her family from moving. Allie doesn't want to leave her pretty pink bedroom behind or get killed by the zombie hand in the attic. However, moving isn't the only thing that a 9 year old has to deal with. There's a new school, new friends and changing friendships. Moving Day has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. My favourite scenes involve a school food fight and a turtle from Lung Chung restaurant.
Moving Day is a trademark Meg Cabot novel that is aimed at tweens and is full of relatable and humourous moments. Unfortunately, while some childhood series stand the test of time, it seems like I've outgrown the Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series.
Allie Finkle is a 9 year old who acts and sounds like a real 9 year old. She's a well-rounded character and animal lover who's adventurous, brave and likable. She also has a book of rules that she lives by; some silly such as "Never eat anything red", some hilarious such as, "Don't stick a spatula down your best friend's throat" and some that are life lessons, such as "Pretend like you don't care when someone is insulting you, and don't cry. That way, you win."
In Moving Day, the Finkle family is moving into a dark and old Gothic-looking house that could possibly be haunted and Allie is trying her best to stop her family from moving. Allie doesn't want to leave her pretty pink bedroom behind or get killed by the zombie hand in the attic. However, moving isn't the only thing that a 9 year old has to deal with. There's a new school, new friends and changing friendships. Moving Day has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. My favourite scenes involve a school food fight and a turtle from Lung Chung restaurant.
Moving Day is a trademark Meg Cabot novel that is aimed at tweens and is full of relatable and humourous moments. Unfortunately, while some childhood series stand the test of time, it seems like I've outgrown the Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series.
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