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Mallory McDonald #21
Three's Company, Mallory!
Some simple math: One + One + One = One too many! From the day we were born, Mary Ann and I have been best friends. We've always been a two-some. But now, there's a new girl in town, and what used to be just us two has turned into three. If you ask me, things just don't add up!
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
38 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Laurie B. Friedman
176 books143 followersLaurie Friedman is the author and ghostwriter of over 300 award-winning picture books, easy readers, chapter books, and novels for young readers including the bestselling Mallory McDonald series, the Moose the Dog easy reader series, the Camp Creepy Lake and Wendy & Willow chapter books, and may picture books including Cows in the House and Love, Ruby Valentine.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 23, 2013
Mallory and Mary Ann have always been best friends but when a new girl moves in who also happens to look the same as Mary Ann Mallory feels her best friend slipping away and realizes that three might be a crowd.
I really enjoyed this book because I could feel the authenticity through Mallory's character and how a normal girl Mallory's age might react to the situation. This is a great story that young kids can relate to and gather inspiration from especially when Mallory works out her feelings and finally talks about them. I would mostly recommend this book for girls ages 7-10.
I received this advanced copy from Lerner Publishing Group through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this book because I could feel the authenticity through Mallory's character and how a normal girl Mallory's age might react to the situation. This is a great story that young kids can relate to and gather inspiration from especially when Mallory works out her feelings and finally talks about them. I would mostly recommend this book for girls ages 7-10.
I received this advanced copy from Lerner Publishing Group through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
September 19, 2020
Everything I dislike about children's literature wrapped up in one book. Good moral lesson, but weak writing and too simplistic and all around lame.
April 17, 2014
i like this book because a new girl moves next door and looks just like Mallory's best friend.Mary Ann (Mallory's best friend)hangs out with her a lot.so Mallory gets jealous.and then Mary Annsays they can't be friends any more.at the end they make up and Mallory befriends Chole Jennifer(the new girl next door)
June 28, 2014
Title: Three's Company Mallory Book 21
Author: Laurie Friedman
Illustrator: Jennifer Kalis
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group/Darby Creek
Published: 3-1-2014
ISBN: 9781467709217
ASIN E-Book: B00HNXC3LQ
Pages: 160
Genre: Young Adult
Tags: Friendship
Overall Rating: Great
Reviewed For: NetGalley
Reviewer: DelAnne
Mallory MacDonald is disturbed when her usual Saturday routine has been blown away. Life in Fern Falls is about to change forever especially on Fish Pond Road. There is a new family moving into Fitgerald home. The Jackson-Brown family are moving into the house across the street from Mallory and there next to the moving van is a girl about Mallory's age is standing. That in itself is not what has upset Mallory. Rather it is this new girl's appearance. She looks just like Mary Ann, Mallory's best friend. In fact the reason she knows it is not Mary Ann is because she saw Mary Ann talking to the girl right before they joined arms and walked into that girl's house smiling. After that day it seemed as tho Mary Ann was determined to include Chloe Jennifer Jackson-Brown in everything Mallory and she used to do by themselves. Mallory was afraid Mary Ann was getting a new best friend and forget about Mallory.
Then Mallory's jealousy has her doing some things that has everyone upset with Mallory and truly does threaten her friendship with Mary Ann. What can Mallory do to save it and show how sorry she really is?
Young readers can identify with all three of the girls at some point in the story. Mallory's fear of being left out and her jealousy of someone new in her best friend's life. Mary Ann's feeling of being caught in the middle and Chloe Jennifer's feeling as tho someone is being mean to her for no reason. Three's Company Mallory! is an excellent story to teach them that adding new people to your life is not a bad thing necessarily. They can be a good thing too. You can also have more than one best friend.
