I, Amber Brown

Amber Brown #8

by Paula Danziger, Tony Ross (Illustrator)

Because her divorced parents share joint custody of her, nine-year-old Amber suffers from lack of self-esteem and feels that she is a piece of jointly-owned property.

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Chapter Books, Juvenile, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 1999

About the author

Paula Danziger was an American children's author. She wrote more than 30 books, including her 1974 debut The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, for children's and young adult audiences. At the time of her death, all her books were still in print; they had been published in 53 countries and translated into 14 languages.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about I Amber Brown and her family, this book is amazing i think you should read this book.For example in the story Amber is going to visit her her dad again,but they haven’t seen each other for a long time.She wanted to get her ears pierced but her mom didn’t let her. The next example is that when her dad came she told her dad that her mom let her get her ears pierced when her mom told no.Another example she didn’t her mom to be with her because she thought they would get into really bad arguments.I totally think that we students, teachers, parents should read this amazing book.

[Elina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[K. Anna Kraft · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love how real the characters come across in these books. Reading this series as an adult, it's very easy to judge both of Amber's parents, because they are not handling their divorce perfectly by any means (if such a thing is even possible under any circumstances). I feel like in this book you really see the toll that the situation has taken on Amber, with the amount of responsibility and power that she has been given by virtue of the fact that her parents cannot stand to communicate with one another. Meanwhile, Amber herself is still a little girl, and if anyone is expected to be less than perfect in all this, it's her, and we see her do something that she really doesn't have a good excuse for doing. (Trying to avoid spoilers, ha.) And though this book takes place in the shortest amount of time of any in the series so far, I am so impressed by how well things were set up and addressed, and I cannot wait to see where the story goes next (especially now that I've officially passed the point where I stopped reading as a child).

And of course, I have arranged my takeaway thoughts into a haiku, as is my way:

"Kids are bound to crack,
Cast as the go-between by
Parents who won’t speak."

[Paige]

It is Christmas time and Amber Brown is Celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah this year because of her moms fiancé, Max. Amber is not used to the ‘two’ Christmas’s thing with her mom and dad Her dad moved back to New Jersey, causing tension. Amber felt like property.
All of Amber’s friends are getting their ears pierced, so she wants hers done too. Her mom said no…. Her dad said yes…
Amber’s dad shows her his new shared house. She doesn’t like it at first but decided to give it a chance for her dad.
Her mom and dad fight about the newly discovered ear piercing. Amber blames them for fighting over her, but blames herself more..
Amber has a great Christmas at both of her houses, with both of her ‘new’ families

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

After enjoying the brief television series, I wanted to give these books a try, especially this one since it’s set at Christmas/Hanukkah. I haven’t read the other books that come before this one in the series, but this read just fine as a standalone.

As far as the holiday content, there’s a little crafting, a little shopping, some gift exchanges, etc., those were fun bits and I know this is a super short book to suit its intended audience and the story rightfully had more important things to deal with in few pages to do so, still I would have loved a smidge more of that festive feeling squeezed in throughout.

This excelled when it came to the emotional side of things, it genuinely captured how it feels to be a kid, whether it’s the pressure to keep up with her friends getting their ears pierced, the guilt plaguing Amber when she breaks the rules, or most poignant of all navigating the tricky feelings of divorce, a mom who doesn’t seem to even like her dad anymore, a dad moving into a new place, and a soon to be stepdad she loves even though she’d rather her parents were still together, all of that is really well conveyed here.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so this book is all about this girl named Amber Brown, who's nine years old, just like me! But get this: her parents are divorced, and they share custody of her. That means she has to go back and forth between their houses all the time. Can you imagine?

Amber feels like she's stuck in the middle sometimes. It's like she's not really her own person; she's just something her parents share, like a toy or something. That's so sad!

But even though she feels that way, Amber is super brave. She tries to figure things out and make the best of it. She's got this awesome attitude that I totally admire.

I really liked how the book shows what it's like for kids whose parents are divorced. It's a tough situation, but Amber handles it with humor and courage. And there are some funny parts in the book too!

If you want to read a book about a kid dealing with tricky family stuff, "I, Amber Brown" is the one for you. It's got heart, humor, and a main character who's totally relatable. Plus, it's a quick read, so you won't get bored!

[artemis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently, I'm trying to read children's books for fun because why not?
I'm a 19-year-old girl but I just thought it would be an interesting take for me to read this book.
I think that the book is nice but I also think that the topic is quite heavy for a young girl. Despite of that, I admire how it has written out and the storyline structure. I think it is solid and easy-to-read as expected.
I do wished it was longer because I suppose I am used to reading heavier books and not children's books, nonetheless, this is a cute book that discusses about parent's divorce and it's effects to the child.
I realize that Amber Brown is also an only child so I wonder how that must have been like for her too. Having to decide her thoughts on joint-custody, living with her mom and Max and staying with her dad, Philip in the Mashalls' house.
Moreover, I am fond about her good friendship with Justin. It's heartwarming to see she's still in contact with her best friend despite of them being away.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, I mostly listened to this one via audiobook.

In this installation, Amber has to deal with her parents having joint custody, which means more fights. She struggles with her identity as well as learning to pit one parent against another. As a child of divorce, this one really resonated with me. While my parents didn’t have joint custody, I did see my dad a good bit and know what it’s like to have two “homes.” I love the resolution at the end.

3.5 Stars!

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amber's father is back in town. That means joint custody and more parental fighting. What part of Amber belongs to her mom? To her dad? To herself? Struggling for her independence, Amber decides to have her ears pierced. Though her morn has said no, her dad doesn't know that. After all something should belong just to Amber -- why not her ears?

Great for kids with divorced parents

[Narges Amooei · Rating 4 out of 5]

از مجموعه کتاب‌های کودک و نوجوان موردعلاقه‌م بود. واقعا با خواندنش، به مرور بزرگ شدن آمبر براون و دغدغه‌ها و مشکلاتش با زندگی و خانواده رو حس میکنیم. که چقدر نزدیک به واقعیتن. و همه داشتیم اون روزها رو.:]

[Jacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also a good read. Some more complexity/issues in this book, with Amber now having split time with her parents, and the whole problem of getting her ears pierced. Again, super relatable/believable character. A good series for elementary readers!

[liso · Rating 4 out of 5]

My nine yo daughter loved this book!!! It’s about a little girl named Amber Brown and her parents got divorced. her mom said she had to wait to get her ears pierced till she was 12,but she’s determined to find a way around it.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book is okay

[DMC · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I find this girl obnoxious

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that Amber Brown is very funny and has a lot to say her books are a fast read for me because it was so good. So if you need a good book choose Amber Brown!!!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Christmas time. Amber's parents are not together and while her dad visits she gets her ears pierced. Perfect, except her mom had said no.
Lovely writing from Danziger.

[Yashika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brings back my childhood!!! I really used to enjoy reading it back then. Wish I read more of it. Absolutely entertaining.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amber Brown loves the holidays: The shopping, the wrapping, the unwrapping. She isn't having any trouble with gifts, but life is another story. She's so happy her dad has moved back to New Jersey, but her mom isn't. It means the beginning of shared custody and that means more fighting. Amber feels as if half of her belongs to her mom and half of her belongs to her dad, and that doesn't feel good at all.

[Katy-Margaret Doss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review for I, Amber Brown by Paula Danziger. This story is about a little girl named Amber Brown and some of the big changes taking place in her life. Amber's parents are divorced and her dad until recently has lived in Paris but now he has moved back and Amber has to adjust to splitting time between both parents. Her mom is getting remarried to a man named Max, who Amber likes a lot but it is still a big change. When her dad moves back to town he rents part of a house that is shared with another family with three kids. Throughout the story Amber tells about how hard it is to adjust to living in tow different house half of the time and having her father back in her life and even though she loves him she has adjusted to life without him. I really enjoyed this book. I loved that it is told from the perspective of a young child because you get to see their side and how they view the whole situation. I think this would be a great book for children whose parents are divorced and are going through a similar situation as Amber is in the book. I would use this book to target reading comprehension, sequencing events in a story, and identifying themes in a story.

