What happens when your worst enemy becomes your best friend? If you're Peter Wedemeyer and Veronica Ganz, you spend your time exploring the neigborhood, daring each other to do crazy things - and explaining your friendship to your parents. Mrs. Wedemeyer doesn't understand why Peter wants to spend his time with a "troublemaker" like Veronica. She won't even let Veronica in the house. But Peter's mind is made up: He'll fight for his best friend until the bitter end!
Peter and Veronica have an unlikely friendship. Not much happens in this story- it is just about the friendship of Peter and Veronica. Peter is a bit of an arrogant, over-compensating jerk. The story is from his perspective, so we don't learn as much about Veronica, which I would have liked. I didn't read Veronica Ganz, the book prior to this one, and I didn't ever feel lost or missing anything. VG is briefly referenced, in mentioning how she used to be a bully before Peter became her friend, but I gathered that much from reading the synopsis of VG. I read Laura's Luck, which is supposed to be part of the same series, but that book didn't have anything to do with this one.
Okay, but I preferred Veronica's POV in the previous book. It was good to see an overtly Jewish character after the more subtle coding in the Amy and Laura books.
I find this was a great book. I just really like a simple book that has a good plot and I like the adventures they go on, and the new people they meet. And it surprised me that Veronica was the big bully on school, I was sure it was going to be some guy like the other books. I just like how 2 people who didn't get along, became the best of friends. I like when Peter met Stanley, Peter was trying to get a grip on Stanley's little finger, while rollers skating. I like the beginning, middle, and end. But the end I like the most. The end is different p, it isn't a happily ever after, it's a breakup. At the end I just love and hate that Peter cared for Veronica by saying that if her parents didn't let Veronica come to his Bar mitzvah, he would cancel it, but I hate it that Veronica she that she didn't want to go to parties.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Peter and Veronica have an unlikely friendship, and that is what is explored in this buddy novel. Told from Peter's point of view, we do get better insight to him and his feelings than we do to hers, but there is still quite a bit of character built into her role. While the author contrasts their backgrounds, their beliefs, and their situations, she also shows how differences can make us compatible and how important it is to put your hand out in friendship, rather than waiting for that hand to be stretched out to you. It's heartwarming, and sometimes frustrating, to follow Peter on his journey of friendship. He's still a boy, with a lot of room to mature, but he has a good heart and his character grows over the course of the story.
I get that this book was written 50 years ago, but... that was a lot of buildup after the bar mitzvah that could have been something really cool, that just got wrapped up in a hurry.
There was a weak/warped character arc (for Veronica) across this book/the prequel/the sequel that could have been better explained. How does she go from a bully; to so anxious she has to sneak out to a party and leaves her little sister to die in a house fire likely within weeks of this book ending?
This was a more frustrating re-read of a favorite childhood series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book is all about how important it is to hold on to good friends no matter what. It does have quite a bit of going against parents wishes, though. Set in america during WW2 it is the story of Peter a Jewish boy and his best friend Veronica, who faces much prejudice from Peter's mother because she's a Gentile. It reminds me slightly of the All-of-a-Kind Family series.
In this book, told from Peter's point of view, Sachs really establishes the characters. It's about Peter who makes friends with Veronica who is an aggressive yet awkward tomboy who is shy around Peter's other friends and they dislike her because of her reputation as the former school bully. Peter's mom, who is a goofy, shallow woman if you ask me, dislikes Veronica and wants to terminate the friendship and Peter argues with her for months, and he wants to invite her to his special party but his mom refuses to let Veronica come, so he is going to keep fighting until she says yes. This book is full of surprises and very enjoyable. You might find some parts to sort of drag on, as I did when I first read it when I was 10, but they become more interesting upon second and third time reading it. This book will challenge you to consider what you look for and value in a friend. Read it!
Une belle histoire d'amitié qui malgré quelques accrocs et obstacles en chemin, réussi à aller au delà des différences, des clichés et des restrictions (infondées) familiales. Une bonne morale, pour les enfants comme pour les adultes.