Write Me If You Dare!

by Emily Rhoads Johnson

When she's not helping her father with his bee-keeping business, 11-year-old Maddie Pruitt is on the lookout for signs. Ever since she spied a falling star the night her mother died, Maddie has relied on signs and rituals to keep herself, her father, and her grandfather safe. When Maddie finds a popped balloon with an address attached, she thinks it might be some kind of sign. She begins a correspondence with 14-year-old Pearl Paradise, becoming increasingly intrigued by the aura of mystery surrounding her new friend. In her letters Pearl often uses strange words that Maddie's never heard of, and when Pearl sends a photograph of herself, it is decades old. As baffling as they are, Pearl's letters comfort Maddie, especially when her father starts dating a woman completely unlike her mother. When Maddie's father announces his engagement, Maddie retreats deeper into her emblematic world, shutting out everyone but Pearl. But when Pearl makes a startling revelation about herself, Maddie realizes the importance of accepting change rather than fearing it.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 2000

About the author

Emily Rhoads Johnson grew up in Evanston, Illinois, and graduated from The College of Wooster. She taught fifth and sixth grades, then turned to free lance magazine writing while her two children were growing up on a Michigan farm.

Reviews

[Tracie Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since her Mom died, Maddie's joys have been her Dad, her Grandfather, and everything bee (they are apiarists). A girl after my own heart, Maddie believes in signs and thinks her Mom has something to do with them, so is positive that when she hears cornflower blue eyed, 3 week old baby Kevin,vocalize following her introduction to him, that he has said her name, and she knows something great is going to happen. So, later that day, when she discovers a bright blue balloon with a note attached while walking Rupert in the woods, excitement blooms.
This is a great well written story for children (but, obviously, I liked it too)about loss love and life.

[Judith Pratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Emily's books for kids. And I'm not one, and I don't have any.

I am astonished at the abilities of the teen heroine--she cooks, she helps with her father's beekeeping, but she still struggles with that school thing. But I love the mystery of her pen-pal, and love even more who/what that pal turns out to be. (No spoilers!)

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a girl that finds a balloon in the woods with a note attached to it. It says write me if you dare.So she writes to the person and she writes back. Then she gets a letter back and she finds out that this girl is pretending to be 14, when she is actually 90 years old. Then towards the end of the book the girl has to go to a nursing home to see her. While she is there the lady, she is writing to, dies.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Maddie who finds a popped balloon in the forest. It has a note in it that says, "Hello out there, this balloon was launched on June 30 by Pearl Paradise... Write me if you dare!" Maddie writes back and finds out that Pearl Paradise isn't exactly who she thinks she is.

[Tahleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute story about a girl who finds a balloon at her farm with a note attached. She writes to the address and begins a correspondence with a girl who might be a ghost... It takes place in upstate NY, very much like Ithaca (the author is from Ithaca and made up the town she lives in I believe).

[Koqua · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked this book, so much. i liked the transition that she made.

[Brad Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book, genuinley heartbreaking and happy at the exact same time. When Maddie sends off the ballon at the end, i started sobbing uncontrollably. favorite.