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Alice #20
Almost Alice
Is it possible to be too good of a friend—too understanding, too always there, too much like a doormat? Alice has always been a best friend to Pamela and Liz. But she’s starting to wonder where that leaves What am I? An ear for listening? An arm around the shoulder? And then there’s Patrick—after ending their relationship two years ago, he’s suddenly calling again, and wants to take her to his senior prom. What does that mean? As Alice tries to figure out who she is in relation to her friends, she learns one Aometimes friends need you more than they let on...especially when the unthinkable happens
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2008
16 people are currently reading
697 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
201 books1,038 followersPhyllis Reynolds Naylor was born in Anderson, Indiana, US on January 4, 1933.
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good books. Her parents enjoyed reading stories to the children--her father would imitate the characters in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer--and her mother read to them every evening, "almost until we were old enough to go out on dates, though we never would have admitted this to anyone."
By the time Phyllis reached fifth grade, writing books was her favorite hobby and she would rush home from school each day to write down whatever plot had been forming in her head - at sixteen her first story was published in a local church magazine.
Phyllis has written over 80 books for children and young people. One of these books, "Shiloh," was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1992, was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and was also Young Adult Choice by the International Reading Association.
Naylor gets her ideas from things that happen to her or from things she has read. "Shiloh" was inspired by a little abused dog she and her husband found. The little dog haunted her so much that she had to write a story about him to get it out of her mind.
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good books. Her parents enjoyed reading stories to the children--her father would imitate the characters in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer--and her mother read to them every evening, "almost until we were old enough to go out on dates, though we never would have admitted this to anyone."
By the time Phyllis reached fifth grade, writing books was her favorite hobby and she would rush home from school each day to write down whatever plot had been forming in her head - at sixteen her first story was published in a local church magazine.
Phyllis has written over 80 books for children and young people. One of these books, "Shiloh," was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1992, was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and was also Young Adult Choice by the International Reading Association.
Naylor gets her ideas from things that happen to her or from things she has read. "Shiloh" was inspired by a little abused dog she and her husband found. The little dog haunted her so much that she had to write a story about him to get it out of her mind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
May 26, 2020
Probably not a true four star read, but it's such a marked improvement over Dangerously Alice and delivered some nice character growth and some actual laughs for me.
The tension in the McKinley household subsides. While it was realistic and necessary for Alice to experience growing pains when her dad remarries, we were kind of denied the satisfaction of seeing Alice finally bond with the maternal figure she's been searching for throughout the series. Sylvia and Alice picking out a prom dress and gardening together was cute, and I enjoyed the moment where a waiter mistakes Sylvia for Alice's mom, and Alice doesn't correct it. There's some great moments between Alice and her dad, too – he hasn't gotten as much screen time as Alice has grown up, but he really proves himself as a good supportive dad here.
I like the Patrick developments here, too. After a string of blah dates and meh boys (Sam, Tony, Scott), Alice was due for some cute romance and Patrick delivered. I appreciate that their relationship is still in a grey area – not boyfriend/girlfriend, but definitely special to one another. I think this book really locks in that these two are series endgame.
But can we talk about the glaring deus ex machina? And by that, I mean deus ex Pamela?
The one where...
- The Lil Abner Sadie Hawkins dance, with dance decorations described in excruciating detail. I actually didn't know that Sadie Hawkins comes from a Lil Abner comic, but I also don't care at all. There was so much more focus on the dance decorations (Schmoo bowling alley, Stupefyin Jones, whatever) than the actual emotions of the evening.
- Similarly, PRN expects you to know A LOT about Guys and Dolls. You know, like all millennials do.
- David decides to be a priest. Who would have guessed we'd get a Fleabag B-plot?
- A lot of Alice ministories that don't add up to anything: i.e., Elizabeth starting a house fire with her push-up bra, an extremely weird murder mystery dinner, Alice getting promoted to features editor of the paper after the current editor pops off and storms out.
The tension in the McKinley household subsides. While it was realistic and necessary for Alice to experience growing pains when her dad remarries, we were kind of denied the satisfaction of seeing Alice finally bond with the maternal figure she's been searching for throughout the series. Sylvia and Alice picking out a prom dress and gardening together was cute, and I enjoyed the moment where a waiter mistakes Sylvia for Alice's mom, and Alice doesn't correct it. There's some great moments between Alice and her dad, too – he hasn't gotten as much screen time as Alice has grown up, but he really proves himself as a good supportive dad here.
I like the Patrick developments here, too. After a string of blah dates and meh boys (Sam, Tony, Scott), Alice was due for some cute romance and Patrick delivered. I appreciate that their relationship is still in a grey area – not boyfriend/girlfriend, but definitely special to one another. I think this book really locks in that these two are series endgame.
But can we talk about the glaring deus ex machina? And by that, I mean deus ex Pamela?
The one where...
- The Lil Abner Sadie Hawkins dance, with dance decorations described in excruciating detail. I actually didn't know that Sadie Hawkins comes from a Lil Abner comic, but I also don't care at all. There was so much more focus on the dance decorations (Schmoo bowling alley, Stupefyin Jones, whatever) than the actual emotions of the evening.
- Similarly, PRN expects you to know A LOT about Guys and Dolls. You know, like all millennials do.
- David decides to be a priest. Who would have guessed we'd get a Fleabag B-plot?
- A lot of Alice ministories that don't add up to anything: i.e., Elizabeth starting a house fire with her push-up bra, an extremely weird murder mystery dinner, Alice getting promoted to features editor of the paper after the current editor pops off and storms out.
August 28, 2008
Yikes! The unthinkable happens (and when you think back to Alice in Lace, the irony is SO there)...but the resolution was really a cop-out.
I still think of Alice as the teen girl with a middle-aged woman's brain. She's so reasonable, sensible, practical...great example for teen girls, compared to the trash that's out there nowadays (I know because I read the trash too), but sometimes funny when contrasted with the moments when she acts like a teenage girl. Though I must admit that her relationship with her family is so creepily understanding and loving that any clashes they have are totally unbelievable.
I love Alice. I've been reading about her since I was 8 or 9 years old, in 1992. I think she was 12 then? Now she's 17, and I'm 26 years old. I have to admit I kind of hope Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is almost done writing about Alice's life because it's becoming mechanical.
It seems like (and I'm sure this is probably accurate) that Naylor has planned an outline for each book with a certain checklist of life experiences that Alice needs to hit. So the plot, or what exists of it, is basically Alice careening through her life and hitting these little milestones, and dealing with them in her oddly mature way.
Friend with terminal illness? Check.
Gay friend? Check.
Wild, promiscuous friend? Check.
Druggie acquaintances? Check.
Shy, conservative friend? Check.
Brilliant friend? Check.
"Ethnic" friend? Check.
Meanwhile, Alice is kind of average and always says so herself.
Break-up? Check.
Boyfriends? Check.
Extracurriculars? Check. (I'm surprised Alice doesn't do at least one sport.)
Pregnancy? Check.
Gay friend coming out? Check.
Fight with stepmom? Check.
Afterschool job? Check.
Bridal showers and weddings? Check.
Learning to drive? Check.
And so on.
Some of the magic is kind of gone. Alice was once this young girl who made all sorts of faux pas, had some personal flaws (tone deaf), and wished she had a mom to help her while she was growing up (hers passed away). Through it all are her kindly dad, snarky but typical older brother, and the wonderful boyfriend Patrick (for most of it). Now reading about her life is seriously like hitting points on a checklist.
I have to admit my life sounded a bit like that in high school though; those were hectic days. But Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, if you are reading this, please put some heart and soul back into Alice!
I still think of Alice as the teen girl with a middle-aged woman's brain. She's so reasonable, sensible, practical...great example for teen girls, compared to the trash that's out there nowadays (I know because I read the trash too), but sometimes funny when contrasted with the moments when she acts like a teenage girl. Though I must admit that her relationship with her family is so creepily understanding and loving that any clashes they have are totally unbelievable.
I love Alice. I've been reading about her since I was 8 or 9 years old, in 1992. I think she was 12 then? Now she's 17, and I'm 26 years old. I have to admit I kind of hope Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is almost done writing about Alice's life because it's becoming mechanical.
It seems like (and I'm sure this is probably accurate) that Naylor has planned an outline for each book with a certain checklist of life experiences that Alice needs to hit. So the plot, or what exists of it, is basically Alice careening through her life and hitting these little milestones, and dealing with them in her oddly mature way.
Friend with terminal illness? Check.
Gay friend? Check.
Wild, promiscuous friend? Check.
Druggie acquaintances? Check.
Shy, conservative friend? Check.
Brilliant friend? Check.
"Ethnic" friend? Check.
Meanwhile, Alice is kind of average and always says so herself.
Break-up? Check.
Boyfriends? Check.
Extracurriculars? Check. (I'm surprised Alice doesn't do at least one sport.)
Pregnancy? Check.
Gay friend coming out? Check.
Fight with stepmom? Check.
Afterschool job? Check.
Bridal showers and weddings? Check.
Learning to drive? Check.
And so on.
Some of the magic is kind of gone. Alice was once this young girl who made all sorts of faux pas, had some personal flaws (tone deaf), and wished she had a mom to help her while she was growing up (hers passed away). Through it all are her kindly dad, snarky but typical older brother, and the wonderful boyfriend Patrick (for most of it). Now reading about her life is seriously like hitting points on a checklist.
I have to admit my life sounded a bit like that in high school though; those were hectic days. But Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, if you are reading this, please put some heart and soul back into Alice!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2023
October 2023 reread
Lester breaks it off with Claire, Alice develops and outgrows a crush on The Edge editor, Scott Lynch, and Alice and Patrick begin again as a couple (sort of).
I thought the pregnancy plot resolved too quickly (She is? She is! She’s isn’t). It felt like a way to touch on a serious subject while keeping the stakes low (it was only adjacent to Alice). I was very bothered by the statement that she was “lucky” to have a miscarriage.
November 2020 reread
Enjoyable installment of high school Alice, if not particularly memorable. This is a volume where more events happen around Alice than to her. She spends a lot of the book wondering about who she is, what her niche is, etc, and I think it's being a good friend. Alice is such a true friend to Liz and Pam. I noticed that more on this reread.
February 2018 reread
I took three Alice books on vacation this year and read through them quickly. I still love these stories, though the tone changed a bit when she left middle school for high school. Still, love the embarrassing moments she hasn't quite grown out of and love the back-n-forth between Alice and Lester.
Lester breaks it off with Claire, Alice develops and outgrows a crush on The Edge editor, Scott Lynch, and Alice and Patrick begin again as a couple (sort of).
I thought the pregnancy plot resolved too quickly (She is? She is! She’s isn’t). It felt like a way to touch on a serious subject while keeping the stakes low (it was only adjacent to Alice). I was very bothered by the statement that she was “lucky” to have a miscarriage.
November 2020 reread
Enjoyable installment of high school Alice, if not particularly memorable. This is a volume where more events happen around Alice than to her. She spends a lot of the book wondering about who she is, what her niche is, etc, and I think it's being a good friend. Alice is such a true friend to Liz and Pam. I noticed that more on this reread.
February 2018 reread
I took three Alice books on vacation this year and read through them quickly. I still love these stories, though the tone changed a bit when she left middle school for high school. Still, love the embarrassing moments she hasn't quite grown out of and love the back-n-forth between Alice and Lester.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2018
Gad I'm glad I'm almost done with this series. I mean, Naylor's got the gift, and I can't really pinpoint a problem, but I'm just getting tired. It's like she's phoning it in at this point, and the charm of the earlier books is missing. Alice is too realistically self-pitying, self-absorbed.
At least the school got smart about Valentine's Day. About time they realize that school is for book-learning not romance.
:grumble:
At least the school got smart about Valentine's Day. About time they realize that school is for book-learning not romance.
:grumble:
August 2, 2014
Alice is nearly 17 and is still trying to figure life out. Between cheering on Pamela to get a part in the school musical, encouraging Elizabeth to have more confidence, giving morale boosts to leukemia-stricken Molly, taking life advice from brainy Gwen, and asking a senior to the Sadie Hawkins dance, Alice goes through a lot of growth her junior year of high school.
Book takes place: Spring semester of junior year.
Alice's life lessons: You'll discover new things about yourself as long as you live (David's words).
Best Alice moment(s): A forehead kiss; Stupefyin' Jones; Elizabeth's basement fire; Pamela's BIG problem; Alice's promotion
Book takes place: Spring semester of junior year.
Alice's life lessons: You'll discover new things about yourself as long as you live (David's words).
Best Alice moment(s): A forehead kiss; Stupefyin' Jones; Elizabeth's basement fire; Pamela's BIG problem; Alice's promotion
August 14, 2020
Another great addition to the series. Easy read!
October 4, 2011
It is a book talking about the high school experience. Prom is one of the great experience in High school. Therefore I curious what would the prom look like. It also talks about the relationship of Alice and her friends.
At the beginning of the book Alice a boy who named Patrick to go to a dance party and happy to share all her friends this news. later, Patrick told her to not wait for him then she tries to ask another guy for the party.Will she sucessful for asking for or will Patrick Change his mind? Alice is really like Patrick will Alice and Patrick's story continue or they will live in their own way.
In another side Alice's friend Pamela got pregnancy from her friend's boyfriend. Alice gilve adervice to her friend to tell the boy friend and her mum. Will her friend do what Alice tell her to do. If yes, will the boyfriend do his responsibility to Alice's friend or will the mum forgive Pamela.
Read it and find out the answer for all of those question!!!
Some interst part p22
"You want to change the name?"
"No!" I said."Acutally, I am calling to see if you'd like to go with me."
Was it one second before he answered? Three? Five? "To the dance? Ur…sure，" he said."Sounds fun! Thanks."
At the beginning of the book Alice a boy who named Patrick to go to a dance party and happy to share all her friends this news. later, Patrick told her to not wait for him then she tries to ask another guy for the party.Will she sucessful for asking for or will Patrick Change his mind? Alice is really like Patrick will Alice and Patrick's story continue or they will live in their own way.
In another side Alice's friend Pamela got pregnancy from her friend's boyfriend. Alice gilve adervice to her friend to tell the boy friend and her mum. Will her friend do what Alice tell her to do. If yes, will the boyfriend do his responsibility to Alice's friend or will the mum forgive Pamela.
Read it and find out the answer for all of those question!!!
Some interst part p22
"You want to change the name?"
"No!" I said."Acutally, I am calling to see if you'd like to go with me."
Was it one second before he answered? Three? Five? "To the dance? Ur…sure，" he said."Sounds fun! Thanks."
August 3, 2017
I'm so happy that Alice and Patrick seem to be getting back together! Wow Pamela had a real scare there but luckily things worked out. Alice is a little more mature now, the new house addition is finally finished, and Liz gets even more daring. I'm glad Alice finally got over her hopeless crush on Scott and I like that they got to go to the dance as friends, which made her realize that they're just friends. Loved the part with Bill's mom on the sofa.
Alice's stress over the PSAT, and the SAT to a lesser extent, will resemble my own... I'm taking the SAT next month. Glad Alice is satisfied with her results.
Alice's stress over the PSAT, and the SAT to a lesser extent, will resemble my own... I'm taking the SAT next month. Glad Alice is satisfied with her results.
April 10, 2013
"Almost Alice" was an okay book in my opinion. At first it was a little hard to get into this book, but after reading a couple chapters the book got more interesting. "Almost Alice" is about a teenager named Alice who struggles with helping her friend go through a teen pregnancy, while Alice is trying to figure out who she really is. I would recommend this book to any teenage girl that is over the age of 15 because it talks about things that young girls should not be learning until they get older.
June 14, 2018
It was fun seeing Alice and Patrick hanging out together again. Not sure if they are getting back together or not. Guess I’ll keep reading the series to find out. And something happens to one of Alice’s friends…kind of had a feeling that would happen eventually. Won’t spoil what it was but I wasn’t surprised.
June 27, 2017
I have been reading this series since 6th grade. Its always a pleasure to dive back in and hang out with Alice. I like how the series is starting to get a little more mature and is dealing with serious real life situations.
5 more left in the series to read!
5 more left in the series to read!
April 2, 2021
2.5
I owned and had read a number of Alice books when I was growing up. I wanted to try a book later in her life to see how the characters were developing, and was drawn to this one based on hinting at a pretty major plot point with Pamela. Unfortunately, it didn’t come up until later in the book and wrapped up pretty quickly and conveniently. Beyond that being a let down, this book mostly felt fine, just not for me.
I owned and had read a number of Alice books when I was growing up. I wanted to try a book later in her life to see how the characters were developing, and was drawn to this one based on hinting at a pretty major plot point with Pamela. Unfortunately, it didn’t come up until later in the book and wrapped up pretty quickly and conveniently. Beyond that being a let down, this book mostly felt fine, just not for me.
May 20, 2019
While I generally really enjoy all the latest Alice novels because she deals with problems that are a little more mature, I was a little disappointed at what happened with Pamela in this book and how things ended with the storyline.
August 8, 2025
Such a nostalgic read for me! I love Alice and her world, the writing is so relatable and as a teenage girl I see myself in Alice and Alice in me throughout the novel. The writing is so simple yet Naylor tackles almost “taboo” topics beautifully. Would recommend this series to just about anyone.
March 25, 2020
I liked that installment more than the last one but they lately only fall flat for me. I am going to finish the series and that is my only motivation in picking them up now.
January 17, 2021
Great books! I love the reality of it!
July 28, 2024
This book was so good. Thank you for another good book Naylor. I love how you talk about grown up stuff in this book. 💗
November 20, 2024
oh this one was so beautiful. i love this series sm
September 5, 2025
I really liked this one. although the teen pregnancy? really?
September 20, 2025
Lots happening!
March 3, 2017
Almost Alice feels so realistic it's almost scary. I will recommend my daughters read this when they get a little older because Alice's contemplations of her friend's situation was better than any lecture on the subject. A well-balanced combination of humor and seriousness. A few laugh-out-loud moments. Not a huge change in protagonist's character arc, but the subtle change makes it believable and relatable.
March 24, 2013
Oh the drama in this one. Alice is in the second half of her junior year of high school. The biggest event she's looking forward to is Prom, which Patrick invited her to 5 months early. As Alice wonders whether this invitation will lead to a rekindling of their relationship, her friend Pamela spills that she's taken her relationship with Tim to the next level.
Alice and Liz have a few questions being that of their group Pamela is the first one to have explored a sexual relationship. This revelation early in the book sets the stage for the BIG drama when Pamela misses her period. She takes a test and tells her mother, all with Alice and Liz's help, but in the end Pamela miscarries.
I was a bit disappointed by the pregnancy scare dram. Wasn't it Pamela way back in middle school who was assigned the task of managing a pregnancy back in the Life Skills class they all took? It was way too convenient for the plot that she miscarried, especially seeing as how after that assignment she would've been well versed in her options. Plus, it made the whole incident seem like a big slap on the wrist followed by a huge sigh of relief.
What I did like about this book was Alice's extracurricular activities. She assumes an editor position on the paper and has good ideas to contribute. She's also involved in the Gay Straight Alliance group at her school and takes part in a big event they host as well as covers it for the paper.
This book in the series drives home the message that Alice is a really good friend. Over and over throughout this book, readers see Alice helping her many friends with their unique needs and it is the thing that in the end Patrick confesses he likes most about her: her shoulder. This series is like a friend/big sister for teen girls and it does a good job of giving a realistic view of high school and the pressures teen girls face. Recommended for teen girls grades 9+.
Alice and Liz have a few questions being that of their group Pamela is the first one to have explored a sexual relationship. This revelation early in the book sets the stage for the BIG drama when Pamela misses her period. She takes a test and tells her mother, all with Alice and Liz's help, but in the end Pamela miscarries.
I was a bit disappointed by the pregnancy scare dram. Wasn't it Pamela way back in middle school who was assigned the task of managing a pregnancy back in the Life Skills class they all took? It was way too convenient for the plot that she miscarried, especially seeing as how after that assignment she would've been well versed in her options. Plus, it made the whole incident seem like a big slap on the wrist followed by a huge sigh of relief.
What I did like about this book was Alice's extracurricular activities. She assumes an editor position on the paper and has good ideas to contribute. She's also involved in the Gay Straight Alliance group at her school and takes part in a big event they host as well as covers it for the paper.
This book in the series drives home the message that Alice is a really good friend. Over and over throughout this book, readers see Alice helping her many friends with their unique needs and it is the thing that in the end Patrick confesses he likes most about her: her shoulder. This series is like a friend/big sister for teen girls and it does a good job of giving a realistic view of high school and the pressures teen girls face. Recommended for teen girls grades 9+.
February 4, 2011
I wasn't quite sure if I should include this on my list...but I've been reading this series since I was in elementary school and I still check the YA section of the library every now and then to see if there is a new one out, so, why not? And it's even more fitting to post after having a recent conversation with a friend about assigned novels in high school, as this series deals with a lot of the issues that come with being an adolescent - but mostly in a light and funny way. Awkward, embarrassing, emotional - it's all there. Bullying, first dates, friends coming out, drunk driving, step-parents, and even someone opening the changeroom door (oh, we've all been there), Alice has been through a lot in 25 years and 20+ books.
As I've gotten older, some of the exploits seem a bit contrived (Lester not minding the girls decorating his car for Valentine's Day, while the neighbours call the police?) and the writing seems to have shifted to a more "gossipy" pattern, which could be either a) the author's interpretation of Alice as a teenager or b) the author's shift to the current certain style in chick lit. Or maybe, just maybe, it's c) my own development as a reader. Whatever it is, I have found some of the more recent novels lacking in authenticity, which could be my own experience with some of the issues (when I was 8, things that 12 and 13 year olds did were still unknown to me), but I keep reading because I know the characters so well. I'm not sure if a new adult reader would enjoy Alice as much as I have, having grown up with her, and past her, but I think these are a great "dramedy" series for pre-teen girls. They can enjoy a few laughs, they might learn a bit (but gently) and perhaps even be motivated to ask a few questions.
As I've gotten older, some of the exploits seem a bit contrived (Lester not minding the girls decorating his car for Valentine's Day, while the neighbours call the police?) and the writing seems to have shifted to a more "gossipy" pattern, which could be either a) the author's interpretation of Alice as a teenager or b) the author's shift to the current certain style in chick lit. Or maybe, just maybe, it's c) my own development as a reader. Whatever it is, I have found some of the more recent novels lacking in authenticity, which could be my own experience with some of the issues (when I was 8, things that 12 and 13 year olds did were still unknown to me), but I keep reading because I know the characters so well. I'm not sure if a new adult reader would enjoy Alice as much as I have, having grown up with her, and past her, but I think these are a great "dramedy" series for pre-teen girls. They can enjoy a few laughs, they might learn a bit (but gently) and perhaps even be motivated to ask a few questions.
April 2, 2009
Almost Alice is the twentieth book in the series about Alice Mckinley and her triumphs and travails growing up, though her life seems surprisingly short on travails. All the really bad stuff seems to happen to her friends, like her friend Molly who has leukemia and Pam whose mom deserted the family for a boyfriend. Even though motherless Alice has a new stepmother, her former sixth grade teacher, she is very close to her dad and older brother Lester and often discusses her life and problems with them. This may seem far-fetched to most teens. In this volume she reunites with her ninth grade boyfriend, Patrick, but not quite as romantically as Alice would like. She is tortured about what she means to Patrick, who is graduating early because he is so driven and directed, but then things seem to resolve themselves by the end of the book. She worries obsessively about her own minor problems--does her crush Scott like her or is he just going to the Sadie Hawkins dance with her because she asked?-- and those of her friends: how can she get Liz to be more approachable to boys so she can find a boyfriend, or get Gwen to lighten up and have more fun or convince Pam to try out for the spring musical? It is unnecessary to have read the earlier volumes to follow along here because enough of the backstory is woven into this volume seamlessly. This is a mostly light-hearted romp through the latter part of Alice’s junior year in high school including proms, SATs, and thoughts about the future. There is a trauma for one of her friends that causes some dramatic tension but even this problem resolves itself happily, if unrealistically.
March 19, 2011
book 20. first read, july 2008:
i'm pretty much in a habit of reading and enjoying all of the books in the series, but (as i mentioned in my review of dangerously alice)-- it seems so unlikely that one teenager and her best friends experience absolutely every traumatic experience that can be experienced. in this installment, pamela finds out that she is expecting. i was actually pretty surprised by this, even with all the hints leading to it- "oh no, phyllis, not this too!"
other than that, things are pretty relaxed. alice supports her friends through leukemia, musical try-outs, fights, and the aforementioned pregnancy. she embarrasses herself royally trying to do something nice for lester. (i can't believe she is still doing this.) and she asks a boy to the sadie hawkin's dance, but it's a bland evening.
AND- i don't think PRN used the word "slacks" for pants this time, so maybe i am getting through...but yes. i love alice.
second read, march 2011:
having read this over, can we talk about pamela's miscarriage? i'm kind of annoyed by it. yes, miscarriages happen all the time, but this one felt a little too convenient, a little deus ex machina. i wanted prn to force pamela to make the choice instead of having it tidily made for her by mother nature.
also, the lil abner themed sadie hawkins dance is just weird.
i still loved it.
i'm pretty much in a habit of reading and enjoying all of the books in the series, but (as i mentioned in my review of dangerously alice)-- it seems so unlikely that one teenager and her best friends experience absolutely every traumatic experience that can be experienced. in this installment, pamela finds out that she is expecting. i was actually pretty surprised by this, even with all the hints leading to it- "oh no, phyllis, not this too!"
other than that, things are pretty relaxed. alice supports her friends through leukemia, musical try-outs, fights, and the aforementioned pregnancy. she embarrasses herself royally trying to do something nice for lester. (i can't believe she is still doing this.) and she asks a boy to the sadie hawkin's dance, but it's a bland evening.
AND- i don't think PRN used the word "slacks" for pants this time, so maybe i am getting through...but yes. i love alice.
second read, march 2011:
having read this over, can we talk about pamela's miscarriage? i'm kind of annoyed by it. yes, miscarriages happen all the time, but this one felt a little too convenient, a little deus ex machina. i wanted prn to force pamela to make the choice instead of having it tidily made for her by mother nature.
also, the lil abner themed sadie hawkins dance is just weird.
i still loved it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2010
Alice is about to finish her senior year, a year filled with excitement. Her ex-boyfriend, Patrick, just asked her to the prom and her secret crush, Scott is going with her to the Sadie Hawkins Dance. She also becomes features editor for the school newspaper. it seems that her life is going perfectly well but there are bad things about it too.
This book is the first Alice book in the series i read even though this is not the first book in the series. this book is great and i am going to read the other books in the series if i can find them all.
Alice is a very brave girl and she goes through a lot of twists and turns. She has to make many decisions leading her to adventure and fun. I wish that my life was as fun as hers. She has great friends and a great family. she is also very lucky to get her house remodeled!!!! It's probably vary awesome. Although, I kinda feel bad for her to live in the house WHILE it was being remodeled. I think that i can connect with Alice, not because that she has the same name as me, but because that she is a person that people can count on and she has many friends that she can count on as well.
This book is the first Alice book in the series i read even though this is not the first book in the series. this book is great and i am going to read the other books in the series if i can find them all.
Alice is a very brave girl and she goes through a lot of twists and turns. She has to make many decisions leading her to adventure and fun. I wish that my life was as fun as hers. She has great friends and a great family. she is also very lucky to get her house remodeled!!!! It's probably vary awesome. Although, I kinda feel bad for her to live in the house WHILE it was being remodeled. I think that i can connect with Alice, not because that she has the same name as me, but because that she is a person that people can count on and she has many friends that she can count on as well.
March 15, 2013
Who would want to go to a school dance alone? Of course, nobody. Most teenagers would want to go with their partner a.k.a their boyfriend. However, if a teen was rejected, then that's a totally different story.
Alice, a junior in high school is asked to prom by her former boyfriend who broke up with her a long time ago. Now, her ex-boyfriend, Patrick comes back to her and asks her to prom. The excitement Alice feels is indescribable. But then when she wants Patrick to go with her to the school dance, she gets turned down which also leads to her asking another boy out.
I think this book is interesting because it can be relatable since I'm also in high school. I think that Alice can be my role model of a good teen because she joins clubs in school which makes her involved in the community and also, as a junior she starts to think about SAT and college stuff. I guess I should also be like Alice because she prepares for things and starts to plan out her future.
I recommend this book to those who like teen romances and realistic fiction. Trust me, this book is awesome! I'm sure it won't disappoint you!
Alice, a junior in high school is asked to prom by her former boyfriend who broke up with her a long time ago. Now, her ex-boyfriend, Patrick comes back to her and asks her to prom. The excitement Alice feels is indescribable. But then when she wants Patrick to go with her to the school dance, she gets turned down which also leads to her asking another boy out.
I think this book is interesting because it can be relatable since I'm also in high school. I think that Alice can be my role model of a good teen because she joins clubs in school which makes her involved in the community and also, as a junior she starts to think about SAT and college stuff. I guess I should also be like Alice because she prepares for things and starts to plan out her future.
I recommend this book to those who like teen romances and realistic fiction. Trust me, this book is awesome! I'm sure it won't disappoint you!
November 18, 2012
Reviewed by hoopsielv for TeensReadToo.com
Alice is finishing up her junior year and things couldn't be brighter for her: Patrick asked her to his prom, she is now features editor of the school newspaper, and she's getting along better with her stepmother. Life is good!
Scott, her secret crush, agrees to go to the Sadie Hawkins dance with her. Patrick remains close to her heart, though she isn't quite sure what their relationship truly is. Her friends are busy, too, with school and boys. Alice starts to feel like she's always there rooting for them, but where are they when she needs them? It takes a pregnancy test to bring the friends together again.
This is the twenty-third book in the ALICE series. Reading an ALICE book is like catching up with an old friend. I've been a loyal fan for several years and wait anxiously for the next book to come out each time! If you are a new reader to the series, it would be easy to start with this book and read the others in the future.
Alice is finishing up her junior year and things couldn't be brighter for her: Patrick asked her to his prom, she is now features editor of the school newspaper, and she's getting along better with her stepmother. Life is good!
Scott, her secret crush, agrees to go to the Sadie Hawkins dance with her. Patrick remains close to her heart, though she isn't quite sure what their relationship truly is. Her friends are busy, too, with school and boys. Alice starts to feel like she's always there rooting for them, but where are they when she needs them? It takes a pregnancy test to bring the friends together again.
This is the twenty-third book in the ALICE series. Reading an ALICE book is like catching up with an old friend. I've been a loyal fan for several years and wait anxiously for the next book to come out each time! If you are a new reader to the series, it would be easy to start with this book and read the others in the future.
July 4, 2008
I wonder if I'll ever outgrow Alice? I feel like I've grown up with her throughout the series. When I was younger, I was so excited to have a protagonist that I could relate to. Now that I'm older, I really respect Phyllis Reynolds Naylor as an author that takes risks and portrays the reality of life as a girl. In this book, Alice's doubts about herself are completely realistic as are most of the situations she finds herself in as a high school junior. I felt like she was a little overly mature for her age at times even. The dialog seemed a bit forced in some spots, although it helped propel the story forward and brought in more persectives from other characters. I'm not sure I agree with how the whole pregnancy scare was dealt with. I felt like the author wrote herself into a corner, but got out the best way she could while still being believable. I'll be looking forward to the next book, as always!
July 10, 2008
I'm tentatively saying this was for work, because I don't think I'd have picked it up if it hadn't wandered across my desk. As usual, Alice is--well, not quite as pure as the driven snow, but certainly has herself under much better control than her friends. The writing still clunks across the page--I doubt if that will ever change--but on the whole this volume of Alice's life seems far more tame than the previous ones. I'm all for frank discussions of sex and bodies, but Judy Blume did it much more naturally than Naylor--I don't think high school girls would refer to the enhancing effects of a push-up bra by saying "look at your breasts!", for instance.
So, eh. After 20 (yes, twenty) volumes of Alice's life, she's only just finished her junior year of high school.
I don't need to read these. I can quit any time...
So, eh. After 20 (yes, twenty) volumes of Alice's life, she's only just finished her junior year of high school.
I don't need to read these. I can quit any time...
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