[Nicole Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I, Amber Brown, is about a nine-year old girl named, Amber, that is struggling to adjust to her new life with two divorced parents. Amber feels caught in the middle of her parents' coldness and hostility towards each other, and when her mother says that she cannot get her ears pierced until she is 12 years old, she decides that teach them that they cannot treat her like a piece of property that they split. Amber then deceives her father and convinces him to allow her to get her ears pierced. She feels overcome with guilt, but throughout the entire novel, she is trying to justify her actions because of how her parents have treated her throughout the divorce-especially her mother's coldness and her father's temporary abandonment. During this time, Amber spends time with her mother's fiance learning about Hanukkah, and she starts to realize that starting new traditions with Max might not be all that bad. Amber's father works to become a more stable part of her life, and her parents start working on openly communicating more when they realize what Amber did with the ear piercing. This book could be used as an independent reading series for a student struggling with divorce. In the novel, Amber struggles with lying, feeling misunderstood, and as if she is just a piece of property that her parents share, but she eventually learns that her parents both love her, and she begins to find out how to spend time with both of them and have a life that includes both her mother and father. A student struggling with these issues could relate to Amber throughout the series, and it might be good for a teacher to encourage the student to read these books. This novel could also be used as a continuous read-aloud, where the teacher reads a short portion each day. This book focuses on good character, so the book could accompany a unit on character traits, or units on divorce, family dynamics, or being inclusive of all views. It could also be used in a book club where the students read independently and come together and discuss their thoughts. There are some really great topics that I believe students could really benefit from discussing together!

[ProfCurrier]

I, Amber Brown is one of the many books in the Amber Brown series. Amber Brown is a sassy nine-year-old who is facing some struggles. Her parents are divorced and everything feels especially different since it is the holidays. Amber's life feels divided between her mother and father.
When her mother says that she cannot get her ears pierced until she is 12 years old, Amber decides to defy her to teach her parents that they cannot treat her like a piece of property that they split. Amber then deceives her father and convinces him to allow her to get her ears pierced. She feels overcome with guilt, but throughout the entire novel, she is trying to justify her actions because of how her parents have treated her throughout the divorce. During this time, Amber spends time with her mother's fiance learning about Hanukkah, and she starts to realize that starting new traditions with Max might not be all that bad. This is a light hearted book that I think would be enjoyed by students 2nd grade and up as an individual read.
-Claudia Purkis

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've read a lot of the shorter, earlier stories in the Amber Brown series and although one of them in particular dealt a lot with Amber's parents fighting, mostly they were fairly light and similar to the Ramona books. But this book has a much more serious theme, with Amber's parents sharing joint custody and her mother getting ready to remarry. It's a tough subject to bring up with children, so this may be a good series for parents who are considering divorce to read to their children. It is also a good look at how children feel torn and often fought over, like property. And how they often secretly hope their parents reconcile. We've enjoyed this series, but I may have to take it slowly so as not to overwhelm our girls with such serious topics.

[Jazzmyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I, Amber Brown is about a nine-year-old girl named Amber whose parents recently got divorced, and both share joint custody of her. As a result of her parent's hostility towards each other and the battle of joint custody, Amber suffers from a lack of self-esteem and lying because she is misunderstood. The parents realize how they are affecting Amber and start to communicate more efficiently for her sake. I use this book to be relatable to any students who parents are going through a divorce and to provide information to myself and future students who may not know what it is like for a child to witness this situation.

[Shyanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books to read about 7 years ago. It's about a girl named Amber Brown, who has divorced parents and hates the fact they have shared custody. I can definatley relate to this book, because I felt the same exact way while reading these books. Anyway,so Amber had these neighbors at her moms (or dads, I can't remember), and she always hung out with them, because it made her feel better. Amber liked her mom's house better, because her mom was a fun, crazy mom that everybody wants!!!

Recommended for younger kids...

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amber Brown chapter books are great books for young readers to read. It is a whole series comparable to Junie b Jones. But this book is fun and adventurous and I think this book is very relatable. The kids will really relate to Amber Brown with the everyday stuff she goes through. Great book for kids to read!!!

[Senay Mandaher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I chose this rating because I thought it was very suspenseful and interesting. I recommend this book to girls who are into a lot of you know stuff we do and talking about age many from 8 - 11.
I found out about this series at school when some of my other friends were reading this book.
I,Amber Brown is amazing

[Nicholette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Paula Danziger and all her books. Amber Brown is completely adorable. I know I read a lot of children's books, but they are happy in a sad world. I think that's how I kept my spirits up as a kid.

[Sammantha Bellofatto · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with Junie B. Jones, this book is one for young children. But, it is also wonderful for children who may come from a dplit home. It is always good for children to see differnt sides to the story. I think that makes this book really enjoyable and relatable.

[Daisy]

I won this book for doing good in school or something in 4th grade. It is sad and weird and depressing. Honestly, I read it again and I cried during it more than The Fault In Our Stars. But I loved it. Maybe I'm just a mutant freakazoid.

[Halee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of the first books ever bought for me. I read it over and over and over. It was just something about the book that was very attention grabbing to me and I enjoyed reading it whenever I had the time.