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Pen Pals #7
Handle With Care
Shanon and Lisa find out just how dirty a game politics can be when Shanon runs against her friend for dorm representative, causing friction between them and in their pen pal relationships
113 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 11, 2019
Probably my favourite pen pals book so far. Less of Palmer and more of the other girls.
April 1, 2025
This takes me back to childhood. 💙 I loved this!
December 24, 2022
Handle With Care
The Foxes throw Shannon an “After Hours” surprise Sweet 13 birthday party and invite everyone on the floor. Shannon gets a lot of nice gifts (a picture frame from Amy, a calligraphy pen from Kate and a letter from Mars). His present to her is an analysis of her handwriting. Only it describes an intelligent, passionate, bold, creative person. All traits Lisa says fit more her. Shannon walks away from the party happy but at the same time upset at Mars and Lisa (who apologized for getting into it with Kate and then said the letter did fit Shannon’s personality).
Only Shannon knew she was lying. She writes to Mars for an explanation, and he tells her he just thought it was interesting and didn’t mean to upset her. But she gets offended and thinks because he says she’s sensitive, it means he thinks she’s weak (spineless). So she writes him back that she’s sorry he feels that way.
We also see that she is kind of passive because she let’s Lisa control a lot of things (her clothes, her hair, the look of their room).
Mars again apologizes and just wants to drop it, pointing out lots of intelligent people are introverts.
After going to Kate, Shannon realizes that Lisa is BOSSY and CONTROLLING! So Shannon starts avoiding Lisa and spending more time with Kate. She also starts standing up to Lisa about midnight fridge raids and calling Mars a show-off because Rob complains to her about his new talking parrot (while she complains to him about Shannon). Lisa of course has no idea what’s causing Shannon to switch up, and so she blames Kate.
There’s an advertisement for a 3rd former student representative council member and Shannon and Lisa are both nominated. This surprises both cause they had no idea the other was interested. Muffin Talbot is also nominated.
Shannon is about to drop out but when she talks to Lisa and hears how arrogant and overconfident she is that she and Muffin don’t stand a chance, she quickly changes her mind.
Mars gives Shannon a great idea about having a suggestion box from the girls in her dorm and then running on the better ideas, but Rob is more occupied with grades and staying on the team. John’s mind is also somewhere else (on his writing). But Palmer (as usual) calls attention to her own self and her Pen Pal (Sam O Leery) who sends her a letter and the answers to the questionnaire they send all prospects for Pen Pals (some of his answers to personal to read).
They say it’ll be great if Alma included Brighton students to events and Palmer says he would have to ask her to do something first. They start to get along and play a game but Lisa messes it up and insults Shannon.
Shannon and Mars meet at Figaro’s and he gives her campaign buttons he designed himself (and holds her hand).
Lisa out of jealousy designs a poster of her as a superhero with two mice with Shannon and Muffin’s characteristics.
In revenge Shannon writes an article to dig deep into who Lisa is and her campaign. (She hasn’t even written a speech thinking she’ll just wing it).
Amy, Palmer, and Lisa get into it over who they’ll vote for. There are a few issues with the guys. Rob is pissed off with Lisa writing him trying to get ideas for her campaign when she has been ignoring his problems and letters. John and Amy have fallen into a rut.
They say Lisa should apologize and Amy should tell John about herself. Then Sam invites Palmer to a carnival.
Shannon says she’ll ask her mom to get Amy to volunteer at the book fair and then she can invite a friend. Shannon’s speech wins over Lisa’s and they make up. Lisa even gives Shannon a new hairstyle.
Palmer has a great date with Sam and Dawn’s prediction comes true about her and a handsome stranger in a boat because she’s on a boat ride at the carnival and Sam “rescues” her by putting his arm around her when she gets scared of a mechanical alligator (rolls eyes).
My Thoughts:
This one was meh. It was weird how they keep saying Shannon chews the end of her braid. She chews her hair? But I did think all the things Mars did for her was cute! Mars was way more than a pen pal in this one. He went above and beyond. Although I knew Shannon would win, it would have been an interesting twist if Muffin would have beaten both Lisa and Shannon. But I guess it’s called “Pen Pals” for a reason. It had to be either Shannon or Lisa. And I really think Shannon went overboard with feeling offended because she wasn’t more aggressive. It sounds like Shannon has a lot of growing up to do to accept *herself* for who she is and not get upset about who other people think she isn’t. Even though the others were fine with her the way she was. I think that’s a lesson in itself. Yet, it was a good thing that she was able to step out of her comfort zone. So that was another great lesson. I am kind of surprised Shannon won, simply because sometimes politics can be a popularity contest and the best candidate doesn’t always win. But I definitely think she’ll make a great dorm repz!
Rating: 5
The Foxes throw Shannon an “After Hours” surprise Sweet 13 birthday party and invite everyone on the floor. Shannon gets a lot of nice gifts (a picture frame from Amy, a calligraphy pen from Kate and a letter from Mars). His present to her is an analysis of her handwriting. Only it describes an intelligent, passionate, bold, creative person. All traits Lisa says fit more her. Shannon walks away from the party happy but at the same time upset at Mars and Lisa (who apologized for getting into it with Kate and then said the letter did fit Shannon’s personality).
Only Shannon knew she was lying. She writes to Mars for an explanation, and he tells her he just thought it was interesting and didn’t mean to upset her. But she gets offended and thinks because he says she’s sensitive, it means he thinks she’s weak (spineless). So she writes him back that she’s sorry he feels that way.
We also see that she is kind of passive because she let’s Lisa control a lot of things (her clothes, her hair, the look of their room).
Mars again apologizes and just wants to drop it, pointing out lots of intelligent people are introverts.
After going to Kate, Shannon realizes that Lisa is BOSSY and CONTROLLING! So Shannon starts avoiding Lisa and spending more time with Kate. She also starts standing up to Lisa about midnight fridge raids and calling Mars a show-off because Rob complains to her about his new talking parrot (while she complains to him about Shannon). Lisa of course has no idea what’s causing Shannon to switch up, and so she blames Kate.
There’s an advertisement for a 3rd former student representative council member and Shannon and Lisa are both nominated. This surprises both cause they had no idea the other was interested. Muffin Talbot is also nominated.
Shannon is about to drop out but when she talks to Lisa and hears how arrogant and overconfident she is that she and Muffin don’t stand a chance, she quickly changes her mind.
Mars gives Shannon a great idea about having a suggestion box from the girls in her dorm and then running on the better ideas, but Rob is more occupied with grades and staying on the team. John’s mind is also somewhere else (on his writing). But Palmer (as usual) calls attention to her own self and her Pen Pal (Sam O Leery) who sends her a letter and the answers to the questionnaire they send all prospects for Pen Pals (some of his answers to personal to read).
They say it’ll be great if Alma included Brighton students to events and Palmer says he would have to ask her to do something first. They start to get along and play a game but Lisa messes it up and insults Shannon.
Shannon and Mars meet at Figaro’s and he gives her campaign buttons he designed himself (and holds her hand).
Lisa out of jealousy designs a poster of her as a superhero with two mice with Shannon and Muffin’s characteristics.
In revenge Shannon writes an article to dig deep into who Lisa is and her campaign. (She hasn’t even written a speech thinking she’ll just wing it).
Amy, Palmer, and Lisa get into it over who they’ll vote for. There are a few issues with the guys. Rob is pissed off with Lisa writing him trying to get ideas for her campaign when she has been ignoring his problems and letters. John and Amy have fallen into a rut.
They say Lisa should apologize and Amy should tell John about herself. Then Sam invites Palmer to a carnival.
Shannon says she’ll ask her mom to get Amy to volunteer at the book fair and then she can invite a friend. Shannon’s speech wins over Lisa’s and they make up. Lisa even gives Shannon a new hairstyle.
Palmer has a great date with Sam and Dawn’s prediction comes true about her and a handsome stranger in a boat because she’s on a boat ride at the carnival and Sam “rescues” her by putting his arm around her when she gets scared of a mechanical alligator (rolls eyes).
My Thoughts:
This one was meh. It was weird how they keep saying Shannon chews the end of her braid. She chews her hair? But I did think all the things Mars did for her was cute! Mars was way more than a pen pal in this one. He went above and beyond. Although I knew Shannon would win, it would have been an interesting twist if Muffin would have beaten both Lisa and Shannon. But I guess it’s called “Pen Pals” for a reason. It had to be either Shannon or Lisa. And I really think Shannon went overboard with feeling offended because she wasn’t more aggressive. It sounds like Shannon has a lot of growing up to do to accept *herself* for who she is and not get upset about who other people think she isn’t. Even though the others were fine with her the way she was. I think that’s a lesson in itself. Yet, it was a good thing that she was able to step out of her comfort zone. So that was another great lesson. I am kind of surprised Shannon won, simply because sometimes politics can be a popularity contest and the best candidate doesn’t always win. But I definitely think she’ll make a great dorm repz!
Rating: 5
January 14, 2009
It is truly a travesty that you cannot see the cover of this book, because I loved the girl's outfit on the cover!
January 30, 2016
I loved this series when I was young - can't remember the age that I was - perhaps 11-13. I just know I loved these books!
December 21, 2012
i thought it was amazing
p3
p3
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews