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The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes #2

The Declaration Of Independence

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When Abby is told that she can't go to the Fall Festival with her friends, she becomes determined to show her parents how mature she has become by cleaning the house and taking care of her brother.

112 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

27 people are currently reading
444 people want to read

About the author

Anne Mazer

73 books102 followers
Quite a lot of Anne Mazer’s writing education took place while she was unconscious. Her parents wanted desperately to become writers and made themselves get up at 4:00 a.m. Every morning in order to have writing time before their three young children awoke. The first thing Anne heard every day was two big, noisy electric typewriters. The furious sound of typing was her childhood wake-up music. During the day, her parents endlessly discussed ideas, plot, and character, and before she was seven years old, Anne knew about revisions, first and second drafts, and rejection slips. It was like growing up in a twenty four hour, seven day a week writer’s boot camp.

In order to escape from her parents’ obsession with writing, Anne turned to books. She was an avid reader from an early age and credits her love of reading for her writing career. Her favorite works were fantasy, fairy tales, historical fiction, humor, realistic fiction, and adventure. Her other interests were language, art, history, and science. At the age of twelve, she wanted to be an actress, a ballerina and a nuclear physicist. These careers were rapidly eliminated as she realized that a) she couldn’t dance, b) she couldn’t act; and c) she hated math.

Although at the time Anne thought writing was nothing but a nuisance, she now considers herself very lucky to have grown up with two aspiring writers. She learned a lot about discipline, perseverance and dedication to a craft from witnessing her parents’ struggle. They eventually became successful and award-winning young adult novelists.

It took Anne a long time to figure out that she, too, wanted to be a writer. During early adulthood, she worked as an au pair, a bank teller, a pill bottle labeler, a receptionist, an English tutor, and an administrative assistant, as well as other jobs that she was ill-suited for. She attended three universities, spent several years in Paris, traveled throughout Europe, and worked in Boston and New York City.

Anne’s “eureka” moment about writing came while she prepared a research report for one of her bosses. As she lovingly polished each sentence, and meticulously organized the paragraphs, she realized that no one really cared how beautifully she wrote about the latest models of air-conditioners. Except her, of course.

Using her parents’ model of daily writing and discipline, she began to write. It took her seven years to publish her first book, a picture book inspired by her then two year old son, Max.

Anne is the mother of an adult son and daughter. Over the last twenty years, she has written over forty-five books for young readers. She has enough ideas to last for another quarter century and hopes that she will be writing for a very long time.

Fun Facts About Anne Mazer

Her favorite foods are popcorn, rice pudding and blueberries.
When she was a kid, she would sometimes read up to ten books a day.
If she had magic powers, she'd choose invisibility.
She painted the rooms in her house yellow, orange, and violet.
One of her favorite childhood books was The Twilight of Magic, by Hugh Lofting.
When Anne was a teenager, her room was so messy that she needed a map to get from the door to the bed. (sort of)
In school Anne often flunked her favorite creative subjects, like writing and art.

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5 stars
477 (37%)
4 stars
377 (29%)
3 stars
333 (25%)
2 stars
82 (6%)
1 star
15 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
6 reviews
September 27, 2010
I really like this book, because I like books that are for only girls. So this is defenitly a book that I enjoyed. This book talks about how Abby wants to earn her independace, so she starts doing stuff by her own to prove to her parents that she is independant. Thats because she really wants to go to the Fall Festival. This story is very fun and intertaning to read. One thing that I think is pretty cool is that, at the begining of every chapter there is a quote by famous people.
Profile Image for Dee.
326 reviews
September 3, 2011
I like this series. The characters seem very real. I like the every day situations that are blown way out of proportion just like it would happen in a real fifth-grader's mind. It's reassuring for the readers (traditionally kids) to see how these situations arise and eventually pass.
1 review1 follower
Currently reading
June 13, 2012
I think this a fun and good book for kids my age (9 - 11). Abby Hayes is fun and funny.
Profile Image for Briar's Reviews.
2,295 reviews578 followers
June 9, 2020
The Pen is Mightier than the Sword was my first Abby Hayes book, and let me tell ya I used to be addicted to these guys! I would find them at the local library and binge these babies until I had them memorized! I recently found a copy of these at a local charity book sale so I grabbed one to do a quick review!

This book is most likely going to be for the middle grade girl demographic, but middle graders will love it regardless. Abby Hayes is always working hard, and she wants to prove her independence in this book. Books like these are great little adventures and show perserverance of a girl who wants to meet a goal!
Profile Image for Heather.
202 reviews9 followers
September 5, 2013
Abby Hayes is determined to prove to her parents that she is mature and responsible enough to go to the Fall Festival by herself with her friends and she does not want to have her little brother hanging around either. So Abby goes on a mission to prove her maturity and responsibility around the house to her parents while trying to avoid disasters as only Abby Hayes can.

This was a sweet book about the joys of growing up and how hard it can be to prove you are growing up and to not be treated like a child anymore. Abby is at that awkward age where she is not a child nor a teen, as she is 10 years old and in fifth grade. Great book, very entertaining!
502 reviews2 followers
March 10, 2016
I liked the first book better, but this one was just as good. This time, Abby wants more independence for herself. That's so normal--as guys and girls grow up they want more freedom away from their family. She doesn't want to babysit/take care/take her little brother, Alex at the festival; this starts her rebellion so that she can show her parents how mature she is, and also causes almost even MORE arguing between her big sisters. Alex is upset because Abby is his fave sister, and she doesn't want to take him. AND, Braggy Brianna is holding a birthday which Abby's new friend Natalie can't go to...but in the end, Abby gets all things into place with everyone happy with everyone.
18 reviews
December 2, 2013
This is yet another good book for young girl readers. In this book, Abby wants to start being more independent since she is growing up and is always in the shadow of her "Super Sibs." She sets out to prove to her parents that she can attend the Fall Festival by herself by helping out around the house and showing them how mature she is. This is a great book about growing up and learning how to be mature, but still admit when you do need help. This is another great realistic fiction book for younger girls.
1 review
July 16, 2008
I really like this book it takes Abby on One big trip and her brother one big hit!!!Abby is trieing to prove to her parents that shes mature so she can go to the festival with her friends.Abby tells her parents that she will babysit her little brother.
When everything is going great... BOOM!!!
Thats when her brother took the hit!
Profile Image for Twyla.
1,766 reviews61 followers
January 4, 2015
my favorite part was when abby was aloud to go to the fall festival with her friends instead of her brother. the worst part was when her brother was sad. mny favorite character was abbys mom because she let abby go to the fall festival with her friends instead of her brother. there was no worst character. auryn 11 years old
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jasmine.
1 review
October 20, 2017
I think that Abby Hayes is a hot tempered girl and does not like to be annoyed , Abby really wants to go to the fall festival with her friends without her family members butting in , especially her little brother , Alex .
Abby's parents are serious that Abby's little brother , Alex wants to go to the fall festival with his big sister , Abby .
Abby struggles within trying to prove maturity
350 reviews
October 31, 2011
I loved this book because Abby Hayes wants to go to the fair with her friends and she dose not give up. And when her brother Alex got hurt bad she did the right thing to go over to her friend Jessicas.



143 reviews2 followers
March 25, 2013
Great book for girls to read about having their own independence. Also shows how you could keep a journal as Abby keeps one herself throughout the book. Abby is trying to find herself and gain her own independence as she is often in the shadows of her two "super sibs."
3 reviews
Read
August 29, 2019
I love the Abby Hayes series is have been reading it since 5th grade and now am in 8th! I own many of these books and though they are easy fast reads i constantly finding myself pick up this great series.
Profile Image for Alli.
15 reviews
February 24, 2008
When I read this book I thought of my self because my brother had to get stitches also the same year
4 reviews
April 26, 2008
I did't like it because it was sooooo BORING!!!!!!!!!!=0
Profile Image for Anna Hardesty.
683 reviews
March 11, 2010
I loved these books when I was in elementary school. They're a great read for girls of that age. They're funny too. (:
Profile Image for Juliana.
165 reviews5 followers
May 24, 2012
aww i had to do a presentation on this book in 5th grade haha :) its so cute :)
Profile Image for Shannon.
15 reviews1 follower
September 15, 2012
Cute story...Bella loves the Abby Hayes series. The main character is funny and very relatable for kids. This was a super quick read with some good lessons learned in the end!
12 reviews
April 5, 2013
This is a great book!!!!!!! Its all about earning something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOWWWWWWW!!!!!!!
Profile Image for Chloe.
41 reviews
July 10, 2013
I love the quotes in these books! It's very inspiring to read! This light series has a special place in my heart, because I own all of them! Love these! ❤
Profile Image for Alex :).
6 reviews1 follower
September 11, 2013
I love this book because i used to feel this way but after I read this book I found out where I fit in! :) :D
1 review
Read
November 5, 2013
How do i read it?? Can somebody please help mee
Profile Image for Elise.
2 reviews1 follower
Read
September 23, 2016
Re-Read, this was my favorite series during elementary school.
Profile Image for Shrek.
156 reviews1 follower
March 31, 2018
read this like in 3rd grade ok i’m just putting books i read a long time ago on rn
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews

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