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The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes
Knowledge is Power
Abby is about to start sixth grade. At first she's excited, but then fears of the changes middle school will bring get the best of her. *Includes Abby's own guide to sixth grade!*
Abby can't believe it--sixth grade is about to begin! At first, she's excited. Being in sixth grade means moving up to middle school, having different teachers for each subject, and meeting new friends from other elementary schools. Then Abby receives "An Insider's Guide to Sixth Grade." It's all about the negative things Abby can expect -- boy-crazy friends, dating, moodiness, mean teachers, boy-girl parties, and more. Abby doesn't think she's ready for so many changes at once. When sixth grade starts, Abby realizes that some things (and people) are different, but so is she.
Abby can't believe it--sixth grade is about to begin! At first, she's excited. Being in sixth grade means moving up to middle school, having different teachers for each subject, and meeting new friends from other elementary schools. Then Abby receives "An Insider's Guide to Sixth Grade." It's all about the negative things Abby can expect -- boy-crazy friends, dating, moodiness, mean teachers, boy-girl parties, and more. Abby doesn't think she's ready for so many changes at once. When sixth grade starts, Abby realizes that some things (and people) are different, but so is she.
112 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2004
7 people are currently reading
266 people want to read
About the author
Anne Mazer
73 books102 followersQuite a lot of Anne Mazer’s writing education took place while she was unconscious. Her parents wanted desperately to become writers and made themselves get up at 4:00 a.m. Every morning in order to have writing time before their three young children awoke. The first thing Anne heard every day was two big, noisy electric typewriters. The furious sound of typing was her childhood wake-up music. During the day, her parents endlessly discussed ideas, plot, and character, and before she was seven years old, Anne knew about revisions, first and second drafts, and rejection slips. It was like growing up in a twenty four hour, seven day a week writer’s boot camp.
In order to escape from her parents’ obsession with writing, Anne turned to books. She was an avid reader from an early age and credits her love of reading for her writing career. Her favorite works were fantasy, fairy tales, historical fiction, humor, realistic fiction, and adventure. Her other interests were language, art, history, and science. At the age of twelve, she wanted to be an actress, a ballerina and a nuclear physicist. These careers were rapidly eliminated as she realized that a) she couldn’t dance, b) she couldn’t act; and c) she hated math.
Although at the time Anne thought writing was nothing but a nuisance, she now considers herself very lucky to have grown up with two aspiring writers. She learned a lot about discipline, perseverance and dedication to a craft from witnessing her parents’ struggle. They eventually became successful and award-winning young adult novelists.
It took Anne a long time to figure out that she, too, wanted to be a writer. During early adulthood, she worked as an au pair, a bank teller, a pill bottle labeler, a receptionist, an English tutor, and an administrative assistant, as well as other jobs that she was ill-suited for. She attended three universities, spent several years in Paris, traveled throughout Europe, and worked in Boston and New York City.
Anne’s “eureka” moment about writing came while she prepared a research report for one of her bosses. As she lovingly polished each sentence, and meticulously organized the paragraphs, she realized that no one really cared how beautifully she wrote about the latest models of air-conditioners. Except her, of course.
Using her parents’ model of daily writing and discipline, she began to write. It took her seven years to publish her first book, a picture book inspired by her then two year old son, Max.
Anne is the mother of an adult son and daughter. Over the last twenty years, she has written over forty-five books for young readers. She has enough ideas to last for another quarter century and hopes that she will be writing for a very long time.
Fun Facts About Anne Mazer
Her favorite foods are popcorn, rice pudding and blueberries.
When she was a kid, she would sometimes read up to ten books a day.
If she had magic powers, she'd choose invisibility.
She painted the rooms in her house yellow, orange, and violet.
One of her favorite childhood books was The Twilight of Magic, by Hugh Lofting.
When Anne was a teenager, her room was so messy that she needed a map to get from the door to the bed. (sort of)
In school Anne often flunked her favorite creative subjects, like writing and art.
In order to escape from her parents’ obsession with writing, Anne turned to books. She was an avid reader from an early age and credits her love of reading for her writing career. Her favorite works were fantasy, fairy tales, historical fiction, humor, realistic fiction, and adventure. Her other interests were language, art, history, and science. At the age of twelve, she wanted to be an actress, a ballerina and a nuclear physicist. These careers were rapidly eliminated as she realized that a) she couldn’t dance, b) she couldn’t act; and c) she hated math.
Although at the time Anne thought writing was nothing but a nuisance, she now considers herself very lucky to have grown up with two aspiring writers. She learned a lot about discipline, perseverance and dedication to a craft from witnessing her parents’ struggle. They eventually became successful and award-winning young adult novelists.
It took Anne a long time to figure out that she, too, wanted to be a writer. During early adulthood, she worked as an au pair, a bank teller, a pill bottle labeler, a receptionist, an English tutor, and an administrative assistant, as well as other jobs that she was ill-suited for. She attended three universities, spent several years in Paris, traveled throughout Europe, and worked in Boston and New York City.
Anne’s “eureka” moment about writing came while she prepared a research report for one of her bosses. As she lovingly polished each sentence, and meticulously organized the paragraphs, she realized that no one really cared how beautifully she wrote about the latest models of air-conditioners. Except her, of course.
Using her parents’ model of daily writing and discipline, she began to write. It took her seven years to publish her first book, a picture book inspired by her then two year old son, Max.
Anne is the mother of an adult son and daughter. Over the last twenty years, she has written over forty-five books for young readers. She has enough ideas to last for another quarter century and hopes that she will be writing for a very long time.
Fun Facts About Anne Mazer
Her favorite foods are popcorn, rice pudding and blueberries.
When she was a kid, she would sometimes read up to ten books a day.
If she had magic powers, she'd choose invisibility.
She painted the rooms in her house yellow, orange, and violet.
One of her favorite childhood books was The Twilight of Magic, by Hugh Lofting.
When Anne was a teenager, her room was so messy that she needed a map to get from the door to the bed. (sort of)
In school Anne often flunked her favorite creative subjects, like writing and art.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 14, 2018
Amazing book please read it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2009
graduating is FUN
Read
November 14, 2010the book was AMAZING
Read
August 9, 2011Abby Hayes going into the sixth grade and freaking out about it. I thought the dilemma over pierced ears was hilarious.
December 17, 2013
Did you have a hard time on the first day of 6th grade, well Abby did.
August 9, 2021
1400/5/18
April 13, 2020
Part of the book cleaning re-read extravaganza.
I used to love these books as a kid! They're witty and fun with great characters. I really identified with Abby, so IDK why it took me so long to realize I actually liked writing/purple. This was also my introduction to multimedia writing, and I remember being so impressed with the mixed journal/prose format and the integration of quotes.
This book in particular I don't really remember much of the plot of--I don't really think it stuck with me the same way a couple of others did, probably because much of the advice didn't really apply to my private sixth grade experience. Still, I can see it being really helpful for kids!
I used to love these books as a kid! They're witty and fun with great characters. I really identified with Abby, so IDK why it took me so long to realize I actually liked writing/purple. This was also my introduction to multimedia writing, and I remember being so impressed with the mixed journal/prose format and the integration of quotes.
This book in particular I don't really remember much of the plot of--I don't really think it stuck with me the same way a couple of others did, probably because much of the advice didn't really apply to my private sixth grade experience. Still, I can see it being really helpful for kids!
August 8, 2021
This is a "super special?" Dang, the rest must be totally trivial.
Now, I've admitted many times that I don't like real heavy issues books. But the 'first-world' problems of this lucky girl are unbelievable. And the reference to 'knowledge' in the title has absolutely nothing to do with academics... in fact, apparently sixth-grade has nothing to do with academics.
Sigh. I guess there are worse choices for a female reluctant reader. But I hope they outgrow this quickly.
LFL find.
Now, I've admitted many times that I don't like real heavy issues books. But the 'first-world' problems of this lucky girl are unbelievable. And the reference to 'knowledge' in the title has absolutely nothing to do with academics... in fact, apparently sixth-grade has nothing to do with academics.
Sigh. I guess there are worse choices for a female reluctant reader. But I hope they outgrow this quickly.
LFL find.
July 24, 2023
I liked it, but it's a little clichéd and over the top, what with the whole 'middle school' plot. It's not very realistic, and sixth grade is a lot more like elementary school than this book makes it seem. I really like the characters of Isabel and Eva, Abby's older sisters.
May 9, 2020
Simply AMAZING and ENCHANTING!!!🤩
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews