Poppy

by Rosie Rushton

Poppy has it all. She is pretty, popular, and has a great family life. Because she is so happy she loves sorting out the problems of others. But what happens when Poppy's perfect life begins to crumble?

Genres: Young Adult, Teen, Fiction, Romance

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Rosie Rushton began her career as a feature writer for a local paper. Staying Cool, Surviving School was her first book, published by Piccadilly Press in 1993. After writing another non-fiction title, You’re My Best Friend, I Hate You! (available from Puffin), Rosie turned to fiction.

The Leehampton series

Best Friends
Best Friends Together (1998)
Best Friends Getting Sorted (1999)
Best Friends in Love (1999)

What A Week series

21st century Austen
The Secrets of Love (2005)
Summer of Secrets (2007)
Secret Schemes and Daring Dreams (2008)
Love, Lies and Lizzie (2009)
Echoes of Love (2010)
Whatever Love Is (2012)

Other books
Staying Cool, Surviving School (1993)
You're My Best Friend - I Hate You! (1994)
Poppy (1996)
Olivia (1997)
Sophie (1998)
Melissa (1998)
Jessica (2000)
Life Line (1999)
PS He’s Mine (2000)
Break Point (2001)
Tell Me I’m OK, really (2001)
Last Seen Wearing Trainers (2002)
All Change! (2000)
Fall Out! (2002)
Waving Not Drowning (2003)
Friends, Enemies and Other Tiny Problems (2003)

Reviews

[Sophia A · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realize that this book is probably for ten to twelve-year-olds and that in deciding to read it I should not have expected to be intellectually challenged. However, the plot was so very, very predictable that I think I could have written the ending after the first thirty pages.

I think that, besides several instances of internalized misogyny that made my skin crawl, Poppy is a relatively likeable protagonist. An adorably obnoxious busy body who I would never be friends with in real life but whose escapades I didn't hate reading about. And the whole novel is delightfully British.

The biggest deal breaker of this book was its introduction and then subsequent abandonment of serious issues. Or worse, the use of them as a plot device. SPOILERS AHEAD Poppy's grandma DIES and it ends up being a convenient opportunity for Poppy's family to inhabit her cottage when their own home is foreclosed. TRIGGER WARNING: SU*CIDE Her sister contemplates overdosing on prescription pills and Poppy doesn't tell anyone, except her sister's boyfriend, who she asks to come "rescue" her sister. NOT a safe representation of how mental health should be handled.

Overall, this would've been a forgivably goofy novel if it hadn't thrown in intense, poorly handled plot elements at the end. :/

[K James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected it to be very stereotypical 90’s/00’s girl/teen book with a bubblegum, airy plot. I was pleasantly surprised at the way the storyline went, although some of it was extremely predictable, I enjoyed reading it.

[Alyssa]

Read as a young adult and it wasn't until I saw it in a thrift store that I had unlocked memories. Pretty predictable but an easy read about a 90s middle schooler.

[Max C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this year's ago as a young teen, and I loved it. I can't read it whole anymore, I skim it, because you can tell the audience for this book is really young.

Having read much more since I first read this book, parts of Poppy's character irritated me, but I did still like the story. I wish I knew how to get a copy of it, though. I had to borrow through an online library after it took me ages to find it from name alone, only to realize there are no copies available anywhere, I had to hunt it down to find a library that had it.

[Leonor · Rating 1 out of 5]

need to learn not to re-read books I have loved as a pre-teen

[Rachel King · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when I was younger. I liked it enough then that I want to read it again now! Ha