Synopses & Reviews
Author Paula Danziger loves to write for and about kids, and kids love her! They especially love her feisty and lovable character Amber Brown.
Putnam is pleased to present the third book in the Amber Brown series, Amber Brown Goes Fourth illustrated by Tony Ross), a realistic, poignant portrayal of Amber and her single mom, who are both adjusting to divorce. And like the series, Amber Brown Goes Fourth is highlighted with Danziger's lively, laugh-out-loud, first person narrative.
Amber Brown has conquered third grade with her best friend moving away, and chicken pox in London with her Aunt Pam, but now... fourth grade! Still missing Justin and adjusting to her mom beginning to date, Amber is determined to substitute a new friend at school named Brandi as her new best friend. But Amber finds out that you can't "substitute" a best friend; one has to accept each new friend as they are and let the friendship grow. She wonders how she can keep people who are far away from her -- her dad and Justin -- in her life and whether anything will ever be the same again.
Paula Danziger's appeal is also strong with the young adult crowd as well.
Her titles in this genre include, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, Remember Me to Harold Square, The Divorce Express, Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice? and Thames Doesn't Rhyme with James.
Review
-[F]unny, straight-shooting, first-person narration.+ -
BooklistReview
"Danziger reaches out to a younger audience in this funny, touching slice of third-grade live, told in the voice of a feisty, lovable heroine."
Review
Paula Danziger wrote more than thirty books for children, all of which are still in print. She passed away in July 2004. Tony Ross has illustrated many picture books, as well as young chapter books. He lives in Cheshire, England.
Review
Entertaining and satisfying, this is a first purchase, whether or not the rest of the series is owned.ö (School Library Journal)
Review
The enormously popular heroine once again brings insightful verbalization to what life is like for kids today. (
School Library Journal)
Review
“Throughout the story, happiness and sadness are closely entwined for nine-year-old Amber: she’s thrilled that her divorced mother is marrying big-hearted Max, but uneasy that ‘for the first time in my life something huge is happening and Dad isn’t even a tiny part of it.’ . . . Coville and Levy do splendid service both to this character and her creator.”
Review
“Amber is trying to find comfortable middle ground between her father and her mother's wedding plans. She's trying not to take sides but sometimes finds herself caught between them, even in their mostly amicable split, a problem she good-naturedly deals with, setting a fine example for kids in the same position. . . . Fully faithful to the voice Danziger gave Amber Brown, this visit with an old friend will totally satisfy readers. (afterword by Danziger's niece, ‘the real Amber Brown’)”
Review
"Amber's original voice rings true, delivering plenty of wordplay and hilarious, wide-eyed observations. Ever insightful and resilient, Amber faces her challenges head on and recognizes that change is inevitable and difficult." --School Library Journal
Review
“Amber Brown fans will rejoice.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Coville and Levy do a splendid service both to this character and her creator.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
Synopsis
Amber Brown has a big decision to make: spend Thanksgiving with Mom in Walla Walla, Washington, or with Dad in New York. Amber doesnÕt want to choose, but the grown-ups are leaving it up to her. Things only get worse when she goes to school and meets the new girlÑKelly Green. No one in the class has ever had a two-color name like Amber Brown. Home. School. Nothing is going right! Amber Brown is most definitely feeling blue.
Synopsis
Amber is used to change?her life has been full of it lately. First her best friend Justin moved and she became best friends with Brandi. Then she had to deal with her parents? divorce and her dad?s move to France. She?s even getting used to her mom?s boyfriend, Max. Now the only change that she wants is to redo her bedroom. But then Max asks Amber?s mom to marry him. If she says yes, they might have to move. But if she says no, then Max may leave. Amber?s mom is confused?and so is Amber! Can?t things just stay the same for once?
Synopsis
Amber Brown and Justin Daniels are best friends. They've known each other for practically forever, sit next to each other in class, help each other with homework, and always stick up for each other. Justin never says things like, "Amber Brown is not a crayon." Amber never says, "Justin Time." They're a great team—until disaster strikes. Justin has to move away, and now the best friends are fighting. Will they be able to work it out before it's too late?
Synopsis
Amber Brown's going through a growth spurt . . . and her body's not the only thing that's changing. Her mom and Max are engaged. Her dad is moving back from Paris. And now her school's overrun by skunks, and she feels like she's being held captive in a hot, crowded school bus that's going nowhere. But growth spurts and skunks are not her only concerns. Why can't her parents agree on anything . . . and most important, what will happen when Dad moves back?
Synopsis
Amber Brown is in deep trouble. Lately, no matter what she does, it isn?t enough. She straightens up her room?sort of. She does her homework?well, most of it. And she agrees to meet Max, her mother?s new boyfriend?but she doesn?t agree to like him. Now her mother is angry, her teacher wants all of her homework, and Max keeps trying to make her laugh. What?s Amber to do? All she wants is a little extra credit. She really tries. . . . But how will she succeed?
Synopsis
Amber Brown isn?t entirely ready for fourth grade. She has her pens, pencils, new clothes, and new shoes. But the one thing she doesn?t have is her best friend, Justin Daniels. Justin has moved away, leaving Amber utterly best friend-less. Amber knows Justin can?t be replaced, but she is on the lookout for a new friend. Brandi seems a likely choice?but does Brandi want to choose Amber in return? Will Amber Brown go fourth, and go forth, with a new best friend?
Synopsis
It's finally summer and Amber Brown is going to London to visit her aunt Pam and then to Paris to visit with her father. She is one excited kid before she goes. And one itchy kid when she arrives. Mosquito bites, she thinks. Chicken pox, she finds out. Is her vacation completely ruined? And now that she can't go to Paris, how will she be able to convince her dad to move back home?
Synopsis
Having her parents live in the same town isn't working out as well as Amber had hoped. Since she's staying at her dad's over Christmas vacation, she doesn't get to go to Disneyland with her mom and aunt Pam. When her mom gets back, she tells Amber that she and Max are getting married soon and are going to look for a new house-maybe even in a new town! And then, when Amber is meant to see a movie with her dad, he goes out on a date instead.
Some kids have parents who are still together. Some kids don't ever have to move. Some kids seem to have no problems-making Amber Brown green with envy.
Synopsis
Amber Brown wants a room makeover, not another life makeover.
She's used to changes--finding a new best friend, Brandi...having her old best friend, Justin, move to Alabama...dealing with her parents' divorce...seeing her father move to Paris.
She's even getting used to her mom's boyfriend, Max. The only change that she wants now is to redo her bedroom.
Then Max asks her mom to marry him. If she says yes, they might have to move. And if she says no, Max may leave.
Amber's mom is confused.
Amber is confused.
Next thing Amber knows, she and her mom are on a plane to Alabama. It's time to make some decisions...and it's time to see Justin.
Synopsis
Wow! Mom's boyfriend Max has invited Amber and her mom to Walla Walla, Washington for Thanksgiving. And Amber's dad is coming home from Paris to live nearby. Life couldn't be better. Until Amber's dad calls. He's expecting Amber to spend Thanksgiving with him in New York City. And the grownups are leaving it up to Amber to decide what to do. Suddenly, Amber feels as if she is in the middle of a bad dream...which only gets worse when she goes to school and meets the new girl -- Kelly Green. No way...no one in the class has ever had a two-color name like Amber Brown. Hannah Burton smirks and says, "Let the color wars begin!" Home. School. Nothing is going right. What to do? Amber Brown is feeling blue.
Synopsis
Amber Brown.
Justin Daniels.
Best friends...a team that really knows how to have fun, that knows how to help each other out.
When Amber has trouble with fractions, Justin is there with the answers.
When Justin writes a messy report, it's Amber to the rescue with neat cursive writing.
They've known each other practically forever...been building a giant chewing gum ball for years...always sit next to each other in class...play together every day after school.... He never says things like, "Amber Brown is not a crayon." She never says, "Justin Time."
Best Friends...a great team.
And then--disaster strikes.
Justin has to move.
And the fighting begins.
Will the best friends be able to work it out before it's too late?
Synopsis
Amber Brown loves the holidays. The shopping, the wrapping, the unwrapping. She isn't having any troubles with gifts, but life is another story. She's so happy when her dad has moved back to New Jersey, but her mom isn't. It means the beginning of shared custody, and that means more fighting. Amber feels as if half of her belongs to her mom and half belongs to her dad, and that doesn't feel good at all. Then her mom says she can't get her ears pierced, but her dad doesn't know that. Amber makes a decision. Something has to belong to her, so why shouldn't it be her ears? Full of the fun, humor, and punny dialogue Paul Danziger's famous for, this is a winning entry in the ever popular series.
Synopsis
Amber Brown's in deep trouble. No matter what she does, it's not enough. She straightens up her room, sort of . Her mother wants it clean and is willing to keep her "captive" until it is in order. Amber does her homework, well, some of it. Her teacher wants it all and on time. And as if that's not enough, Amber's got to meet Max the "Gorillaface," her mother's new boyfriend. Amber doesn't want to meet him. If he's around, she worries about how her parents will ever get back together.
Can Amber get out of trouble, get her room clean, and manage not to meet Max?
Give the girl a little credit. She really tries. But how will she succeed?
Synopsis
Beloved Amber Brown returns in a new book!
Amber can't wait to be Best Child when her mom and Max get married, but planning a wedding comes with lots of headaches. Amber can't find the right dress, her dad keeps making mean cracks about Max, and Mom and Max have very different ideas about how much this wedding should cost. Her mother even suggests they go to city hall and skip the party altogether! Even though adults can be a lot of work, Amber is determined to be the best Best Child ever. She helps find the perfect location, makes her dad shape up, and, with the help of best friend Justin, gives the perfect wedding speech.
Paula Danziger called Bruce Coville and Elizabeth Levy her best friend and her other best friend, and this close connection enabled them to lovingly capture Amber Brown's voice, sense of humor, big-heartedness, and her fondness for puns.
Synopsis
Beloved Amber Brown returns in a new book!
Amber Brown is excited about her mom and Maxs upcoming wedding. Not only does Amber get to be the Best Child but all her best friends are invited, including Justin, whose family will be making a special trip back to town just for the big event! But when every conversation about the wedding causes a fight about money, they talk about a having a tiny wedding without any family or friends. On top of that shes on the hunt for the perfect dress and writing her Best Child speech.
Paula Danziger called Bruce Coville and Elizabeth Levy her best friend and her other best friend, and this close connection enabled them to lovingly capture Amber Brown's voice, sense of humor, big-heartedness, and her fondness for puns.
Synopsis
Amber is used to change?her life has been full of it lately. First her best friend Justin moved and she became best friends with Brandi. Then she had to deal with her parents? divorce and her dad?s move to France. She?s even getting used to her mom?s boyfriend, Max. Now the only change that she wants is to redo her bedroom. But then Max asks Amber?s mom to marry him. If she says yes, they might have to move. But if she says no, then Max may leave. Amber?s mom is confused?and so is Amber! Can?t things just stay the same for once?
Synopsis
Wow! Mom's boyfriend Max has invited Amber and her mom to Walla Walla, Washington for Thanksgiving. And Amber's dad is coming home from Paris to live nearby. Life couldn't be better. Until Amber's dad calls. He's expecting Amber to spend Thanksgiving with him in New York City. And the grownups are leaving it up to Amber to decide what to do. Suddenly, Amber feels as if she is in the middle of a bad dream...which only gets worse when she goes to school and meets the new girl -- Kelly Green. No way...no one in the class has ever had a two-color name like Amber Brown. Hannah Burton smirks and says, "Let the color wars begin!" Home. School. Nothing is going right. What to do? Amber Brown is feeling blue.
Synopsis
Amber Brown.
Justin Daniels.
Best friends...a team that really knows how to have fun, that knows how to help each other out.
When Amber has trouble with fractions, Justin is there with the answers.
When Justin writes a messy report, it's Amber to the rescue with neat cursive writing.
They've known each other practically forever...been building a giant chewing gum ball for years...always sit next to each other in class...play together every day after school.... He never says things like, "Amber Brown is not a crayon." She never says, "Justin Time."
Best Friends...a great team.
And then--disaster strikes.
Justin has to move.
And the fighting begins.
Will the best friends be able to work it out before it's too late?
Synopsis
Beloved Amber Brown returns in a new book!
Amber can't wait to be Best Child when her mom and Max get married, but planning a wedding comes with lots of headaches. Amber can't find the right dress, her dad keeps making mean cracks about Max, and Mom and Max have very different ideas about how much this wedding should cost. Her mother even suggests they go to city hall and skip the party altogether! Even though adults can be a lot of work, Amber is determined to be the best Best Child ever. She helps find the perfect location, makes her dad shape up, and, with the help of best friend Justin, gives the perfect wedding speech.
Paula Danziger called Bruce Coville and Elizabeth Levy her best friend and her other best friend, and this close connection enabled them to lovingly capture Amber Brown's voice, sense of humor, big-heartedness, and her fondness for puns.
About the Author
Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in New York, Paula Danziger knew since second grade that she wanted to be a writer. Beginning her career as a teacher, Danziger taught at the junior high, high school, college levels. She received her Masters Degree in reading and during that time she wrote her first bestselling novel,
The Cat Ate My Gymsuit. She returned to teaching, but the success of her book encouraged her to become a full-time writer. It was non-stop for Danziger since then. Among her titles are: the enormously popular
Amber Brown books as well as
Remember Me To Harold Square,
The Divorce Express, and
Can You Sue Your Parents For Malpractice? Danziger received numerous honors, including: Parent's Choice Awards, International Reading Association - Children's Book Council Awards, a IRA-CBC Children's Choice Award and many nominations for state reading and library association awards.
Known as a flamboyantly funny and deeply honest writer and speaker, Paula Danziger knew how to relate to young readers at their level. She was vital, funny, and compassionate. She knew how kids felt, what made them laugh, what they wore, collected, read, and played with. From collecting novelty toys that would make any teacher cringe, to wearing jangly earrings, funky glasses and shoes covered with beads and sequins, Paula Danziger had a direct line into kids' hearts and funnybones. She will be missed always.
In Paula's memory, The Amber Brown Fund has been established to bring authors and illustrators to schools and libraries which otherwise could not afford them. Donations may be sent to The Amber Brown Fund/ SCBWI Museum of Children's Books, 8271 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048.
"I grew up in Buffalo, New York. I loved to daydream, and through my fantasies I learned a lot about good writing. I had a crush on Elvis, and I made up what he would say to me. When I became a writer as an adult, I could make my daydreams almost come true. I put Elvis in several of my books. Kids have sent me pictures of Fletcher as Elvis. Principals have even dressed as Elvis when I visited their school.