My Girl

by Patricia Hermes

When your Dad's an undertaker,
your Mom's in heaven,
and your Grandma's got a screw loose...
it's good to have a friend who understands you.
Even if he is a boy.

Thomas J. is Vada's best friend. They live near enough to each other to bike ride over and play, or even just hang out. The two are always together, sharing their afternoons, their adventures in the lake, and all of their secrets. Then something terrible happens to Thomas J. and Vada has to learn to fill her days without her best friend around.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Coming Of Age, Romance, Media Tie In, Contemporary

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1991

Reviews

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just rewatched the movie for the first time in about 20 years and was like "where is the scene where Veda and Thomas J have a contest over who can pee the longest?" and I realized that part is only in the novelization. But I can see the scene in my brain! Weird. Also I read the book before I saw the movie, so maybe that has something to do with it.

Also weird: This movie came out in 1991 and is set in 1972. It has now been longer since the movie came out than the difference between those two time periods. YOU ARE OLD

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering this is my favorite movie I never got around to reading the book despite having it in my collection since 1991. Read it tonight and loved it. Love love love.

[Isa . ۫ ꣑ৎ . · Rating 5 out of 5]

forever my favorite film

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a random thrift find, and I occasionally read novelizations of well-loved movies. (The best I've ever read was Willow). Anyway, if the movie version of MY GIRL made you cry (if? IF?!?!?), the book will probably do the same. But I do think the movie was better.

[L Y N N · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite a pleasant surprise. I selected this book to fulfill a rather obscure reading challenge prompt and as so often happens, it proved to be an extremely enjoyable read for me!

I admit to crying at the end, but that only added to my positive experience. If Hermes hadn't made me care so much about these characters, I wouldn't have had such an emotional reaction.

I'll definitely check out more of her writing!

[Kristy Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my gosh I LOVED this book and movie as a kid! I don't know why because it is so freakin' sad, but sometimes I like sad things!

[Vinali | Bookworm_lyf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. Vada's free spirit. Thomas J's quirkiness... And together, their mischievousness.

Had tears in my eyes, literally...

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is precious ❤️‍🩹

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars - Nederlandse paperback

Recensie volgt later.

[Sarah French · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start with, I have never seen this movie. I know, don't come at me.
We are watching it for Film Club, so I read the book that was written after the movie.
I did love it, short, sweet, and simple.
So many life changes in a short time, and I feel like there is a lesson for everyone in this.

[Havanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

How would you feel if your mom was dead, your grandmother was loopy and your dad was an undertaker? Vada, the main character in “My Girl” by Patricia Hermes knows how that feels. This book is based on the motion picture by Laurice Elehwany. This is a realistic fiction book.
In this book, Vada lives with her father and her grandmother in a very large house were funerals take place. Vada is a tomboy. She is 11 years and and has one friend named Thomas J. Over the Summer Break, Vada experiences her first kiss, becoming a “blood brother” and getting to go to her crush’s (a 5th grade teacher named Mr. Blixer’s) Writing Class. Vada experiences two things more: A gain and a loss. The gain is her father is getting married and the loss is something happens to someone…….what makes that worse is she thinks she is dying of a chicken bone stuck in her throat. My rating for this book is 5 stars or you could say it is ten out of ten. My favorite part was when Vada Steals money from her dad’s fiancé, Shelly, to pay for her writing class. This book is filled with adventure, sadness, and some laughter. Enjoy this book! Before we are done, I need to tell you about my recommendation. I recommend this to 6th graders. They should not be afraid of crying if they read it. You should be at least 11 to understand it. This book may be sad but it is the best book I have ever read. I give it 5 stars. (10 out of 10 or 100%). I hope you read this and if you have, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have. (I didn’t say, but an undertaker embalms bodies when they are dead.)

[Rachel J · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Girl was a good book. In English, we have to read a book a month and I had always wondered if there was a book for My Girl. When I looked it up, I realized there was one and my teacher ordered it. I loved the movie and hoped I would like the book as well, which I did. In the book, there is a young girl named Vada who is a hypochondriac. She has a father who is a funeral director and a widower. Her only friend, Thomas, is allergic to everything and loves to collect things. Over the summer, Vada and Thomas spend their days riding bikes together. One day, they went to the lake and Thomas saw a beehive he just had to have. Turns out the beehive wasn't empty like he thought and they had to run into the water to avoid the swarm. In the process, Vada lost a mood ring she loved very much. After the swarm passed, they left without the ring or beehive. Vada warned Thomas not to go back but he did anyway. If you have seen the movie, you know what happens but if not you should read the book. It was an easy read due to the fact it was narrated by an eleven year old girl and the book is only 192 pages. Altogether, there was nothing that disappointed me. I would recommend the book for anyone to read for a good story.

[jimtown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book, My Girl follows the movie very closely. It’s unusual in that I believe in this case, the movie came out before the book was written. I love the movie. I've watched it three or four times. The movie had incredible talented actors and music that puts you in time. Then there's Vada, the girl they chose to play her, Anna Chlumsky seemed an unlikely choice at first but she was perfect. By the end, you're in love with her. I thought at first that the book didn't have anything extra to add to that experience and my interest was waning about halfway through but I wanted to finish it and it didn't disappoint. I was in tears at the end.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this book back in like 2nd or 3rd grade
i've always loved it

and funnily
i JUST found out that the book was written AFTER the movie.
but it's still a really really good book.

[Samantha Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still really love this book it was so good and everything and it was a little different than the movie but it still had some of the same stuff in it. It was really great 👍

[wanderer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit it: I cried.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this story soooo much i love this little great relationship they have together but then it gets horribly sad..

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book ever. I love it. Read it for sure.

[payton hartsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

i will think about that closing line for the next month. such a great book

[Deity World · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite movies and was surprised to see the book is exactly the same bring out the Kleenex

[Katie Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've seen the movie, I knew what was coming and still cried like a baby. The book was different enough from the movie that it kept it interesting and a lot more connecting with the characters as there was a lot more inner monologues happening. love this.

[Mizannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for Popsugar 2023 Challenge prompt “book that was based on a movie.” Cute.

[Jessica Piggush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started and finished in one day and just as sad as the movie. “Where’s his glasses?!? He needs his glasses!” Gets me every time.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book, but sad of course. Pretty true to the movie (only minor differences).

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

A middling nostalgic romp

[Miki Rybicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seen the movie a million times, still cried

[Brandi Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. Many times the movie doesn't follow the book but this one did. It was a very good book easy to read. The ended was so sad it had me crying.

[caycay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for the first time at 10 or 11 years old and it absolutely destroyed me. Was never the same after this book. like Patricia, what the frick.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quaint enough story, never saw the movie, divided between 3 or 4 stars but I'll err on the higher end.

[E.D.I.A · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a lovely book, very touching... I've watched the movie and fell in love with the story so much so that I just had to read the novel for it. Thank you for writing such a book.