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Alice #4
All but Alice
Seventh grader Alice decides that the only way to stave off personal and social disasters is to be part of the crowd, especially the "in" crowd, no matter how boring and, potentially, difficult.
160 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2002
13 people are currently reading
657 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
244 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 82 reviews
August 18, 2024
OMGG STFU
this book wouldve been ok if the characters weren’t so damn insufferable and dramatic??!! Like alice opened ONE BOX of like 3 things and when there wasn’t much stuff for her to hang on her bulletin board, she started whining and bitching about not having a life?? Like stfu rat, she makes me mad, Pamela and Marilyn are the only good characters.
this book wouldve been ok if the characters weren’t so damn insufferable and dramatic??!! Like alice opened ONE BOX of like 3 things and when there wasn’t much stuff for her to hang on her bulletin board, she started whining and bitching about not having a life?? Like stfu rat, she makes me mad, Pamela and Marilyn are the only good characters.
January 25, 2017
All But Alice by Phyllis Reynalds Naylor was a good book about being you. Alice, a seventh grade girl, with many friends, found herself not really fitting in, hence the title, All But Alice. She started to change the things she did, and got her ears pierced, like everyone else. For a while, she was very happy with all of these new changes, to be like the other girls in her school. Then, she really started hating the clubs that she was in because she thought is was super dumb and pretty much, a time waster. The book states"Karen and Jill didn't sleep over, but we met at Pamela's on Friday to decide what we were going to buy on Saturdays, and then we went over to Jill's or Karen's on Sundays try on what we'd bought.B-O-R-I-N-G.".She still wants to be very popular but being in those horrible clubs crushed her. Alice is trying to be popular Alice, and good old Alice at the same time, but she does not know if that will work out. I recommend this book to mainly girls, people who would like to hear a nice story about being yourself, and would like a fun girl book. 100% Recommended.
December 29, 2011
Alice is such an endearing character, and Naylor does not disappoint with this installment.
The character has moved on to constantly worrying about not having a mother to surviving the seventh grade. She has friends, she has family. What more could she want?
The one thing I really enjoy about Alice is how wholesome of a character she truly is. She wants to do what is best for everyone, and her questions are so simple and yet so complex. She sees things from a different perspective than the other characters in the book - from many characters aimed at this age group - and that is refreshing.
The one thing I enjoyed the most about this book was character growth. In the last book I felt like the characters had become stagnant, but when you look at the age, I guess twelve is when things truly start to move forward in so many ways.
Long live Alice!
The character has moved on to constantly worrying about not having a mother to surviving the seventh grade. She has friends, she has family. What more could she want?
The one thing I really enjoy about Alice is how wholesome of a character she truly is. She wants to do what is best for everyone, and her questions are so simple and yet so complex. She sees things from a different perspective than the other characters in the book - from many characters aimed at this age group - and that is refreshing.
The one thing I enjoyed the most about this book was character growth. In the last book I felt like the characters had become stagnant, but when you look at the age, I guess twelve is when things truly start to move forward in so many ways.
Long live Alice!
April 14, 2011
I missed the target age for these books, and I can't get my daughter interested in them, so I'm just reading them myself. They are quite entertaining. I would have loved them at that age.
September 7, 2017
Another great read in the Alice series, which I'm really enjoying. It's all about the popular kids and how Alice discovers that being popular really isn't all that great.
The more I read these books, I feel like they could be standalone, but they are more fun reading in order because then your ongoing questions will eventually get answered. I'm still waiting for Lester to decide between Marilyn and Crystal. Maybe he'll make up his mind for sure in the next one? And I'm curious to see what happens between Alice's dad and Ms. Summers. And now I'm left with the question as to what's next for Alice and Patrick? Maybe I'll find out in the next one...
The more I read these books, I feel like they could be standalone, but they are more fun reading in order because then your ongoing questions will eventually get answered. I'm still waiting for Lester to decide between Marilyn and Crystal. Maybe he'll make up his mind for sure in the next one? And I'm curious to see what happens between Alice's dad and Ms. Summers. And now I'm left with the question as to what's next for Alice and Patrick? Maybe I'll find out in the next one...
July 13, 2017
I'm really flying through these books: partly because they're so entertaining and partly because I'm used to reading longer books, I guess. I love everything. I love the life lessons Alice learns through both terrible and good decision-making. Wonderfully relatable to anyone growing up. Unlike Alice, I was never "popular", so it was interesting to see what that meant for Alice. Middle school kids can be awful... And interesting.
Read
August 19, 2025When Alice calculates the number of bad things that will probably happen to her in her lifetime and is distraught..... me
June 10, 2011
Charles Wood
INFO 683 w/ Professor Morris
Resource Review #4
May 31, 2009
Reynolds Naylor, Phyllis. All but Alice, New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1949. 88 pages. Paperback. ISBN: 0-448-09526-2. Recommended for ages 10-14.
This installment of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s realistic fiction series “Alice”, finds Alice Kathleen McKinley in the seventh grade. There is no need to start with the first book in the series; young readers will instantly relate to Alice as she goes through the daily life routines of children her age, with grace and a sense of humor.
The setting for this story is divided between home and school. At home, Alice lives with her father and older brother Lester. Alice’s mother died when she was four or five, and she doesn’t remember her much, but misses her. She does have many other women in her life, that she embraces as part of the “sisterhood” that she feels a part of, especially now that she is a ”half-grown woman” (Naylor, p.33). There is her Aunt Alice who she calls on for advice, her teacher Miss Summers, her brother’s girlfriends, and her friends her own age. She wants to support them all as her “sisterhood” ideal implores her, but gets confused about whom to support when conflict arises between them.
The plot quickly moves through many issues and rites of passage that interest middle school girls. A major crisis develops early on when all her friends are getting pierced ears, and she wants them too. Alice joins a new earring club, which excludes her friend Elizabeth because she doesn’t have pierced ears. She becomes part of the “beautiful people” crowd, only to realize how shallow it is, when she cannot always go along with their pranks. Young girls will identify with the feeling of wanting to fit in and be like others her age, while at the same time enjoying the silliness and humor that Alice finds in these situations.
The plot also delves into sex and romance, which are subjects that come up when tweeners start to go through puberty. Alice has a sex education class called “Our Changing Bodies”, and it brings up some awkward, but funny moments. She observes her brother’s relationships and wonders about her father’s involvement with her teacher. She talks about sex, love and relationships openly with her family and friends. This sometimes embarrasses others, but she asks because she wants to know, not because she is a problem child.
This is the aspect of the book that provokes challenges to its placement in public and school libraries. Some parents believe that it brings up these topics too early to children. Kids this age are going through the same things that Alice is, and can find support in her questions. Sex is everywhere, like Alice says, “in the words of songs, the unit on Our Changing Bodies, Ann Landers…” (p.72). If some parents want to protect their children they can, but they should not censor materials for everybody else’s children. Many parents are excited that there are books like this, that help their children understand what is going on with their bodies and emotions, and educate them about their lives and the world in which they live. Books such as this promote maturity and understanding in place of awkwardness and ignorance.
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor understands young people, and young girls in particular. Children will laugh along with the story while learning important life lessons. Parents can remember what it is like to be that age by reading this book. The book ends with many different possibilities for Alice, which is how it should be for all children.
INFO 683 w/ Professor Morris
Resource Review #4
May 31, 2009
Reynolds Naylor, Phyllis. All but Alice, New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1949. 88 pages. Paperback. ISBN: 0-448-09526-2. Recommended for ages 10-14.
This installment of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s realistic fiction series “Alice”, finds Alice Kathleen McKinley in the seventh grade. There is no need to start with the first book in the series; young readers will instantly relate to Alice as she goes through the daily life routines of children her age, with grace and a sense of humor.
The setting for this story is divided between home and school. At home, Alice lives with her father and older brother Lester. Alice’s mother died when she was four or five, and she doesn’t remember her much, but misses her. She does have many other women in her life, that she embraces as part of the “sisterhood” that she feels a part of, especially now that she is a ”half-grown woman” (Naylor, p.33). There is her Aunt Alice who she calls on for advice, her teacher Miss Summers, her brother’s girlfriends, and her friends her own age. She wants to support them all as her “sisterhood” ideal implores her, but gets confused about whom to support when conflict arises between them.
The plot quickly moves through many issues and rites of passage that interest middle school girls. A major crisis develops early on when all her friends are getting pierced ears, and she wants them too. Alice joins a new earring club, which excludes her friend Elizabeth because she doesn’t have pierced ears. She becomes part of the “beautiful people” crowd, only to realize how shallow it is, when she cannot always go along with their pranks. Young girls will identify with the feeling of wanting to fit in and be like others her age, while at the same time enjoying the silliness and humor that Alice finds in these situations.
The plot also delves into sex and romance, which are subjects that come up when tweeners start to go through puberty. Alice has a sex education class called “Our Changing Bodies”, and it brings up some awkward, but funny moments. She observes her brother’s relationships and wonders about her father’s involvement with her teacher. She talks about sex, love and relationships openly with her family and friends. This sometimes embarrasses others, but she asks because she wants to know, not because she is a problem child.
This is the aspect of the book that provokes challenges to its placement in public and school libraries. Some parents believe that it brings up these topics too early to children. Kids this age are going through the same things that Alice is, and can find support in her questions. Sex is everywhere, like Alice says, “in the words of songs, the unit on Our Changing Bodies, Ann Landers…” (p.72). If some parents want to protect their children they can, but they should not censor materials for everybody else’s children. Many parents are excited that there are books like this, that help their children understand what is going on with their bodies and emotions, and educate them about their lives and the world in which they live. Books such as this promote maturity and understanding in place of awkwardness and ignorance.
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor understands young people, and young girls in particular. Children will laugh along with the story while learning important life lessons. Parents can remember what it is like to be that age by reading this book. The book ends with many different possibilities for Alice, which is how it should be for all children.
May 12, 2016
Have you ever tried to fit in with others at school? Well, Alice has. The genre of this book is realistic fiction. In my opinion I thought this was a great and interesting book because it talks about Alice in the seventh grade.
The setting of this book is at Alice's school. The setting is important because it makes the book come alive. The type of conflict of this book is person vs. self because Alice wanted to fit in with other people at school. The theme for this book is friendship because even if Alice embarrassed herself in front of the whole school, all of her friends still like her.
This book is about Alice trying to fit in with others at her school. In the beginning of the book, Alice tells her dad if she could have her ears pierced because all of her friends have their ears pierced. Her dad said she could. Then, Lester takes Alice to get her ears pierced. Later on, one of Alice's friends, Elizabeth, asked Alice if she would like to be in her earring club. Alice said sure, and later that day all of the members of the earring club went to Elizabeth's house for a meeting. Also, Alice's school was having a talent show soon. Pamela asked Alice if she would like to be in her group for the talent show. At first Alice didn't want to be in it, but then she thought about it well and her final answer was yes. After rehearsing for a while, the day of the talent show finally came. Alice was going to do a magic trick. She was going to pull a scarf out of a hat and she would be wearing a Wonder Woman costume. When Alice was pulling the scarf out of the hat, something was pulling it backstage. It was a cat and then the cat came on stage. Alice felt very embarrassed. Everybody was laughing.
The 1st person point of view affects the story because Alice is telling us how she feels. For example, Alice tells us how she feels when she got her ears pierced. Alice felt excited to have her ears pierced because know she won't be left out of the earring club. Another theme that recurs throughout the book is bravery. This theme can be seen when Alice joins the talent show and she goes on stage to perform.
I was surprised when Alice's dad told her she could have her ears pierced because Alice's dad really cares what Alice does and I never thought her dad would let her. I thought the ending of the book was funny because Alice asks herself a lot of questions.
I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because this was a good, funny book. I would recommend this book for anybody who likes to read realistic fiction books, and for anybody who likes to read funny books. Alice was trying to fit in with others at school.
The setting of this book is at Alice's school. The setting is important because it makes the book come alive. The type of conflict of this book is person vs. self because Alice wanted to fit in with other people at school. The theme for this book is friendship because even if Alice embarrassed herself in front of the whole school, all of her friends still like her.
This book is about Alice trying to fit in with others at her school. In the beginning of the book, Alice tells her dad if she could have her ears pierced because all of her friends have their ears pierced. Her dad said she could. Then, Lester takes Alice to get her ears pierced. Later on, one of Alice's friends, Elizabeth, asked Alice if she would like to be in her earring club. Alice said sure, and later that day all of the members of the earring club went to Elizabeth's house for a meeting. Also, Alice's school was having a talent show soon. Pamela asked Alice if she would like to be in her group for the talent show. At first Alice didn't want to be in it, but then she thought about it well and her final answer was yes. After rehearsing for a while, the day of the talent show finally came. Alice was going to do a magic trick. She was going to pull a scarf out of a hat and she would be wearing a Wonder Woman costume. When Alice was pulling the scarf out of the hat, something was pulling it backstage. It was a cat and then the cat came on stage. Alice felt very embarrassed. Everybody was laughing.
The 1st person point of view affects the story because Alice is telling us how she feels. For example, Alice tells us how she feels when she got her ears pierced. Alice felt excited to have her ears pierced because know she won't be left out of the earring club. Another theme that recurs throughout the book is bravery. This theme can be seen when Alice joins the talent show and she goes on stage to perform.
I was surprised when Alice's dad told her she could have her ears pierced because Alice's dad really cares what Alice does and I never thought her dad would let her. I thought the ending of the book was funny because Alice asks herself a lot of questions.
I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because this was a good, funny book. I would recommend this book for anybody who likes to read realistic fiction books, and for anybody who likes to read funny books. Alice was trying to fit in with others at school.
October 27, 2021
An alternative title could have been "love is in the air". Alice is older now, does everything to fit in (that included having her ears pierced, becoming a member of the "earring club etc") and feels like she wants to stand out and be like everybody else - all at the same time.
Meanwhile, she gets to know Carol better, that girl who's is almost 10 years older than Alice but could easily be the best older sister ever. Alice talks with her about sex (or should I say sexual interaction?), about aunt Sally (who's not bad at all, just concervative) and about Marie, Alice's mom who used to be so different from Sally. That aside, modern love included Lester finally falling in love, Alice's Dad dating Ms. Summers and Alice wondering whether her teacher is her step mom to be. And the worst part is that while love is in the air, Alice feels like her Valentines Day is totally ruined.
Alice thought she was ready to become the woman of the house. Meanwhile...
" I had a problem with everything. I had a problem with Brian and Patrick and Pamela and Jill and Karen and Elizabeth and Crystal and Marilyn but most of all, I had a problem with myself".
For those of you that wonder whether you should give your 12-year-old this book to read, do so. Your kid will fall in love with reading as the problems and agonies of the characters are the same ones we had when we were teenagers. We just would't admit anything to adults.
Last but not least, for those of you who wonder what happened to Alice's plans of adopting that pear-shaped woman as her mother, all I can say is that these plans never faded away...
Meanwhile, she gets to know Carol better, that girl who's is almost 10 years older than Alice but could easily be the best older sister ever. Alice talks with her about sex (or should I say sexual interaction?), about aunt Sally (who's not bad at all, just concervative) and about Marie, Alice's mom who used to be so different from Sally. That aside, modern love included Lester finally falling in love, Alice's Dad dating Ms. Summers and Alice wondering whether her teacher is her step mom to be. And the worst part is that while love is in the air, Alice feels like her Valentines Day is totally ruined.
Alice thought she was ready to become the woman of the house. Meanwhile...
" I had a problem with everything. I had a problem with Brian and Patrick and Pamela and Jill and Karen and Elizabeth and Crystal and Marilyn but most of all, I had a problem with myself".
For those of you that wonder whether you should give your 12-year-old this book to read, do so. Your kid will fall in love with reading as the problems and agonies of the characters are the same ones we had when we were teenagers. We just would't admit anything to adults.
Last but not least, for those of you who wonder what happened to Alice's plans of adopting that pear-shaped woman as her mother, all I can say is that these plans never faded away...
November 1, 2016
This book tackles some really delicate issues of identity. As Alice continues in her 7th grade year, she finds herself in an opportunity to be one of the popular–all she has to do is get her ears pierced! She joins all of these clubs with Pamela and all of a sudden Alice finds herself getting attention from the handsome stooges! But Alice beings to see what all of this attention means, and what being popular requires, and she begins to have doubts. She battles with herself between being who others want her to be and just being Alice. And that is a pretty hard lesson to learn.
With regards to the family, Alice’s dad has started dating! Because of this, the relationship between Alice and her father evolves as boundaries are set and a respecting relationship grows. I love reading the conversations between Alice and her father–they are so sarcastic with such tenderness, it makes me giggle! And Lester has been changing his attitude, being more helpful and considerate. I wonder what is making him think differently about life?
Overall, I just love where Ms. Naylor is taking this series. She really allows her characters to blossom and bloom throughout each book. And while this series focuses on Alice, you are also given glimpses into how others are feeling, too. And Patrick resurfacing more in this book, which is great, because he is so cute!
With regards to the family, Alice’s dad has started dating! Because of this, the relationship between Alice and her father evolves as boundaries are set and a respecting relationship grows. I love reading the conversations between Alice and her father–they are so sarcastic with such tenderness, it makes me giggle! And Lester has been changing his attitude, being more helpful and considerate. I wonder what is making him think differently about life?
Overall, I just love where Ms. Naylor is taking this series. She really allows her characters to blossom and bloom throughout each book. And while this series focuses on Alice, you are also given glimpses into how others are feeling, too. And Patrick resurfacing more in this book, which is great, because he is so cute!
September 15, 2014
Ah, the "in" crowd. Who doesn't want to be part of the popular group? Alice knows she's made it. She's definitely "in!" The only problem is....it's kind of boring. She doesn't really care that much about earrings, she'd rather be having snowball fights with Patrick. But she wants to be part of the Universal Sisterhood! It's a tough life!
I love Alice, because she is always herself. She makes dumb mistakes, but in the end, she's 100% Alice. We've all done things we don't want to do, just because we want to fit in. It can be a painful process. Alice guides us through the ups and downs with humor and wisdom.
I love Alice, because she is always herself. She makes dumb mistakes, but in the end, she's 100% Alice. We've all done things we don't want to do, just because we want to fit in. It can be a painful process. Alice guides us through the ups and downs with humor and wisdom.
July 1, 2012
This book picks up where the last left off and details Alice's second semester of seventh grade. She takes her first sex ed class and bravely brings up this subject in the presence of both her father and brother. She spends some time in the popular clique and shops with the Earring Club every weekend. During this time her friendship with Elizabeth suffers and the two don't spend much time together so hopefully that will be remedied in future books. Lester continues to have girl trouble, but seems to be getting serious about Marilyn and Alice's dad begins dating her teacher Ms. Summers.
Good series, momentum is holding steady, and watching Alice grow up is realistic and familiar.
Good series, momentum is holding steady, and watching Alice grow up is realistic and familiar.
August 27, 2014
Alice has to discover for herself whether it's better to be unhappy and popular or happy in a fringe group. She struggles with typical early teen issues: sexuality, changing body, popularity, etc. In the same vein as "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret", I think this book can help kids/young adults learn about themselves and others. The Alice books have been challenged/banned because of the "adult" themes, but I think books like this are essential for this age group! They address questions that the young ones may be too afraid or embarrassed to ask an adult. They can also provide an opportunity for a conversation between a parent/adult and his/her child.
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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Still loving Alice and these books.
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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Still loving Alice and these books.
February 25, 2020
This book is great! I love how Alice is getting a taste of popularity, but she still sticks with her inner goodness. I love how she doesn’t completely abandon Elizabeth when she joins the earring club. I also loved how she didn’t tease Patrick when all the other kids were making fun of him. One thing that I didn’t like was how Lester has been stringing on Marilyn and Crystal for like three books now. It’s time to pick Lester!😂 I also loved the scene with the chocolates with Patrick, and how Lester says that boys only give candy to girls so that they can eat it too. I’m also so excited for Alices dad to date Sylvia, and for Elizabeth to get a baby sibling!
March 4, 2017
Even as an adult, I enjoy reading the Alice series. This particular episode addresses popularity, the need to fit in and has Alice rushing out to get her ears pierced. I like that Alice doesn't have the typical childhood of others her age, having lost her mom early on - it makes her adolescent struggles so much more realistic without a woman to guide her. I like Alice - she's not a brat, she's not spoiled and her thoughts and experiences were the type that I remember having when I was her age.
August 14, 2008
Once again Alice personifies what it's like to be a seventh-grade girl. In this one all she wants to do is fit in with everyone else, even if it means doing things or being part of clubs she doesn't like. Lester continues to have to choose between two girls, and Alice's dad continues to have a relationship with Alice's teacher. I miss Miss Plotkin though, I wish Alice stayed in touch with her more.
August 4, 2011
I feel like all of my reviews thus far for the Alice series begin by sharing how awesome it was. Honestly, this book is no exception to that. I love that this is the type of series that can ultimately grow with you or your child. Alice goes through what so many kids go through. She learns that it is better to be yourself than to try to always fit in. She also learn more about herself and how she is changing. I think this is a great installment and I am excited to continue my journey with Alice!
July 23, 2014
Alice decides to get her ears pierced, and learns about FOMO (fear of missing out). She wants to be just like everyone else.
Book takes place: The spring semester of 7th grade.
Alice's life lessons: It's not worth sacrificing your values to be popular.
Best Alice moment(s): Izzy's sock; Lester pretending to contemplate priesthood; Our Changing Bodies; Ben's reveal that he's dating
Book takes place: The spring semester of 7th grade.
Alice's life lessons: It's not worth sacrificing your values to be popular.
Best Alice moment(s): Izzy's sock; Lester pretending to contemplate priesthood; Our Changing Bodies; Ben's reveal that he's dating
December 18, 2020
I absolutely love this book. I can relate to trying to fit in and acting cool, but always getting embarrassed. Boy problems, friends turning into jerks, and getting to that age where you need to learn about stuff that makes you uncomfortable. This book has it all. Definetley a must read for my fellow middle-schooler!
August 15, 2018
This is the one in which Alice tries to find her 'tribe.' She's kinda taking her friends for granted, but she's just so likable she'll always come out on top. Lester & Crystal & Marilyn, though, are still annoying... I think I'll have to keep reading the series just to find out about them!
March 4, 2020
Alice gets her ears pierced and joins an earring club with Pamela and gets popular. Elizabeth feels left out. Popularity comes with a price and Alice doesn't feel good about it. Lester adds another girl to his love triangle. And Mr. McKinley starts dating Alice's teacher Miss Summer.
February 3, 2018
This was a book that I got along with well in the seventh grade. I recommend for those who are interested in character driven stories.
February 6, 2020
I love how Lester and Alice give each other boy girl advice despite age difference, overall this book was cute.
June 23, 2020
Is it weird that I have a crush on Lester?
October 31, 2020
These are super fun and always make me laugh out loud!
March 21, 2021
Important story about how to be true to yourself while branching out
September 8, 2024
Alice witnesses some embarrassing incidents in seventh grade and, as is her way, she calculates that there are 272 embarrassing moments still to come for her. To try to stave this off, she decides to embrace Universal Sisterhood, sympathizing with both of Lester's paramours, making nice with the women at her father's shop, and joining the popular earring club. But Sisterhood doesn't solve all her problems. For a while, she becomes part of the beautiful people, and discovers that it's not all it's cracked up to be, especially when she's pressured into the talent show. And can the bond of Sisterhood withstand her father dating someone again, someone Alice knows?
I don't care that I'm several decades too old to be the target audience, and a man; I love the Alice books. They're so witty and engaging and real, without being angst-ridden. Whether Alice is enlightening Lester as to his dates' true intentions or getting a diagram of the human body taped to her chest in school, her ups and downs are filled with amusing, relatable, endearing middle-grade tribulations. Naylor doesn't talk down to the reader or blow any one thing out of proportion, keeping everything in a pleasant, grounded vein.
I don't care that I'm several decades too old to be the target audience, and a man; I love the Alice books. They're so witty and engaging and real, without being angst-ridden. Whether Alice is enlightening Lester as to his dates' true intentions or getting a diagram of the human body taped to her chest in school, her ups and downs are filled with amusing, relatable, endearing middle-grade tribulations. Naylor doesn't talk down to the reader or blow any one thing out of proportion, keeping everything in a pleasant, grounded vein.
May 3, 2023
This is the first Alice book that I've read- but I will definitely read more! I gave it 4 stars. I realized that it didn't deserve 4 stars in the way that I've given 4 stars to intricate mysteries but it is just such a sweet insightful book into the mind of a 7th grader. It is a very good book, and series, for middle school children. Alice is trying to figure out life, friendship, love, and all its intricacies. I loved all the answers Alice got to the question her aunt Sally said to ask about love, "If you were stranded on a desert island with a world famous scientist and (fill in the blank of a love interest) and a horse that could only carry two, who would you take with you to go for help?" The answers she gets from her brother, her friend Patrick, and even her brother's girlfriend, are hilarious. No help for Alice there. Motherless Alice yearns for an older female figure in her life to help her navigate.
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