What do you think?
Rate this book
What If…?
Life if complicated for the average tween, but try being the smallest girl in 7th grade and navigating the choppy waters of middle school without a mom. Such is the plight of Penelope “P” Ziegler, until she decides to take matters into her own hands and find a wife for her hopelessly quirky dad. Despite Dad’s objections, P is sure—with all her heart—that there’s a woman out there who will make them both very happy!
183 pages, Paperback
First published December 27, 2013
13 people are currently reading
1038 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Barondes
4 books347 followersJessica Barondes is a screenwriter whose credits include Wish Upon A Star, Little Secrets, and Lucky Seven. Jessica is currently working on several movie projects, and is a producer of the new family film A Cowgirl's Song.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 29, 2015
What if…? is a coming of age tale featuring 11 year-old tween girl “P” (aka Penelope), an only child who lost her mother to cancer seven years earlier and who is intent on finding a wife for her dermatologist Dad so that she can make her family whole once again. Along with this search, she must navigate “tween-dom” as she compares herself to her older girl friends who are already in the midst of early puberty and who have seemingly perfect families. And if this isn’t enough, she dips her toe into the world of dating when Max, a classmate on whom she has a crush, asks her to work on a class project together. Alone. In his house. *ahem*
With her repeated failures to find the perfect replacement Mom; her realization that her perception of her friends’ perfect families is an illusion; and through an acceptance that she does not have a Mom to help her navigate through the tricky waters of the tween and teen years, P slowly begins to appreciate her father who has had to perform the dual role of “Dad” and “Mom”. What if…? is a heartwarming, bittersweet, and sometimes comical look into the trials and tribulations of P, a young girl who will touch your heart, as she comes to accept that she indeed does have the perfect family.
I must admit that when I first read this book, I was taken aback by some of the talk of boys, dating, breast development, clothes, and other tween/teen girl obsessions. I thought, aren’t they a bit young to be talking about these things? Then, I came to a sad realization. My daughter is turning 11 this month and these are precisely the things that her and her friends will be talking about. Darn. I am so not ready for this. So, biases aside, I realize that What if…? is PRECISELY the kind of book that my tween daughter wants to be reading. Double darn.
Let’s talk about P. Rarely do I get quite this emotionally invested in a character. The story begins with the reader finding out that P’s mother died of cancer when she was four. As the story moves forward, the author does an amazing job of describing the depth of the void left in P’s life. P’s angst and desperation is absolutely palpable; and, while at times I felt completely frustrated by her relentlessness in trying to find her Dad a wife, I think it also spoke to her long-term and unresolved grief around the loss of her mother. By the end, I wanted to jump in the book, wrap her in my arms, and scream, “I’LL be your Mom, P, I’LL do it!!”
I also appreciated the theme of”motherhood” and how it was defined and threaded in throughout the book. As can be expected, P experienced a huge loss when her mother died. But, as she explores and examines her friends’ relationships with their mothers and their families in general, she comes to realize that mothers often play different roles in a family and that the concept of what is a “mother” is not necessarily universal nor necessarily gender-based. Without giving away too much of the story, there is a contest that P and her friends take part in where they have to write an essay about the Best Mother in the World. As P contemplates What if … her mother were still alive?, she discovers the truth as she puts pen to paper and begins … “The best mother in the world is my father…” Oh, I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about it!
My Bottom Line:
What if…? is a bittersweet and sometimes comical tale of a tween girl, P, who must come to terms with the loss of her mother as she navigates the world of dating, puberty, school, and friendships. P will absolutely warm your heart and the ending is guaranteed to leave you teary-eyed. While I sometimes felt that the themes were more appropriate for teens, I also came to realize that tween girls will also really enjoy reading about the world that they are just on the cusp of entering. *shudder* Ages 10+
* This book was provided to me by the author free-of-charge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
With her repeated failures to find the perfect replacement Mom; her realization that her perception of her friends’ perfect families is an illusion; and through an acceptance that she does not have a Mom to help her navigate through the tricky waters of the tween and teen years, P slowly begins to appreciate her father who has had to perform the dual role of “Dad” and “Mom”. What if…? is a heartwarming, bittersweet, and sometimes comical look into the trials and tribulations of P, a young girl who will touch your heart, as she comes to accept that she indeed does have the perfect family.
I must admit that when I first read this book, I was taken aback by some of the talk of boys, dating, breast development, clothes, and other tween/teen girl obsessions. I thought, aren’t they a bit young to be talking about these things? Then, I came to a sad realization. My daughter is turning 11 this month and these are precisely the things that her and her friends will be talking about. Darn. I am so not ready for this. So, biases aside, I realize that What if…? is PRECISELY the kind of book that my tween daughter wants to be reading. Double darn.
Let’s talk about P. Rarely do I get quite this emotionally invested in a character. The story begins with the reader finding out that P’s mother died of cancer when she was four. As the story moves forward, the author does an amazing job of describing the depth of the void left in P’s life. P’s angst and desperation is absolutely palpable; and, while at times I felt completely frustrated by her relentlessness in trying to find her Dad a wife, I think it also spoke to her long-term and unresolved grief around the loss of her mother. By the end, I wanted to jump in the book, wrap her in my arms, and scream, “I’LL be your Mom, P, I’LL do it!!”
I also appreciated the theme of”motherhood” and how it was defined and threaded in throughout the book. As can be expected, P experienced a huge loss when her mother died. But, as she explores and examines her friends’ relationships with their mothers and their families in general, she comes to realize that mothers often play different roles in a family and that the concept of what is a “mother” is not necessarily universal nor necessarily gender-based. Without giving away too much of the story, there is a contest that P and her friends take part in where they have to write an essay about the Best Mother in the World. As P contemplates What if … her mother were still alive?, she discovers the truth as she puts pen to paper and begins … “The best mother in the world is my father…” Oh, I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about it!
My Bottom Line:
What if…? is a bittersweet and sometimes comical tale of a tween girl, P, who must come to terms with the loss of her mother as she navigates the world of dating, puberty, school, and friendships. P will absolutely warm your heart and the ending is guaranteed to leave you teary-eyed. While I sometimes felt that the themes were more appropriate for teens, I also came to realize that tween girls will also really enjoy reading about the world that they are just on the cusp of entering. *shudder* Ages 10+
* This book was provided to me by the author free-of-charge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 7, 2020
Lovely, upbeat, modern and pertinent coming of age story of an almost teen girl growing up with her Dad in So Cal.
February 25, 2014
Review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7
I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
What If...? by Jessica Barondes is a middle grade novel about a girl, nicknamed "P" for Penelope, who is being raised by a single dad. Her main goal, as the story progresses, is that of finding the perfect partner for her father. During her (mis)adventures in the world of dating, we learn that what our protagonist most yearns for is the comfort of having a mother figure in her life. If the adorable idea of a young girl looking out for her dad's happiness doesn't catch your eye, then perhaps the powerful friendships, and moral lessons will appeal to you.
An important thing to note as one reads this novel is that while Penelope is looking for someone for her dad, she is also, in a way, trying to figure out who she is. Whereas the idea of her constant search for a mother figure may appear as the main plot, I like to think that her character growth (both metaphorically and physically) is actually more important to note. Through her search, we see Penelope confront her fears and come to terms with the fact that just because her family life is different, doesn't mean it isn't right for her.
The game that Penelope and her best friend play of "what if?" is also a great way of seeing the progression of growth in Barondes' characters. The innocent responses the girls give at the beginning of the novel, compared to the more in-depth responses near the conclusion, serves as a stark contrast of just how much Penelope has changed.
To be honest, What If...? ended too soon and left a few questions unanswered, and a couple situations where the conclusions where a bit too tame. I would have loved to see more of Penelope's world unfold before her as she navigated the rough waters of adolescence, but then again, I understand that imagination is what's supposed to take place after the conclusion. In a way, Barondes' conclusion is successful in creating intrigue, since we find ourselves wanting more.
Penelope, though a young character, was at times a bit frustrating, especially since she harbors ideas and expectations that are unrealistic. While I'm glad that she slowly learns that every family is different, it's the naive notion of perfection that she imagines in every family, simply because both parents are present, that makes her a slightly difficult character to like.
This is a great novel for young readers who have either broken homes, or single parent homes because it shows that no matter if you have one parent, or both parents, a home is what you and the people who love you make it.
I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
What If...? by Jessica Barondes is a middle grade novel about a girl, nicknamed "P" for Penelope, who is being raised by a single dad. Her main goal, as the story progresses, is that of finding the perfect partner for her father. During her (mis)adventures in the world of dating, we learn that what our protagonist most yearns for is the comfort of having a mother figure in her life. If the adorable idea of a young girl looking out for her dad's happiness doesn't catch your eye, then perhaps the powerful friendships, and moral lessons will appeal to you.
An important thing to note as one reads this novel is that while Penelope is looking for someone for her dad, she is also, in a way, trying to figure out who she is. Whereas the idea of her constant search for a mother figure may appear as the main plot, I like to think that her character growth (both metaphorically and physically) is actually more important to note. Through her search, we see Penelope confront her fears and come to terms with the fact that just because her family life is different, doesn't mean it isn't right for her.
The game that Penelope and her best friend play of "what if?" is also a great way of seeing the progression of growth in Barondes' characters. The innocent responses the girls give at the beginning of the novel, compared to the more in-depth responses near the conclusion, serves as a stark contrast of just how much Penelope has changed.
To be honest, What If...? ended too soon and left a few questions unanswered, and a couple situations where the conclusions where a bit too tame. I would have loved to see more of Penelope's world unfold before her as she navigated the rough waters of adolescence, but then again, I understand that imagination is what's supposed to take place after the conclusion. In a way, Barondes' conclusion is successful in creating intrigue, since we find ourselves wanting more.
Penelope, though a young character, was at times a bit frustrating, especially since she harbors ideas and expectations that are unrealistic. While I'm glad that she slowly learns that every family is different, it's the naive notion of perfection that she imagines in every family, simply because both parents are present, that makes her a slightly difficult character to like.
This is a great novel for young readers who have either broken homes, or single parent homes because it shows that no matter if you have one parent, or both parents, a home is what you and the people who love you make it.
January 10, 2016
The book overall was okay but the ending was what really made me like this book.. The point where P tells her about her emotions and the special bond between a father and a daughter gets reflected...Really heart-warming !
April 3, 2014
What If … ? [A Good Reads Giveaway]
Eleven year old Penelope “P” Ziegler, the smallest girl in 7th grade is on a mission — to find her father a suitable girlfriend.
Penelope’s mother died when Penelope was just four years old. Since then Penelope has missed her mother’s love and the constant attention she is certain her mother would have given her. Not only does Penelope believe a girlfriend would sweeten her father’s life, but also, she believes that if the girlfriend became his wife she would be, in addition, a devoted stepmother.
Penelope’s quest leads her to thinking the lady working at the pharmacy might fill the positions — girlfriend, wife, stepmother; to thinking one friend’s aunt might fit the bill; to thinking another friend’s mother has perfect qualifications.
As well as the frustration she encounters while searching for a girlfriend for her father, Penelope is also disappointed with her own romantic possibilities. Her first “almost” kiss from school project partner Maxwell sends her fleeing in panic.
Suffering the torment of pre-teen angst — Is there such a condition? — Penelope, in her typical self-deprecating nature imagines her future: “The mental picture I see of myself as an old spinster with Granny glasses, riding my rusted bike around town, does not give me a whole lot to look forward to in life.”
Author Jessica Barondes has done a nifty job combining the attraction of modern tool-toy technology with the age old important need for young people to build vocabulary, and she has done it without becoming didactic.
Making it a game — kinda — Penelope’s father introduces new words as a natural part of conversation. Penelope keys them into her cell phone along with their definitions, learns them and applies them in future conversations.
For instance:
“You’re being importunate,” says Penelope’s father.
“Importunate?” says Penelope.
“Im-por-tu-nate,” Father carefully enunciates.
Penelope whips out her phone and her father spells — I-M-P-O-R-T-U-N-A-T-E.
Thus Penelope learns she is stubborn, and unreasonably persistent, especially in her hunt for the ideal girlfriend/stepmother.
There are plenty of other entertaining moments in this book; everything isn’t about Penelope’s time consuming quest.
There is bike riding.
There are a couple of merry shopping trips.
There is even ice cream I believe.
What if you read this delightful book? Will you enjoy it?
What if you read it and find out?
Eleven year old Penelope “P” Ziegler, the smallest girl in 7th grade is on a mission — to find her father a suitable girlfriend.
Penelope’s mother died when Penelope was just four years old. Since then Penelope has missed her mother’s love and the constant attention she is certain her mother would have given her. Not only does Penelope believe a girlfriend would sweeten her father’s life, but also, she believes that if the girlfriend became his wife she would be, in addition, a devoted stepmother.
Penelope’s quest leads her to thinking the lady working at the pharmacy might fill the positions — girlfriend, wife, stepmother; to thinking one friend’s aunt might fit the bill; to thinking another friend’s mother has perfect qualifications.
As well as the frustration she encounters while searching for a girlfriend for her father, Penelope is also disappointed with her own romantic possibilities. Her first “almost” kiss from school project partner Maxwell sends her fleeing in panic.
Suffering the torment of pre-teen angst — Is there such a condition? — Penelope, in her typical self-deprecating nature imagines her future: “The mental picture I see of myself as an old spinster with Granny glasses, riding my rusted bike around town, does not give me a whole lot to look forward to in life.”
Author Jessica Barondes has done a nifty job combining the attraction of modern tool-toy technology with the age old important need for young people to build vocabulary, and she has done it without becoming didactic.
Making it a game — kinda — Penelope’s father introduces new words as a natural part of conversation. Penelope keys them into her cell phone along with their definitions, learns them and applies them in future conversations.
For instance:
“You’re being importunate,” says Penelope’s father.
“Importunate?” says Penelope.
“Im-por-tu-nate,” Father carefully enunciates.
Penelope whips out her phone and her father spells — I-M-P-O-R-T-U-N-A-T-E.
Thus Penelope learns she is stubborn, and unreasonably persistent, especially in her hunt for the ideal girlfriend/stepmother.
There are plenty of other entertaining moments in this book; everything isn’t about Penelope’s time consuming quest.
There is bike riding.
There are a couple of merry shopping trips.
There is even ice cream I believe.
What if you read this delightful book? Will you enjoy it?
What if you read it and find out?
September 3, 2016
"P" For Persistent, and for Plenty of Elegant Grace Notes,
O.K., I started this book because I liked the byplay between "P" and her BFF Dani. It was funny, high energy and suggested that these would be engaging and likable characters. I got it that "P" is obsessed with finding herself a Mom by finding her widowed Dad a wife. As I read on it became clear that this obsession would become the unrelenting theme of the book and that the running joke about "P" standing for "P"ersistent would be almost literally true. A few times I was tempted to skip ahead and a few times I did set the book aside, just to take a break from "P".
But, it turns out that the other thing that ended up being persistent was the fundamentally good-natured appeal of this book. It's one of those odd hybrids that is both authentic,(the girlfriends' concerns, conversations, preoccupations, hopes, fears and daily activities), and wildly artificial, (the farcical arranged blind dates, the bad advice conversations with other girls' moms, "P's" exaggerated puberty issues, the downsides of the other girls' family lives). As a result you get a sort of hyper-reality that can be pretty frantic and over-the-top. I think the genius of this book, and what distinguishes it from other similar books, is the author's ability to slip in quiet, truthful, and restrained grace notes that suddenly slow everything down, catch you by surprise, and remind you what real girls and parents in the real world are really like. So, every now and then there is just an exchange of a few words between "P" and her Dad, or between "P" and Dani or "P" and a Mom that feels so real or touching or honest that you have to pause in admiration. After one or two of them you're ready to forgive a few cliches and overlook some misses and start up the manic mom-search machine again.
The upshot is that this is a pretty sneaky, often touching, frequently very funny, sly, multi-layered effort that I suspect most readers would find satisfying on a number of different levels. Likable and honest is hard to do; this author makes it look easy.
Please note that I found this book while browsing Amazon Kindle freebies. I have no connection at all to the publisher of this book.
O.K., I started this book because I liked the byplay between "P" and her BFF Dani. It was funny, high energy and suggested that these would be engaging and likable characters. I got it that "P" is obsessed with finding herself a Mom by finding her widowed Dad a wife. As I read on it became clear that this obsession would become the unrelenting theme of the book and that the running joke about "P" standing for "P"ersistent would be almost literally true. A few times I was tempted to skip ahead and a few times I did set the book aside, just to take a break from "P".
But, it turns out that the other thing that ended up being persistent was the fundamentally good-natured appeal of this book. It's one of those odd hybrids that is both authentic,(the girlfriends' concerns, conversations, preoccupations, hopes, fears and daily activities), and wildly artificial, (the farcical arranged blind dates, the bad advice conversations with other girls' moms, "P's" exaggerated puberty issues, the downsides of the other girls' family lives). As a result you get a sort of hyper-reality that can be pretty frantic and over-the-top. I think the genius of this book, and what distinguishes it from other similar books, is the author's ability to slip in quiet, truthful, and restrained grace notes that suddenly slow everything down, catch you by surprise, and remind you what real girls and parents in the real world are really like. So, every now and then there is just an exchange of a few words between "P" and her Dad, or between "P" and Dani or "P" and a Mom that feels so real or touching or honest that you have to pause in admiration. After one or two of them you're ready to forgive a few cliches and overlook some misses and start up the manic mom-search machine again.
The upshot is that this is a pretty sneaky, often touching, frequently very funny, sly, multi-layered effort that I suspect most readers would find satisfying on a number of different levels. Likable and honest is hard to do; this author makes it look easy.
Please note that I found this book while browsing Amazon Kindle freebies. I have no connection at all to the publisher of this book.
February 14, 2014
A fabulously fun ‘tween’ novel that’s very exciting!
What if…
As a child I was constantly daydreaming and lost in thought. The complexities of life, family and friendships were at the forefront of those years before teenage & adulthood. This book b>perfectly captures what it is like emotionally, and all those experiences and events that can have great impact upon one’s childhood.
This brilliantly bold, heart-warming story is told with sincerity and simplicity for an engaging read. I was entertained throughout while following the ups-and-downs of the ‘average tween’ heroine, all the while noting the inner messages interwoven within the narrative. My mother has always been at the centre of my world and so the absence of a mom for the main protagonist was hard, and it highlighted how different it can be when being raised by only a dad.
What I loved about this quirky tale was how the importance of family and being surrounded by those whom you love is paramount; especially more noted when you are young. Highly readable and full of moments that make you laugh-out-loud, I was greatly impressed by this truly wonderful tale!
* 3.5 Stars *
I won a copy of ‘What If…’ by Jessica Barondes through a Goodreads, first-read giveaway
What if…
As a child I was constantly daydreaming and lost in thought. The complexities of life, family and friendships were at the forefront of those years before teenage & adulthood. This book b>perfectly captures what it is like emotionally, and all those experiences and events that can have great impact upon one’s childhood.
This brilliantly bold, heart-warming story is told with sincerity and simplicity for an engaging read. I was entertained throughout while following the ups-and-downs of the ‘average tween’ heroine, all the while noting the inner messages interwoven within the narrative. My mother has always been at the centre of my world and so the absence of a mom for the main protagonist was hard, and it highlighted how different it can be when being raised by only a dad.
What I loved about this quirky tale was how the importance of family and being surrounded by those whom you love is paramount; especially more noted when you are young. Highly readable and full of moments that make you laugh-out-loud, I was greatly impressed by this truly wonderful tale!
* 3.5 Stars *
I won a copy of ‘What If…’ by Jessica Barondes through a Goodreads, first-read giveaway
August 6, 2016
A charmer! What makes this book so special is the writing - it is catchy and clever from beginning to end. As a parent of a tween, I myself was smiling at some of the plot twists and conversations the characters in this story have.
The story itself deals with a real-life issue, and the main character is likeable "P," - a very responsible and friendly tween, with whom we the readers can relate. She has special friendships, and typical teen age worries.
Yet, this coming of age book, set in our contemporary world, stands out from all the rest because of the sweet tone, well-developed characters, creative writing, and wholesome vibe. I am hoping the author starts a series!
The story itself deals with a real-life issue, and the main character is likeable "P," - a very responsible and friendly tween, with whom we the readers can relate. She has special friendships, and typical teen age worries.
Yet, this coming of age book, set in our contemporary world, stands out from all the rest because of the sweet tone, well-developed characters, creative writing, and wholesome vibe. I am hoping the author starts a series!
Want to read
June 26, 2015Loved it!
This was such a sweet book. P really wants her dad to find a new wife so that she will grow up with a mom. Her mom died and she feels like she's missing out in life. All of her friends have a mom and they take it for granted. She sets her dad up on blind dates and blindsided him constantly. In the end she realizes that her dad is enough for her and that he's pretty amazing. This book is just such a good natured book. It deals with puberty issues and loss but it had such great theme! These girls feel like real kids with real issues. I loved this book!
This was such a sweet book. P really wants her dad to find a new wife so that she will grow up with a mom. Her mom died and she feels like she's missing out in life. All of her friends have a mom and they take it for granted. She sets her dad up on blind dates and blindsided him constantly. In the end she realizes that her dad is enough for her and that he's pretty amazing. This book is just such a good natured book. It deals with puberty issues and loss but it had such great theme! These girls feel like real kids with real issues. I loved this book!
June 26, 2015
This was such a sweet book. P really wants her dad to find a new wife so that she will grow up with a mom. Her mom died and she feels like she's missing out in life. All of her friends have a mom and they take it for granted. She sets her dad up on blind dates and blindsided him constantly. In the end she realizes that her dad is enough for her and that he's pretty amazing. This book is just such a good natured book. It deals with puberty issues and loss but it had such great theme! These girls feel like real kids with real issues. I loved this book!
October 15, 2014
Great story. I enjoyed it. Easy to read.
March 5, 2015
Cute story and premise. The best part comes toward the end, where P has a revelation about her own emotions.
July 17, 2016
We need a second
This is a great book. Oddhwjsnsmakaiajsmdjdu he he rjd JD sjd dne eje eme DND d djd djd DMD eme
This is a great book. Oddhwjsnsmakaiajsmdjdu he he rjd JD sjd dne eje eme DND d djd djd DMD eme
May 11, 2019
Very realistic and interesting, but I did not like the ending, not because I didn't understand it, but because her father is not a mother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews