Snail Mail No More

Elizabeth and Tara*Starr #2

by Paula Danziger, Ann M. Martin

As a followup to

Genres: Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Friendship

320 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

Paula Danziger was an American children's author. She wrote more than 30 books, including her 1974 debut The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, for children's and young adult audiences. At the time of her death, all her books were still in print; they had been published in 53 countries and translated into 14 languages.

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mejores amigas.
Muchisímos kilometros de distancia de por medio.
Un correo lento y terrible.
La mágica aparición del internet.
Correos electrónicos.
Historias, verdades, vivencias, cambios, adolescencia y emociones.
Eso es lo que este libro nos relata, al principio contados en cartas y luego en correos, sobre dos niñas que en el camino se convierten en adolescentes, que descubrirán, sentirán y aprenderán mil cosas, juntas, aunque al mismo tiempo esten separadas.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a very cute book 2. But it's not just fluff. These girls tackle some tough issues - having a parent that drinks too much, teenage drinking, first kisses, not telling parents everything and first siblings. I like the way the girls talk through email and work through it.

[Ash R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about best friends, Elizabeth and Tara Star. They live far away from each other and have to write letters in the mail and have to wait days to get it. It was a slow way to communicate. Then the girls get computers and learn to talk faster there email. Thats how they keep in contact inside of their old, slow, snail mail.

I can make a text to self connection because my best friend doesn't live in New York with me anymore. So we mostly communicate with email, AIM, or phone calls when she doesn't come and visit me. Elizabeth and Tara did the same thing to keep still best friends like Sarah and I did.

I would rate this book a 5!! Because I can understand so well and I can feel and grasp what they are talking about and there emotions. I also like that the book is just the letters and emails they send back and forth to each other with their problems. Its a great GIRLS book! =D

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

i loved the second one as much as the first, and that doesn't happen often!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snail Mail No more is about a long distance friendship with Tara Star and Elizabeth. Tara Star is the really popular. Elizabeth is just normal. The setting is in Ohio. I'm not really sure where just I know it is in Ohio. Tara's internal conflict is wither her "friend" Phil. She is wondering if she likes him enough to date him. Elizabeth's is with her mom. Her mom and father are no longer together because of her father. Tara's external conflict is with Elizabeth. She and Elizabeth haven't seen each other in a few years. Elizabeth's external conflict is with her father. Her father is and alcoholic and he always says he is going to come to their house but he usually comes drunk or never shows up.
When I was reading this book I made a text to world connection. When you are away from a really close friend that has moved away and you miss them really much and you have only talked to them in e-mail. When you see them you are really happy then when you leave all you do is talk.
I would give this book 4 stars. I love how Paula Danziger and Ann M. Martin made the book by e-mail. I wouldn't give it 5 stars because the book is a little easy but it is still good to read.

[Lauren]

I have had this book in a pile of books I've owned since being a pre-teen, so clearly have read it in the past, so thought I'd read it again before releasing it into the book world to find a new home (desperately need space!).

The narrative is told my two young girls (best friends) who communicate via letter and then email (when dial up modem internet via a landline connection was still such a thing!). It's a lightweight novel about the changes young girls go through when two friends are separated (one has moved to a new state). While one family deals with the arrival of a new baby, the other deals with the aftermath of having an alcoholic father who wants to try and be part of their lives. It's a diary / email exchange novel and shows me just how 'dated' some books can become when they based themselves in one particular time! I had a great time chuckling about just how bitchy these girls were being to their so call best friends, accusing them of things they hadn't said, of jealousy, but I suppose very true signs of coming to terms with being a teenage girl.

[Rachel]

This book is very ineresting cause, you get to see what each of the characters lives are apart from each other. For,example on of them are having a sibling coming soon. The other character is having problems with her dad. I like how much detail they put into their emails. I read the first book about their letters and I love this one. It shows how they upgraded from letters to emails. It is a really great book for girls to read.

[Pooja Dimba · Rating 1 out of 5]

Snail Mail No More to me is not a good book. It is about two girls who send emails to each other about school lives and home lives. The schools stuff that they share with each other is totally unrealistic and the two girls (Tara and Elizabeth) sound like college students. But of course this my opinion and my opinion of this book is that it is awful. I suggest you don't read it.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snail Mail No More is an enjoyable sequel to P.S. Longer Letter Later. Elizabeth and Tara*Starr are charming main characters with unique voices, and the epistolary format is well done. The ending seems to be leaving the possibility of a third book open, but as co-author Danziger passed away in 2004, it seems like that won't happen.

[Mary Bronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a pretty good book. I really enjoyed reading it. I read this book back in high school and I loved the plot and the characters of the story. I really love the idea of pen pals and I thought this was a great way to show how pen pals can become best friends.

[Meghan Frick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book never gets old to me. lol I have read this book ever since elementary school and i love it!!!
i recommend younger children to read it!

[bex o.donoghue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Official Rating:
5/5 stars 🌟

[Brianna F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the book was really reflecting off of real life things that happens in life. And that it's actually really helpful for like friend problems and figuring out what to do.
And it's about two best friends that live in different states so it's really hard for them to see each other. They also have problems with each other about other family things or other people so it's very hard for them to work it out over Email. Because that is the only way they can contact each other.
I didn't like how the two girls fought about jealousy, because they are goods friends they will always tell each other everything. But I do like how they comfort each other with their words so they have to be right next to each other.
So the two friends humor and serious things made me want to read more to find out what will happen next. Plus I would love to see how the react to happens next in the book.
I would suggest that girls should read this book, ages 11-15. And I would give it 4 star rating.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

As my previous review stated I had read the first one in this series and until 2 weeks ago I thought P.S Longer Letter Later was a stand alone book and was delighted to find out there was a second one. A really good read and liked it but not as much as the first. That's probably due to the fact that the first one had childhood memories for me and meant something. There wasn't really an ending to it so I'm assuming it was written to make the reader make there own decision of the end. I did find that the main plot ending just came out of nowhere and didn't really have much to it before the book ended which was a shame. Overall a good read and I love the characters. Shame there isn't any more to read from this series.

[Simona Calò · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leggo i libri di questa collana da 25 anni e l'aspetto sentimentale prevale quasi sempre sul resto. In questo caso, tuttavia, è una lettura che consiglierei a una preadolescente per la delicatezza e l'intelligenza con cui si affrontano temi importanti: alcolismo, morte, diventare sorella maggiore, problemi economici e in famiglia, invece dei soliti, comici e frivoli primi amori. Le protagoniste di questa vicenda sono particolarmente mature per la loro età e cresceranno ancora molto in un centinaio di pagine.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was always one of my favorite books as a child. I can't count how many times I reread it after first discovering it, I was kind of obsessed. Reading it as an older person, I can't believe how unbelievably heavy and sad it is at times. It deals with the themes nicely and it's well-written.

It kind of feels incomplete though and I'm wondering if there were plans for a third book in the series. or if it was meant to be two and done.

Anyways, this will always be a forever favorite and have a fond place in my heart.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad I spent my weekend rereading this duology from my childhood. These books are so good. I really appreciate how well they tackle real life issues, even as children's books. This sequel had a few weird remarks (religious comments, a somewhat iffy joke), but overall is an honest exploration into all the curveballs life can throw at us. I honestly wish I could read more from Elizabeth and Tara*Starr's friendship. I hope they do remain friends forever, and support each other through the years.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remembered nothing about the plot – only that the girls switched from letters to email. This story was more slice of life, without the rising dramatic tension of the first book – most of the major incidents happened in the last third of the book. While it was enjoyable to spend more time with Elizabeth and Tara*Starr, it was a bit sad (though realistic) to see their relationship change the longer they are apart from each other.

[Sade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I can vividly remember reading; I couldn't have been older than 8. I still have my copy, yellowed pages and little underlines and comments all over, not knowing what annotating was. This book will always hold a special place in my heart. Although...I could not tell you a thing about it.

And who knew I was reading the sequel?! I was 8 years old okay...

[Brittni Scarborough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in elementary school, after PS Longer letters later, where my love for reading started. 5th grade I believe. last year on my daughter's 9th birthday I bought this and PS longer letters later for my now 5th grader. we read them together. I have my copies and she has hers. I hope she will reread them one day with her daughter too.

[Kristen Gamble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this sequel blew me away. I devoured it ! I just love Ann m Martin’s books and her writing style. Will be looking into some others of hers. I’m glad I read this as an adult so I could appreciate it so much more !

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this in the back room of my school library and read it for the nostalgia. I was obsessed with the Babysitters Club and Paula Danizger when I was in middle school. It was a fun way to revisit these writers.

[TheSuperKim · Rating 4 out of 5]

💯

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5

[Eden Fenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my fave childhood books.

[vina · Rating 5 out of 5]

RIP to the dad

[kaley]

went through a nostalgia hole with my childhood books from home. god i loved this book

[Kara Whipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I re read both of these in one day? Sure did. Sure did.

[Kayla]

Read this in late elementary or middle school, and just saw I didn't have it marked as read. I remember very little about it.

[Caitie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute sequel, still with all the heart as the first book! Ah, the memories of being twelve and thirteen years old…