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12 Again
In this captivating novel, wife and mother of three Bernadette McBride makes a wish she never expects to have granted—to be young again. When she awakens—transformed into a twelveyear- old—on what should be the morning of her fortieth birthday, she is at first jubilant, and then quickly realizes how complex life has suddenly become. She enrolls in her son’s seventh-grade computer class in hopes of enlisting his help, but it’s not that easy. . . . Patrick, Bernadette’s oldest son, has no idea what happened to his mother, but he refuses to give up hope. Unless he can get her back, he faces a life of waiting on his brothers. Can Patrick do the impossible? Can he rescue his mother . . . and return his family’s life to normal?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published July 22, 2002
25 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Sue Corbett
21 books11 followersSue Corbett is the author of 12 Again, Winner of the California Young Reader Medal, and Free Baseball, a finalist for 10 state readers' choice awards. Her latest novel is The Last Newspaper Boy in America and her first picture book, The 12 Days of Christmas in Virginia, have just been released this fall. "
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
September 26, 2019
A very creative book, very out-of-the-ordinary.
The book was interesting throughout, and grabbed my attention throughout.
An adult turning twelve is a very unusual thought, let alone the adult going to the same school as her children. (She even goes to the same classroom as her oldest son!)
There was a mix of realistic fiction and complete fantasy, as this weird event takes place at a typical town, with typical houses and typical people who do typical things.
The only downside about this book was that the ending seemed a little rushed. There should be more conflict when trying to rescue the mom from the spell.
The book was interesting throughout, and grabbed my attention throughout.
An adult turning twelve is a very unusual thought, let alone the adult going to the same school as her children. (She even goes to the same classroom as her oldest son!)
There was a mix of realistic fiction and complete fantasy, as this weird event takes place at a typical town, with typical houses and typical people who do typical things.
The only downside about this book was that the ending seemed a little rushed. There should be more conflict when trying to rescue the mom from the spell.
March 9, 2014
A fairly dull book. It reads like it was written by a mother who felt unappreciated and wanted lose herself in a fantasy where her family would all realize the errors of their ways. And seeing how the actually author is a mother of three who happens to be of Irish descent and also a journalist- I can only assume that's exactly what this book was.
I wanted to give the book the benefit of the doubt. Or at least discount it as simply a good read for younger audiences. But I really feel like younger kids wouldn't be interested in this either. The tone is more set for young mothers and yet, the writing is so simplistic that I think it was written for 12 year olds. And it just wasn't very exciting. Not saying that there needed to be car chases or fight scenes but surely just a little deadline or maybe have Patrick figure out his mother's identity and confront her. Something!
There were a few issues I had too with just how things worked. The fairy magic was way too convenient and out there. Everything else in the story is very solid and normal. We needed more magic to believe in the magic that's introduced. Otherwise it just feels like a giant Macguffin.
This might just be because the book is dated, but I find it hard to believe a 12 year old wouldn't already have an email address, or even be that excited about getting one. I mean, come on. In the age of instant messaging and now skype- email is really down on the list of what kids care about.
Also, speaking as a substitute teacher, if I were to suddenly become twelve again and have to take placement test; I can almost guarantee I wouldn't be acing them. Especially not the science or math tests. If I were eight- sure. But math in middle and high school is difficult to remember if you enter a job field that never uses math. And even history can be daunting. If I'm already forgetting things I learned ten years ago, I imagine a forty year old woman would certainly not be better. Especially not if she was a C student the first time around.
It's extremely unbelievable that a student can just enter herself into a middle school without a social or medical records. They were sticklers about that when I was in school. I mean to the point where students were sent home immediately if the records weren't up to date. I know in the story she had to sneak that by in order to get the plot going but I had a hard time buying it.
And honey and ants on a keyboard... geez. Just pour soda on it if you want to destroy it. And it's not like it was Vicky's computer anyway. It was a school computer hence, the honey and ants trick was probably just going to out the first student that tried to use it that day. Clearly not Victoria who has the class last period. So to put both honey AND live ants on the keyboard was just overkill.
I'm also not sure WHY that had to happen other than she just wanted to mess with Victoria. Seemed awfully petty to me.
Lastly, at one point Patrick needs to get on the computer to email his mom. He goes to school to do this when a chapter before that, he gets on his home computer to get on the chatroom. Wait... why did he go back to school, risking getting caught for having skipped, to email his mom when he could have simply just emailed her from the home computer as clearly his Dad isn't home and there's nothing stopping him from doing so.
I also just didn't believe the mom. I never bought her act. She never really worried about what must have been going on with her husband and kids. She just assumed they'd get along without her. She only put forth a real effort to contact them when she saw Patrick's emails. Before that she was perfectly content to stay twelve. She also bought the magic stuff too quickly. I can tell you if I woke up suddenly several years younger, I'd have a freaking panic attack. Because there was never a moment where she flipped her shit, I just didn't buy it. Everything felt so fake.
It's not a bad book. But's not really a good one either. I'd say, look elsewhere for a good read.
I wanted to give the book the benefit of the doubt. Or at least discount it as simply a good read for younger audiences. But I really feel like younger kids wouldn't be interested in this either. The tone is more set for young mothers and yet, the writing is so simplistic that I think it was written for 12 year olds. And it just wasn't very exciting. Not saying that there needed to be car chases or fight scenes but surely just a little deadline or maybe have Patrick figure out his mother's identity and confront her. Something!
There were a few issues I had too with just how things worked. The fairy magic was way too convenient and out there. Everything else in the story is very solid and normal. We needed more magic to believe in the magic that's introduced. Otherwise it just feels like a giant Macguffin.
This might just be because the book is dated, but I find it hard to believe a 12 year old wouldn't already have an email address, or even be that excited about getting one. I mean, come on. In the age of instant messaging and now skype- email is really down on the list of what kids care about.
Also, speaking as a substitute teacher, if I were to suddenly become twelve again and have to take placement test; I can almost guarantee I wouldn't be acing them. Especially not the science or math tests. If I were eight- sure. But math in middle and high school is difficult to remember if you enter a job field that never uses math. And even history can be daunting. If I'm already forgetting things I learned ten years ago, I imagine a forty year old woman would certainly not be better. Especially not if she was a C student the first time around.
It's extremely unbelievable that a student can just enter herself into a middle school without a social or medical records. They were sticklers about that when I was in school. I mean to the point where students were sent home immediately if the records weren't up to date. I know in the story she had to sneak that by in order to get the plot going but I had a hard time buying it.
And honey and ants on a keyboard... geez. Just pour soda on it if you want to destroy it. And it's not like it was Vicky's computer anyway. It was a school computer hence, the honey and ants trick was probably just going to out the first student that tried to use it that day. Clearly not Victoria who has the class last period. So to put both honey AND live ants on the keyboard was just overkill.
I'm also not sure WHY that had to happen other than she just wanted to mess with Victoria. Seemed awfully petty to me.
Lastly, at one point Patrick needs to get on the computer to email his mom. He goes to school to do this when a chapter before that, he gets on his home computer to get on the chatroom. Wait... why did he go back to school, risking getting caught for having skipped, to email his mom when he could have simply just emailed her from the home computer as clearly his Dad isn't home and there's nothing stopping him from doing so.
I also just didn't believe the mom. I never bought her act. She never really worried about what must have been going on with her husband and kids. She just assumed they'd get along without her. She only put forth a real effort to contact them when she saw Patrick's emails. Before that she was perfectly content to stay twelve. She also bought the magic stuff too quickly. I can tell you if I woke up suddenly several years younger, I'd have a freaking panic attack. Because there was never a moment where she flipped her shit, I just didn't buy it. Everything felt so fake.
It's not a bad book. But's not really a good one either. I'd say, look elsewhere for a good read.
October 8, 2012
I think this book was good. It starts on the last day of summer vacation. Bernadette's birthday was coming up but little did she know that, that day would turn her back to 12 years old again. It happened because she was really stressed out from work which make her go to her mom's house. When she got there, she drank this "magic" wine. She didn't know that that wine made her wishes come true, that's when the trouble began. What she wished was that she was younger so she wouldn't have to do anything that stressful and have a day off. So she depended on Patrick to save her but he couldn't know she was 12 again. At the end, Patrick help Bernadette out and brought the ingredients for the potion to reverse the spell. I think that Bernadette should have told Patrick that she was 12 again because she could have turned back to normal faster. I liked how Patrick helped out her mother because that means that Patrick is loyal to his mother. I disliked how Bernadette only told Patrick what happened instead of her whole family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2014
12 Again took place in a small house of the Mcbrides. The main characters of this story were Patrick and his mother, who seemed just normal until the day of his mothers 40th birthday. Patrick who was just starting the seventh grade had all the normal features of a twelve year old, while his mom felt old and wanted to be young. Although they seemed much like a family, they had magical beliefs inherited from Patrick's grandmother, making them have the belief in witchcraft. This book was really enjoyable since it talks about a boy my age, have a conflict that he knows that will set him back to being a twelve year old again. I recommend this book to anyone that wants to read about a family, with magic.
January 5, 2009
12 Agan is about a mom that becomes 12, her family does not go away she just is gone and they do not know where she is! She does not think that there is any hope for her. Then she finds a way to contact her son. He then is able to help her out of the situation.
The author's purpose is to entertain. In this book the message is that if you do not get it the first time do it until you do. The book's theme is mistery, fiction. The author's writing style is fiction.
The author's purpose is to entertain. In this book the message is that if you do not get it the first time do it until you do. The book's theme is mistery, fiction. The author's writing style is fiction.
March 20, 2021
Meh
Recommended for younger readers bc it wasn't that complicated
the ending was unsatisfactory
I loved Detta as a 12 yr old in school tho as well as fiona.
that's it sorry for the short review this time but idk what else to say abt this one
I read it in like 12hrs and it didn't really grab all of my attention.
Recommended for younger readers bc it wasn't that complicated
the ending was unsatisfactory
I loved Detta as a 12 yr old in school tho as well as fiona.
that's it sorry for the short review this time but idk what else to say abt this one
I read it in like 12hrs and it didn't really grab all of my attention.
August 18, 2022
This middle-grade novel was written by Sue Corbett (2002). The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Bernadette, a 40-year-old mom who writes a column for Newsday, and her oldest son Patrick, who's starting sixth grade. When Bernadette has a hard day and (in a magical context that would be too complicated to explain here) she wishes she were young again, she wakes up as her 12-year-old self.
However, this is neither a Chance at a Do-Over story, nor a Body-Swapping story, but rather a Be Careful What You Wish For story. Bernadette hasn't gone back to the past – she's 12 years old in the present! With no recourse, she enrolls in sixth grade and tries to understand Patrick better as a classmate.
But Patrick, his younger brothers, and their father get increasingly panicky as the weeks go by, because Bernadette seems to have gone missing without a trace. And Patrick is increasingly burdened with family responsibility in his mom's absence. In the end, Bernadette figures out how to reverse the magic, and (in a magical context that would be too complicated to explain here) recruits Patrick to do the magic, without ever revealing to him what happened to her.
Unfortunately, the book doesn't tie up all the threads (such as what Bernadette could tell her family and coworkers to explain her six-week absence). But I enjoyed its Long Island setting, with references to a bunch of Nassau locations.
However, this is neither a Chance at a Do-Over story, nor a Body-Swapping story, but rather a Be Careful What You Wish For story. Bernadette hasn't gone back to the past – she's 12 years old in the present! With no recourse, she enrolls in sixth grade and tries to understand Patrick better as a classmate.
But Patrick, his younger brothers, and their father get increasingly panicky as the weeks go by, because Bernadette seems to have gone missing without a trace. And Patrick is increasingly burdened with family responsibility in his mom's absence. In the end, Bernadette figures out how to reverse the magic, and (in a magical context that would be too complicated to explain here) recruits Patrick to do the magic, without ever revealing to him what happened to her.
Unfortunately, the book doesn't tie up all the threads (such as what Bernadette could tell her family and coworkers to explain her six-week absence). But I enjoyed its Long Island setting, with references to a bunch of Nassau locations.
March 5, 2018
Sue Corbett uses very descriptive sentences to captivate her audience by explaining every emotion and thought that goes through Patrick McBribe's mind as he has to figure out a way to rescue his mother and bring her back from the mysterious spell that made her into 12 again. The story was very interesting in the beginning and the end but the middle lost some interest as it didn't seem to completely captivate what was going on leaving some misunderstandings and confusion among the reader. Overall the book was very good the ending was different than I had expected but I really enjoyed the book.
Want to read
March 1, 202212 Again is the story of 7th grader Patrick, and his mother Bernadette (or Detta). Patrick grazes against his responsibilities as the oldest of three son, with two working parents. This causes friction with his mother, right up until his mother disappears on Labor Day. I really recommend this mystery fictional novel because of how interesting the novel is, including the secrets and puzzles that are put together to add more of the novels perespective.
April 25, 2019
This book was surprisingly enjoyable. It had an interesting plot, and the story was extremely well thought- out, although I didn’t love the ending, I think it could have been wrapped up better, but I do recommend this book for a light read.
October 9, 2019
Quick read but fairly boring. It all wrapped up in the last 10 pages or so. Cool idea though. Maybe if it would have been a longer book there could have been more to draw you in. It felt too fast paced to really connect with any of the characters.
February 19, 2020
As an adult growing up in the 1970s on Long Island, I loved this book. However, it is dated and I can't see today's middle-grade children being interested. The 1970s part of the book held up better than the 2002 part of the book.
October 4, 2018
This book was hilarious, I couldn't put it down! The author did a great job of showing the perspective of 12 year olds.
May 25, 2019
This was a light, fun read aloud with my 11-13 year old girls.
Read
July 22, 2019it was really funny
October 1, 2020
The ending was abrupt and unsatisfying.
February 12, 2014
In the book “Twelve Again,” by Sue Corbett, a mother and her son struggle to restore their lives back to normal. On the morning of her fortieth birthday, Bernadette McBride wakes up the same age as her seventh grade son, Patrick. Patrick believes his mother has gone missing. However, when Bernadette goes to sleep at her deceased mother's vacant house for the night, she accidentally drinks a potion from her mother's pantry. The potion summons fairies that transform her old body, and turns her twelve again. The clock has turned back everything in Bernadette’s mother's house. The news from 28 years ago is playing on the radio, while Bernadette’s mother is once again alive wearing clothes from 1972. Once Bernadette enrolls herself in Patrick's school, he senses something is out of the ordinary. The police are on the lookout for Patrick’s mother, surveying every clue, having no idea where Bernadette could possibly be. Patrick knows she is still out there, and he is determined to find her. The plot thickens, when the police uncover even more secrets to Bernadette's disappearance. In the book “Twelve Again,” Patrick’s desperation to find his mother shows a special bond that families are built upon. “Twelve Again,” shows how families function, and deal with hard times by working together. “Twelve Again” was overall a fantastic fantasy book. Before, I did not like fantasy books, and disliked the idea of having to read one. My view on fantasy books has changed after reading “Twelve Again.” The story combines fantasy, realistic fiction, and Irish folk tale into one intriguing genre that makes up “Twelve Again.” The story makes the reader think deeper into the core values of being part of a family. With every chapter, I felt more connected to the characters. I would suggest this book to anyone who is looking for a unique and mysterious page-turner. “Twelve Again” makes the reader think even after the last page, questioning how important family is and what kind of sacrifices families willing to make for each other. ♡
September 18, 2013
In the book that I read takes place mostly at the house of the McBrides. The situation in the story is that Bernadette had drunk a potion that she had mistaken for wine and the potion turned Bernadette into a 12 year old. Bernadette’s family started to worry about why she hadn’t returned after 3 days. The family finally decided to call the police and the police found that someone had taken three hundred dollars from Bernadette’s bank account. Bernadette was the person who took the three hundred dollars but, she was now a twelve year old and nobody would believe what happened so, every time her name was mentioned or she saw the police she had to hide so that she wouldn’t be noticed. The main character is Bernadette McBride, she had 3 children and a lovely husband. Bernadette has ADHD so, she needs everything perfect and if everything isn’t perfect she gets mad. Bernadette is very independent and doesn’t enjoy being disturbed while trying to work. I would rank this book a 4 out of 5 because, I love the way that this story is set up and I think that the situation is very enthusiastic. I also find Bernadette’s personality very similar to a few people I know. Honestly this is one of the best books I have read this year . My book is 12 Again By. Sue Corbett
Want to read
January 14, 2016 A girl named Detta McBride is married to her husband Mr. McBride. Together, they had 3 boys. Patrick, Kevin, and Neil. Patrick is the oldest so Detta expects the best from him because he helps his younger brothers. Every morning Patrick expects a daily lecture from his mom. He turned in his chair to expect his mom to walk right in to his room and give him the lecture. However, when he turned around there was blank space. His mom was gone. But where. Detta wakes up in her old house with her mother there, but she is dead, and Detta wasn't. Detta was in another demension. She was 12 again, not 42, and today was her birthday. Detta works for a newspaper company and she writes all the time with her amazing computer. However, there is a problem, her computer is with her, along with her work cloths, and credit card. What if people think she is a theft? When Detta inrolls in school she changes her name to Bernadette. Also, when she is in school, she realizes it is the same school as Patrick and Kevin. Later on, Bernadette realizes she was taken under the power of fairies and she needs to use their own power to get her out to her current live, with her family.
May 8, 2014
12 Again was actually a good book. Bernadette McBride wakes up at age 12 and Patrick McBride thinks his mom is missing. The police are actually trying to find Bernadette because she has been gone and her family was getting worried. Bernadette isn’t gone but her family think she is gone, she is just in school, Patrick’s school but he doesn’t know that. Since Bernadette is a mother of three, all three of them worry something might have happened to her. The police knows she is missing also know that nobody did nothing to her but they don't know where she is. I personally feel like this is a good book to read I can even picture the events that are going on. What I also like is that each chapter transitions from Patrick’s side of the story to Bernadette’s side of the story. Every chapter I read made me understand more about the characters. This book has a combination of mystery and fiction so that is what made the book interesting. I would suggest this book to anyone who likes mystery and fiction going on.
February 9, 2017
(i actually finished this last night - i just forgot to update)
this was a really funny and cool book!! i liked how only bernadette travels back in time, and not everyone else. the parts with fiona are really sad though.
this was a really funny and cool book!! i liked how only bernadette travels back in time, and not everyone else. the parts with fiona are really sad though.
February 4, 2016
I think this book affected me more as an adult reader than it would have if I were a child, thanks to the nuances of the mother/son relationship. Chilid readers will be more captured by the Irish magic involved. Sort of a "Freaky Friday" with a twist. Through the alternating views of 12-year-old Patrick and his 40-year-old mother Bernadette, readers experience the impact of Bernadette's "disappearance" (she drinks what she believes is wine at her late mother's house and wakes up as her 12-year-old self living again with her mother). Bernadette enjoys being 12 but realizes it will take magic to undo the effect and that she will need to rely on Patrick to help her out. Meanwhile, Patrick as the oldest has to take on more responsibilities at home. When he gets the e-mails from his missing mother and her mysterious directives, he follows through with a level-headed practicality that's very likable.
January 15, 2016
When I started this book I didn't think much of it. It was an average run of the mill mystery, lacking in suspense and well, mystery.
Patrick McBride's mother disappeared, leaving him and his workaholic father to take care of his other siblings, Kevin and Neil. Their was no evidence or clues about Bernedette McBride's disappearance.
Soon, the book becomes engaging and exciting. We learn that Bernedette, or Detta, actually turned 12 again.
Now the book is a fantastical mystery, with enchanting magic, sorrow, and suspense. Finally Patrick must race against time to get his mom back. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages. If you can get past the slow beginning you will have a great time reading this awesome book!
Patrick McBride's mother disappeared, leaving him and his workaholic father to take care of his other siblings, Kevin and Neil. Their was no evidence or clues about Bernedette McBride's disappearance.
Soon, the book becomes engaging and exciting. We learn that Bernedette, or Detta, actually turned 12 again.
Now the book is a fantastical mystery, with enchanting magic, sorrow, and suspense. Finally Patrick must race against time to get his mom back. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages. If you can get past the slow beginning you will have a great time reading this awesome book!
October 24, 2009
Some parts of this book discuss about understanding one's family history and goes into the character's Irish roots. This can be used as a way to get kids to write about their own family history.
Two character perspectives are given in this book. Kids can discuss how one character view/understands the same thing differently or similarly to one another.
Some information about the 1970s should be given, as the mother was 12 during that period in time. Show pictures of how people dressed and how the homes looked like too, so that the students can visually see what the mom is wearing as she goes to her son's school or how her life used to be like at home as a child.
Two character perspectives are given in this book. Kids can discuss how one character view/understands the same thing differently or similarly to one another.
Some information about the 1970s should be given, as the mother was 12 during that period in time. Show pictures of how people dressed and how the homes looked like too, so that the students can visually see what the mom is wearing as she goes to her son's school or how her life used to be like at home as a child.
November 22, 2011
Bernadette McBride makes a wish on her 40th birthday. A wish that she thought would never be granted. When she wakes up in her mother's house she is 12 again and her mother is alive.
Reasons I like this book-
Reason 1- The book kept me glued to the pages.
Reason 2- When Bernadette McBride disappears, Patrick ends up being in charge most of the time, because dad is always looking for mom. Patrick does a lot of chores, but his dad ends up hiring a cleaning lady.
Reason 3- Bernadette being a 12 year old again, ends up going to Patrick's (her son) school. She keeps looking at him and making sure he is okay, but the other girls mistake this as falling in love.
Reasons I like this book-
Reason 1- The book kept me glued to the pages.
Reason 2- When Bernadette McBride disappears, Patrick ends up being in charge most of the time, because dad is always looking for mom. Patrick does a lot of chores, but his dad ends up hiring a cleaning lady.
Reason 3- Bernadette being a 12 year old again, ends up going to Patrick's (her son) school. She keeps looking at him and making sure he is okay, but the other girls mistake this as falling in love.
January 15, 2016
The beginning and end of this book are the only good parts.
The plot development is pretty much zero. The entire middle of the book it Bernadette going to school and the library. Nothing else happens! Sure maybe she discovers a small thing here and there, but not enough things happen for there to be a plot.
I would not really recommend this book, unless you really are interested. The mother is always sad, and doesn't really try to get back to the family. She also doesn't have any records and that is probably what makes it less believable.
If you are going to read this book, I wish you very well.
The plot development is pretty much zero. The entire middle of the book it Bernadette going to school and the library. Nothing else happens! Sure maybe she discovers a small thing here and there, but not enough things happen for there to be a plot.
I would not really recommend this book, unless you really are interested. The mother is always sad, and doesn't really try to get back to the family. She also doesn't have any records and that is probably what makes it less believable.
If you are going to read this book, I wish you very well.
March 15, 2010
When I first started reading and discovered what it was about, I thought, wow---it's one of 'those' stories again. (How many movies/books are there where the adult returns back to their childhood, etc.) Later I went back to it and thought, "I'll read it a little further". And I found myself really getting into it. I enjoyed it a lot! A good, easy read. I found the Irish aspects of the story interesting. But something really bugged me at the end. (the little details can really get to me) See if you agree....
March 12, 2011
Didn't finish this book. Too weird and sad. A 12 year old boy has to help with his younger brother a lot because both his parents work. His mom is about to turn 40 and wishes to be young. She wakes up and is 12 again in her old house with her dead mother young again. But when she leaves the house, she is in present day so she goes to school with her son. It switches point of view between the two. Of course her family is wondering where she went and are really sad. Anyway, I stopped reading because I wasn't enjoying it.
October 17, 2011
Personally I think that the book is okay but is not something that would occur in reality. The book was not so much designed for my age and did not catch my attention as much as I had expected. Otherwise the book is about a boy whose mother turns twelve and he has to help her get back home. His other brothers and father are worried sick but he is the only one who knows that his mother is still alive. As a normal story would go the problem is solved and he is re-united with his mother. The book really did not help my vocabulary as much but helped my general knowledge.
July 1, 2013
I loved the idea and plot of this book. It switched its perspective between a 7th grade boy and his mother who has recently become her 12 year old self again. For fans of the movie Big or Thirteen Going on Thirty, this story is for you. Corbett was able to get the character's voice of a 40 year old woman in a 12 year old's body just right. The only negatives were the ending, the story didn't seem quite finished, and I wish you learned more about the mother's other family throughout the book besides just her one son. About a 3.5/5.
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