Author: Laurie Friedman
Illustrator: Jennifer Kalis
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group/Darby Creek
Published: 3-1-2014
ISBN: 9781467709217
ASIN E-Book: B00HNXC3LQ
Pages: 160
Genre: Young Adult
Tags: Friendship
Overall Rating: Great
Reviewed For: NetGalley
Reviewer: DelAnne
Mallory MacDonald is disturbed when her usual Saturday routine has been blown away. Life in Fern Falls is about to change forever especially on Fish Pond Road. There is a new family moving into Fitgerald home. The Jackson-Brown family are moving into the house across the street from Mallory and there next to the moving van is a girl about Mallory's age is standing. That in itself is not what has upset Mallory. Rather it is this new girl's appearance. She looks just like Mary Ann, Mallory's best friend. In fact the reason she knows it is not Mary Ann is because she saw Mary Ann talking to the girl right before they joined arms and walked into that girl's house smiling. After that day it seemed as tho Mary Ann was determined to include Chloe Jennifer Jackson-Brown in everything Mallory and she used to do by themselves. Mallory was afraid Mary Ann was getting a new best friend and forget about Mallory.
Then Mallory's jealousy has her doing some things that has everyone upset with Mallory and truly does threaten her friendship with Mary Ann. What can Mallory do to save it and show how sorry she really is?
Young readers can identify with all three of the girls at some point in the story. Mallory's fear of being left out and her jealousy of someone new in her best friend's life. Mary Ann's feeling of being caught in the middle and Chloe Jennifer's feeling as tho someone is being mean to her for no reason. Three's Company Mallory! is an excellent story to teach them that adding new people to your life is not a bad thing necessarily. They can be a good thing too. You can also have more than one best friend.
March 29, 2014
Life seems pretty perfect for Mallory and her best friend Mary Ann. The two girls do EVERYTHING together -- including watching their favorite fashion show on television, having fabulous slumber parties, and even repeating each other's phrases three times in a row, always! So, when Mallory spots her best friend playing with the new neighbor, Chloe Jennifer, a girl who looks almost just like Mary Ann, Mallory can't help but feel jealous! And things go from bad to worse when Mary Ann starts to push Mallory away in her quest to make Chloe Jennifer feel like part of the group. Things were just perfect when there were only two best friends, but can Mallory find a way to make things work with a crowd of three, or is she finally starting to outgrow her favorite best friend?
I previously reviewed one of the books from this series and found it to be absolutely adorable -- sweet, refreshing, and fun -- all while presenting a worthwhile lesson about the true meaning of friendship. And Friedman certainly does it again in THREE'S A COMPANY, expanding on the themes of friendship and change, all while creating an entertaining story that is sure to dazzle young girls of the elementary school (or early middle school) age.
The illustrations are perfect -- so cute and eye-catching, which definitely matches the upbeat flow of the story. The story feels realistic and honest, which will be quite relatable to younger girls as they work on the dramas of school-aged friendships and seek characters that display the traits that they favor in their own real life friends.
I very much enjoyed this story and I appreciated the opportunity to review another of these little gems! I thank the publisher for the advanced reader's copy and will certainly recommend this read to anyone with little girls in their lives -- or even for those of us who are just, deep down, young at heart.
I previously reviewed one of the books from this series and found it to be absolutely adorable -- sweet, refreshing, and fun -- all while presenting a worthwhile lesson about the true meaning of friendship. And Friedman certainly does it again in THREE'S A COMPANY, expanding on the themes of friendship and change, all while creating an entertaining story that is sure to dazzle young girls of the elementary school (or early middle school) age.
The illustrations are perfect -- so cute and eye-catching, which definitely matches the upbeat flow of the story. The story feels realistic and honest, which will be quite relatable to younger girls as they work on the dramas of school-aged friendships and seek characters that display the traits that they favor in their own real life friends.
I very much enjoyed this story and I appreciated the opportunity to review another of these little gems! I thank the publisher for the advanced reader's copy and will certainly recommend this read to anyone with little girls in their lives -- or even for those of us who are just, deep down, young at heart.
November 14, 2013
Mallory and Mary Ann are best friends. They do everything together, mostly just the two of them. Then Chloe Jennifer Jackson-Brown moves in right across the street from Mallory. From the first second Mallory sees her, Chloe Jennifer interferes with Mallory's friendship with Mary Ann. Mary Ann wants to involve Chloe Jennifer in everything they do. Mallory is not okay with that. Will Mallory be able to keep her best friend and maybe even be okay with Chloe Jennifer joining their friendship?
I have only read a couple books in the Mallory series. I have always liked the series. It is extremely well written. It is realistic fiction, touching on a lot of subjects that young girls can relate to. This book didn't disappoint at all. I really felt for Mallory and everything that happened. She tried to keep a happy face even though it was tearing her up inside. Things would go wrong, no matter how hard she tried. Her best plans fizzled. Eventually, her whole world imploded. Children reading it will think of a time that they felt the same way, or they will eventually feel the same way themselves. Maybe in that case, they will think back on this book and think about what they can do to turn their situation around. Sometimes you just have to own up to what you did wrong, admit to your feelings, and wait for things to blow over. Thankfully, most of the time that is all it takes to have life go back to normal.
I really liked this addition to the series, and I am sure every fan of the series will enjoy it as well.
I have only read a couple books in the Mallory series. I have always liked the series. It is extremely well written. It is realistic fiction, touching on a lot of subjects that young girls can relate to. This book didn't disappoint at all. I really felt for Mallory and everything that happened. She tried to keep a happy face even though it was tearing her up inside. Things would go wrong, no matter how hard she tried. Her best plans fizzled. Eventually, her whole world imploded. Children reading it will think of a time that they felt the same way, or they will eventually feel the same way themselves. Maybe in that case, they will think back on this book and think about what they can do to turn their situation around. Sometimes you just have to own up to what you did wrong, admit to your feelings, and wait for things to blow over. Thankfully, most of the time that is all it takes to have life go back to normal.
I really liked this addition to the series, and I am sure every fan of the series will enjoy it as well.
February 11, 2014
Such Fun, Full of Relatable Feelings
No one wants to be a third wheel, and Mallory is no different from others. Every little girl can relate to the feelings Mallory has when an exciting new girl moves into the neighborhood. Girls will relate to Mallory’s feelings of fear of sharing her best friend, and change. Mallory makes some bad choices, and then has to make up for them. These books are tremendous for girls learning to deal with emotions, situations, and life.
I think that this is an excellent series for young girls. High second grade readers will be able to read this, but the reading level targets 3rd grade, though many older pre-teens will enjoy it as well. In my opinion, this is a much better choice than Junie B. Jones, and my higher second grade girls love them.
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
No one wants to be a third wheel, and Mallory is no different from others. Every little girl can relate to the feelings Mallory has when an exciting new girl moves into the neighborhood. Girls will relate to Mallory’s feelings of fear of sharing her best friend, and change. Mallory makes some bad choices, and then has to make up for them. These books are tremendous for girls learning to deal with emotions, situations, and life.
I think that this is an excellent series for young girls. High second grade readers will be able to read this, but the reading level targets 3rd grade, though many older pre-teens will enjoy it as well. In my opinion, this is a much better choice than Junie B. Jones, and my higher second grade girls love them.
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
December 23, 2013
Lerner Publishing Group through NetGalley provided me with an ARC of this book for my honest review.
This was the first book in the Mallory series for me, I had my 6 year old daughter read it to me and she really enjoyed it. The books are meant for 7-10 year olds so I think the way the author handled a new girl being inserted into the friendship was age appropriate. The words used were also right for the age group, my daughter had no problems reading or understanding any of the words used in the story. My only complaint was the pictures were in black and white but that could be because I had a digital ARC, I'll buy a hardback copy of the book when it comes out if the pictures are in color then it will be a 5 star read.
This was the first book in the Mallory series for me, I had my 6 year old daughter read it to me and she really enjoyed it. The books are meant for 7-10 year olds so I think the way the author handled a new girl being inserted into the friendship was age appropriate. The words used were also right for the age group, my daughter had no problems reading or understanding any of the words used in the story. My only complaint was the pictures were in black and white but that could be because I had a digital ARC, I'll buy a hardback copy of the book when it comes out if the pictures are in color then it will be a 5 star read.
September 11, 2014
Mallory and her best friend Mary Ann have differing opinions on how to treat the new girl on their street. Mary Ann embraces their similarities and wants to help her feel welcome by including her in everything she does. Mallory, on the other hand, feels that Chloe Jennifer is a threat to her friendship with Mary Ann. The girls must work through their issues to have their friendship survive. The situations in the Mallory series are quite realistic. This is a great series for girls in the 3rd and 4th grade to read.
November 23, 2015
Mallory wakes up one morning to find a new family moving in on her block, with a daughter that looks just like her best friend Mary Ann. When Mary Ann befriends the new girl, Mallory feels hurt and left behind. Can their friendship stand the addition of a new person? As Mallory watches Mary Ann and Chloe Jennifer become closer and closer, she feels more hurt and pulls further away. Is it too late to save their friendship. This realistic portrayal of the ups and downs of fourth grade girls will resonant with most 8-10 year olds.
June 13, 2017
Good book for younger readers in search of a friendship story.
December 19, 2016
Chloe Jennifer is the new girl in Mallory’s neighborhood, and she looks just like Mallory’s best friend, Mary Ann! As Mary Ann does her best to make the new girl feel welcome, Mallory stews with jealously, unable to understand how she can be expected to share her best friend with someone who has only been around a short time. She keeps trying to be nice to Chloe Jennifer, but it’s not until she has a huge fight with Mary Ann that Mallory realizes the error of her ways.
Reading this latest Mallory book has made me realize that it might be time for me to stop reading the series altogether. It seems like the main character is completely all over the place. Some books, like Play It Again, Mallory (which I loved) show considerable growth and maturity, both in the character, and in the quality of writing. Others, like this one, seem to exist in a vacuum, where Mallory has learned nothing from the previous times she has been jealous of Mary Ann in a new relationship.
I think kids enjoy Mallory because she makes mistakes and likes a lot of the typical things girl in the target age range tend to like - fashion, boys, sleepovers, sweets, etc. I think they are also comforted by the repetition of certain characters and themes from book to book. But overall, the series is inconsistent. The character ages chronologically, but she never matures. She seems to learn her lesson in one book, only to come back to the exact same situation several books later as though she never had the first experience. Maybe kids don’t notice or don’t care, but as an adult reader, Mallory is beginning to make me want to bang my head against the wall.
I would really only recommend this book to fans of the series, and maybe to reluctant readers in search of a light friendship story. I thought the series was winding down, which is why I keep reading them, but there is already another book on the horizon - Mallory’s Got the Baby Blues. I can only hope this is not going to be a story about a new baby in Mallory’s family. We have enough chapter books about new babies, and I don’t think I can stomach another story about sibling rivalry, especially between a newborn and a ten-year-old.
Reading this latest Mallory book has made me realize that it might be time for me to stop reading the series altogether. It seems like the main character is completely all over the place. Some books, like Play It Again, Mallory (which I loved) show considerable growth and maturity, both in the character, and in the quality of writing. Others, like this one, seem to exist in a vacuum, where Mallory has learned nothing from the previous times she has been jealous of Mary Ann in a new relationship.
I think kids enjoy Mallory because she makes mistakes and likes a lot of the typical things girl in the target age range tend to like - fashion, boys, sleepovers, sweets, etc. I think they are also comforted by the repetition of certain characters and themes from book to book. But overall, the series is inconsistent. The character ages chronologically, but she never matures. She seems to learn her lesson in one book, only to come back to the exact same situation several books later as though she never had the first experience. Maybe kids don’t notice or don’t care, but as an adult reader, Mallory is beginning to make me want to bang my head against the wall.
I would really only recommend this book to fans of the series, and maybe to reluctant readers in search of a light friendship story. I thought the series was winding down, which is why I keep reading them, but there is already another book on the horizon - Mallory’s Got the Baby Blues. I can only hope this is not going to be a story about a new baby in Mallory’s family. We have enough chapter books about new babies, and I don’t think I can stomach another story about sibling rivalry, especially between a newborn and a ten-year-old.
January 8, 2017
this book was awesome and i like their new friend but what i do not understand is why mary ann really wanted them to match and could it even turn into a disaster?
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews