book data
50 ratings,
3.52
average rating, 24 reviews
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published
April 14th 2009
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
details
Hardcover, 240 pages
isbn
0385735847
(isbn13: 9780385735841)
description
After years of waiting, it is finally Libby Ryan’s turn to shine at the Practical County Fair. Libby is filled with excitement as she and her granddad…more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 94)
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avg 3.52
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
THE BEEF PRINCESS OF PRACTICAL COUNTY is a sweet coming-of-age novel.
Libby loves the cow farm she's grown up on. But she's lived in her brother's shadow and her father has never noticed her when it comes to the farm. When her brother heads off to college, Libby is granted the chance to raise two calves for the next county fair. She will only be able to show one of the calves, but she has the opportunity to show her father what she ca...more
THE BEEF PRINCESS OF PRACTICAL COUNTY is a sweet coming-of-age novel.
Libby loves the cow farm she's grown up on. But she's lived in her brother's shadow and her father has never noticed her when it comes to the farm. When her brother heads off to college, Libby is granted the chance to raise two calves for the next county fair. She will only be able to show one of the calves, but she has the opportunity to show her father what she ca...more
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Read in May, 2009
Ages 9+ (nothing objectionable, other than catty girls)
7th grader Libby Ryan is from a long line of northern Indiana cattlemen. This year, with her older brother Ronnie starting his freshman year at Purdue, it's up to her to raise the prize steer for the Practical County fair. Supported by her best friend, Carol Ann, and antagonized by the awful Darling sisters (Precious, Lil and Ohma), she develops a close bond with her two steer and struggles with the knowledge that the animals sh...more
7th grader Libby Ryan is from a long line of northern Indiana cattlemen. This year, with her older brother Ronnie starting his freshman year at Purdue, it's up to her to raise the prize steer for the Practical County fair. Supported by her best friend, Carol Ann, and antagonized by the awful Darling sisters (Precious, Lil and Ohma), she develops a close bond with her two steer and struggles with the knowledge that the animals sh...more
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Read in May, 2009
Libby Ryan is getting ready to follow in the family footsteps and raise and show cattle at the county fair. She picks two calves and raises them, wanting to beat the evil Darling sisters (Precious, Lil, and Ohma) who don’t even care about animals, but just want to make money. Libby becomes attached to her calves, Piggy and Mule, and after one of them dies, she wonders if showing cattle is even for her. Should she quit, showing everyone (including her father, who thinks showing cattle isn’t a...more
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Read in February, 2009
This was a nice debut from a new author. YA lit needs more books with rural settings, and this is a solid contribution. Libby Ryan, the heroine, lives on her family farm and discovers the hard way why you never *ever* name livestock. While experiencing the trials and tribulations of raising competitive steers, Libby feels a tad overshadowed by her successful older brother studying Ag at Purdue. The antagonists are the Darling sisters, whose personalities are just as gag-worthy as their names...more
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Read in April, 2009
One of the odder storylines, Beef Princess still manages to hold onto the readers’ attention while maintaining its rural background.
I am not quite sure what to say about this book—it is unlike anything else I have read. The storyline focuses more of the growth of the steers and Libby’s ambition to make her father proud. In some ways I can relate to Libby. Being overshadowed to an older sibling you are forever compared to and judged by their accomplishments. Can you do better? ...more
I am not quite sure what to say about this book—it is unlike anything else I have read. The storyline focuses more of the growth of the steers and Libby’s ambition to make her father proud. In some ways I can relate to Libby. Being overshadowed to an older sibling you are forever compared to and judged by their accomplishments. Can you do better? ...more
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Recommended Ages: grades 5-8
Twelve-year-old Libby, the daughter of an Indiana cattle farmer, raises two calves in hopes of winning the annual steer competition at the county fair, but fails to follow her father's warning about developing a bond with animals that are destined to be sold at auction.
I thought this was a pretty good book. It takes place on a cattle farm in northern Indiana, so I would recommend it for public/school libraries in small, farming communities. T...more
Twelve-year-old Libby, the daughter of an Indiana cattle farmer, raises two calves in hopes of winning the annual steer competition at the county fair, but fails to follow her father's warning about developing a bond with animals that are destined to be sold at auction.
I thought this was a pretty good book. It takes place on a cattle farm in northern Indiana, so I would recommend it for public/school libraries in small, farming communities. T...more
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Read in November, 2009
For anyone who ever grew up in a farming town this book may just be a trip down memory lane. Growing up on a farm I named all of our animals, even when I knew they were to be sold or butchered. I therefore identified with Libby Ryan. She grew up in the shadow of her brother and for me it was an older sister. There comes a time when parents have to let you learn by making some of your own mistakes. This is what Libby’s parents finally do. She learns to believe in herself and work hard for her d...more
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Read in August, 2009
Love this book. The Beef Princess of Practical County is tough and an emotional roller coaster--such an exceptional treatment of country life and the people and traditions who sustain it. Even more exceptional for its realistic depiction of a girl's journey to adulthood, with its mix of joy and bitter compromises. The perfect novel for middle readers who want a novel that feels realer than real.
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Read in January, 2010
Twelve-year-old Libby Ryan wants to show her family that she can help fill the shoes of her older brother on the farm, now that he's gone off to college. One way she feels she can do this is to win a grand champion ribbon at the Practical County Fair with one of the two steers she got to raise for her steer project. It would also be great if she could keep out of the raidar of the school bullies the three Darling sisters:Precious, Lil and Omha.
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Read in April, 2009
Think Dairy Queen for ten to twelve year olds. Libby has two beef she is raising for show cattle- these are cattle that are raised, shown for prizes and then sold for beef in their prime. Unfortunately Libby, who is a true cattlewoman, falls in love with these bovine wonders and struggles with their inevitable fate. Toss in a great girlfriend and three evil nemesis and you have a county fair event to remember.
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Read in October, 2009
Having grown up on a farm and been around my share of show animals, I could really relate to this book. I loved it for that reason. I'm not sure how non-farm-raised kids would like it, but it's worth the read just to see the names the Darling parents give their daughters.
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Apr 22, 2009
Sherry
added it
Well, I had to read this book, since I once raised a steer for the county fair and entered the Beef Princess...oops, I mean, the Beef Cook-Off competition at our highschool a time or two. It was a fun enough read to make me glad I did.
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Read in June, 2009
Very realistic depiction of life on a beef farm. I couldn’t help but find humor in Libby’s story because is was quite similar to my own life. I even shared her brief stint of being a vegetarian when I auctioned off my one and only beef steer Elmer. I rarely eat red meat to this day.
Although I enjoyed reading the story, I thought the plot was mundane and predictable. In addition, some of the subplots seemed incomplete and almost unneeded. Especially the pageant competition, I’...more
Although I enjoyed reading the story, I thought the plot was mundane and predictable. In addition, some of the subplots seemed incomplete and almost unneeded. Especially the pageant competition, I’...more
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This is a new book that just came out and I got it at the library really quick. it was really good! I didn't think it would be cause the title is kind of weird, but it was really good!
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Read in January, 2009
3.5 stars would be more accurate. A young girl raises a steer for the county fair and learns more about who she is in the process. The writer lives in Ohio so the tie-in is a bonus.
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Read in September, 2009
Great book for the 4-H crowd, especially girls. Deals with different emotions when caring for, raising and producing market animals for the county fair. Expect to cry...
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Jun 19, 2009
Becky
marked it as to-read
The middle school girls keep telling me about this one and I keep thinking they are telling me about Dairy Queen.
Read in May, 2009
This was a nice read, since I spent my summers on the family farm. You feel for the character and want her to succeed. Great family interaction.
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Read in January, 2010
Recommended for 5th & 6th grade. Just a sweet book.
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