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Nobody Likes Trina
"I don't see how we can pretend she's invisible," Debra whispered. "
"That's hard to do." "Of course we can!" insisted Melissa.
Hanging back unhappily behind the group of girls who are teasing sullen Trina, Sandy is faced with a choice: Shall she--or shall she not--follow the popular blond leader, Melissa, so she can have a place in the crowd? Melissa's game is mean--but Sandy just has to make friends!
When Sandy's family moved from New York City to a house in the country near Halcyon, New Jersey, Sandy found herself in two strange new worlds: the quiet world of the woods, mazed with mysterious paths and rustling with strange noises, and the cruel world of class rivalries in a small-town school.
Trina, the curt, unattractive orphan down the road, who is disliked even by the grandmother she lives with, tells Sandy to stay out of the woods she considers her own. Melissa, whom Debra and most others in the class follow, says Sandy had better help torment Trina or she might become invisible too. It is hard to know what to do.
When Sandy finds the little cabin deep in the woods where Trina hides her treasures… when she begins to learn from reluctant Trina how each living thing in the woods depends on every other living thing, Sandy begins to plot a way to follow the instinct that tells her what to do. And that plot leads her into a great adventure and new beginnings.
"That's hard to do." "Of course we can!" insisted Melissa.
Hanging back unhappily behind the group of girls who are teasing sullen Trina, Sandy is faced with a choice: Shall she--or shall she not--follow the popular blond leader, Melissa, so she can have a place in the crowd? Melissa's game is mean--but Sandy just has to make friends!
When Sandy's family moved from New York City to a house in the country near Halcyon, New Jersey, Sandy found herself in two strange new worlds: the quiet world of the woods, mazed with mysterious paths and rustling with strange noises, and the cruel world of class rivalries in a small-town school.
Trina, the curt, unattractive orphan down the road, who is disliked even by the grandmother she lives with, tells Sandy to stay out of the woods she considers her own. Melissa, whom Debra and most others in the class follow, says Sandy had better help torment Trina or she might become invisible too. It is hard to know what to do.
When Sandy finds the little cabin deep in the woods where Trina hides her treasures… when she begins to learn from reluctant Trina how each living thing in the woods depends on every other living thing, Sandy begins to plot a way to follow the instinct that tells her what to do. And that plot leads her into a great adventure and new beginnings.
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
1 person is currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis A. Whitney
191 books569 followersPhyllis Ayame Whitney (1903 – 2008) was an American mystery writer. Rare for her genre, she wrote mysteries for both the juvenile and the adult markets, many of which feature exotic locations. A review in The New York Times once dubbed her "The Queen of the American Gothics".
She was born in Japan to American parents and spent her early years in Asia. Whitney wrote more than seventy novels. In 1961, her book The Mystery of the Haunted Pool won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile novel, and she duplicated the honor in 1964, for The Mystery of the Hidden Hand. In 1988, the MWA gave her a Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. Whitney died of pneumonia on February 8, 2008, aged 104.
She was born in Japan to American parents and spent her early years in Asia. Whitney wrote more than seventy novels. In 1961, her book The Mystery of the Haunted Pool won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile novel, and she duplicated the honor in 1964, for The Mystery of the Hidden Hand. In 1988, the MWA gave her a Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. Whitney died of pneumonia on February 8, 2008, aged 104.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 25, 2018
I must stop being surprised by how excellent Phyllis A. Whitney’s non mysteries are. Her family dramas and historical sagas are realistically-layered. Book covers impact whether or not we are enticed. Synopsises tell nothing of the quality and depth we find inside. Similar to “Linda’s Homecoming”, a New Yorker adjusting to a small town, in 1950: “Nobody Likes Trina” sees a city trio moving to New Jersey woods, in 1972. For her part, Sandy is enthralled with woodland life and geography right away. Phyllis names birds and deer I know well in our woods.
Her observant, loving descriptions of everything, make it clear this is no teen-angst fluff like the cover suggests. It does no justice. I procrastinated, not fathoming that this is all about nature. A second drama is Sandy hoping to befriend the daughter of her Dad’s new partner but Melissa is a mean girl. Meanwhile, acquainting the teased Trina, too hostile to like either, makes the respectable choice difficult. This is a great example for kids learning to choose friends. I was impressed by constant awareness that this novel felt modern. Any of it, weather situations and all, could take place today!
This novel does not linger on meanness. It makes points quickly, focusing on the thrill of discovery and the gradual unravelling of Trina’s unexpected ecological knowledge and passions. The psychology of why either girl acts as she does, is valuable. I am giving three stars, only because discussing the harm of hunters could be accomplished without portraying a shot deer and bear. A star is removed for animal death, my deal-breaker. However this is an astute, intelligent novel, that anyone less sensitive than me would easily grade higher. I loved it. A sweet note is that Phyllis’s dedication thanks her Granddaughter, Barbara, for this idea.
Her observant, loving descriptions of everything, make it clear this is no teen-angst fluff like the cover suggests. It does no justice. I procrastinated, not fathoming that this is all about nature. A second drama is Sandy hoping to befriend the daughter of her Dad’s new partner but Melissa is a mean girl. Meanwhile, acquainting the teased Trina, too hostile to like either, makes the respectable choice difficult. This is a great example for kids learning to choose friends. I was impressed by constant awareness that this novel felt modern. Any of it, weather situations and all, could take place today!
This novel does not linger on meanness. It makes points quickly, focusing on the thrill of discovery and the gradual unravelling of Trina’s unexpected ecological knowledge and passions. The psychology of why either girl acts as she does, is valuable. I am giving three stars, only because discussing the harm of hunters could be accomplished without portraying a shot deer and bear. A star is removed for animal death, my deal-breaker. However this is an astute, intelligent novel, that anyone less sensitive than me would easily grade higher. I loved it. A sweet note is that Phyllis’s dedication thanks her Granddaughter, Barbara, for this idea.
September 16, 2016
Packing things and moving into smaller country town and giving up the big bustling city where you were born and grew up sure weren’’t easy. It wasn’t easy leaving your life in that place, especially your friends. This book has a great story on how to deal with it.
In this book, Sandy wasn’t happy about moving to Halcyon and as she started meeting her classmates, it looked as though she’d had reason to worry. For Melissa, the daughter of her dad’s new partner, made it plain that they could only be friends if she went along with whatever Melissa and other girls wanted to do. And what they did most was to pick on Sandy’s neighbor Trina – a strangely shy, perhaps retarded girl, so hostile she almost seemed to invite torment. Sandy didn’t want to get involved in the feud, but was soon forced to choose sides in a situation she didn’t understand. And what Sandy decided would determine whether she became “one of the gang” or another disliked loner like Trina Carpozi.
It is a pretty good story that talks about a real life situation especially to teenagers. The struggles of moving out and being in a new environment with new sets of people whom you could or couldn’t be friends.
For me, it’s a very realistic story. Most of its scene I would say is not that impossible to portray. It is also very inviting to read for most of us who experienced the feeling of being snatched from the place we lived all our lives and leaving some of our close friends behind.
It’s never easy to start another life into some unknown place and this book gives us all the idea that moving out isn’t that difficult, that it could be fun and even more interesting than before. It’s a great story that also provides a very deep and alarming lesson about bullying which is a very common case especially at school.
A perfect book to everyone especially for teens.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Read my full review blog post
Buy Nobody Likes Trina (Paperback)
Buy Nobody Likes Trina (Hardcover)
To read more of my reviews, book news and updates:
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In this book, Sandy wasn’t happy about moving to Halcyon and as she started meeting her classmates, it looked as though she’d had reason to worry. For Melissa, the daughter of her dad’s new partner, made it plain that they could only be friends if she went along with whatever Melissa and other girls wanted to do. And what they did most was to pick on Sandy’s neighbor Trina – a strangely shy, perhaps retarded girl, so hostile she almost seemed to invite torment. Sandy didn’t want to get involved in the feud, but was soon forced to choose sides in a situation she didn’t understand. And what Sandy decided would determine whether she became “one of the gang” or another disliked loner like Trina Carpozi.
It is a pretty good story that talks about a real life situation especially to teenagers. The struggles of moving out and being in a new environment with new sets of people whom you could or couldn’t be friends.
For me, it’s a very realistic story. Most of its scene I would say is not that impossible to portray. It is also very inviting to read for most of us who experienced the feeling of being snatched from the place we lived all our lives and leaving some of our close friends behind.
It’s never easy to start another life into some unknown place and this book gives us all the idea that moving out isn’t that difficult, that it could be fun and even more interesting than before. It’s a great story that also provides a very deep and alarming lesson about bullying which is a very common case especially at school.
A perfect book to everyone especially for teens.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Read my full review blog post
Buy Nobody Likes Trina (Paperback)
Buy Nobody Likes Trina (Hardcover)
To read more of my reviews, book news and updates:
Main Blog: Blushing Geek
Facebook Page
Subscribe to mailing list
July 11, 2008
i remember reading this in junior high and i was re-reading all the phyllis a. whitney books a few years ago so picked this up. it wasn't as good as i remembered - i had thought it was creepy but its just your basic troubled teen book with a little mystery thrown in.
July 4, 2018
I was thrilled to find this young adult book by Phyllis A. Whitney, one of my all time favorite authors. My version was copyrighted in 1972! This is a lovely story of growing up, or at least one of the baby steps leading to it. 😉
September 5, 2011
Thought provoking, informative and engaging!
July 30, 2014
Didn't finish it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews