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Amy's Choice
Sequel to award-winning Call Me Amy.
Amy Henderson’s freshman year starts with a new best friend, Cat, and a newfound confidence. But she misses her crush, Craig, who has gone to live with his aunt in Boston. Craig has promised to write, and Amy checks the mail on a daily basis, but to no avail. There are plenty of distractions, however. Cat’s brother, Ricky, seems interested in Amy, but is she interested in him? And a new friendship with Finn, the lighthouse keeper, who Amy discovers is a talented artist, keeps Amy and Cat busy as they arrange for him to exhibit his work. But things get complicated when Craig returns from Boston and Finn is accused of arson. There are more questions than answers for Amy as life becomes as turbulent as the cold and stormy ocean of her coastal Maine town. Ideal for preteens, this novel is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Call Me Amy and touches upon issues of friendship, boyfriend troubles, and the power of believing in oneself.
Amy Henderson’s freshman year starts with a new best friend, Cat, and a newfound confidence. But she misses her crush, Craig, who has gone to live with his aunt in Boston. Craig has promised to write, and Amy checks the mail on a daily basis, but to no avail. There are plenty of distractions, however. Cat’s brother, Ricky, seems interested in Amy, but is she interested in him? And a new friendship with Finn, the lighthouse keeper, who Amy discovers is a talented artist, keeps Amy and Cat busy as they arrange for him to exhibit his work. But things get complicated when Craig returns from Boston and Finn is accused of arson. There are more questions than answers for Amy as life becomes as turbulent as the cold and stormy ocean of her coastal Maine town. Ideal for preteens, this novel is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Call Me Amy and touches upon issues of friendship, boyfriend troubles, and the power of believing in oneself.
200 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2014
About the author
Marcia Strykowski
5 books47 followersCALL ME AMY, a Bank Street College of Education's Best Books of the Year, was also shortlisted for the Crystal Kite Award. AMY'S CHOICE is the sequel. Next up was ROLLER BOY. THE PUFFIN WHO WHISPERED in 2026! Living in New England, Marcia has always felt a connection to the ocean and its creatures. When she's not watching the waves, she works at a public library. To learn more about the author and her books, please visit:
blog/website: https://marciastrykowski.com/
twitter: http://twitter.com/MarciaStry
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marciastryk...
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/marciastryko...
blog/website: https://marciastrykowski.com/
twitter: http://twitter.com/MarciaStry
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marciastryk...
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 27, 2015
I fell in love with Marcia Strykowski’s coming-of-age story, Call Me Amy, and its sequel certainly doesn’t disappoint. This book is sprinkled with the same magic, one that transports its reader to a gentler time and place and is populated by a cast of characters that are so real they almost step off the page. But don’t be misled, this tightly-plotted story touches upon serious issues such as peer pressure, bullying, and the conflicting emotions resulting from burgeoning maturity. Above all it’s a book about being true to oneself and standing up for the things that really matter. It’s warm, uplifting and will leave you with a smile on your face.
February 3, 2015
I loved catching up with Amy - having read about her in Marcia Strykowski's first novel 'Call me Amy' - and was delighted to find this story as fresh and moving as the original. Familiar characters weave seamlessly with new and I found myself bowled along with Amy as she experienced difficult choices, bullying, new friendships and the question of how far you go for loyalty. The early 70s were beautifully evoked yet again, along with the slower way of life we seemed to have then. Amy develops new-found strengths throughout the story, truly finding out who she is and wants to be. I thoroughly recommend this book.
February 1, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s first book, CALL ME, AMY, and was wondering if the second book could possibly be as good. And it was!
This book is about a high school girl named Amy and it explores the themes of friendship, loyalty, and bullying. When her friend, Finn, is accused of arson, Amy struggles to decide the best thing to do. Equally, she struggles with boyfriend issues, and must also decide the best thing to do in her personal life. This is a great coming of age book that beautifully depicts 1970s coastal Maine.
This book is about a high school girl named Amy and it explores the themes of friendship, loyalty, and bullying. When her friend, Finn, is accused of arson, Amy struggles to decide the best thing to do. Equally, she struggles with boyfriend issues, and must also decide the best thing to do in her personal life. This is a great coming of age book that beautifully depicts 1970s coastal Maine.
October 2, 2015
In Amy’s Choice, Strykowski once again does an excellent job of capturing a small coastal Maine town in the 1970s. Amy struggles with doing what’s right when a neighboring lighthouse keeper is falsely accused of a crime but small town dynamics threaten to interfere with justice. Fans of Call Me Amy will also enjoy the portrayal of innocent first romance and Amy’s journey toward increased self-confidence.
November 13, 2014
My girls and I were very excited to order the sequel to Call Me Amy and we weren’t disappointed. They both read Amy’s Choice within three days of it arriving in the mail and now I have finished reading, as well. Amy follows her own drummer rather than the crowd in this well-written story. It is very refreshing to have clean, fun books available for my avid young readers.
November 5, 2014
I loved this sequel to Call Me Amy and was happy to grab an ARC at the NEIBA conference. These stories bring me back to a gentler place and time, yet have enough going on to keep me turning pages. I’ll definitely be recommending Amy’s Choice to middle-schoolers.
October 22, 2014
Amy is relatable, brave, and fresh. Marcia Strykowski perfectly captures the voice, emotions, and struggles of a teen girl. Wonderful read!
March 19, 2017
I wasn't surprised that AMY'S CHOICE was equally as entertaining and suspenseful as CALL ME AMY.
Marcia writes with "ease" and as one turns the pages, you feel there's always a lot you are learning about "effortlessly," including human nature and nature, a small Maine town, and the workings of a lighthouse. The story holds the reader's attention from the beginning, covering bullies, teen awkwardness, and various relationships, both with older and peer-aged individuals.
I feel this is an important book, especially for preteens and high schoolers because it deals with "sexuality" in a gentle yet wise way. As a story, it drives the point home, that most girls, like Amy, are not ready to enter any type of intimacy. Choices - Amy's choices as a ninth grader will echo in a lot of girls' hearts - putting into words what they truly feel in their own lives, but have found hard to verbalize. I strongly believe AMY'S CHOICE will be a comfort for them, grounding them towards a strong identity.
I highly recommend AMY'S CHOICE. I'm sure it will be a hard-to-put-down book for readers!
Marcia writes with "ease" and as one turns the pages, you feel there's always a lot you are learning about "effortlessly," including human nature and nature, a small Maine town, and the workings of a lighthouse. The story holds the reader's attention from the beginning, covering bullies, teen awkwardness, and various relationships, both with older and peer-aged individuals.
I feel this is an important book, especially for preteens and high schoolers because it deals with "sexuality" in a gentle yet wise way. As a story, it drives the point home, that most girls, like Amy, are not ready to enter any type of intimacy. Choices - Amy's choices as a ninth grader will echo in a lot of girls' hearts - putting into words what they truly feel in their own lives, but have found hard to verbalize. I strongly believe AMY'S CHOICE will be a comfort for them, grounding them towards a strong identity.
I highly recommend AMY'S CHOICE. I'm sure it will be a hard-to-put-down book for readers!
September 13, 2024
It was a joy to be back with Amy in her small town on the coast of Maine. She has a new best friend, as well as adventures, romantic dilemmas, and a decision to make when a serious miscarriage of justice unfolds right in front of her. This is a sequel to Call Me Amy, which I loved, too, but the author has written this in a way that it also can stand alone. It’s a beautifully written compelling novel that adults will enjoy on their own or with their children. As the tension built, I couldn’t put it down. I wish there were more Amy books!
December 26, 2018
I finished this book on Christmas Eve! Marcia does a beautiful job of getting the reader into the teenage head. I love the twist ending, and how Amy chooses what really works for her. This is an engaging follow up to CALL ME AMY.
July 27, 2019
It was kind of boring in my opinion, but it might be interesting for another person.
August 5, 2020
Cute coming of age book. Now I want to go back and read the first one.
May 18, 2021
Kind of called the ending but it's nice that she made the choice that she wasn't ready to date for real despite the fact she had a crush who was asking her to the dance
December 12, 2014
I enjoyed Amy's Choice just as much, if not more, than Call Me Amy. Although Strykowski's second book has the same timeless, wholesome feel as the first, Amy has evolved as she struggles with more mature situations. Many readers will identify with her dilemma of being drawn to Craig, the popular, handsome boy, while also appreciating Ricky, the more studious, serious brother of her best friend, Cat. Another adult problem which Amy must deal with is the trial of her artist friend Finn who is accused of arson. Even though she has a good idea of how the fire actually started, she does not voice her suspicions without proof, letting the facts emerge at the trial. These and many other events in the story provide great conversation starters for parent/child discussions. The 1970s pop-culture references are fun and give the reader a real feel for this time period, and the small, coastal Maine town of Port Wells is the perfect backdrop for this narrative. I look forward to reading about how Amy meets more challenges in her future.
July 21, 2014
Amy’s Choice is the sequel to Call Me Amy, by Marcia Strykowski. I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first one. Amy has started school and is happily working in the new library she helped to open in her small Maine town. She has a new friend, Cat, and has started high school, with some new confidence gained by her adventures in the first book.
Amy is presented with several challenges that are normal for many young teens, and Strykowski lets you see Amy’s development, through the first person narrative and her interaction with other people. Like Call Me Amy, this novel does a great job of evoking the early 70s, so the reader can see what it was like. The conflicts and learning experiences though are fairly timeless for kids working their way through the teen years, and figuring out who they are, as individuals. As an adult, I enjoyed reminiscing about those times, and that era, but ultimately, the novel is a great read for young teens.
Amy is presented with several challenges that are normal for many young teens, and Strykowski lets you see Amy’s development, through the first person narrative and her interaction with other people. Like Call Me Amy, this novel does a great job of evoking the early 70s, so the reader can see what it was like. The conflicts and learning experiences though are fairly timeless for kids working their way through the teen years, and figuring out who they are, as individuals. As an adult, I enjoyed reminiscing about those times, and that era, but ultimately, the novel is a great read for young teens.
October 9, 2014
It was so wonderful to pick up a book that was so pure and innocent with plenty of emotion. I thoroughly enjoyed CALL ME AMY, and I was excited to spend more time with Amy and her friends. She stepped out of her shell in the first book and I was glad to see that she was finding her true self the more and more this story developed.
It was great that she had made new friends but after everything she had gone through with Craig in the first book I could understand why she yearned for his return. As with CALL ME AMY, this book was filled with adventure and excitement, but also heartache and tragedy. A great read that will appeal to readers of any age, I think the characters are relatable and endearing. With a niece Amy's age I could easily see her getting up to the mischief in this story and it even took me back to my younger years.
A fantastic tale of friendship with plenty of meaning, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish.
January 24, 2015
This is such a sweet book!
I hadn't read the first book, Call Me Amy, but that was not a problem. The author did a great job of catching me up to speed when necessary (though I enjoyed this one so much, I plan to read the other).
Amy's navigation through friends, boys, confrontation, and learning a little about herself, came through as a down-to-earth portrayal for the story of a young teen. The plot was realistic and not overly romanticized as Amy found herself dealing with normal, real life situations.
This would be a great mother-daughter read (I believe the moms will enjoy it just as much as their daughters will)!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I hadn't read the first book, Call Me Amy, but that was not a problem. The author did a great job of catching me up to speed when necessary (though I enjoyed this one so much, I plan to read the other).
Amy's navigation through friends, boys, confrontation, and learning a little about herself, came through as a down-to-earth portrayal for the story of a young teen. The plot was realistic and not overly romanticized as Amy found herself dealing with normal, real life situations.
This would be a great mother-daughter read (I believe the moms will enjoy it just as much as their daughters will)!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
March 31, 2015
Amy's Choice is a follow-up book to Call Me Amy. I enjoyed both books very much. I liked the way Amy dealt with her decisions, the way her friends were important to her, and the way she learned that some things are more important than others and that it's okay to wait a bit to grow up. I liked the inter-generational friendship between Finn and the kids. Marcia Strykowski does an effective job of dealing with issues such as bullying, peer pressure, and sibling differences. It's a book I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to kids, because it's what I would call 'wholesome fun.' I hope Marcia will write another novel about Amy and her friends.
June 13, 2016
Drift back to an earlier time, when life was slower paced and romances were innocent. Strykowski's gentle novel depicts the early 70s with charm and grace. Amy, the main character from CALL ME AMY, is missing her boyfriend Craig, but her friend's brother, Ricky, would be happy to take Craig's place. Now Amy's torn between two relationships and must find a way to balance the many problems that come her way as she takes an unpopular stance following the town arson. Covering many topics such as bullying, budding romance, loyalty, friendship, and integrity, this coming-of-age novel will find a place in the hearts of teen readers who like sweet romances and strong female BFFs.
October 2, 2015
In this sequel to "Call Me Amy," Amy begins her freshman year in high school. Familiar characters return and new, engaging characters join Amy's adventure as her story continues. Torn between two loves, Amy struggles to find her way in this endearing coming-of-age novel. Reminiscent of the nostalgic "Wonder Years," the book explores themes of friendship, first loves and the power of believing in oneself. It is a gentle, delightful read!
December 28, 2014
Amy’s Choice is the second Amy book, but it doesn’t disappoint as a standalone novel. Amy stays true to character as she continues to break out of her shell. There is no forced, superhuman transformation; instead, Amy realistically faces more of life’s choices, and speaks out according to her conscience.
Cleanly written and engaging, I recommend this book for young pre-teens to adults—-especially those nostalgic for a classic tale set in the early 1970s!
Cleanly written and engaging, I recommend this book for young pre-teens to adults—-especially those nostalgic for a classic tale set in the early 1970s!
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August 8, 2014ARC coming from Goodreads First Reads! Review to come soon.
October 7, 2014
A great step-up from Call Me Amy. I really enjoyed this! The 70's world is a wonder.
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February 2, 2025
I love this book. I gave it 5 stars. I would remand it to others.
April 16, 2017
Strykowski's sequel to 'Call me Amy' doesn't disappoint. It captures perfectly the friendship and real social issues that affect young children. An issue important to my heart. The story depicts Amy Henderson who, as the author describes, "is experiencing the growing pains of high school" in her freshman year. The author's writing style offers encouragement and comfort to tweens facing tough coming-of-age experiences. I would definitely recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews