Bel-Air Bambi and the Mall Rats

by Richard Peck

When Bambi Babcock's TV-producer father bankrupt, the Babcocks have to get out of Los Angeles ... fast. Dad heads for his hometown of Hickory Fork, which he remembers as a wholesome place for kids to grow up.

But Bambi, her sister Buffie, and their little brother Brick come up against the Mall Rats, a down-home teenage gang run by scary Tanya and beef Jeeter. When the Mall Rats walk into school dives for cover. They've already trashed the mall.

Bambi knows that if her show-biz family is going to get stuck here, they must turn the school around and save the town.

The Mall Rats will never know what hit them.

Genres: Young Adult, Humor

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1993

About the author

Richard Peck was an American novelist known for his prolific contributions to modern young adult literature. He was awarded the Newbery Medal in 2001 for his novel A Year Down Yonder. For his cumulative contribution to young-adult literature, he received the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1990.

Reviews

[EJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but not even close to Long Way from Chicago or A Year Down Yonder. More like 2/1.2 stars.

[Rebecca Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A trip back in time. A dead mall before it was conceivable that malls could die. I love that element. Prescient, even.

But it would not hold up now. The cultural references were a delight for me, an 80's child, but my own kids wouldn't get the jokes. But knowing Peck like I do, he wrote for a contemporary audience during this part of his career. He wrote the more nostalgic, historic novels much later (for the most part, the Blossom Culp books being the exception). Those earned him a place in literary history. Who knows? These books might make a come-back as classics in another thirty years.

I feel super old now.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title definitely doesn't match the style or theme - it's got some great gothic elements and I was impressed when they began to outwit the bullies. Would have been 4.5 starts if not for the rather too neat, somewhat insipid ending.

[Joy Carreño · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book and its humor. I was reading it trying to figure out what the reaction of my middle school students would be. I think they would love the characters and plot, but some of the cultural references might be dated too much.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

just to let anyone who might read this know, I read this years and years ago! Back in middle school. I remember liking the story as a kid, but I have a sinking suspision it wouldn't hold up now.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely the most hilarious novel I have read in a long time!! Wonderful!! Very entertaining!! A can’t-put-it-down read!!

[Cws]

JAR5-Pec