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The Year My Parents Ruined My Life
Kate Sommers is stunned when her parents announce that their family is moving from sunny California to Belletoona, Pennsylvania. Kate can't bear leaving her friends, her cool surfer boyfriend, and the beach. But maybe, just maybe, Belletoona won't be so bad.
Forget it. All it ever does is snow in Belletoona -- and Kate's already in trouble with the principal and half her class. What's worse is her younger sister, who acts like Miss Perfect. Kate's had it. Nothing will stop her from going back to California where she belongs.
Forget it. All it ever does is snow in Belletoona -- and Kate's already in trouble with the principal and half her class. What's worse is her younger sister, who acts like Miss Perfect. Kate's had it. Nothing will stop her from going back to California where she belongs.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
18 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Martha Freeman
53 books66 followersMartha Freeman was born in Southern California in 1956. It is not actually true that pterodactyls ruled the skies then, but her three children believe this.
Martha graduated from Glenoaks Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Junior High, and Glendale High School. Until Martha came along, Glendale High's most famous graduate was a fellow named Marion Michael Morrison. He later went into the film game and changed his name to John Wayne, which you might very well do, too, if you were a boy named Marion in unenlightened times. In 1978, Martha graduated from Stanford University with a degree in history. She remains Stanford's most illustrious graduate if not its most wealthy.
Stink Bomb Mom
Martha's First Book.
Martha worked as a newspaper reporter, copy editor, substitute teacher, college lecturer, advertising copywriter, and freelance magazine writer before she found her true calling as a writer of children's books in 1994. Her first book was "Stink Bomb Mom," now, tragically, out of print. She has since published 14 more books for children and as you read this, she is probably working on another one. Besides writing and visiting schools to talk to students, Martha teaches occasional classes at Penn State University, volunteers as an emergency medical technician, and works for a wonderful little company called Wall Street Communications. She is a very busy person.
Martha graduated from Glenoaks Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Junior High, and Glendale High School. Until Martha came along, Glendale High's most famous graduate was a fellow named Marion Michael Morrison. He later went into the film game and changed his name to John Wayne, which you might very well do, too, if you were a boy named Marion in unenlightened times. In 1978, Martha graduated from Stanford University with a degree in history. She remains Stanford's most illustrious graduate if not its most wealthy.
Stink Bomb Mom
Martha's First Book.
Martha worked as a newspaper reporter, copy editor, substitute teacher, college lecturer, advertising copywriter, and freelance magazine writer before she found her true calling as a writer of children's books in 1994. Her first book was "Stink Bomb Mom," now, tragically, out of print. She has since published 14 more books for children and as you read this, she is probably working on another one. Besides writing and visiting schools to talk to students, Martha teaches occasional classes at Penn State University, volunteers as an emergency medical technician, and works for a wonderful little company called Wall Street Communications. She is a very busy person.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 13, 2016
I really liked this book excpet for one thing: the author makes Kate seem like she needs a boy excpet the end. In the story Kate goes through drama but overcomes it. She also worries about her image but at the end she doesn't care. That's what I like. She says that her parents ruined her life by moving but at the end I am pretty sure that she is happy. But I think she learns all that when she pulls her stupid stunt. I recommend this book to people who like life sized situation and are a fan of ms.freeman.
January 2, 2024
Uno dei volumi della collana Le Ragazzine che mi è piaciuto di più! Esilarante, realistico e ben scritto, un romanzo teen che racconta le vicissitudini della tredicenne Kate, costretta a trasferirsi con la sua famiglia dall'adorata e assolata California alla fredda e innevata Pennsylvania. L'intreccio di per sé non appare innovativo (adolescente sradicata che ha già tutto quello che desidera nella sua città di sempre), ma il modo in cui viene raccontato è brillante e con un buon ritmo. In fondo i cambiamenti che Kate si trova a subire sono quelli più macroscopici della crescita, in cui bisogna interrogarsi a fondo sulla propria identità e su ciò che si desidera. Se lo trovate nei mercatini vi consiglio di cuore di recuperarlo, mi ha regalato momenti di spensieratezza (in primis per le scene con la sorella minore Danielle).
November 30, 2008
This book is AWESOME!!! It is from a girl our age's point of view, and incredible!!
September 2, 2016
The year my parents ruined my life
I really do like this book, is really relates to kids who have moved. It really let out Kate’s feelings. I felt like I was Kate at a part and was going through a very tough move. Kate is the main character who was moving from California to the horrible Belletoona. She had to leave behind her very best friend and her super cute surfer boyfriend. She and her friend planned something out called operation defrost. That would be where Kate flew all the way back to California. Kate would stay with her friend Molly She would try to fly back to California in time for the valentine's dance for her and her boyfriend to go to.
I don’t like that in the middle of the book it just got really boring. All it talked about was how boring it was in Belletoona. To me it isn’t fun reading about boring stuff. In the middle all it was really talking about was Kate’s letters to her friend setting up operation defrost. She also talked about her starting school and it was the classic she was unpopular and she embarrassed herself miserably story. It wasn’t really all that interesting. It might be interesting to people who have moved or who are moving. I personally have never moved in my life to the point where I had leave all of my friends behind and start all over.
I did really like the ending actually it was all of a sudden really really exciting. She got caught with something she didn’t do and she got all scared and flipped out completely. I honestly think she over reacted on another level. I think she should have told the truth and accepted the consequences that might have come with this. She did something so Jurassic I can’t get over it, it just blows my mind someone would do it. To add on top of that for Kate her best friend and boyfriend betrayed her completely. I absolutely didn’t see that coming I mean molly acted normal all the way up to the end of the story. I didn’t catch any suspicion in the letters Molly wrote to Kate at all.
It is a shorter book it only has 184 pages in total. I wish it was a little longer so it could hold a little more excitement in the middle of the book.it would have been best if she just added more interesting activities in Belletoona. I wouldn’t change anything to the end of the book. I still overall really liked the book. It was good at keeping you into the book even though it wasn’t in the most interesting part. I still highly suggest this book to people who have moved to show that they are not alone when they are having hard times moving. I came out of my comfort zone to read it and I am glad I did. I am very happy I did. Even though I think it would work best with someone who is moving I think anyone could enjoy it.
I really do like this book, is really relates to kids who have moved. It really let out Kate’s feelings. I felt like I was Kate at a part and was going through a very tough move. Kate is the main character who was moving from California to the horrible Belletoona. She had to leave behind her very best friend and her super cute surfer boyfriend. She and her friend planned something out called operation defrost. That would be where Kate flew all the way back to California. Kate would stay with her friend Molly She would try to fly back to California in time for the valentine's dance for her and her boyfriend to go to.
I don’t like that in the middle of the book it just got really boring. All it talked about was how boring it was in Belletoona. To me it isn’t fun reading about boring stuff. In the middle all it was really talking about was Kate’s letters to her friend setting up operation defrost. She also talked about her starting school and it was the classic she was unpopular and she embarrassed herself miserably story. It wasn’t really all that interesting. It might be interesting to people who have moved or who are moving. I personally have never moved in my life to the point where I had leave all of my friends behind and start all over.
I did really like the ending actually it was all of a sudden really really exciting. She got caught with something she didn’t do and she got all scared and flipped out completely. I honestly think she over reacted on another level. I think she should have told the truth and accepted the consequences that might have come with this. She did something so Jurassic I can’t get over it, it just blows my mind someone would do it. To add on top of that for Kate her best friend and boyfriend betrayed her completely. I absolutely didn’t see that coming I mean molly acted normal all the way up to the end of the story. I didn’t catch any suspicion in the letters Molly wrote to Kate at all.
It is a shorter book it only has 184 pages in total. I wish it was a little longer so it could hold a little more excitement in the middle of the book.it would have been best if she just added more interesting activities in Belletoona. I wouldn’t change anything to the end of the book. I still overall really liked the book. It was good at keeping you into the book even though it wasn’t in the most interesting part. I still highly suggest this book to people who have moved to show that they are not alone when they are having hard times moving. I came out of my comfort zone to read it and I am glad I did. I am very happy I did. Even though I think it would work best with someone who is moving I think anyone could enjoy it.
November 7, 2021
Pequeño libro que encantó al trocito adolescente de mi corazón, con el que dialogó continuamente entre recuerdos y sensaciones del pasado. Se lo daría a mis alumnos como una lectura para distenderse ya que realmente fue una lectura rápida, entretenida y la pisca de comedia suficiente.
October 19, 2014
In The Year My Parents Ruined My Life, Martha Freeman tells the story of Kate Sommers, a 12 year-old girl who moves from sunny California to snowy Pennsylvania. Kate was traumatized when she found out that she was moving. She couldn’t handle the fact that she had to leave her friends and her boyfriend in California. When she arrives at Belletoona, Pennsylvania, Kate already hated it. She hated the snow, the bullies at the school, and she was already in a feud with the principal. Nothing was going to stop her to going back to California. Martha Freeman takes the reader into a perspective of a 12 year-old girl who goes through difficulties of adjusting to a new environment. The message that was delivered was to just learn to accept the change. The message in this book was a valuable message that the readers can learn from. Although the story was very predictable, some parts made me wonder if she was going to go back to California or if she going to stay in Pennsylvania. Overall, the book didn’t have me wanting to read the next chapter. However, the book was well written and portrayed a realistic scenario.Overall, I gave this book a 3/5 stars on GoodReads. I could really relate to the situation that Kate was going through during her move to Pennsylvania. I would recommend this book to anyone older than 12. Although the book portrays Kate going through girl drama and is a bit more feminine, anyone can read this book because the message is relatable to everyone. There are some instances like smoking, which would lead me to suggest this book to a mature reader.
October 7, 2014
This book was funny in a way but I gave it 3 stars because some parts of the book didn't make sense. I don't really recommend this book to anyone.
June 3, 2019
The title caught my eye and I couldn't resist the cute twist of Belletoona, a combination of Bellefonte and Altoona.
The book is an elementary chapter book and the reading was light, funny and very quick. My favorite part of the book when they are on an airplane ride from CA to PA and the 6 year old is bugging the mom.
... She pulled a fat book out of her overnight bag. "Read this." "Scarlet Lace?" Danielle looked at it suspiciously. The cover showed a woman in a red nightgown reaching toward a man with an eye patch. "Is this book for kids?" "Read it and find out. Now be quiet."
And references to the adult steamy novel pop up in the story here and there and created a chuckle in me.
The book is an elementary chapter book and the reading was light, funny and very quick. My favorite part of the book when they are on an airplane ride from CA to PA and the 6 year old is bugging the mom.
... She pulled a fat book out of her overnight bag. "Read this." "Scarlet Lace?" Danielle looked at it suspiciously. The cover showed a woman in a red nightgown reaching toward a man with an eye patch. "Is this book for kids?" "Read it and find out. Now be quiet."
And references to the adult steamy novel pop up in the story here and there and created a chuckle in me.
May 4, 2019
The Year My Parents Ruined My Life is about Kate Sommers. She is a teenager whose life is turned upside down when they move to Pennsylvania. Kate has to say goodbye to her California surfer boyfriend, her friends, and her house. She does not adjust to life well in Pennsylvania. She wants to run away from home back to California in hopes that it will fix her problems. She has a lot of growing up to do and lessons to learn.
I would rate this book 3/5. It is good for the target age group of 8-11 years old. They can relate to the problems that the character is experiencing. The lesson taught in the book will teach them too.
I would rate this book 3/5. It is good for the target age group of 8-11 years old. They can relate to the problems that the character is experiencing. The lesson taught in the book will teach them too.
April 6, 2021
⛄🏘🌨Only a misunderstood tween ... 😟
I found this a quite realistic portrayal of a tween girl who finds her happy routine unraveling and has no power to stop it. Leaving sunny California where she's popular and has loads of friends and a surfer boyfriend for a cold new life in small-town Pennsylvania where the cliques are well-established and against her.
I particularly enjoyed the story's streak of sarcasm and outright humor, especially when Kate is dealing with her little sister Dani. Cute and, I think, a book that young readers would enjoy.
I found this a quite realistic portrayal of a tween girl who finds her happy routine unraveling and has no power to stop it. Leaving sunny California where she's popular and has loads of friends and a surfer boyfriend for a cold new life in small-town Pennsylvania where the cliques are well-established and against her.
I particularly enjoyed the story's streak of sarcasm and outright humor, especially when Kate is dealing with her little sister Dani. Cute and, I think, a book that young readers would enjoy.
October 8, 2018
I rated this book a two because it wasn't very interesting. I like more of horror or thrillers. I did feel bad for Kate because she had to move and leave all her friends. I've actually experienced that and
I hated it. I also feel bad for her because she came to her new school and doesn't have any friends and has to deal with bullying and trying to fit in. In this book nothing interesting happened and wasn't fun to read.
I hated it. I also feel bad for her because she came to her new school and doesn't have any friends and has to deal with bullying and trying to fit in. In this book nothing interesting happened and wasn't fun to read.
June 28, 2023
This was a good story, it felt like real life at times, having to move away from everything you know and make a new life somewhere far away, the struggles the main girl had to go through, the one your hoping will come out of this story happy. I liked this for sure.
September 23, 2022
I read this book in 1998 and adored it. It's a wonderful book especially for kids or preteens who have had to move towns/schools.
February 10, 2023
Fun kid book, but some of the things the kids do are too mature for real life or for condoning it by writing in a book.
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June 30, 2023i just remembered that i read this when i was like 12
August 1, 2024
This was one of my favorite books as a kid! It was extremely relatable!
December 30, 2012
I found the story "The Year My Parents Ruined My Life" a very grand statement to the fact that you must think about others and what they are going through as well. Also, this book expresses where home really is and that it does not have to be fancy if you do not have the love to support you. So, I have learned that being self-centered may really hurt those who are giving up so many things just to satisfy you. I got this whole saying from being inspired by Kate who always felt as if her parents were making her life worse and had even considered leaving back to California. Lastly, this book did connect with my life somewhat and did in the end make me realize that parents never mean to hurt you, but try to do whatever possible to help you out and satisfy you. So, this book really had a lot of real-life connections that do make you realize that its not always about you. So, I did catch on to the moral of this story after a few times of rereading some parts which was my reason to rating this book with two stars.
"The Year My Parents Ruined My Life", is a fictional book that takes place at first in California and than in Belletoona. After Kate's parents decide to move to Belletoona, Kate immediatly thinks that it is the worst choice in the histroy of choices and believes that she will never be happy again. Unfortunately for her, it all gets worse, her school hates her and her sister is always well-behaved. So, Kate realzes that nothing will stop her from going back to Nada, California the nice sunny place, not even a blizzard that is going on right now in Belletoona. Or, has she thought wrong? Will she really go back to California on such short notice? Or, will she realize that there is no place like the home that you own family is in?
All in all, I did as a result, find this book very interesting at times and decided that from now on I will actually think about my family first and try to realize why they are doing what they are doing. This is due to the fact that Kate's parent's were not in the best shape they could be with money and Kate was not noticing it at first. Now, whether or not Kate realizes this and comes to confirm her parents that she does love them and will from now on understand what they are going through is left for you to discover by reading this book. Overall, I would like to recommend this book to the people out there that always feel that their always do things that they don't find convenient. I ensure you, after reading this story you will understand all that your parents are trying to do and that it is not all about you!
"The Year My Parents Ruined My Life", is a fictional book that takes place at first in California and than in Belletoona. After Kate's parents decide to move to Belletoona, Kate immediatly thinks that it is the worst choice in the histroy of choices and believes that she will never be happy again. Unfortunately for her, it all gets worse, her school hates her and her sister is always well-behaved. So, Kate realzes that nothing will stop her from going back to Nada, California the nice sunny place, not even a blizzard that is going on right now in Belletoona. Or, has she thought wrong? Will she really go back to California on such short notice? Or, will she realize that there is no place like the home that you own family is in?
All in all, I did as a result, find this book very interesting at times and decided that from now on I will actually think about my family first and try to realize why they are doing what they are doing. This is due to the fact that Kate's parent's were not in the best shape they could be with money and Kate was not noticing it at first. Now, whether or not Kate realizes this and comes to confirm her parents that she does love them and will from now on understand what they are going through is left for you to discover by reading this book. Overall, I would like to recommend this book to the people out there that always feel that their always do things that they don't find convenient. I ensure you, after reading this story you will understand all that your parents are trying to do and that it is not all about you!
February 26, 2017
Justamente ayer me acordé de lo mucho que me gustó este libro cuando tenía 12 años. Lo irónico es que lo que le pasó a la protagonista me está pasando.
April 14, 2011
Actually, I didn't finish reading this book. I got halfway through and decided it was garbage and it would be a waste of my time to finish it. I was the second parent to review this for our school library, and the first person rejected it with a solid "no." Now I know why. Shall I enlighten you?
1) It's poorly written. It's written from a third-person limited perspective, with the narration relating to the thoughts of the 6th-grade protagonist. However, it reads like it's actually first-person and written by a 6th grader. It's awful. The characters and motivations are ridiculously unbelievable.
2) The protagonist is a spoiled brat who cares nothing for her family or their happiness, and is only lost in thoughts of the boyfriend she leaves behind (she is only in 6th grade, for heaven sake!) when the family moves, and wishes only to sabotage everything and run away (which was does, apparently, though I didn't get that far).
3) Can you say "loose morals?" The mother's normal attire is (her own daughter's description) tight mini skirts which she wears to work. Huh? Not to mention the kids at the elementary school regularly smoke in the bathroom and no one makes a fuss about it as if it's normal, and the main character "makes-out" with her much older boyfriend who she is worried will "cheat on her" (what does "cheating" mean to her, one wonders). I could go on but I'm too disgusted.
It's just not appropriate for elementary school children... or any children, for that matter. This book belongs in the trash, and certainly not in our school library.
1) It's poorly written. It's written from a third-person limited perspective, with the narration relating to the thoughts of the 6th-grade protagonist. However, it reads like it's actually first-person and written by a 6th grader. It's awful. The characters and motivations are ridiculously unbelievable.
2) The protagonist is a spoiled brat who cares nothing for her family or their happiness, and is only lost in thoughts of the boyfriend she leaves behind (she is only in 6th grade, for heaven sake!) when the family moves, and wishes only to sabotage everything and run away (which was does, apparently, though I didn't get that far).
3) Can you say "loose morals?" The mother's normal attire is (her own daughter's description) tight mini skirts which she wears to work. Huh? Not to mention the kids at the elementary school regularly smoke in the bathroom and no one makes a fuss about it as if it's normal, and the main character "makes-out" with her much older boyfriend who she is worried will "cheat on her" (what does "cheating" mean to her, one wonders). I could go on but I'm too disgusted.
It's just not appropriate for elementary school children... or any children, for that matter. This book belongs in the trash, and certainly not in our school library.
February 6, 2015
I just read the book The Year My Parents ruined my life. This book looked like a good book when I picked it up in the library. The cover looked like it was going to be a funny yet interesting book, and it sure was! I only read books that I think I might enjoy, also if the cover looks good. This book was a very good one.
This book is about a 12 year old girl who is living the life in California. She apparently has "the hottest boyfriend in her grade." Everything is going well until she finds out that she has to move to Pennsylvania, because her dad has a new job. She absolutely hated that idea, and she was doing all she could to get her parents to make them stay. She even started this secret plan with her best friend to live at her house, but there is nothing she can do aside from begging. This book is about her life in Pennsylvania.
I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it to my friends. This book was funny, but it was also very well written, and interesting. This book is good for anyone who wants a good read, but maybe towards 11-15 age group. Overall, this was a very good book!
This book is about a 12 year old girl who is living the life in California. She apparently has "the hottest boyfriend in her grade." Everything is going well until she finds out that she has to move to Pennsylvania, because her dad has a new job. She absolutely hated that idea, and she was doing all she could to get her parents to make them stay. She even started this secret plan with her best friend to live at her house, but there is nothing she can do aside from begging. This book is about her life in Pennsylvania.
I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it to my friends. This book was funny, but it was also very well written, and interesting. This book is good for anyone who wants a good read, but maybe towards 11-15 age group. Overall, this was a very good book!
August 4, 2025
Okay, lo ammetto: la premessa mi ha attirata subito. Una ragazza californiana trapiantata in una cittadina innevata e ostile, con una misteriosa palla di neve fantasma? Sembrava l'inizio perfetto per una commedia soprannaturale o un mistero adolescenziale con un tocco surreale.
E invece... mi sono ritrovata in mezzo a una valanga di stereotipi. Kate è simpatica, certo, ma è talmente presa dal suo dramma personale che fatica a farci sentire davvero coinvolti. I personaggi secondari sembrano appiccicati qua e là con un po’ di fretta, e alcune situazioni, tipo la scuola ostile e il riscaldamento rotto, sanno troppo di “già visto”.
Detto ciò, ammetto che ci sono momenti brillanti. Lo stile è leggero e qualche battuta di Kate mi ha strappato un sorriso. E la famosa palla di neve fantasma? Ha quel non-so-che di curioso che tiene viva la lettura.
Insomma, una storia che intrattiene ma non lascia il segno. Perfetta per un pomeriggio sotto il plaid, ma non aspettatevi scintille.
E invece... mi sono ritrovata in mezzo a una valanga di stereotipi. Kate è simpatica, certo, ma è talmente presa dal suo dramma personale che fatica a farci sentire davvero coinvolti. I personaggi secondari sembrano appiccicati qua e là con un po’ di fretta, e alcune situazioni, tipo la scuola ostile e il riscaldamento rotto, sanno troppo di “già visto”.
Detto ciò, ammetto che ci sono momenti brillanti. Lo stile è leggero e qualche battuta di Kate mi ha strappato un sorriso. E la famosa palla di neve fantasma? Ha quel non-so-che di curioso che tiene viva la lettura.
Insomma, una storia che intrattiene ma non lascia il segno. Perfetta per un pomeriggio sotto il plaid, ma non aspettatevi scintille.
January 30, 2009
The Year My Parents Ruined My Life is a book about a Sixth-grader Kate Sommers who is convinced that moving from Isla Nada, CA, to Belletoona, PA, is ruining her life. From the moment the family arrives at their new home, the weather turns cold and snowy. At school Kate encounters Tiffany and her friends, who sneak cigarettes in the girls' room and go out of their way to taunt her. Lonely and unhappy, Kate writes to her best friend about returning to California to live with Molly's family. After Kate is unfairly accused by the principal of smoking, she takes her baby-sitting money and runs away to California, believing that Molly's parents have said she could stay with them.READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT MORE!
October 6, 2007
The story is about Kate Sommers whose family is moving from sunny California to Belletoona, Pennsylvania. Kate is beyond furious to lose her friend, boyfriend and a sunny beach and go to the middle of nowhere which is covered in snow. Nothing will stop her from going back to California where she belongs!
It's a good book for kids who are also moving away from their friends, family and life as it accuractely explains how said child would be feeling. I've lived in this city my whole life but reading this book, I felt like I had just moved to another city, that's how good the writing is. Definitely recommended.
It's a good book for kids who are also moving away from their friends, family and life as it accuractely explains how said child would be feeling. I've lived in this city my whole life but reading this book, I felt like I had just moved to another city, that's how good the writing is. Definitely recommended.
October 23, 2009
I rated this book a three because i thought it was pretty good. i felt bad for Kate because she had to move and leave all her friends behind. I know at first how she didn't like it because when i was done with second grade I had to move. I didn't want to and really wanted nove back too. Later on you get used to it and just talk t your friends ocassonally. Like she did she wrote letters to her friends Molly. You really start to miss your friends to but you just get know friends but don't forget the old ones.
June 25, 2012
i picked this book out of my bookshelf because i couldn't remember ever reading it before. i think that i would have enjoyed & appreciated this book much more when i was in eight-grade because i was in the same position as Kate, (the main character) who's life is completely uprooted after her father gets a new job & her whole family transfers to another state. im giving it 2.5 starts because it's not a bad book, but with it being a fouth-six grade reading level, it just wasn't all that exciting.
October 29, 2007
This book is great is about a girl named Kate who lives in California and she is forced to move to Belatoona, Pensylvania. She had to leave behind her cool surfer boyfriend and all her friends. In the end everything turns out fine and shhe makes friends. This book is good its comedy and it looks like her parents did ruin her life that year but like they said the parents do everything for the good.
November 16, 2010
I would give this a 3.5. It's around a fourth or fifth grade level chapter book that I bought for my girls through Scholastic. I loved the title. If you've ever had to move due to Dad or Mom's work and be uprooted from all you know, you will appreciate the story. Even those of us who haven't can appreciate this sixth-graders struggle with adjustment to life on the opposite coast from where she was born and raised.
September 29, 2014
Kate’s parents are moving... away from beach, surf, warmth
and they’re taking Kate with them ( they could have left the little brat Danielle behind, that might have helped) And they’re going to live in landlocked Pennsylvania with snow and more snow and a school where the principal and half the kids already hate her and the other half think she must be personal friend of movie stars.
And what town would this be? Belletoona!
and they’re taking Kate with them ( they could have left the little brat Danielle behind, that might have helped) And they’re going to live in landlocked Pennsylvania with snow and more snow and a school where the principal and half the kids already hate her and the other half think she must be personal friend of movie stars.
And what town would this be? Belletoona!
March 6, 2013
I was really young when I had read this book for the first time but from what I can remember I /really enjoyed it. The author made you feel for the title character all the way through its entirety and the way the storyline was described it sounded like she was up rooted to the north pole or something. But I guess these dramatizations are quite accurate within the mind of a young teen. With the surprise ending all in all it was a really great book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2013
I think the book was superb. It was the perfect combination of seriousness and funniness. I really liked when Kate figured out that Belletoona, Pennsylvania was her home even if her old life and friend were back in California. Her old friends had moved on.
I did not like that Mad Eye (Madison) got away with putting the cigarettes in Kate's backpack. I think she would have gotten caught. But overall it was a fantastic book.
I did not like that Mad Eye (Madison) got away with putting the cigarettes in Kate's backpack. I think she would have gotten caught. But overall it was a fantastic book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews