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Pink & Green #3
Pink & Green Is the New Black
Lucy Desberg is in eighth grade, and she’s determined to make this year perfect. Over the course of the year, though, her talents for makeup and problem-solving will be put to the test.On the outside, things couldn’t be better: her family’s spa is doing well, and she has a boyfriend, Yamir. But Yamir’s in high school now, and Lucy’s too embarrassed to admit that he hasn’t called her in weeks. To take her mind off him, she throws herself into planning the eighth-grade masquerade, using her makeup skills to rally her classmates. But as she soon learns, ignoring a problem does not make it go away. It’s destined to pop up at the worst possible time.Lucy’s resourcefulness will be put to the test as she grows up and starts making decisions about the type of person—and girlfriend and friend and daughter and sister—that she wants to be.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2014
58 people are currently reading
1042 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Greenwald
37 books481 followersA long bio can be kind of boring, so instead I'm going to pretend
that a famous journalist (maybe Barbara Walters) is interviewing me.
The only thing is, I'm making up the questions.
If you think of any other questions you'd like me to answer, send me an email and ask away!
Q. Where did you grow up?
A. I lived in Fairfield, Connecticut until the end of fifth grade and then I moved to Roslyn Heights, New York. That's on Long Island. But I don't have a bad Lawn Guyland accent, I promise.
Q. Do you have any siblings?
A. Yes, I have two younger brothers. I always wanted a sister, but it's kind of nice being the only daughter in the family, and my brothers and I are really close.
Q. What about the rest of your family? Are you close with them too?
A. Yes, family is really important to me. I talk to my parents and grandparents every day.
Q. Are you married?
A. Yes, to a fabulous guy named Dave. We met at sleep away camp when I was sixteen.
Q. Do you have any kids?
A. Yes, my daughter Aleah Violet Rosenberg was born on May 28th, 2010 and I personally think she's the cutest baby in the world, but of course I am biased.
Q. Do you have any pets?
A. I had a miniature toy poodle named Yoffi, but he died in 2007. I miss him so much.
Q. That's sad. Do you think you will get another dog?
A. I would love to adopt one very soon!
Q. What is your favorite book?
A. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt is my favorite book in the whole entire world. I read it in sixth grade in Ms. Mayer's class. I have read many books since then, but Tuck Everlasting is still my absolute favorite.
Q. What is your favorite movie?
A. I have two. Clueless and Avalon.
Q. What's one of the craziest things that's ever happened to you?
A. I won a radio contest at the end of eighth grade! Someone from Z100 called me up and asked me to say the "phrase that pays" and I answered correctly. I won a thousand dollars.
Q. Did you always want to be a writer?
A. No, not always. I wanted to be a hair stylist, then a concert pianist, then a rabbi. But I always loved making up stories, so I think writing is the perfect job for me.
Q. Where did you go to college?
A. I went to Binghamton University in upstate New York. I was an English major with a concentration in creative writing. It's reallllllllly cold in Binghamton. Then two years after I graduated college, I went to The New School to get my MFA in writing for children.
Q. You mentioned that you met Dave at sleep away camp. Did you really like sleep away camp?
A. YES! I loved it. I went to Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. I would go back to camp forever if only I could. Sleep away camp is the best place in the world.
Q. Tell me some other things you really like.
A. Okay. Here's a short list: sleeping late, fancy hotels, reading and writing (duh!,) peanut m&ms, flip flops, sweatpants, people watching, New York City, cheese omelets, weddings, pedicures, looking at old pictures and re-reading old cards and letters.
Q. Tell me some things you really dislike.
A. Peas, mean people, rats and mice, sweating, pants and skirts with a side zipper, spicy food, uncomfortable shoes, people clipping their nails on the subway, feeling lonely or thinking about other people who might feel lonely.
Q. MY LIFE IN PINK & GREEN is about a pharmacy. Do you really like pharmacies?
A. Yes, I love them! I love the way they smell and the way the aisles are arranged. I love when the pharmacists know the customers and I love looking at all the beauty products.
Q. Do you write every day?
A. I try to, but in addition to writing I also work in the library at The Birch Wathen Lenox School in Manhattan. I love being around kids and books and talking to kids about books!
Q. I don't have any more questions. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
A. Just that I hope readers like my book, and I'd love to hear from all of them if they want to talk to me!
that a famous journalist (maybe Barbara Walters) is interviewing me.
The only thing is, I'm making up the questions.
If you think of any other questions you'd like me to answer, send me an email and ask away!
Q. Where did you grow up?
A. I lived in Fairfield, Connecticut until the end of fifth grade and then I moved to Roslyn Heights, New York. That's on Long Island. But I don't have a bad Lawn Guyland accent, I promise.
Q. Do you have any siblings?
A. Yes, I have two younger brothers. I always wanted a sister, but it's kind of nice being the only daughter in the family, and my brothers and I are really close.
Q. What about the rest of your family? Are you close with them too?
A. Yes, family is really important to me. I talk to my parents and grandparents every day.
Q. Are you married?
A. Yes, to a fabulous guy named Dave. We met at sleep away camp when I was sixteen.
Q. Do you have any kids?
A. Yes, my daughter Aleah Violet Rosenberg was born on May 28th, 2010 and I personally think she's the cutest baby in the world, but of course I am biased.
Q. Do you have any pets?
A. I had a miniature toy poodle named Yoffi, but he died in 2007. I miss him so much.
Q. That's sad. Do you think you will get another dog?
A. I would love to adopt one very soon!
Q. What is your favorite book?
A. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt is my favorite book in the whole entire world. I read it in sixth grade in Ms. Mayer's class. I have read many books since then, but Tuck Everlasting is still my absolute favorite.
Q. What is your favorite movie?
A. I have two. Clueless and Avalon.
Q. What's one of the craziest things that's ever happened to you?
A. I won a radio contest at the end of eighth grade! Someone from Z100 called me up and asked me to say the "phrase that pays" and I answered correctly. I won a thousand dollars.
Q. Did you always want to be a writer?
A. No, not always. I wanted to be a hair stylist, then a concert pianist, then a rabbi. But I always loved making up stories, so I think writing is the perfect job for me.
Q. Where did you go to college?
A. I went to Binghamton University in upstate New York. I was an English major with a concentration in creative writing. It's reallllllllly cold in Binghamton. Then two years after I graduated college, I went to The New School to get my MFA in writing for children.
Q. You mentioned that you met Dave at sleep away camp. Did you really like sleep away camp?
A. YES! I loved it. I went to Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. I would go back to camp forever if only I could. Sleep away camp is the best place in the world.
Q. Tell me some other things you really like.
A. Okay. Here's a short list: sleeping late, fancy hotels, reading and writing (duh!,) peanut m&ms, flip flops, sweatpants, people watching, New York City, cheese omelets, weddings, pedicures, looking at old pictures and re-reading old cards and letters.
Q. Tell me some things you really dislike.
A. Peas, mean people, rats and mice, sweating, pants and skirts with a side zipper, spicy food, uncomfortable shoes, people clipping their nails on the subway, feeling lonely or thinking about other people who might feel lonely.
Q. MY LIFE IN PINK & GREEN is about a pharmacy. Do you really like pharmacies?
A. Yes, I love them! I love the way they smell and the way the aisles are arranged. I love when the pharmacists know the customers and I love looking at all the beauty products.
Q. Do you write every day?
A. I try to, but in addition to writing I also work in the library at The Birch Wathen Lenox School in Manhattan. I love being around kids and books and talking to kids about books!
Q. I don't have any more questions. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
A. Just that I hope readers like my book, and I'd love to hear from all of them if they want to talk to me!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
July 4, 2020
This I also found among my niece's collection. I totally love it. Exactly, the stories about high schools make me feel awesome. I wish I had read this a little earlier though. If so I would have exactly used Lucy's tips for surving eighth grade😋
As I mentioned the main character is Lucy Desberg and all she expects in her eighth grade is perfection(😶) From some parts of her life she exactly approaches perfectness, but not at everything; not exactly with her high school boy friend, Yamir Ramal. So how does she survive, with the help of her beloved friend Sunita Ramal (of course Yamir is her brother)? Will she get what she expected? The book answers all.😍
I highly reccomond this book for teenage readers and also older ones who still enjoy their high schools.
This is the Third of PINK AND GREEN series, I haven't read either previous ones or after ones. I'm really willing to give them a chance.
My favourite quotes:
*Once you start telling people you're fine and that nothing is wrong, it's hard to go back and say that there is actually something bothering you.
*Best friends are more important than boyfriends.
*Everybody's different.
*People cant help if you don't fill them in.
*One person's perfect isn't the same as another's perfect.
*Perfect is really jusr another word for boring
*You cant force yourself to like someone. It just doesn't work that way.
*Being proud of who we are.
*But the thing is, people can change. People do change.
*Every story has an ending.
As I mentioned the main character is Lucy Desberg and all she expects in her eighth grade is perfection(😶) From some parts of her life she exactly approaches perfectness, but not at everything; not exactly with her high school boy friend, Yamir Ramal. So how does she survive, with the help of her beloved friend Sunita Ramal (of course Yamir is her brother)? Will she get what she expected? The book answers all.😍
I highly reccomond this book for teenage readers and also older ones who still enjoy their high schools.
This is the Third of PINK AND GREEN series, I haven't read either previous ones or after ones. I'm really willing to give them a chance.
My favourite quotes:
*Once you start telling people you're fine and that nothing is wrong, it's hard to go back and say that there is actually something bothering you.
*Best friends are more important than boyfriends.
*Everybody's different.
*People cant help if you don't fill them in.
*One person's perfect isn't the same as another's perfect.
*Perfect is really jusr another word for boring
*You cant force yourself to like someone. It just doesn't work that way.
*Being proud of who we are.
*But the thing is, people can change. People do change.
*Every story has an ending.
June 17, 2025
The tips for surviving 8th grade were lowkey hitting
July 10, 2018
I think I really liked this book for the reasons other people didn’t like it. It was a lighter read than the others. About innocent topics that a lot of eighth grade girls are beginning to focus on. Boys and dances and boyfriends. I wish there was more good between Lucy and yamir though. I was waiting so long for them to make up and I literally got like the last three pages of the book for it. And idk if there’s going to be more books to see what happens with them next. Lucy worries a lot which I mean is natural. And I liked how she could so easily say what she was thinking to yamir. But also she’s get short tempered so quick and just end the conversation. And in my opinion you keep talking things out until the problem is solved. Anyway I would love another book. I wanna see what happens next with them!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2014
Lucy is back in her third adventure. This time she is in 8th grade and wants to make it her best ever. Of course everything isn't going the way she had hoped. Her proposal to make the school cafeteria go green is approved but she is having issues with her boyfriend Yamir. Yamir is now in high school and he is ignoring her. He doesn't call or text or even really talk to her anymore and Lucy is getting tired of it. Then there is new boy Travis who seems to like her and does pay attention to her. Plus the 8th grade masquerade is coming up and Lucy has been roped into helping by mean girl Erica.
I think this is a good series for girls who are interested in realistic fiction, makeup and going green. Lucy is your typical teen girl with issues and problems. I like the fact that she seems more like a teen in this one instead of old-beyond her years like she has been in the other books. I'm not sure I always find her voice to be authentic but the issues she is dealing with definitely are. This is a solid addition to this series.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.
I think this is a good series for girls who are interested in realistic fiction, makeup and going green. Lucy is your typical teen girl with issues and problems. I like the fact that she seems more like a teen in this one instead of old-beyond her years like she has been in the other books. I'm not sure I always find her voice to be authentic but the issues she is dealing with definitely are. This is a solid addition to this series.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.
October 23, 2014
The book Pink and Green is the New Black by Wendy Mass is an uplifting novel of the Pink and Green series. This is a beautifully written book and to say otherwise would be a lie. This is the kind of novel I would stay up late reading. Each sentence has meaning. This book has one perspective, the main character, Lucy Desburg. If I were to pick a favorite character it would definitely be Lucy because she smart, outgoing, and adventurous. She is also very bubbly.I you want a book that is going to make you stay up reading the whole book, I would definitely pick this book.
June 27, 2016
Eighth-grader Lucy is determined to have a perfect last semester of middle school.
Lucy does accomplish a lot - with a group of students, the Earth Club convinces the school board to make the school cafeteria "green;" her family's spa offers $20 makeup sessions to every middle-schooler for the middle school dance.
She faces major boyfriend problems (and some mean girl issues) and doesn't know how to handle them.
At the start of each chapter, Lucy offers tips for surviving eighth grade. Along the way, she figures some things out.
Lucy does accomplish a lot - with a group of students, the Earth Club convinces the school board to make the school cafeteria "green;" her family's spa offers $20 makeup sessions to every middle-schooler for the middle school dance.
She faces major boyfriend problems (and some mean girl issues) and doesn't know how to handle them.
At the start of each chapter, Lucy offers tips for surviving eighth grade. Along the way, she figures some things out.
November 28, 2016
This book has a little twist in it between friendship, crushes and almost like getting ready for a dance. There's netting new people creating mor crushes and then there's keeping in touch with your friends and making sure you don't get get too carried away with your crushes. But it's all a good thing I love this book I totally recommend reading it because this literally fits a typical middle schoolers issues! You'll love it!
May 23, 2015
Way too boy crazy.
August 27, 2017
Loved the first one however the second and third ones are horrid and it seems as though the books had little to do with the store after the first book and were just about her getting boys
April 12, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. I want to know what happens with Lucy, Yamir, Sunny, and Even in high school!
January 7, 2026
This book is clearly written for a middle school audience, and while I can appreciate that it likely resonates well with readers in that age group, it ultimately wasn’t an enjoyable read for me as an adult. Problems that could have been solved by just saying what's on your mind/heart or asking a question drug out throughout the book because, well, kids don't do that. The other thing I couldn't connect with was the boy obsession (having a boyfriend). Again, for the targeted age group I think it would be I good book. I usually enjoy reading middle grade or teen books (sometimes children's books) but this one was not one I actually enjoyed reading. However, I do want to say I probably acted the same way as a middle grade girl. Recommend for the intended audience, adults reading this one may be annoyed.
July 23, 2018
This is a middle grade book which I don't usually get in to anymore since an author once questioned my taste in reading other middle grade material while attending a Book Expo America conference being an adult. There are many reasons actually to read outside of your age range though, and this novel is a perfect example. It was a wonderful read from beginning to end, and I am glad I didn't miss it even though it took me forever to start the novel. This is a great choice for all readers, especially if you want a feel good ending no matter what life throws at you.
May 20, 2020
i went into this book not expecting much, considering i was bored in quarantine and just wanted to read something from my childhood. although, this was much worse than i thought it would be. all of the characters were annoying and claimed to be mature when really they seemed immature, even for their age. yes, this is a young book for my age and i have been their age once and while i was immature this is a completely different level. definitely would not recommend.
June 21, 2017
Lucy's personality was much more tolerable than in the previous book, but the plot was less meaningful: Earth Club took a backstage to the Masquerade and boyfriend drama. Rounder characters, though.
October 4, 2017
It was drama filled once again! Lucy now has to make her own choices in eighth grade. And the eighth party is coming up! Really exciting!
January 8, 2018
It was a really good sequel to the original book, My life in Pink and Green
January 22, 2018
This was a really good book and I highly recommend it. This was probably my favorite one in the series.
November 20, 2018
Cute book for preteen/ young adult readers
Read
October 22, 2020love this book
November 8, 2020
Erica is nice?!?!? Green good and lots of plot twists.
February 16, 2021
a very cute series.
January 7, 2022
I read this just so I could finish the series
December 25, 2023
OMG YAMIR U BETTER TREAT HER RIGHT
March 22, 2017
Pink
I really loved this book although I wish it explained more about Lucy and Yamir's relationship and Sunny and Evan's relationship.
I really loved this book although I wish it explained more about Lucy and Yamir's relationship and Sunny and Evan's relationship.
December 19, 2016
In the third book of the Pink and Green series, Lucy Desberg is in her second semester as an eighth grader. Having handed over the adult problems (her parents' divorce, the family business, her sister's boyfriend) to actual adults, Lucy is now dealing with the normal woes of any middle schooler. First, there is Yamir, her supposed boyfriend, who is now in high school and has just started ignoring her out of nowhere. Then there is mean girl Erica, who occasionally seems to be changing her ways, but mostly wants to control everything around her, including Lucy's relationships and the upcoming eighth grade masquerade, for which she wants the staff at Pink and Green to do everyone's makeup. And finally, there is new boy, Travis, who seems to really like Lucy, even if she doesn't have any particular feelings for him. Lucy wanted the end of eighth grade to be perfect, but with so much going on, she feels sure it will fall short.
The local library from which I borrowed this book shelved it with the YA novels, leaving the first two titles of the series on their own in juvenile fiction. While I think this is a poor decision (no one is going to look for this book in YA), I can understand what might have motivated the staff to make it: this book is markedly different from the first two. The concerns are still very middle grade - much like the April Sinclair series, or the Alice books set during middle school - but the focus has shifted away from the family and ecology issues at the heart of the first two books and on to topics that just seem superficial and almost boring by comparison. The friendship between Lucy and Sunny is still very strong, and it does what it can to hold the book together, but there is just not enough momentum to the plot to keep things interesting. Compared with the excellence of My Summer of Pink & Green, this book is mostly a disappointment.
The local library from which I borrowed this book shelved it with the YA novels, leaving the first two titles of the series on their own in juvenile fiction. While I think this is a poor decision (no one is going to look for this book in YA), I can understand what might have motivated the staff to make it: this book is markedly different from the first two. The concerns are still very middle grade - much like the April Sinclair series, or the Alice books set during middle school - but the focus has shifted away from the family and ecology issues at the heart of the first two books and on to topics that just seem superficial and almost boring by comparison. The friendship between Lucy and Sunny is still very strong, and it does what it can to hold the book together, but there is just not enough momentum to the plot to keep things interesting. Compared with the excellence of My Summer of Pink & Green, this book is mostly a disappointment.
October 5, 2014
Lucy is your normal 8th grader; she worries about boys, dances and friendships, but she is also passionate about making her school “Go Green”! Currently Lucy is dating her best friend’s older brother Yamir, but he has been ignoring all her emails and text messages. Another boy, named Travis has been showing some interest in Lucy and she doesn’t feel the same way, although she does give him a chance. Lucy is also part of her earth club and went to the Board of Education to turn the cafeteria Green. There is also a big dance in March that Lucy and her friends are planning. She was very concerned about having a date for the dance, that she made the dance a dateless one.
One thing I could not get over was why, Lucy kept emailing everyone instead of texting or calling them. When she confronted Yamir, about ignoring her, she explained she had emailed him a couple times. We see that Yamir is always on his phone and seemed to answer her texts when she texted him about coming to a party. She also kept emailing her sister about problems she was having, and again I would think she could call her sister if she wanted that quick of a response.
When I began reading this story, I did not realize that it was the third book in a series; this shows that readers can read the story as a stand-alone novel. There was nothing in the plot that confused me from being a big plot line in the previous books, HOW GREAT!?! Al though, now I would like to read the first two books to see how something came about.
One thing I could not get over was why, Lucy kept emailing everyone instead of texting or calling them. When she confronted Yamir, about ignoring her, she explained she had emailed him a couple times. We see that Yamir is always on his phone and seemed to answer her texts when she texted him about coming to a party. She also kept emailing her sister about problems she was having, and again I would think she could call her sister if she wanted that quick of a response.
When I began reading this story, I did not realize that it was the third book in a series; this shows that readers can read the story as a stand-alone novel. There was nothing in the plot that confused me from being a big plot line in the previous books, HOW GREAT!?! Al though, now I would like to read the first two books to see how something came about.
December 4, 2014
Lovely & easy reading book with lots of funny moments and many troubles for Lucy and her friends.
I like the whole story, also the characters and their exciting adventures.
I find this book a great read for teens, their parents and not only.
