When Michael Marder receives a diary for his eleventh birthday he's disappointed. What a dumb present! But as he starts to write in it, Michael comes to like his diary very much. It's the one place where he can put down his private feelings. Gradually his feelings begin to change and Michael discovers a love for his family he never felt before!
Robert Kimmel Smith began dreaming of becoming a writer at the age of eight, when he spent three months in bed reading while recovering from rheumatic fever. He enrolled in Brooklyn College in 1947, and served in the U.S. Army, in Germany, from 1951-1953. In 1954 he married Claire Medney, his editor and literary agent. They have two children: Heidi (1962) and Roger (1967). After writing advertising copy from 1957 to 1969, Robert Kimmel Smith became a full-time writer in 1970.
What a fabulous book!! Narrated by Michael, a young boy in the last few years of grade school, the book is written in diary form and tells the day-to-day story of his life as a 5th and 6th grader. Whether he's dealing with his annoying (sometimes) baby sister, his class bully, or problems with his best friend, Michael's trials and tribulations were very realistic, amusing and extremely entertaining. Great book for anyone this age group (or their mother who loves to read out loud to them!).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This gives me more 'feels' than Kinney's DoaWK books. P.155, dad offering to put a spaghetti sandwich in Michael's lunch. #sixth grade #girlfriends#spelling bee#nee baby#littlesister#parentsargue
3.75 stars This book is dated (from 1987) but still quite enjoyable to read. It has a similar feel to Beverly Cleary’s Dear Mr. Henshaw which came out a few years before it.
This book was one of the best books I have ever read because it was funny and knowledgedable! I had some difficulties that this was a little before my time and they didn't have cell phones. Other than that this is my new favorite book!