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Alice #15
Patiently Alice
Having left home for three weeks to be a camp counselor, Alice is shocked when she comes back to discover how much has changed, such as her mother running off with a fitness instructor, her sister getting deeply involved with a guy, and her father having issues in his new relationship with Sylvia. Reprint.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2003
13 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
245 books1,034 followersPhyllis Reynolds Naylor was born in Anderson, Indiana, US on January 4, 1933.
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good books. Her parents enjoyed reading stories to the children--her father would imitate the characters in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer--and her mother read to them every evening, "almost until we were old enough to go out on dates, though we never would have admitted this to anyone."
By the time Phyllis reached fifth grade, writing books was her favorite hobby and she would rush home from school each day to write down whatever plot had been forming in her head - at sixteen her first story was published in a local church magazine.
Phyllis has written over 80 books for children and young people. One of these books, "Shiloh," was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1992, was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and was also Young Adult Choice by the International Reading Association.
Naylor gets her ideas from things that happen to her or from things she has read. "Shiloh" was inspired by a little abused dog she and her husband found. The little dog haunted her so much that she had to write a story about him to get it out of her mind.
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good books. Her parents enjoyed reading stories to the children--her father would imitate the characters in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer--and her mother read to them every evening, "almost until we were old enough to go out on dates, though we never would have admitted this to anyone."
By the time Phyllis reached fifth grade, writing books was her favorite hobby and she would rush home from school each day to write down whatever plot had been forming in her head - at sixteen her first story was published in a local church magazine.
Phyllis has written over 80 books for children and young people. One of these books, "Shiloh," was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1992, was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and was also Young Adult Choice by the International Reading Association.
Naylor gets her ideas from things that happen to her or from things she has read. "Shiloh" was inspired by a little abused dog she and her husband found. The little dog haunted her so much that she had to write a story about him to get it out of her mind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
October 1, 2018
surprisingly, no, i have none gone back to my sixth grade reading level!!! i promise!!! i just love reading childhood books in a day for fun please don't come for me
September 29, 2018
I liked the segment spent at the camp for disadvantaged children, even though not much of it rang true. I like that the girls are still friends, but not 'siamese triplets.' Growing up is really happening. I think maybe my library should put the rest of the series, if not this one too, in the YA section, though....
Totally valuable series for youngsters. Addictive soap operatic quick reads for me. Not the most amazingly written Literature, though.
Totally valuable series for youngsters. Addictive soap operatic quick reads for me. Not the most amazingly written Literature, though.
August 30, 2017
Child me: 5 stars
Adult me: 4 stars
*For the first book in a "child/teen/middlegrade/nostalgic" book, I am going with the rating younger me would have gone with, then if I read on in the series, I will rate the books what adult me believes it should be rated. If the book is a stand alone, I will go with whatever rating I feel most comfortable giving the book. Please note, I do not really think books should have an age limit. People should read what they want to regardless of the intended age group, except for kids reading erotica or something, of course.*
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I wish I would have known about these books when I was closer to Alice's age. I feel like the books would mean a lot more to me as a pre-teen and teenager. However, I can still really enjoy and relate to some of the stuff Alice and her friends go through. I did not read them as a child/teen, but the series does give off a nostalgic feeling.
Some people say they feel like this one was just a filler in the series, but I really liked it. I like seeing Alice in other environments. I also loved how she decided she wanted to stay romance free during her time as a camp counselor.
Adult me: 4 stars
*For the first book in a "child/teen/middlegrade/nostalgic" book, I am going with the rating younger me would have gone with, then if I read on in the series, I will rate the books what adult me believes it should be rated. If the book is a stand alone, I will go with whatever rating I feel most comfortable giving the book. Please note, I do not really think books should have an age limit. People should read what they want to regardless of the intended age group, except for kids reading erotica or something, of course.*
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I wish I would have known about these books when I was closer to Alice's age. I feel like the books would mean a lot more to me as a pre-teen and teenager. However, I can still really enjoy and relate to some of the stuff Alice and her friends go through. I did not read them as a child/teen, but the series does give off a nostalgic feeling.
Some people say they feel like this one was just a filler in the series, but I really liked it. I like seeing Alice in other environments. I also loved how she decided she wanted to stay romance free during her time as a camp counselor.
September 18, 2021
Even though some parts of the Alice books are a little dated for modern audiences (like the use of the word 'darn'), Naylor does a fantastic job describing teen sexuality in an age-appropriate way. In this book, Elizabeth goes further with a boy than Pamela or Alice has and it's portrayed as an exciting, healthy experience rather than something to be ashamed of. We also find out some of Alice's friends have had sex (or intercourse as Alice usually calls it) which is pretty typical for tenth graders. Of course they aren't fully grown up...Elizabeth's embarrassment at buying condoms is also typical for high schoolers!
The majority of the book is focused on Gwen, Elizabeth, Pamela, and Alice as camp counselors. Like other reviewers mentioned, this is old hat for Baby Sitters Club fans. This storyline touches on racial issues between the campers and I was surprised the girls didn't go through more training on how to handle these situations. They all do well even without it and I was especially touched by Gwen's idea for the campers to mix paint colors to match their skin tone.
The camp stories are a little tedious but still a fun read.
The majority of the book is focused on Gwen, Elizabeth, Pamela, and Alice as camp counselors. Like other reviewers mentioned, this is old hat for Baby Sitters Club fans. This storyline touches on racial issues between the campers and I was surprised the girls didn't go through more training on how to handle these situations. They all do well even without it and I was especially touched by Gwen's idea for the campers to mix paint colors to match their skin tone.
The camp stories are a little tedious but still a fun read.
March 19, 2020
I liked to be back in the world of Alice. I read the first 14 installments when I was a teenager before their publication was discontinued in Germany. So I decided to pick up the rest of the novels so that I can finish out the series and also because I am really interested in seeing how Alice's life goes on. I like the installment and it was very easy to get back into the city. I liked seeing how Alice matured and I am looking forward to what is coming next.
July 25, 2017
This book about camp was definitely quite different from the others. A bit like Babysitters Club, even. That letter from Latisha at the end was touching. The cruelty but vulnerability of kids was portrayed so well. Alice and her friends sure are getting wild, though.
April 4, 2018
Another great Alice read! This time, Alice and her friends get summer jobs as camp counselors. I think Elizabeth shocked me the most. Seems like her character is starting to rebel, though once in a while, you’ll see the old Elizabeth come out. Looking forward to the next one!
August 26, 2020
These girls are so naive and immature for their age. Alice seemed to mature somewhat as a camp counselor, but once she got home, she was right back to being ridiculous and overdramatic. There are scenes that add little to the overall story and come off as pointless in the end.
May 9, 2025
Great story
looking forward to reading more books in the series
love how they show the daily life of best friends and everything they go through with finding out about dating and life
highly recommend the books
looking forward to reading more books in the series
love how they show the daily life of best friends and everything they go through with finding out about dating and life
highly recommend the books
May 15, 2018
Nothing too big or important happened in this book to Alice, but it was still entertaining.
July 11, 2020
Love these books!!!
January 17, 2021
Great books! I love the reality of it!
March 28, 2021
Enjoyed reading about Alice's summer adventures, and I especially enjoy her growing friendship with Gwen, and how Liz is slowly stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing adolescence.
November 11, 2021
Well....At least it was short.
November 24, 2021
Another goodie! :)
Want to read
October 6, 2022I was really disappointed that the first chapter or so was already talking about buying condoms and anticipating sex. I mean how old are these kids again? 12-13? Nope---> dnf'ed.
March 2, 2024
this was a pretty good one ngl
May 21, 2025
I can understand why this is classified as “banned book”
July 7, 2025
I hope Latisha has a good life
April 19, 2016
It's always kind of a bummer when a book you loved earlier in life doesn't withstand the test of time. I distinctly remember loving Patiently Alice, the fifteenth book the Alice series. It's basically Alice joins The Baby-Sitters Club, in which she and her friends take jobs as assistant counselors at a summer camp for underprivileged youths.
I loved the BSC growing up, and I think I managed to read at least fifty of them. But the thing was, I never liked the actual babysitting aspect of it. I pretty much only liked it when the girls fought with each other or there was family drama. Which was often.
Similarly, I never particularly cared about Alice solving camper disputes and minding little children. But that's really only a cursory context to the summer romances between the CITs. Elizabeth really breaks out of her shell in this one, and ends up getting felt up (!) by a boy from Philly. Way to go, Liz. Alice also realizes that she doesn't need no man or nor summer romance. She's mostly over Patrick, but she still doesn't want to jump back in to even a summer fling. It's nice that she realizes that about herself and that it's okay to be alone and happy and single.
The racial politics here are interesting -- the camp is extremely diverse, and there's a lot of racial tensions between the young kids. (Oddly, I don't remember this at all from my first read-through. I think I was distracted by the skinny-dipping.) It's kind of shocking and weird to hear racial slurs thrown around in an Alice book. Gwen's project of having all the kids paint their own skin tone was intersting, and I wonder how it would have played out in real life. Some of it comes off as a little heavy-handed and shoehorned-in. But I respect PRN for including this when she could have written a much easier "yuppie kids go to camp" storyline.
I loved the BSC growing up, and I think I managed to read at least fifty of them. But the thing was, I never liked the actual babysitting aspect of it. I pretty much only liked it when the girls fought with each other or there was family drama. Which was often.
Similarly, I never particularly cared about Alice solving camper disputes and minding little children. But that's really only a cursory context to the summer romances between the CITs. Elizabeth really breaks out of her shell in this one, and ends up getting felt up (!) by a boy from Philly. Way to go, Liz. Alice also realizes that she doesn't need no man or nor summer romance. She's mostly over Patrick, but she still doesn't want to jump back in to even a summer fling. It's nice that she realizes that about herself and that it's okay to be alone and happy and single.
The racial politics here are interesting -- the camp is extremely diverse, and there's a lot of racial tensions between the young kids. (Oddly, I don't remember this at all from my first read-through. I think I was distracted by the skinny-dipping.) It's kind of shocking and weird to hear racial slurs thrown around in an Alice book. Gwen's project of having all the kids paint their own skin tone was intersting, and I wonder how it would have played out in real life. Some of it comes off as a little heavy-handed and shoehorned-in. But I respect PRN for including this when she could have written a much easier "yuppie kids go to camp" storyline.
May 17, 2012
I knew I shouldn't have, but I picked this up at my local library on Saturday afternoon and started reading it shortly after. I had been wanting to read it for quite awhile even though it is a little bit older (2003). I think it would make a great summer read and it made me want summer vacation to come quicker!
In this story we follow Alice, a 15-year-old girl that is going to be a Sophomore in the fall. She goes away for 3 weeks to Camp Overlook with her friends as a counselor. Alice and her friends get excited when they realize...it's a coed camp! Besides the outdoors, bonfires, boys, and smores there are some troubles with the kids at the camp. Mostly prejudice! Alice is also sad to find out her dad and Step mom-to-be are postponing their wedding and her older brother, Lester is moving out!
By the end of the summer Alice is ready to go back to school!
Definitely got me excited for summer! :)
Happy reading!
In this story we follow Alice, a 15-year-old girl that is going to be a Sophomore in the fall. She goes away for 3 weeks to Camp Overlook with her friends as a counselor. Alice and her friends get excited when they realize...it's a coed camp! Besides the outdoors, bonfires, boys, and smores there are some troubles with the kids at the camp. Mostly prejudice! Alice is also sad to find out her dad and Step mom-to-be are postponing their wedding and her older brother, Lester is moving out!
By the end of the summer Alice is ready to go back to school!
Definitely got me excited for summer! :)
Happy reading!
May 17, 2011
Did I just go out and by the next six books in this series? Yes I did. This particular one was kinda lame since it took place at a summer camp and that limits possible things going on. There was too much of a growing up period during this one because it was the girl's jobs to look after little kids as camp counselors during a 3 week summer camp in the woods.
The big storyline was the idea of having sex because they brought condoms to the camp. Might seem weird but at age 15, that's pretty much what girls and especially guys are thinking about so I'm glad it was a relevant topic that was discussed at length throughout the book. And then to discover that one of them DID go all the way makes it even more shocking but truthful and that's what you want in a book. I think that's why I'm so captivated by this series.
The big storyline was the idea of having sex because they brought condoms to the camp. Might seem weird but at age 15, that's pretty much what girls and especially guys are thinking about so I'm glad it was a relevant topic that was discussed at length throughout the book. And then to discover that one of them DID go all the way makes it even more shocking but truthful and that's what you want in a book. I think that's why I'm so captivated by this series.
July 31, 2014
Alice is an assistant counselor at a summer camp for disadvantaged children. She, Pamela, Elizabeth, and Gwen are thrust into more adult roles at the camp, hang out with male counselors, and grow up a little bit more...
Book takes place: Summer between 9th and 10th grade.
Alice's life lessons: Kindness and tolerance
Best Alice moment(s): The Kelpie; Lester's confession with the Buster Browns; skinny dipping; viva la difference
This had a Baby-Sitters Club feel to it. Alice's world continues to expand, and she learns more about her own privilege (despite not having a mother, she has a loving home and great father & brother). Elizabeth falls for another counselor, Ross, despite his living in Philadelphia, and goes further than Pamela or Alice ever have. It's revealed that Gwen has had sex. Lester moves out.
Book takes place: Summer between 9th and 10th grade.
Alice's life lessons: Kindness and tolerance
Best Alice moment(s): The Kelpie; Lester's confession with the Buster Browns; skinny dipping; viva la difference
This had a Baby-Sitters Club feel to it. Alice's world continues to expand, and she learns more about her own privilege (despite not having a mother, she has a loving home and great father & brother). Elizabeth falls for another counselor, Ross, despite his living in Philadelphia, and goes further than Pamela or Alice ever have. It's revealed that Gwen has had sex. Lester moves out.
Read
December 18, 2013In this book, Alice is finally moving on from Patrick. She gets on with life by going to a camp called Overlook with her two besties, Elizabeth and Pam. After the spontaneous time they had at camp, the three head back home and that's when the book gets interesting! This is when all the problems in the previous books start back up. Then there's the new problems that Pam ends up dealing with that soon turns into Alice's problem too. On top of that, Elizabeth has this little secret.
This book is another one of my favorities. I love the Alice series. Whenever I read one, I am ready to read the next. These Alice books are great for teenage girls around my age. So that is who I would recommend them to.
This book is another one of my favorities. I love the Alice series. Whenever I read one, I am ready to read the next. These Alice books are great for teenage girls around my age. So that is who I would recommend them to.
May 22, 2016
Not the strongest of the Alice books, but it has a few good moments. Alice and her two best friends Pamela and Elizabeth are assistant camp counselors for 3 weeks during the break between their freshmen and sophomore years. The girls deal with some troubled kids and skinny dip with the boy counselors.
After they return home, Pamela has to deal with her mom's surprise return, and Alice wants to make sure her dad is doing ok since his wedding was postponed due to an illness in his fiancee's family.
The best parts are always when Alice asks frank questions of her dad and brother about life and love.
After they return home, Pamela has to deal with her mom's surprise return, and Alice wants to make sure her dad is doing ok since his wedding was postponed due to an illness in his fiancee's family.
The best parts are always when Alice asks frank questions of her dad and brother about life and love.
October 3, 2023
October 2019 reread.
September 2023 reread.
This book is where I met and passed Alice – it was released in May 2003, when I was finishing my freshman year of high school, and it covers the summer after Alice’s freshman year.
I hate hate hate this cover. In this book, even more than previous volumes, some of the girls’ romantic relationships take a very mature turn, and this cover portrays them as preteens.
Content wise, most of this story takes place at camp with characters we’ll not see again.
This book introduces Ross as Elizabeth’s long-distance beau, and marks the return of Pamela‘s mother.
September 2023 reread.
This book is where I met and passed Alice – it was released in May 2003, when I was finishing my freshman year of high school, and it covers the summer after Alice’s freshman year.
I hate hate hate this cover. In this book, even more than previous volumes, some of the girls’ romantic relationships take a very mature turn, and this cover portrays them as preteens.
Content wise, most of this story takes place at camp with characters we’ll not see again.
This book introduces Ross as Elizabeth’s long-distance beau, and marks the return of Pamela‘s mother.
June 17, 2007
This is sort of a placeholder book. It's as well-written as the other Alice books, but it takes place largely at camp. The camp story is fun, but when Alice is in camp, she's not at home, and we don't get to see her interact with the her wonderful older brother Lester, and with her father - and those are some of my favorite interactions and relationships in the books.
It felt like an in-between book in a lot of ways. Not bad, but not as strong a story as some of the other books in the Alice series.
It felt like an in-between book in a lot of ways. Not bad, but not as strong a story as some of the other books in the Alice series.
October 4, 2012
Alice and her friends get jobs as camp counselors. The campers are kids from rough neighborhoods and Alice and her friends have their hands full. Meanwhile, Alice's dad's wedding is postponed when Sylvia's sister falls ill. Lester moves into his own apartment. Marilyn gets engaged. Also the girls skinny dip with the male camp counselors and some gossip arises about girls who have gone all the way with boys. On the whole, not my favorite Alice book, but it moved the story along. Recommended for teen girls grades 9 and up.
January 19, 2014
After surviving (and thriving in) their freshman year of high school, Alice, Pamela, and Elizabeth are looking for something different to do over the summer. The three of them, along with Gwen, apply and are accepted to be assistant counselors at a three week long sleepaway camp for underprivileged children. Their own problems pale in comparison to the lives their campers are leading, and they learn a lot about themselves and each other over the summer. Another solid entry in the Alice saga. Recommended for grades 8 & up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews