Synopses & Reviews
A gorgeous new package for Paula Danzigers backlist with an introduction from Ann Martin!
Cassie Stephens is dealing with a lot: Shes got asthma. Shes running for freshperson class president. World War III is being waged daily in her home, beginning at the breakfast table and ending with slammed doors at night. Her older, shorter, more beautiful sister never ceases to remind Cassie that she is a giraffe. Cassies not really sure how it started, but eating pistachio nuts always makes her feel better. No matter how weird it sounds, those little red nuts are just the prescription for Cassies troubles.
Paula Danzigers novels are hilarious, genuine, and full of dynamic female characters that have won the hearts of her readers and turned her books into beloved classics. These playful covers full of charming details capture the spirit of Paulas stories and will brighten up the bookshelves of her fans and a new generation of readers.
Review
Praise for Rachel Vail:
"Wonder is wonderful! It's got energy, humor and heart." —Judy Blume, for Wonder
“The writing is sharp, unpredictably clever” —Avi, Newbery Medalist, for Justin Case: School, Drool, and other Daily Disasters
“Vail again demonstrates a penetrating insight into the concerns of young teen girls … Readers will absorb this in one fell swoop.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review, for Lucky
“Vail proves that first love is anything but simple and sweet. Her razor-sharp wit will keep readers turning pages.” —Publishers Weekly, for If We Kiss
Review
Praise for Unfriended:
"Hearkens back to Vails wonderful The Friendship Ring series in its opportunity to see how various characters delight, suffer, and rationalize, complicating the portrayals. . . Clear and compelling. . . This will be an irresistible starter to a discussion of ethics and values, and readers will appreciate both the cautionary tale and the message of survivals possibility." —BCCB, starred review
"With keen insight, Vail reveals the internal struggles with uncertainty and self-doubt that can plague young teens regardless of popularity status. . . With a resolution that is both realistic and hopeful, Vail captures the complexity of middle school social challenges, insightfully addressing the issues of friendships and integrity." —Publishers Weekly
"Vail has a great ear for dialogue, and her characters. . . are well differentiated and realistic." —VOYA
"A realistic portrayal of middle school life. Truly is depicted as a complex young adult, not a single-minded social climber. . . [and] the other characters are multidimensional; they have struggles and worries, and are not the flat, stereotypical popular kids that are sometimes portrayed in YA novels. . . A solid choice that will ignite meaningful discussion." —School Library Journal
"Vail brings her sharp observations and wry humor to the world of eighth-grade friendships." —Horn Book
"Mean girls, misunderstood girls, awkward boys, friendship, popularity, social misfits, all play into this book that epitomizes the roller coaster that is middle school." —LMC
Praise for Rachel Vail:
"Wonder is wonderful! It's got energy, humor and heart." —Judy Blume, for Wonder
“The writing is sharp, unpredictably clever” —Avi, Newbery Medalist, for Justin Case: School, Drool, and other Daily Disasters
“Vail again demonstrates a penetrating insight into the concerns of young teen girls … Readers will absorb this in one fell swoop.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review, for Lucky
“Vail proves that first love is anything but simple and sweet. Her razor-sharp wit will keep readers turning pages.” —Publishers Weekly, for If We Kiss
Review
Danziger?s light style laced with humor will continue to attract readers. (Booklist)
Review
Funny and alive. (
The New York Times Book Review)
Funny and alive. (The New York Times Book Review)
Synopsis
When the unconventional English teacher who helped her conquer many of her feelings of insecurity is fired, a junior high student uses her new found courage to campaign for the teacher's reinstatement.
Synopsis
A gorgeous new package for Paula Danziger s backlist with an introduction from Ann Martin
Marcy's life is a mess. Her parents don't understand her, she feelslike a fat blimp with no friends, and her favorite teacher just got fired. Ms. Finney wasn't like the other teachers, and she was helping Marcy feel good about being herself. Now that she's gone, Marcy doesn't know what to do. She's always thought things would be better if she could just lose weight, but the loss of Ms. Finney sparks something inside her. She decides to join the fight to bring back her teacher, and in doing so, she discovers that her voice might matter more than she ever realized.
Paula Danziger s novels are hilarious, genuine, and full of dynamic female characters that have won the hearts of her readers and turned her books into beloved classics. These playful covers full of charming details capture the spirit of Paula s stories and will brighten up the bookshelves of her fans and a new generation of readers."
Synopsis
Marcy's life is a mess. Her parents don't understand her, she feelslike a fat blimp with no friends, and her favorite teacher just got fired. Ms. Finney wasn't like the other teachers, and she was helping Marcy feel good about being herself. Now that she's gone, Marcy doesn't know what to do. She's always thought things would be better if she could just lose weight, but the loss of Ms. Finney sparks something inside her. She decides to join the fight to bring back her teacher, and in doing so, she discovers that her voice might matter more than she ever realized. With issues that still resonate strongly today and a character millions of teens have connected with, we are thrilled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Cat Ate My Gymsuit.
Synopsis
In middle school, nothing is more important than friendship.
When Truly is invited to sit at the Popular Table with the group she has dreamed of joining, she can hardly believe her luck. Everyone seems so nice, so kind to one another. But all is not as it seems with her new friends, and soon she's caught in a maelstrom of lies, misunderstandings, accusations and counter-accusations, all happening very publicly in the relentless, hyperconnected social media world from which there is no escape.
Six eighth-graders, four girls and two boys, struggle to understand and process their fractured glimples into one another's lives as they find new ways to disconnect, but also to connect, in Rachel Vail's richest and most searching book.
Synopsis
It's the year 2057 and students take classes in ESP, people live in malls, there aren't any parks left, and thanks to an airtight dome, there is a colony on the moon. Fourteen-year-old Aurora couldn't be happier—she's part of the "in" crowd, her best friend is a celebrity, and Matthew has asked her to Homecoming.
But Aurora's parents have new jobs on the moon, and she and her little sister must leave their friends and schools to go with them. Aurora is sure she will hate life on the moon, because there are only 750 people in the whole colony. What if none of them is a boy her age?
Synopsis
A gorgeous new package for Paula Danzigers backlist with an introduction from Ann Martin!
In the year 2057 people live in malls, take classes in ESP, and get detention from robots. Fifteen-year-old Aurora loves everything about her life. Shes part of the coolest group of kids at school and has just started dating the best-looking guy in her grade. Then her parents make the announcement that shes sure will ruin her lifethe familys moving to the moon! What with water rationing, no privacy, and freeze-dried hamburgers, how will Aurora ever feel like shes home again?
Paula Danzigers novels are hilarious, genuine, and full of dynamic female characters that have won the hearts of her readers and turned her books into beloved classics. These playful covers full of charming details capture the spirit of Paulas stories and will brighten up the bookshelves of her fans and a new generation of readers.
Synopsis
Marcy Lewis hates her life, until she meets Ms. Finney, an English teacher who treats kids like human beings. Marcy has never met anyone like her, and suddenly life has a purpose. . . .
Synopsis
No one wants to ride the Divorce express. especially phoebe. it means leaving her New york City apartment and friends, moving to the country with her dad, and taking the bus every weekend to visit her mom in the city. it means she has to go to ninth grade in a new school, and see her father go on dates. it?s a hectic life with no time to feel she really belongs with the kids in either place. then, just when phoebe gets a handle on juggling the pieces of her life, her mother makes a decision that will change everything again. Can phoebe be herself and still be part of both her parents? worlds?
Synopsis
Marcy's life is a mess. Her parents don't understand her, she feelslike a fat blimp with no friends, and her favorite teacher just got fired. Ms. Finney wasn't like the other teachers, and she was helping Marcy feel good about being herself. Now that she's gone, Marcy doesn't know what to do. She's always thought things would be better if she could just lose weight, but the loss of Ms. Finney sparks something inside her. She decides to join the fight to bring back her teacher, and in doing so, she discovers that her voice might matter more than she ever realized. With issues that still resonate strongly today and a character millions of teens have connected with, we are thrilled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Cat Ate My Gymsuit.
Synopsis
Marcy Lewis hates her life, until she meets Ms. Finney, an English teacher who treats kids like human beings. Marcy has never met anyone like her, and suddenly life has a purpose. . . .
Synopsis
It's the year 2057 and students take classes in ESP, people live in malls, there aren't any parks left, and thanks to an airtight dome, there is a colony on the moon. Fourteen-year-old Aurora couldn't be happier—she's part of the "in" crowd, her best friend is a celebrity, and Matthew has asked her to Homecoming.
But Aurora's parents have new jobs on the moon, and she and her little sister must leave their friends and schools to go with them. Aurora is sure she will hate life on the moon, because there are only 750 people in the whole colony. What if none of them is a boy her age?
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.