What do you think?
Rate this book
American Girl: Julie #3
Happy New Year, Julie 1974
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. For more than 15 years, The American Girls Collection has captivated readers with its tales of heart, hope and history. Millions of girls have fallen in love with the series' strong, appealing heroines.
77 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2007
6 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
Megan McDonald
296 books742 followers"Sometimes I think I am Judy Moody," says Megan McDonald, author of the Judy Moody series, the Stink series, and THE SISTERS CLUB. "I'm certainly moody, like she is. Judy has a strong voice and always speaks up for herself. I like that."
For Megan McDonald, being able to speak up for herself wasn't always easy. She grew up as the youngest of five sisters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father, an ironworker, was known to his coworkers as "Little Johnny the Storyteller." Every evening at dinner the McDonalds would gather to talk and tell stories, but Megan McDonald was barely able to get a word in edgewise. "I'm told I began to stutter," she says, leading her mother to give her a notebook so she could start "writing things down."
Critically acclaimed, the Judy Moody books have won numerous awards, ranging from a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year to an International Reading Association Children's Choice. "Judy has taken on a life of her own," the author notes, with nearly 3 million Judy Moody books in print. Interestingly, the feisty third-grader is highly popular with boys and girls, making for a strong base of fans who are among Megan McDonald's strongest incentives to keep writing, along with "too many ideas and a little chocolate." And now -- by popular demand -- Judy Moody's little brother, Stink, gets his chance to star in his own adventures! Beginning with STINK: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING KID, three more stories, and his own encyclopedia, STINK-O-PEDIA, Stink's special style comes through loud and strong -- enhanced by a series of comic strips, drawn by Stink himself, which are sprinkled throughout the first book. About the need for a book all about Stink, Megan McDonald says, "Once, while I was visiting a class full of Judy Moody readers, the kids, many with spiked hair à la Judy's little brother, chanted, 'Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink!' as I entered the room. In that moment, I knew that Stink had to have a book all his own."
More recently, Megan McDonald has recalled some of her own childhood with the warmth, humor -- and squabbles -- of three spunky sisters in THE SISTERS CLUB.
Megan McDonald and her husband live in Sebastopol, California, with two dogs, two adopted horses, and fifteen wild turkeys that like to hang out on their back porch.
For Megan McDonald, being able to speak up for herself wasn't always easy. She grew up as the youngest of five sisters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father, an ironworker, was known to his coworkers as "Little Johnny the Storyteller." Every evening at dinner the McDonalds would gather to talk and tell stories, but Megan McDonald was barely able to get a word in edgewise. "I'm told I began to stutter," she says, leading her mother to give her a notebook so she could start "writing things down."
Critically acclaimed, the Judy Moody books have won numerous awards, ranging from a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year to an International Reading Association Children's Choice. "Judy has taken on a life of her own," the author notes, with nearly 3 million Judy Moody books in print. Interestingly, the feisty third-grader is highly popular with boys and girls, making for a strong base of fans who are among Megan McDonald's strongest incentives to keep writing, along with "too many ideas and a little chocolate." And now -- by popular demand -- Judy Moody's little brother, Stink, gets his chance to star in his own adventures! Beginning with STINK: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING KID, three more stories, and his own encyclopedia, STINK-O-PEDIA, Stink's special style comes through loud and strong -- enhanced by a series of comic strips, drawn by Stink himself, which are sprinkled throughout the first book. About the need for a book all about Stink, Megan McDonald says, "Once, while I was visiting a class full of Judy Moody readers, the kids, many with spiked hair à la Judy's little brother, chanted, 'Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink!' as I entered the room. In that moment, I knew that Stink had to have a book all his own."
More recently, Megan McDonald has recalled some of her own childhood with the warmth, humor -- and squabbles -- of three spunky sisters in THE SISTERS CLUB.
Megan McDonald and her husband live in Sebastopol, California, with two dogs, two adopted horses, and fifteen wild turkeys that like to hang out on their back porch.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
December 18, 2011
i found this book really insufferable. julie's best friend ivy plays a huge role, & i feel that ivy could be a pretty cool character on her own, but in the julie books, she comes across as a trite chinese american token. ivy's family is preparing for the chinese new year, & they all function solely to educate blonde white girl ivy about their chinese traditions. they take julie shopping with them in san francisco's chinatown for new year supplies. at one point, julie & ivy get sick of waiting around for ivy's mom to stop chit chatting with a shopkeeper, & they take off to try on cheong-sams (which are referred to in the book as "silky chinese dresses" or something equally as stupid). when they return, mrs. ling is gone & the girls decide they have to find their way to the chinese fortune cookie factory (even though children are usually taught to just stay put if they get lost & let the adult find them). they get all turned around because apparently chinatown is as complicated & confusing as knockturn alley in the harry potter books, & equally as terrifying & packed with creepy weird shit that only creepy weirdos would buy. seriously, i feel like this whole scene is so insulting to chinese & chinese american people. asian people as a whole, actually. eventually ivy gets the bright idea to ask for directions to the fortune cookie factory from her grandpa in the mahjongg parlor...*sigh*. i am seriously shocked the grandpa ling is not illustrated sporting a fu manchu & a pigtail, perhaps with a sack of railroad ties slung over his shoulder.
a little later in the book, ivy & julie are walking down haight street or somewhere when they encounter a chinese american woman screaming & flipping out in a chinese dialect. she is surrounded by dumbfounded white people gawking at her. ivy swiftly translates that the woman has lost her toddler son. she relays this info to the gawkers & the child is located & returned to the mother. remember this for when i review good luck, ivy, in which ivy hates learning chinese & totally sucks at it even when it is spoken very slowly in a classroom setting.
the big finale to the book comes when julie tags along with the lings for the chinese new year celebrations. there is much talk of eating dinner at the ling grandparents' restaurant, the happy panda (*sigh* again), & admiring the chinese dragons. the lings buy ivy a special cheong-sam to wear for the occasion...& they buy one for julie too. isn't that so special? teaching little white girls that cultural appropriation is A-okay, that someone else's culture is only there to be consumed & perhaps for a white girl educational experience, complete with wardrobe acquisitions.
i hated this book.
a little later in the book, ivy & julie are walking down haight street or somewhere when they encounter a chinese american woman screaming & flipping out in a chinese dialect. she is surrounded by dumbfounded white people gawking at her. ivy swiftly translates that the woman has lost her toddler son. she relays this info to the gawkers & the child is located & returned to the mother. remember this for when i review good luck, ivy, in which ivy hates learning chinese & totally sucks at it even when it is spoken very slowly in a classroom setting.
the big finale to the book comes when julie tags along with the lings for the chinese new year celebrations. there is much talk of eating dinner at the ling grandparents' restaurant, the happy panda (*sigh* again), & admiring the chinese dragons. the lings buy ivy a special cheong-sam to wear for the occasion...& they buy one for julie too. isn't that so special? teaching little white girls that cultural appropriation is A-okay, that someone else's culture is only there to be consumed & perhaps for a white girl educational experience, complete with wardrobe acquisitions.
i hated this book.
January 1, 2018
Hmm, I got this for New Year's and this is about Chinese New Year's. I did learn a whole lot about Chinese New Year I found interesting and the title is misleading as I was looking for New Year's.
This book deals with some issues. Divorce and anger and a new culture. I think for a 7-9 year old, this could be a good book and for me it was ok. It is set in the '70s when divorce was not as normal. The time is Christmas break until the Chinese New Year at the end of January.
I gave it an extra star for the good information it gives about the culture of Chinese New Year's. I won't be reading more of this series.
This book deals with some issues. Divorce and anger and a new culture. I think for a 7-9 year old, this could be a good book and for me it was ok. It is set in the '70s when divorce was not as normal. The time is Christmas break until the Chinese New Year at the end of January.
I gave it an extra star for the good information it gives about the culture of Chinese New Year's. I won't be reading more of this series.
January 19, 2024
This is my favorite Julie book so far!! I loved the focus on Chinese New Year, and the author did such a beautiful job describing the setting. I can’t help but wonder what this would have looked like on the big screen!
February 11, 2024
The great AG marathon continues. Reading this for the first time as an adult, inspired by the American Girls podcast.
For once, Christmas isn't saved, and there's no magic.
Julie and Molly could commiserate on Christmas disappointments... but Molly gets lucky (and is able to help the magic along a bit herself). Julie tries her best, but for her, this Christmas is kind of a bust.
But Christmas break does mean she gets to spend a week withDad Ivy. Mrs. Ling, in the tradition of great moms everywhere, sees a sad kid and includes her in her own family activities. Over the next several weeks (Google helpfully informs us that Lunar New Year 1976 began at the end of January), Julie helps the Lings as they clean and shop to prepare for the holiday, and the whole Albright family is invited to celebrate with the Lings at their family restaurant. Coming together outside their own family traditions is just the right thing to help the Albrights reconnect - so in the end, there's a little holiday magic after all.
The awkward thing here is that we're learning about Chinese and Chinese American traditions through the eyes of a white protagonist and a white author, so everything feels just a little bit like a museum exhibit - down to cramming both mah-jong and a fortune cookie factory into the Chinatown scene. Have we checked all the boxes? Chopsticks! Lion dancers! Bird's nest soup!
On the other hand, we're also seeing Julie learn about another culture first hand, something I'd want to encourage young readers to do, too, when they have the opportunity. I like Julie and Ivy as an example of friends whose families come from different cultures, and because they're established as long-time best friends, it's clear Julie isn't starting from scratch. She knows to take her shoes off at the door, and she knows what elements of Chinese culture are especially meaningful to Ivy. The difference is that this year, she's being invited to participate more fully.
It's not a perfect book, and it definitely could be used to further the argument that the 1970s series should have been Ivy with best friend Julie instead of the reverse. It definitely makes me look forward to Ivy's solo book. But it's not bad, and it advances the plot re: Albright family tensions. Let's see where we go next.
More Julie babble:
Meet Julie | Julie Tells Her Story | Happy New Year, Julie | Julie and the Eagles | Julie's Journey | Changes for Julie
Good Luck, Ivy
The Tangled Web | The Puzzle of the Paper Daughter | The Silver Guitar | Lost in the City | Message in a Bottle
A Brighter Tomorrow
For once, Christmas isn't saved, and there's no magic.
Julie and Molly could commiserate on Christmas disappointments... but Molly gets lucky (and is able to help the magic along a bit herself). Julie tries her best, but for her, this Christmas is kind of a bust.
But Christmas break does mean she gets to spend a week with
The awkward thing here is that we're learning about Chinese and Chinese American traditions through the eyes of a white protagonist and a white author, so everything feels just a little bit like a museum exhibit - down to cramming both mah-jong and a fortune cookie factory into the Chinatown scene. Have we checked all the boxes? Chopsticks! Lion dancers! Bird's nest soup!
On the other hand, we're also seeing Julie learn about another culture first hand, something I'd want to encourage young readers to do, too, when they have the opportunity. I like Julie and Ivy as an example of friends whose families come from different cultures, and because they're established as long-time best friends, it's clear Julie isn't starting from scratch. She knows to take her shoes off at the door, and she knows what elements of Chinese culture are especially meaningful to Ivy. The difference is that this year, she's being invited to participate more fully.
It's not a perfect book, and it definitely could be used to further the argument that the 1970s series should have been Ivy with best friend Julie instead of the reverse. It definitely makes me look forward to Ivy's solo book. But it's not bad, and it advances the plot re: Albright family tensions. Let's see where we go next.
More Julie babble:
Meet Julie | Julie Tells Her Story | Happy New Year, Julie | Julie and the Eagles | Julie's Journey | Changes for Julie
Good Luck, Ivy
The Tangled Web | The Puzzle of the Paper Daughter | The Silver Guitar | Lost in the City | Message in a Bottle
A Brighter Tomorrow
August 17, 2020
In 2007, I gave up on the Julie series after reading this book, and I can see why. There is almost no plot, and even though the story teaches children about Chinese New Year traditions, it does so in a didactic way. In this book, Ivy and her family are token characters who only exist to educate Julie and the reader about their cultural practices, and the book is shallow and dull.
Also, Tracy's meltdown at a fancy restaurant over Christmas is unrealistic and ridiculous. She is fifteen years old, and far too mature and image-conscious to make a scene like that. The purpose that it plays in the story is to illustrate how challenging it is for divorced families to celebrate holidays together and find a new sense of normal, but it is completely unbelievable, especially since the reader still has no information about why the parents split.
Tracy is extremely angry with her dad, but it is never clear why. She claims that he is the reason that the rest of the family had to move out, but it's impossible for the reader to evaluate this claim or come to their own conclusion about the nature of the relationships, since the author never explains what led to the divorce, or how the separation happened. Is it Mr. Albright's fault? Is Tracy just being dramatic and unfairly blaming him? We'll never know. This entire series revolves around a divorce that goes 100% unexplained, and it's hard to take any of the emotional drama seriously when there is no background or context provided.
Also, Tracy's meltdown at a fancy restaurant over Christmas is unrealistic and ridiculous. She is fifteen years old, and far too mature and image-conscious to make a scene like that. The purpose that it plays in the story is to illustrate how challenging it is for divorced families to celebrate holidays together and find a new sense of normal, but it is completely unbelievable, especially since the reader still has no information about why the parents split.
Tracy is extremely angry with her dad, but it is never clear why. She claims that he is the reason that the rest of the family had to move out, but it's impossible for the reader to evaluate this claim or come to their own conclusion about the nature of the relationships, since the author never explains what led to the divorce, or how the separation happened. Is it Mr. Albright's fault? Is Tracy just being dramatic and unfairly blaming him? We'll never know. This entire series revolves around a divorce that goes 100% unexplained, and it's hard to take any of the emotional drama seriously when there is no background or context provided.
December 31, 2016
I was disappointed in this book. I didn't really learn anything about the 70s at all. They barely mentioned anything unique to the time. I learned about Chinese New Year but the book honestly could've taken place in our modern era and I wouldn't have known the difference. Just not the best American girl book.
January 10, 2024
this christmas celebration was the most relatable one i’ve ever read jn the american girl series LOL. but the ending was sweet, i loved learning more about chinese new year too!!
August 28, 2019
I 100% still think Ivy could've been the main character, or at least it would've also been okay to make Julie Chinese-American. I sort of get it, as it wouldn't be #ownvoices (and as Megan McDonald grew up in the '70s she's writing what she knows otherwise, I think), but so many times throughout this I really questioned why we were following Julie, not Ivy as the Lings prepare for Chinese New Year.
It's briefly Christmas time at the beginning of the book, and the first one as a split family. Tracy is still cool towards Dad and Julie wonders if they can ever recapture feeling like a family again. The Lings' Chinese New Year celebration is a test for that. Julie helps her friend get ready for the holiday, and I figure out that this series actually spans 1975-1976 (but also finally noticing that all the American Girl years end in 4) because Ivy tells her that the new year is the year of the dragon... which in this decade, started on January 31, 1976.
I very much worried that Chinatown/Chinese New Year would be portrayed as some kind of weird Other, but it's handled pretty okay though the girls getting lost could be spooky. Pleasantly surprised to learn that Ivy is a fourth generation American like me (albeit 15 years before I was born, so like one of my second cousins I suppose at the same generational level), and like many who live in the San Francisco Chinatown, Cantonese (not sure if Toisanese because I didn't see any specific words or references, and Julie's definitely not going to ask gung-gung if his father hailed from the Sze Yup region).
Not a ton of 1970s specific things here- maybe the getting crafty for decorating the tree at Mom's apartment?
It's briefly Christmas time at the beginning of the book, and the first one as a split family. Tracy is still cool towards Dad and Julie wonders if they can ever recapture feeling like a family again. The Lings' Chinese New Year celebration is a test for that. Julie helps her friend get ready for the holiday, and I figure out that this series actually spans 1975-1976 (but also finally noticing that all the American Girl years end in 4) because Ivy tells her that the new year is the year of the dragon... which in this decade, started on January 31, 1976.
I very much worried that Chinatown/Chinese New Year would be portrayed as some kind of weird Other, but it's handled pretty okay though the girls getting lost could be spooky. Pleasantly surprised to learn that Ivy is a fourth generation American like me (albeit 15 years before I was born, so like one of my second cousins I suppose at the same generational level), and like many who live in the San Francisco Chinatown, Cantonese (not sure if Toisanese because I didn't see any specific words or references, and Julie's definitely not going to ask gung-gung if his father hailed from the Sze Yup region).
Not a ton of 1970s specific things here- maybe the getting crafty for decorating the tree at Mom's apartment?
May 4, 2025
It was fun to learn about Chinese New Year from Julie’s friend Ivy! I felt bad for Julie that not only was she experiencing a new split Christmas between her parents but that her sister Tracy wasn’t there for her in it. I’m glad Tracy could be more opened minded to her dad during the Chinese New Year celebration. I’m still so curious why she puts the blame on him… I’d better find out this gossip soon!
January 27, 2024
Such a cute story! I love that book showcases what holidays are often like for children with divorced parents, and also showcases Chinese New Year celebrations! I love how much we see of Ivy and her family in this one <3
October 31, 2024
this book is just lovely - it overturns the standard american girl christmas formula by making her christmas kind of crap, and instead making lunar new year the focal point. ivys new haircut is a bit of a bad look i fear 3
January 15, 2020
I liked it a lot. I liked how at Christmas her friend Ivy gave her a doll and she had one too so now they both have one.
September 27, 2023
I think I am enjoying the Julie series so much because, as I have been reading along with the "Dolls of Our Lives" Podcast, this is a return to the familiar six book arc form. It also reminds me of my own childhood in the fact that Julie is going to school, doing things with her family, etc. There's a comfort in a series like that. I think that's part of why I enjoyed the Molly books so much as a kid.
June 26, 2024
Queerplatonic american girls
February 16, 2016
Happy New Year, Julie
This story continues to deal with the issue of the divorce of Julie's parents, and how the two sisters relate, or don't relate, to their father. A lot of the story revolves around Julie's friend Ivy, and their family, which is Chinese. There's a lot of very interesting information about the traditions that the Chinese and Chinese-Americans follow in celebrating the Chinese New Year.
The information on the Chinese celebrations is really the high point of the story. The information section at the end contains material on holiday celebrations during the 1970's, and information on the celebrations and parades for Chinese New Year.
Probably the most interesting of the first three books in this new series.
March 29, 2009
Julie knows that the holidays will be difficult this year for her, but when her sister Tracy refuses to go to their dad's house for Christmas, Julie feels as if her family is falling apart. Over the holiday, Julie spends most of her time finding comfort with her best friend Ivy Ling. The Lings are getting ready for a huge celebration Chinese New Year. And when Julie helps with the preparations it helps her not think about the sadness she is going through. Then when Ivy's family invites Julie's whole family to the Chinese New Year celebration, Julie is excited, but does not know if her sister dad and mom will get along. Great book, I LOVE CHINESE NEW YEAR!
November 25, 2009
I think it is interesting how these stories usually focus around one central event that could really be told in a short period of time. The author stretches this one episode into a short novel and does it fairly well. I wasn't terribly interested in this book, but I might still recommend it.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...
March 17, 2016
This book is about how Julie and her friend Ivy go to a Chinese New Year parade in China Town. A few days before the holiday Julie, Ivy and, Ivy's mom go to China Town to buy food. While they are shopping Julie and Ivy wander into another shop. Ivy's mother gets very worried and goes searching for them. After the girls are found they all go back home. I liked this book but, other ones from the series are better.
August 12, 2008
As I get further into this series I like it more; I think it would benefit from being read as a whole rather than as seperate books. In this installment, Julie is dealing with her first Christmas as part of a divorced family and things do not go well. Luckily, her best friend Ivy is there with her family for support and distraction as they prepare for Chinese New Year.
July 5, 2010
I learned that even though a family is split apart, doesn't mean that you can't spend time with each other and still be part of each other's lives. I really liked this book and I'm glad I chose it to read! thank you!Megan McDonald
September 25, 2013
Ho-hum. It's the Albrights' first Christmas since The Divorce, and it's just as depressing as you'd expect. The only drama is created by teenage sister Tracy who throws a mild adolescent tantrum in a restaurant. Then at the end there's some stuff about Chinese new year to try and make things seem happy again.
The boringest AG book yet.
The boringest AG book yet.
September 3, 2014
This is Julie's first Christmas since her parents divorce and everything is different, nothing is cheerful and festive like it used to be.
There is one thing to look forward to though. Ivy has invited Julie's family to celebrate Chinese New Year with them. It should be a fun new experience, if her family can get along.
There is one thing to look forward to though. Ivy has invited Julie's family to celebrate Chinese New Year with them. It should be a fun new experience, if her family can get along.
January 3, 2021
*2
I picked up this book in preparation for a children’s program on Lunar New Year I am running online in mid-February at the library. While I didn’t really learn anything new about Lunar New Year, it was an okay read for the holiday season.
This third installment in the American Girl: Julie series details Julie’s first Christmas following the divorce of her parents and, later, the celebration of Chinese New Year with Julie’s best friend, Ivy.
Overall, the plot was lackluster; not much happened, and there was especially little unique to the 1970s described. The novel is essentially split between Julie’s Christmas celebrations with her parents and Julie joining Ivy and her family for Chinese New Year. An interesting introduction to Chinese New Year celebrations for middle-grade readers, but with little nuance thereafter.
I picked up this book in preparation for a children’s program on Lunar New Year I am running online in mid-February at the library. While I didn’t really learn anything new about Lunar New Year, it was an okay read for the holiday season.
This third installment in the American Girl: Julie series details Julie’s first Christmas following the divorce of her parents and, later, the celebration of Chinese New Year with Julie’s best friend, Ivy.
Overall, the plot was lackluster; not much happened, and there was especially little unique to the 1970s described. The novel is essentially split between Julie’s Christmas celebrations with her parents and Julie joining Ivy and her family for Chinese New Year. An interesting introduction to Chinese New Year celebrations for middle-grade readers, but with little nuance thereafter.
June 22, 2018
Read this with my seven year old (actually listened to the audio version) and really enjoyed it! She chose this doll to get for her birthday, so we were excited to read her story. Being a 70s girls myself, I am loving the trip down memory lane! I also am enjoying the story -- family wrestling with divorce, learning about the Chinese cultures through her friend Ivy, life in California back in the day, and a young girl standing up for herself and fighting to play on the boys' basketball team. In this book a lot of time is spent on learning about the Chinese New Year; I found it quite interesting. My daughters really like the story as well!
March 14, 2022
Book 3 was a little better than the first two books in the series. Maybe because Ivy and her family were a big focus in the story. Hmm, makes me wonder if Ivy might have been a better choice as the AG of 1974. I liked all the information one learns about the Chinese New Year and the different customs. I also thought Ivy's haircut was cute.
I was a bit perplexed by the scanty amount of portraits at the front of the book. Only one picture (of Ivy) on the second page of portraits. Why not have pics of Ivy's mom, grandparents and little sister instead of mainly blank space? Just weird.
I was a bit perplexed by the scanty amount of portraits at the front of the book. Only one picture (of Ivy) on the second page of portraits. Why not have pics of Ivy's mom, grandparents and little sister instead of mainly blank space? Just weird.
February 14, 2025
This book doesn't have much plot but it's fine. But after just finishing a Felicity book where Felicity is helping the patriot militia uncover a plot in the American Revolution, this is a big step down in terms of excitement. Also as other reviews said, nothing in the story feels specific to the 1970s, you could tell me it was set in 2020s and I wouldn't know the difference. I like that they are introducing readers to Chinese New Year but it did seem like things were too perfectly token Chinese... we're lost in Chinatown but grandpa just happens to be playing mahjong right there and will now lead us to the fortune cookie factory!
December 31, 2018
I have always wanted to hang a "psychedelic wreath'" for Christmas because of this book. One of these days, my husband WILL humor me.
Julie's books are another great set that deal with change and different holidays, particularly in the fact that her parents are divorced, and holidays are now split. Reading Julie's books have helped me to understand the world from a child with divorced parents better, which is helpful in working with the teens ministry. It's wonderful that books meet us when we need them!
Julie's books are another great set that deal with change and different holidays, particularly in the fact that her parents are divorced, and holidays are now split. Reading Julie's books have helped me to understand the world from a child with divorced parents better, which is helpful in working with the teens ministry. It's wonderful that books meet us when we need them!
March 1, 2021
As I re-read the American Girl: Julie series, which I have found are not as thought-out as other American Girl books, I can easily say this is my favorite so far. Being the third out of six books in the series, Happy New Year Julie is practically a mid-season climax. Though Julie's life has plenty more in store, ever-growing conflict that happened in the previous two books and this one comes to a smooth conclusion. With a bonus of fun education on Chinese New Years, the book is not a page-turner, but it is still fun to read, especially coming back to it for nostalgia.
June 15, 2022
- Tracy annoyed me. She complains that her dad doesn't know anything about her, yet she makes the choice to *never* hang out with him during the weekend visits the girls get.
- The book is basically just showing the reader about Chinese culture and traditions. However it felt awkward to read. The majority of the book is explaining all of this to the audience. I felt like being Ivy's best friend, Julie would have known a majority of this information already. This was written by a white woman which makes things more awkward.
- The book is basically just showing the reader about Chinese culture and traditions. However it felt awkward to read. The majority of the book is explaining all of this to the audience. I felt like being Ivy's best friend, Julie would have known a majority of this information already. This was written by a white woman which makes things more awkward.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews