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Frozen Rodeo
Peggy Fleming Farrell is about to have the best summer ever. Only, it doesn't look that way at first: There's her job as coffee wench at the Gas 'n Git, her summer school French class, and her unrequited love for a certain waiter. Not to mention Lamaze class with her mom, and her dad's attempt at a professional ice-skating comeback. So what is it that turns Fleming's summer around? The drive in a borrowed golf cart? Love among the pancakes? Appearing in the Rodeo Roundup Days parade -- by accident? The guy with the red flip-flops? What?
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First published January 21, 2003
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921 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Clark
70 books390 followersI love reading books for children, young adults, new adults and all the old people after that.
I love writing for pretty much the same audiences.
I love writing for pretty much the same audiences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 1, 2012
THIS BOOK'S TERRIBLE. & no, I didn't finish it. I think I stopped around page 3? Trust me; this book is that bad.
August 25, 2013
It's summer time in the little town of Lindville and Peggy Fleming Farrell is stuck selling coffee at a gas station so she can pay her parents back for a car she totaled. In her free time she babysits her three younger siblings and takes French classes at the local high school so she can graduate early and get the heck out of Lindville before she goes crazy.
But some things don't go as expected.
Her co-worker is a Bono wannabe, her French teacher has gone AWOL, her IHOP crush has taken a liking to a plastic Barbie doll, her mom is nine months pregnant, and her dad is on the verge of making his comeback in the competitive world of figure skating. It's not a usual summer at all.
"Frozen Rodeo" is filled with quirky characters and hilarious situations. Fleming's friends consist of Denny, whose obsession with U2 can rival the love Directioners display for 1D, and Charlotte, a "free spirit" who works at an elderly care home. Together the three plan to make it the best summer ever, by stealing golf carts and streaking during the annual Rodeo Day Parade. Fleming finally feels as if she is leaving the boring life of Lindville behind her, but will her controlling parents realize she has dreams of her own besides helping them pursue theirs?
The writing is flawless and witty. Also, the characters are the perfect mix of quirky and relatable. The situations they get themselves into are totally crazy and impossible, yet the reader wishes he or she can team along. It's a relatively easy read as well, which makes the story a perfect end-of-summer read that can be breezed through in less than a day.
For those readers who love John Green or Maureen Johnson, with lovable characters, crazy adventures, yet valuable lessons intertwined between the lines, Catherine Clark's "Frozen Rodeo" is perfect.
But some things don't go as expected.
Her co-worker is a Bono wannabe, her French teacher has gone AWOL, her IHOP crush has taken a liking to a plastic Barbie doll, her mom is nine months pregnant, and her dad is on the verge of making his comeback in the competitive world of figure skating. It's not a usual summer at all.
"Frozen Rodeo" is filled with quirky characters and hilarious situations. Fleming's friends consist of Denny, whose obsession with U2 can rival the love Directioners display for 1D, and Charlotte, a "free spirit" who works at an elderly care home. Together the three plan to make it the best summer ever, by stealing golf carts and streaking during the annual Rodeo Day Parade. Fleming finally feels as if she is leaving the boring life of Lindville behind her, but will her controlling parents realize she has dreams of her own besides helping them pursue theirs?
The writing is flawless and witty. Also, the characters are the perfect mix of quirky and relatable. The situations they get themselves into are totally crazy and impossible, yet the reader wishes he or she can team along. It's a relatively easy read as well, which makes the story a perfect end-of-summer read that can be breezed through in less than a day.
For those readers who love John Green or Maureen Johnson, with lovable characters, crazy adventures, yet valuable lessons intertwined between the lines, Catherine Clark's "Frozen Rodeo" is perfect.
December 21, 2015
I only read this because these kind of books are quick reads but there was hardly any romance in it..
December 26, 2015
wtf is this book?
July 28, 2011
wow. so usually i kind of like catherine clark books but this one was extremly dissapointing. the only reason i finished it was to see if it could possiby get better but it didn't. did fleming end up with denny in the end or did charlotte? seriously the whole plot for the book kind of sucked!
June 2, 2022
Peggy Fleming Farrell is on the cusp of her senior year of high school. A time when every teenage girl should be preparing for her last year, sowing their wild oats and dreaming all the big dreams. Peggy 'Fleming' Farrell is working a debt off to her parents at the local Gas N' Git.
After several wrecked cars and no way to pay it back, Flemings parents take her license, car and tell her to find a job. She finds work at the local gas station with the U2 obsessed Denny, the Coffee Breath man and Jamie's Not-So-Good Java.
She's insanely obsessed with a boy named Steve who she causally made out with a couple of times and is sure that this next year will see them traveling in a van across country. But when he ghosts her, she finds out he's seeing someone he works with at the IHOP. You'd think that this would slow her down and she'd forget about him, instead she spends the whole summer pining over how to get him back.
Honestly, this book really wasn't my favorite. And 3 stars is very generous. I gave it 3 stars simply because it read very fast and was easy to get through. If you're looking for a quick, middle grades read, then this is your perfect summer book.
After several wrecked cars and no way to pay it back, Flemings parents take her license, car and tell her to find a job. She finds work at the local gas station with the U2 obsessed Denny, the Coffee Breath man and Jamie's Not-So-Good Java.
She's insanely obsessed with a boy named Steve who she causally made out with a couple of times and is sure that this next year will see them traveling in a van across country. But when he ghosts her, she finds out he's seeing someone he works with at the IHOP. You'd think that this would slow her down and she'd forget about him, instead she spends the whole summer pining over how to get him back.
Honestly, this book really wasn't my favorite. And 3 stars is very generous. I gave it 3 stars simply because it read very fast and was easy to get through. If you're looking for a quick, middle grades read, then this is your perfect summer book.
April 22, 2018
Actually 4,5 stars. A very pleasant surprise. I didn't have very high expectations in this book because I looked it up for a challenge but I very pleased with the experience and would recommend it as a light and quick read. I actually liked the main character a lot but would change some core aspects of it. I will definitely look for more books of this author.
January 8, 2018
Based on many of the reviews here, I expected this book to be horrible. However, I enjoyed it for the most part. The skater father reminded me of a skating coach I knew who was trying to get his double axel back at ~50.
July 26, 2025
There was nothing really wrong with this book. Fleming was a likable enough character, and the story was well written. It's just that nothing really happened that was very life changing. It was a bit like reading someone's diary of their daily summer life in their hometown.
July 24, 2020
Just your average YA fiction book.
Want to read
November 18, 2009UPDATE: LOG: 11/17/09:
I just finished the book this morning. Fleming's French teacher never showed up to his summer school class, and everyone was wondering where he was at. There was a gas station bandit, that robbed and ran, turns out, that's what their french teacher was up to. Fleming saved everyone and she was the one to bring him down. At the end she gets a new sibling added to the family, and her parents finally see that's she's responsible. It's all happy happy, and both of the guys she liked now like her, but she's over them. (Waaay waaaay over them)
So far, I really like this book, but I don't. The main character, Peggy Fleming, is having a really boring summer in a really boring city. She is "in love" with Steve, but Steve's best friend, Mike, seems to be interested in her. So far in the book, she's juggling between the two. I don't like this book so far because the story line has a very weak point to it. The deeper meaning isn't too great, and I don't like the stroy line at all really. I like this book because every page something happens, and anything can happen. It is very unpredictable and makes you want to keep reading, I'm enraptured in the book because one thing is happening on one page, and then I turn it and BAM! Something else goes wrong or something completely unexpected happens. She has been taking a summer French class and has met Charlotte, her new best friend. Charlotte has a wild streak to her and is loved by all. Peggy works at a gas station store, and she isn't very handy with cars. This summer is all about paying back her parents and responsibility, that is all she has been up to, and her parents don't see all that she is doing. They're taking her for granted.
I just finished the book this morning. Fleming's French teacher never showed up to his summer school class, and everyone was wondering where he was at. There was a gas station bandit, that robbed and ran, turns out, that's what their french teacher was up to. Fleming saved everyone and she was the one to bring him down. At the end she gets a new sibling added to the family, and her parents finally see that's she's responsible. It's all happy happy, and both of the guys she liked now like her, but she's over them. (Waaay waaaay over them)
So far, I really like this book, but I don't. The main character, Peggy Fleming, is having a really boring summer in a really boring city. She is "in love" with Steve, but Steve's best friend, Mike, seems to be interested in her. So far in the book, she's juggling between the two. I don't like this book so far because the story line has a very weak point to it. The deeper meaning isn't too great, and I don't like the stroy line at all really. I like this book because every page something happens, and anything can happen. It is very unpredictable and makes you want to keep reading, I'm enraptured in the book because one thing is happening on one page, and then I turn it and BAM! Something else goes wrong or something completely unexpected happens. She has been taking a summer French class and has met Charlotte, her new best friend. Charlotte has a wild streak to her and is loved by all. Peggy works at a gas station store, and she isn't very handy with cars. This summer is all about paying back her parents and responsibility, that is all she has been up to, and her parents don't see all that she is doing. They're taking her for granted.
May 23, 2010
Fleming is having the worst summer of her life. She has to work at the coffee shop in the gas station to pay back her parents from the money she owes them. She has to go there early in the morning and there was always a guy that has coffee breath that comes to the store early in the morning. She crashed the old store she used to work at so she got fired but she didn't care at all. Besides the job at the coffee shop, she still has to take French class during the summer with substitutes, take care of her three siblings, and is taking class with her mom about her pregnancy. But the worst of all was that she sees her crush with a new girl making out. Her summer can't get any better but luckily she met a really good friend at French class.
I think that Fleming does not get as much freedom as the other girls her age. She has so much thing to worry about. From this book, I learned that your summer might be better off without some guys to worry about. I think her mom gives her so many things to do because she wants her daughter to have a brighter future ahead.
I think that Fleming does not get as much freedom as the other girls her age. She has so much thing to worry about. From this book, I learned that your summer might be better off without some guys to worry about. I think her mom gives her so many things to do because she wants her daughter to have a brighter future ahead.
November 7, 2012
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
In this reprint of Catherine Clark's FROZEN RODEO, Fleming is having the worst summer. She's stuck working at a coffee shop in a gas station to pay her parents back for crashing their station wagon. She's taking a French class where the professor is always absent. Her best friend is gone for the summer and the boy she likes is always making out with another girl.
That doesn't even begin to describe her troubles at home - always having to babysit and help around the house without having time to herself. Fleming can't wait to leave town next year and head to college.
Then she befriends another girl, forms a friendship with the boys she works with, and makes out with a new guy. Could the summer be looking up for her?
Catherine Clark writes a summer novel where everything's going wrong, but then things begin to look up and Fleming discovers her life isn't so terrible after all.
In this reprint of Catherine Clark's FROZEN RODEO, Fleming is having the worst summer. She's stuck working at a coffee shop in a gas station to pay her parents back for crashing their station wagon. She's taking a French class where the professor is always absent. Her best friend is gone for the summer and the boy she likes is always making out with another girl.
That doesn't even begin to describe her troubles at home - always having to babysit and help around the house without having time to herself. Fleming can't wait to leave town next year and head to college.
Then she befriends another girl, forms a friendship with the boys she works with, and makes out with a new guy. Could the summer be looking up for her?
Catherine Clark writes a summer novel where everything's going wrong, but then things begin to look up and Fleming discovers her life isn't so terrible after all.
May 15, 2016
Peggy Fleming Farrell is the daughter of a famous ice skater father and meteorologist mother. Her parents have decided to settle down, and now live in the small town of Lindville. Fleming, as she likes to be called, has three younger siblings and one on the way.
Her summer has already started off crummy. She is required to work at a coffee shop within a gas station in order to pay her parents back for damages that occurred at a previous job she worked at. She also has to babysit her younger siblings while her parents are busy with their careers. And she's taking French at summer school because her crush said he was going to. AND she is required to go to Lamaze classes with her mother in preparation for the new baby. It feels like she's being taken for granted, and she doesn't appreciate it all too much.
It's a cute story about a girl with a flair for life and responsibility.
Her summer has already started off crummy. She is required to work at a coffee shop within a gas station in order to pay her parents back for damages that occurred at a previous job she worked at. She also has to babysit her younger siblings while her parents are busy with their careers. And she's taking French at summer school because her crush said he was going to. AND she is required to go to Lamaze classes with her mother in preparation for the new baby. It feels like she's being taken for granted, and she doesn't appreciate it all too much.
It's a cute story about a girl with a flair for life and responsibility.
August 20, 2008
So basically this book is about Peggy, a clumsy driver who crashes her way to earning money for her parents and taking French classes from a teacher who never shows up and always has substitutes who usually never know French.
I picked up this book because it seemed like that kind of story that might be interesting. Alternative characters, a decent plot. I didn't hate it, but the ending could have been a little bit better. It just kind of cut off. The whole middle-age crisis that her father was going through and her mother's pregnancy was kind of interesting. It kind of depressed me how her father paid nearly no attention to his wife's baby. And Peggy seemed like a smart girl but occasionally she seemed a bit self-centered and angstful.
I picked up this book because it seemed like that kind of story that might be interesting. Alternative characters, a decent plot. I didn't hate it, but the ending could have been a little bit better. It just kind of cut off. The whole middle-age crisis that her father was going through and her mother's pregnancy was kind of interesting. It kind of depressed me how her father paid nearly no attention to his wife's baby. And Peggy seemed like a smart girl but occasionally she seemed a bit self-centered and angstful.
July 14, 2009
Cute story - about a teen girl in a small town navigating her way through her summer job, summer french class, an old crush, a new friend, a new guy, a crazy bus driver, armed robbery, and child birth classes???
Clean (except for someone streaking):). No cussing, no sex, no drugs. Thank you Catherine.
There is something to be said about the real subplot of this story - being able to adjust your expectations about people, about yourself. Deciding to change your mind, your course, not just going with what is convenient, especially when it involves using other people. Being able to apologize.
Clean (except for someone streaking):). No cussing, no sex, no drugs. Thank you Catherine.
There is something to be said about the real subplot of this story - being able to adjust your expectations about people, about yourself. Deciding to change your mind, your course, not just going with what is convenient, especially when it involves using other people. Being able to apologize.
Want to read
September 13, 2011Morgan Howard
9/13/2011
This book is about a teenage girl named Peggy in a small town where nothing exciting ever happens. Peggy is stuck in Kindville and just like all of her other friends they want to get out! She is just aloud to drive and she drove into the store that she works at, and is spending the whole summer working, babysitting, and paying off her parents for the damage to the car. Peggy dreams of leaving Kindville with the love of her life Steven, when she finds something out about him that only Mike(Steve's beat friend) knows. Peggy's new friend Charlotte has a crazy idea and wants Peggy to go along with it.
June 5, 2016
it was very good in the beginning but then it got very boring she was torn between two guys. and i mean tat was good normally i figure these books out all the time, but htis one she really ended up with noone. it just resolved itself. i just like that it was different and it resolved itself at the rodeo. i thought she waas goin to end up with denny i mean they worked together and talked about stuff, but she was with mike and he was just rlly fake. cuz of wat steve told him. but mike was saying steve was fake but look at him he was being such a jerk. and if she didnt get hurt the book wouldve beeen soooooooooooo much different. not my favorite catherine clarkk book but it was ok
Read
November 3, 2010I have read other books from this author and her looks usually makes for a quick enjoyable read. I didn’t particularly enjoy this book though. It got me thinking about why I didn’t like the book as much as the others. I think it’s because the plot losses focus in the book. In the beginning it seems the main focus is her job at the gas station, her French class, and guy and then by the end it revolves her relationship around her family. So I learned from this book to keep the plot focused so that the reader doesn’t get lost.
February 9, 2011
Peggy Fleming Farrell's summer is the pits. She has to work making coffee at the Gas N Git to pay her parents back for wrecking the car. Her skating father is trying to stage a comeback, her pregnant mother wants her to be the Lamaze coach, and the boy she likes is dating someone else. Then she meets Charlotte in French class, and life might not be so bad. Between hijacked golf carts, plans to streak in the Rodeo Days parade, and a robber on the loose, summer may yet have some excitement.
September 30, 2009
In addition to taking Lamaze classes with her expectant mother while her father tries to regain a foot in the professional skating world, Peggy Fleming Farrell must also suffer the horror of bad French teachers and a boring job, in an amusing tale about a young girl trying to make sense of her life.
July 19, 2019
First time reading from Catherine Clark. I enjoyed the mix of summer school nostalgia (who else remembers french class, or trying to study for the future?) And P.F.'s balance of family and friend responsibilities.
A great read as the intro had me hooked!
Come and join me as I gush over this read and many more on my read feeds! https://youtu.be/JwR0_IRc_kM
A great read as the intro had me hooked!
Come and join me as I gush over this read and many more on my read feeds! https://youtu.be/JwR0_IRc_kM
October 18, 2009
A cute book, while I was confused a bit at some points. I enjoyed the parental conflict, it was realistic and I could really relate to being the third parent. The ending was very cute. I loved the book overall.
March 22, 2010
I decided I needed to read a YA book for girls, especially with no vampires. I enjoyed this. There were things I found realistic and things I found kind of silly. The silliness might actually have made it more realistic- teenagers are kind of silly. Anyway, fun read.
December 26, 2012
Written in short sections from the point of view of a young girl who is named after the ice skater -Peggy Fleming. The task of the writer is turning a troubled youth into someone responsible with very little parental guidance.
December 29, 2014
What a cute novel and funny too. I enjoyed it very much. Unlike other novels I have read, this book was unpredictable. I never would've thought the summer school teacher was the one involved in the robberies. Brilliant!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2008
Hated It
well it wasn't that bad but not her best
well it wasn't that bad but not her best
May 31, 2009
this was good. i learned you dont always need a guy or boyfriend...well i already knew that but that was in there
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews