Lucy Rose: Big on Plans

Lucy Rose #2

by Katy Kelly

Lucy Rose is back! And she's got a summer filled with some very important plans!

Genres: Humor, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Family, Fiction, Middle Grade, Juvenile

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 stars. Grades 2-4. More laughs from a favorite. Lucy's plans for the summer: she's desperate to make a lanyard key chain, she has to figure out how to rid Madam and Pop's yard of 78 or more squirrels, she needs to come up with a plan for dealing with the absolute pest who is named Ashley and is making Parks and Rec not so much fun, AND she has to come up with a way to stop her parents' from divorcing. If you liked Junie B. Jones you should love this series of a most "original thinking" 4th grader. If you objected to Junie B. because of the whole language thing, you should still enjoy Lucy Rose because, although she has the ability to turn an interesting phrase, her grammar is correct PLUS the character has a penchant for the WOTD (word for the day) so your child will pick up some new vocabulary. Lucy Rose is a character who gets herself in some predicaments but the tone is very gentle and the girl herself is extremely kind and thoughtful. There is some poignancy here, her parent's divorce being a plot point, but don't be put-off by this. Katy Kelly handles this difficult topic brilliantly and age-appropriately. It doesn't wallow about the divorce because this is a humorous book, but it does gently acknowledge a sad fact of life for many.

[Anne Hawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy Rose and her best friend, Jonique, have a lot to do in the summer. They are both going to Parks and Rec. where Lucy desperately wants to make a lanyard, but Parks and Rec has a fly in the ointment called Ashley. Ashley looks down her nose at Lucy Rose and makes fun of her. She goes out of her way to be nasty and Lucy Rose doesn't understand it.

She also has a few more things to do this summer. She has to get rid of the Squirrels in her grandparents yard because they are eating all the fruit an Madam can't make jam. But the biggest thing she has to do is get her parents back together. If she could just think of the right thing to do.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost passed this book by due to its hideous cover and creepy illustrations, but I'm so glad I didn't. Author Katy Kelly is a modern-day Beverly Cleary, and Lucy Rose rules. I like her even better than Ramona.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the voice of Lucy Rose and have stolen my new catch-phrase from this book, which is "perfectly deluxe."

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book!

[Karen Arendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining story about fourth grade Lucy Rose and her big plans for the summer. She is a busy girl struggling to prevent her parent's divorce and try to be friends with a new girl in town. The narration was perfect for a fourth grade girl with plenty of excitement and effervescence.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listening to this one too. I like the kids books, they deal with issues but in a way that isn't depressing like adult books.

[Dena Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 8 year old, my 5.5 year old and I LOVE Lucy Rose. She's a strong personality, who loves learning about the world. She's not perfect and doesn't always learn from her mistakes. She tries, though. She's also a sucker for palindromes, and now, so are we.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love that Lucy Rose!

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy Rose spends her summer going to Parks & Rec with her best friends Jonique and Melonhead, celebrating her 9th birthday with her father, fighting off apricot-stealing squirrels, and writing about everything that happens in her brand new journal. Fans of Barbara Park’s books will find Lucy Rose to be a slightly more mature version of Junie B. Jones--talkative, spontaneous, and extremely likable as she deals with an annoying new girl, takes center stage at a senior citizens’ center, collects palindromes and new words daily, and worries her separated parents will divorce. Rex’s occasional black-and-white drawings of the round-headed, bug-eyed characters bring the characters to life. Teachers may choose to read this charming book aloud in conjunction with classroom journal-keeping and vocabulary expansion.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy Rose has a great summer vacation trying to protect apricots from squirrels, weaving keychains at Parks and Rec and helping her Mom redecorate the living room. The only problem is-- her parents have been separated for a long time, and she's pretty sure they are going to get divorced. Then there's the mean girl at Parks and Rec who always has something nasty to say to Lucy and her friends. Nevertheless, Lucy is looking forward to her birthday and a vacation with her dad.

Reminds me more of the Amber Brown books (by Danzinger) more than the Junie B Jones that is touted on the cover. A fun read, and with nearly 50% of kids out there having divorced parents, perhaps not a bad book to have in our repitoire.

[Jnase1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute series. I do wish Lucy Rose sounded a bit more mature than she seems to come across, at least in my mind. But I have enjoyed reading about all her adventures and am glad to see that there is a spinoff series about Melonhead.

[Mckinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good stuff

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy Rose has a summer count down until she finds out if her parents are getting a divorce. The parents do a good job explaining to the child about divorce.