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55th out of 62 books
—
20 voters
Love and Other Four-Letter Words
With her parents splitting up, 16-year-old Sammie Davis may not want to feel a thing, but feelings happen. For starters, she’s plenty angry. Her dad’s leaving their upstate New York home and moving clear across the country. Her mother—well, she’s packing up and relocating to New York City with Sammie, who has no say about any of it. Overnight Sammie is forced to deal with...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
October 10th 2000
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
(first published 2000)
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I'm sorry, but I just couldn't get into this book. It was too much and too little at the same time. The book had too many elements - her parents' separation, her selfish ex best friend, her new friend, the cute JD, the Rosenthals, and might as well throw in some dog philosophies and music. But Mackler just glossed over the concepts, so I didn't sympathize with Sammie nor did I see her grow as a character. I mean, I guess she's learned to discover what love means, but um, no, I didn't feel it. I...more
This book was really ineteresting. It was about this girl named
Sammie whose parents got divorced. She was really upset about it because her dad left her. She was really close to him and he disappointed her by just leaving her. Sammie and her mom moved to another city in New York. She didnt know anyone there until her mom took her wit some old friends of theirs. Sammie would go every morning to a park to walk her dog. There she met this girl named Pheobe. They became really good friends. Sammie w...more
Sammie whose parents got divorced. She was really upset about it because her dad left her. She was really close to him and he disappointed her by just leaving her. Sammie and her mom moved to another city in New York. She didnt know anyone there until her mom took her wit some old friends of theirs. Sammie would go every morning to a park to walk her dog. There she met this girl named Pheobe. They became really good friends. Sammie w...more
Love and other Four Letter Words- Review
Written by Carolyn Mackler
Life for HS student Sammie Davis couldn’t get any worse: her best friend Kitty has a boyfriend and is a magnet for all of the local boys, Sammie is developing physically in ways she would just assume ignore, and to make matters worse, her parents are separating temporarily (or so they say) with her dad moving to Palo Alto, California and Sammie and her mom moving to New York City!
Sammie’s life in a matter of weeks is turned upsi...more
Written by Carolyn Mackler
Life for HS student Sammie Davis couldn’t get any worse: her best friend Kitty has a boyfriend and is a magnet for all of the local boys, Sammie is developing physically in ways she would just assume ignore, and to make matters worse, her parents are separating temporarily (or so they say) with her dad moving to Palo Alto, California and Sammie and her mom moving to New York City!
Sammie’s life in a matter of weeks is turned upsi...more
*To read more reviews by me visit Views & Reviews *
I really liked this book. In a sentence, it was short and sweet. The story was really nice and I enjoyed seeing (or reading about) Sammie grow and mature. She felt a lot of things I sometimes do so it was nice reading how she coped with it.
Sammie, as a character, was good. I liked her voice (as in how she thought) but she didn't really have an impact on me. Her mother really annoyed me and I hated Katie (or was it Katy?). I'm glad she (somew...more
I really liked this book. In a sentence, it was short and sweet. The story was really nice and I enjoyed seeing (or reading about) Sammie grow and mature. She felt a lot of things I sometimes do so it was nice reading how she coped with it.
Sammie, as a character, was good. I liked her voice (as in how she thought) but she didn't really have an impact on me. Her mother really annoyed me and I hated Katie (or was it Katy?). I'm glad she (somew...more
I really enjoyed this book. It was a nice dose of good old fashioned YA: lots of heart, a bit of angst, parent problems, friendship and, of course, a boy. The novel centers around a girl, Sammie, who moves with her mom from rural New York to The Big Apple after her parents get divorced. Suddenly, Sammie feels a bit like an orphan. Her dad is gone to California, and her mom can't hold herself together. On top of that, she's starting to grow apart from her best friend, but she finds some solace in...more
Love and Other Four-Letter Words
by Carolyn Mackler
247 pg USA
Random house children's books
ISBN 9780440228318
*mrs shah you said if i read this and the eight spells a week book that it would be counted as three books.*
there is 16 yearold sammie and she lives in plain Ithaca and her parents are trying for a trial seperation and she is suppose to go and live with her mother in new york city because her mother always had allthese dread]ms and she had planed to adress them when in ithaca but many thing...more
by Carolyn Mackler
247 pg USA
Random house children's books
ISBN 9780440228318
*mrs shah you said if i read this and the eight spells a week book that it would be counted as three books.*
there is 16 yearold sammie and she lives in plain Ithaca and her parents are trying for a trial seperation and she is suppose to go and live with her mother in new york city because her mother always had allthese dread]ms and she had planed to adress them when in ithaca but many thing...more
Product Description:
With her parents splitting up, 16-year-old Sammie Davis may not want to feel a thing, but feelings happen. For starters, she’s plenty angry. Her dad’s leaving their upstate New York home and moving clear across the country. Her mother—well, she’s packing up and relocating to New York City with Sammie, who has no say about any of it. Overnight Sammie is forced to deal with change. And one change spawns another: Roles get reversed, old and new friendships tested, and sexual fee...more
With her parents splitting up, 16-year-old Sammie Davis may not want to feel a thing, but feelings happen. For starters, she’s plenty angry. Her dad’s leaving their upstate New York home and moving clear across the country. Her mother—well, she’s packing up and relocating to New York City with Sammie, who has no say about any of it. Overnight Sammie is forced to deal with change. And one change spawns another: Roles get reversed, old and new friendships tested, and sexual fee...more
Okay, one of the main reasons I am giving this book such a high review is because of the fact that i can really connect to the main character, which is what find rare. Sammie is so alike me, I feel like this book is about me! I love how Carolyn Mackler summarizes the end of each chapter with one of Sammie's deepest thoughts or revelations or discoveries; it gives the book a deep vibe without needing the dying parent or gambling friend. This book is very unique, not because of the plot or the pro...more
Jun 15, 2011
David Kubicek
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Early Teens and Up
Love and Other Four-Letter Words is a well-written and engaging story about a teen caught in the middle of marital problems between her parents.
When Sammie's parents decide on a trial separation, her father (a Cornell University professor) leaves for California on sabbatical while her mother sublets their home in Ithica, NY, and moves with Sammie to New York City.
Her mother, a frustrated artist, regrets leaving the big city for an art teaching job in Ithica when she got married. When she can't...more
When Sammie's parents decide on a trial separation, her father (a Cornell University professor) leaves for California on sabbatical while her mother sublets their home in Ithica, NY, and moves with Sammie to New York City.
Her mother, a frustrated artist, regrets leaving the big city for an art teaching job in Ithica when she got married. When she can't...more
This book was really good! It has really interesting relationships and lots of them. The main character is Sammie, who is trying to cope with her parents' recent divorce as well as her changing body. She has to deal with a best friend with an extremely "busy" love life when she has never even had a boyfriend. As her summer in New York City goes on, however, she realizes that she is now growing and discovering more than ever before. She makes some important discoveries about good friends and what...more
Love and Other Four letter words is about Sammie Davis who has to deal with her life changing. Her parents are splitting making Sammie have to move with her mother who is an emotional wreck. Then there'e Sammie's so called best friend who has problems with her boyfriend and makes Sammie listen while she ignores all of Sammie's problems. Then there's Sammie new friend who actually is becoming a best friend. Then there's Eli who is her mom's best friends son. He might be the boy who will finally o...more
After recently reading a dystopian novel, I was really in the mood for a good realistic fiction. I've read Carolyn Mackler books before and I have really liked them, so I decided to give this a try. I ended up really liking it. However, I can't say that I liked it more than the book I had read in the past by this author. I liked the way the author could show realistic emotions and even though it has the word: LOVE right in the title, the book was barely even about love.(until the last few chapte...more
The divorce of Sammie's (aka Samantha) parents brought Sammie from Ithaca to New York City, to live with her mom. Ever since they move to New York, Sammie's mom been real depress and "lonely". Sammie, also, was not doing very good. She gave attitudes to her mom and do nothing around the apartment. All Sammie wants to happen is to get back the same life she had, back in Ithca.
Sammie really wants to feel happy with her new life, but her mom's not being a big help around. I don't really like Sammie...more
Sammie really wants to feel happy with her new life, but her mom's not being a big help around. I don't really like Sammie...more
This is a great coming of age story that, even as an adult I still love to read. This is a story about a girl whose parents split up. Her mother decides to move to New York City for the summer and Sammie goes with her. Throughout this story, Sammie learns how to live in the big city and starts to come into her own. I think that this story can relate to young girls around the world. I would use this book in my middle school classroom. It is a great story that will promote students to read and wil...more
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This is the first book i've read by Mackler and I don't think it will be the last. This really is a book about love and everything else that comes with it. About how your parents choices in life can affect yours, how dealing with divorce is hard on everyone, and not just the people directly involved. I loved how New York City was described in the book, like it was this strange and bustling place at first, but then came to be home for Sammie. How at first you kind of hate the place because thats...more
Aug 07, 2007
Jennie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nonrequired-work-reading
School’s about to let out for the summer and Sammie’s life has just been turned upside down. Her dad just walked out on her mom and moved to California. Sammie’s mom decides to move to New York City. Sammie would rather go with her dad, but finds herself packed into a one bedroom apartment in the city with her dog and a mother that won’t get out of bed.
In addition to dealing with her missing father and leaving her friends and life behind, Sammie is finds herself having to take care of things she...more
In addition to dealing with her missing father and leaving her friends and life behind, Sammie is finds herself having to take care of things she...more
Love and Other Four Letter Words is vanilla in a world of chocolate peanut butter YA books. The most exciting thing about the book is that the main character's name is Sammie Davis. The novel begins with Sammie's parents announcing a trial separation. Dad conveniently moves across the country, leaving Sammie with her mother. It's a typical adolescent novel dealing with parents' divorce and teen drama. Unfortunately for the novel, it's one that I really won't remember in a few months.
This book is about a teenager named Sammie. Sammie's (Samantha) parents got devorced and Sammie needed to move from Ithaca to New York City with her mom. Sammie's mom was really depressed and lonely. Sammie wasn't happy too. She wants to have the same life as she did,in Ithca. she wants to be with her friends.
i feel sad for Sammie. she needs to get use to a new environment and she lost her friend from Ithca.
i feel sad for Sammie. she needs to get use to a new environment and she lost her friend from Ithca.
Carolyn Mackler's stuff's always a bit on the nose, but this was a nice one. I do think sometimes the protags in Mackler's books have the interests of, say, Mackler, but--whatever. I'd rather read a book where I totally buy it that a teenager is super into 1960s folk than watch a writer fake their way through someone being emo or whatever. God, I'm old.
(read: 28)
(read: 28)
Samantha Davis is surprised when her parents announce a trial separation, but she's shocked when she finds out that her dad is going to California while she and her mom are moving to NYC. Meanwhile, her beautiful, smart and perfect best friend, Kitty, will be staying in Ithaca, New York. So ends Sammie's sophomore year of high school, and so begins the rest of her life.
Love and Other Four-Letter Words is an original tale of a teenager coming to terms with the changes in her life, both internal...more
Love and Other Four-Letter Words is an original tale of a teenager coming to terms with the changes in her life, both internal...more
May 21, 2012
Brittany
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
pre-teens, young teens (14-15)
Shelves:
pass-on-to-the-next-generation
Very cute YA book for a younger YA crowd (pre-teens, 13-14 year olds). I remember it made me feel more emotional when I was younger, especially her feelings at the end of the book and I was feeling some of the same things with my Dad. I'll hand it over to my sister in the next year or so and see what she says about it.
Sammie's coming of age story landed on my summer reading list. Looking at the title i wondered what the "other four letter words could be" and when i finished i knew what they were and could have been. It was an enjoyable read that i will never forget especially the references about Joni Mitchell and her music.
I read this book when I was 16. It's a great coming of age novel about what it's like growing-up and dealing with the fact that you have no say in the decision that are being made for you. The main character, Samantha Davis, is funny and charming and often just "tells it like it is." A quick read and a great story.
Uneven YA about a girl who moves to NYC with her mother. Certain elements felt tacked on, such as her beloved bike and dog. Too much back story and I couldn't figure out why the MC liked the guy. Too much of it felt forced. I like Mackler's other books so much-- this one just fell flat for me.
I loved this book. Sammie lets us right inside her head, and by the end everything we do comes with a little comment from her. Introspective but not over-the-top, comforting but not boring, funny without trying too hard, I read this book in one sitting and it made my cold go away.
This book is about a typical 16-year old. Her name is Sammie Davis. Her parents are splitting up, and they depart to different parts of the country. Sammie experiences a lot of change. Sammie goes through some tough times, but learns to cope with them by the end of the book.
Mackler's one of the best. This is her first novel, and I somehow missed it when I was reading all her stuff. Her narrators are always fully-realized, complex, and thoughtful -- though that doesn't ever keep them from getting into sticky situations.
I enjoyed this book, but it is very like Mackler's other book, The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things, which was much better.
Love and Other Four-Letter Words is about Sammie, who leads a pretty cushy small-town life with her mom and dad, until her dad decides that he needs a trial separation. Suddenly, Sammie is uprooted from everything that she knows as she and her mother move to New York, and her mother slips into an emotional coma.
The book ends on a higher note, of course, but the jo...more
Love and Other Four-Letter Words is about Sammie, who leads a pretty cushy small-town life with her mom and dad, until her dad decides that he needs a trial separation. Suddenly, Sammie is uprooted from everything that she knows as she and her mother move to New York, and her mother slips into an emotional coma.
The book ends on a higher note, of course, but the jo...more
Love and Other Four-Letter Words is an enjoyable, coming-of-age story about a 15-year-old girl named Sammie whose parents are on the brink of divorce. They decide to do a year-old trial separation and during this time Sammie moves to New York City with her mother. I especially loved reading the parts that described New York because I think the author did a great job of sort of "setting the scene," if you will. I thought that the mother was a bit of a caricature at times, but overall the characte...more
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Carolyn graduated from Vassar College. When her book The Earth My Butt and Other Big Round Things was named as one of ALAs Top Ten Banned Books of 2006, Carolyn became an advocate against banning books. She lives with her husband and son in New York City.
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“Remember what to do when you're at the bottom of a hole? You've got to stop digging.”
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