Seventh Grade Tango

by Elizabeth Levy

When Rebecca, a seventh-grader, is paired up with her friend Scott for a dance class at school, she learns a lot about who her real friends are.

Genres: Young Adult, Childrens

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

Elizabeth Levy has been writing and publishing books for over thirty years and sometimes now she meets kids whose parents read her books when they were children! She has written over 80 books, a number that continues to surprise her, as it surprises her how long she's been at it.

Over the years they've printed lots of her books - over five million of them.

She loves to try writing different types of books - everything from funny mysteries to novels about kids who get in trouble to history.

One of the most pleasant surprises about writing is that she's been invited to travel all over the country and even the world speaking to children, teachers, and librarians. She's made some wonderful friendships and gotten lots of ideas for her books. One of the most special treats is that kids have drawn wonderful pictures of one of her favorite characters, Fletcher.

She grew up in Buffalo, New York, then went to Brown University, where she majored in history. When she graduated, she came to New York City and worked for ABC-TV and then for Senator Robert Kennedy. She has lived in New York ever since, and she loves it. She knows all the best places for salami, she has run four marathons, and she has completed many 5-borough bike tours, so she thinks she really knows this place well.

At certain times of the year, she can be found out at Shea Stadium watching her team, the New York Mets. She has always loved baseball.

Mostly she enjoys hanging out with her friends. They spend lots of time going to movies or plays, playing sports, having meals together.

When she's alone and not writing, she is usually reading. She reads mysteries a lot, always has, which is probably why many of her books are mysteries.

Reviews

[Renee Pelletier]

I was so obsessed with this one. Other books I had access to in elementary school did not devote nearly enough time to kissing. The main adult character is gay—so funny—in a way that a child reading this would never realize. Added another dimension for me now as a gay adult, made me wonder about Elizabeth Levy.

[Adri · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 7th grade daughter LOVED this book soooo much!

[Cid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once a childhood fave, always a fave. Literally so good, so sweet. Made me wish I was 12 again. 10/10 no notes. need more books like this.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca was given the name "Killer dancer", from Scott, after she broke his toe, in sixth grade, during the dance concert. Now the whole school called her that. Even though she didn't mind that, she couldn't believe she and Scott was assigned as partners again, now that she's in seventh grade, for ballroom dancing. Rebecca admires the dance teahcer, Mr. dePalma, very much. Rebecca's great when it comes to dancing, but what about kissing? When her best friend,Samantha, decided they should play Seven Minutes in Heaven, at samantha's party, Rebecca started to worried. She love dancing, but do she love kissing?
I like this book a lot! Believe it or not, the teacher, Mr. DePalma, from the story, was actually Pierre Dulaine. He was my Ballroom dancing teacher from fifth grade. When I notice that, I was so surprise. Talking about Seven Minutes in Heaven, I think kissing for 7 minutes, is way TOO long. Even 1 minute seems long. It makes me picture two person standing in a place and lock lips like two stones.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. It is about a girl who takes a ballroom class and the feelings she develops for one of the boys in the class. The plot was mostly interesting. I didn't like some of it because the kids seem too young for some of the activities they do. Not that they do anything that would make me mark this book as a young-adult book, but they do some kissing. I liked most of the book though.

[Doofenshmirtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about seventh-graders, but it is written at perhaps a fourth grade level. I found the kissing games mildly disturbing, but otherwise the characters are adorable. I don't think I can really recommend this book to anyone, though. This book is too easy for the average seventh-grader, and too "mature" for the average fourth-grader.

[Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very entertaining book. I can relate to this book because some moments reminded me of the old days when my brothers and cousins used to play the dare game. This is what happened in this book except the dare was about kissing a boy that the protagonist didnt really like.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seventh Grade Tango reminds me a bit of Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret in that it features spin the bottle and seven minutes in heaven. But there's also dancing! A fun read, with snippets of witty dialogue. Recommended for grades 4-8.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ended-1.20.08

[Kelseigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!

[Dayamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book 3 times in 6ht and 7th grade!!!!!

[Asia Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about the girl. Their school had a dance class. Then she had to dance with the person who foot she step on. Then they won the dance competition.

[Haley Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember checking this book out of the library over 50 times when I was in sixth grade.

[Karousel · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the first books I ever read. It got me into reading. I don't remember the details but it was good.

[Melia Vindua]

Can't wait for my Friend Gabby (Girl)!!
to finish this book! so she can tell me the whole storyy! :DDD

[Courtney Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved the book sooooo freakin' much!!!! i read it 3 times!!!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED it so much!!!

[Gi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a long time ago, but it was a good read.