Here are some quotes I like and would love to share:
“Best friends are more important than boyfriends.”
“…once you hear that someone likes you, they immediately seem cuter.”
“When you’re really excited about something, you don’t mind when people ask questions about it. You want to tell them everything so that they can be excited too.”
“Maybe that’s how you know if you like someone. If you don’t want to be the most important person in the world to that person, you’re probably not that interested in going out with them.”
“People with broken hearts shouldn't be reading stories about weddings.”
“It becomes surprisingly easy to lie when you've been doing it so consistently for so long.”
“Sometimes all you really need is to be needed.”
“Maybe life isn't meant to be perfect. It’s meant to be complicated and messy and confusing, and that’s what makes it exciting and memorable.”
“The more you feel like you have everything figured out, the less you actually do.”
“That’s the thing about life – you never really know what will change, and whether that change is good or bad. You have to be open to anything.”
I like the whole story, also the characters and their exciting adventures.
I find this book a great read for teens, their parents and not only.
Here are some quotes I like and would love to share:
“Best friends are more important than boyfriends.”
“…once you hear that someone likes you, they immediately seem cuter.”
“When you’re really excited about something, you don’t mind when people ask questions about it. You want to tell them everything so that they can be excited too.”
“Maybe that’s how you know if you like someone. If you don’t want to be the most important person in the world to that person, you’re probably not that interested in going out with them.”
“People with broken hearts shouldn't be reading stories about weddings.”
“It becomes surprisingly easy to lie when you've been doing it so consistently for so long.”
“Sometimes all you really need is to be needed.”
“Maybe life isn't meant to be perfect. It’s meant to be complicated and messy and confusing, and that’s what makes it exciting and memorable.”
“The more you feel like you have everything figured out, the less you actually do.”
“That’s the thing about life – you never really know what will change, and whether that change is good or bad. You have to be open to anything.”
September 21, 2016
It was amazing! I learned a lot from the book, I learned that you should slow down, relax and enjoy your childhood. Don't rush to grow up because when do you grow up you can't go back to being a kid. I mean you can- but that would just look weird for an adult to try to be a kid again. Lucy the main character in this book took on so much responsibility that she was basically drowning in them. Also she needed to talk things out face to face with people. You can't assume people know what's in your brain because unless they can read minds there's a big fat chance that they don't know.
I could somewhat relate to Lucy, me and her both have this fascination for make-up, we both have a loving best friend(s) that we love to dearly. Oh, and don't forget the boy crazy friends! We also seem to love doing projects, and sometimes because of those projects we tend to act more mature than we really are.
I could somewhat relate to Lucy, me and her both have this fascination for make-up, we both have a loving best friend(s) that we love to dearly. Oh, and don't forget the boy crazy friends! We also seem to love doing projects, and sometimes because of those projects we tend to act more mature than we really are.
January 15, 2016
Pink & Green Is the New Black is a great novel with a large plot. The author used intriguing characters to tie up all of the mini-plots inside of the larger plot-line. The smaller plots kept things interesting and fun to read, the way the author used this strategy kept me engaged and got me all the way through the book. The story about a middle-school aged girl who made it big in her smile town was inspiring in the first two books of the series. The author could much better be represented in this in the third but there was so much going on it would have been hard to follow. The vocabulary could have been higher level to make this book for mature. I loved the ideas and information they gave about Lucy working and running the spa. This gave the book a more finished feel and made the writer seem like they knew what they were talking about. Overall, this book was ok with a good plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2016
Pink & Green is the New Black by Lisa Greenwald is a great story. Book #3 out of the pink and green story truly shows the characters that were being showed evolve into understandable characters, one s that we can really understand their story. Lucy is now in 8th grade. She is really learning and understanding how she can take her makeup skills to gain popularity. Her best friend Sunny is now spending a lot of time with her "friend" Evan, while she is left thinking about her brother Yamir. Things were easier for Lucy and Yamir when they were both in middle school, but not that Yamir is in high school there is a bit more tension between them. When Lucy is asked to do the makeup for the school Masquerade, she excited, but she wants everything to be perfect, or she might loose some popularity.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews