The hilarious, heartwarming first installment in a friendship series from a fabulous new voice in middle-grade fiction.Rissa Bartholomew didn't pla...
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reviews
Feb 25, 2010
Pati
rated it: 
The invitation to my 20th high school reunion found me at my new address. A few old friends tracked me down and friendships were momentarily rekindled. “Let’s go.” They said, “It’ll be fun!” I reluctantly donned a new outfit and made my way into Boston’s Marriott Hotel. As I scanned the crowd thinking, “Who are these people?” I was plunged back into my old role as insecure adolescent. Somehow, it didn’t matter that I was a grown woman, a married woman, who gave birth to two children. The b
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Sep 21, 2009
Jennifer
rated it: 
Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com
In the summer before starting middle school, Clarissa (Rissa) Bartholomew begins to realize that she and her friends don't have much in common anymore.
Her best friend, Beth, whom she has been friends with since preschool, now insists on being called "Bethany," and talks incessantly about clothes and hairstyles. The other girls in their group seem to be heading in that same direction, while Rissa is stuck dealing w More...
In the summer before starting middle school, Clarissa (Rissa) Bartholomew begins to realize that she and her friends don't have much in common anymore.
Her best friend, Beth, whom she has been friends with since preschool, now insists on being called "Bethany," and talks incessantly about clothes and hairstyles. The other girls in their group seem to be heading in that same direction, while Rissa is stuck dealing w More...
Apr 01, 2010
Laura
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On entering sixth grade, Rissa decides to stop following the herd of close friends, doing exactly what they do all the time. As the year goes on, filled with some humiliating disasters, Rissa learns to find balance between being independant and alienating friends.
Rissa narrates her own story, but even though it is filled with telling instead showing, she does it in a convincing way. The writing is smooth and flows from one scene to the next as the reader gets wrapped up in Rissa's pr More...
Rissa narrates her own story, but even though it is filled with telling instead showing, she does it in a convincing way. The writing is smooth and flows from one scene to the next as the reader gets wrapped up in Rissa's pr More...
Nov 07, 2010
Handd51
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Very cute and of likely interest to rising 6th grade girls. Rissa has been one of a "herd" forever, but she decides to be more independent, and then has to second-guess her decision as life gets rocky. It is hard to negotiate the new middle school halls without a herd, and hard to make new friends; hard to figure out parents and hard to figure out peers. The story is amusing and rings true throughout, altho is occasionally and breifly a bit precocious.
Dec 17, 2011
Yaslyn
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I think of this book is that Rissa is getting a fansy cloths for school but when she was at the mall she saw her exfriend named Beth.Beth mom said to Rissa that if you could go with beth to get some socks.Rissa and Beth went to the back to get some socks,then they started to talk about brian.Brian is the boy that was going to kiss rissa because they one queen and king.Before brian was gonna kiss rissa pocked him so he fell of the stage and got a injury.Rissa spend 3 days at home.Rissa call brian
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May 30, 2011
Krish
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This is a great book for starting middle school and dealing with shifting social circles during this transition. Rissa Bartholomew is starting middle school with no friends. At the end of the summer, she realizes that she doesn't have much in common with her friends. She's always been encouraged by grownups to be unique. She decides to become an "independent", but does that really just mean unpopular and friendless?
Jul 03, 2009
Vicki
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This is a charming book -- Rissa is a unique kid, with a likable voice, and Comerford writes realistically of the way it feels to experience junior high when you're on the outs with your crowd. Rissa navigates her new reality with a little bit of desperation, a lot of gumption, and lots of mishaps. But there are moments of triumph, too, and it's nice to see her come into her own. A nice book for upper middle school kids.
Aug 18, 2009
Megan
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I liked this book because it is something I can recommend to some girl readers. Especially those going into middle school like my fifth grade girls. It was a fun read, but it wasn't life changing or anything. It showed the dynamic of change lots of people experience in middle school. I also like how it showed a girl trying something new and different. One thing I didn't like was how over the top Rissa often was in her relationships.
Nov 02, 2009
Raina
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This is a great safe girly 5th-6th grade booktalk. Rissa decides she doesn't want to do what all her friends are doing as they start middle school - be obsessed with clothes, boys, and makeup. She decides to separate from her clique at the beginning of seventh grade.
It's all pretty bright and shiny - nothing truely dark, some convenient resolutions, relatively healthy family relationships. But I appreciate the message (could you tell there would be one with this title?), and though it More...
It's all pretty bright and shiny - nothing truely dark, some convenient resolutions, relatively healthy family relationships. But I appreciate the message (could you tell there would be one with this title?), and though it More...
Aug 27, 2009
Lisa
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This is a nice realistic fiction book for 5th and 6th grade girls. It's especially appropriate for middle class girls who will relate to wanting nice clothes, having stay-at-home moms and after school activities like music lessons and ballet.
Jan 16, 2010
Jessica H.
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This is a book I can relate to. I had some trouble with my friends. The only difference between the book and me is I didn't really do anything serious about it. I just let some of my friendships fade away.
Feb 02, 2010
This is a book about a young girl who has lost her friend because her friend changed and betrayed on her.So the whole book is about her struggles and how she get treated by her so called friend.
Jul 21, 2009
Melissa
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Competent story of what happens when you really do try to be independent and not hang out with friends who don't "fit" any longer. Last 4-5 chapters were the strongest part of the book.
Jan 13, 2010
Kirsten
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i love this book because its like a real life story about a girl who just started middle school and is having trouble on the way.
Jun 03, 2009
Tracie
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Another story about a girl entering middle school who suddenly doesn't know where she fits in.
Nov 11, 2009
Olivia
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This book is very good it tells girls about how to servive 7th grade without friends
Mar 21, 2011
Joshua
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Cute but very very girly... Good for media not so much for award lists?
Dec 10, 2011
Ann
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It's been kinda long since I've read this, but I remember enjoying it quite a lot. Rissa and I were very alike in some ways
Jan 05, 2010
Elizabeth
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One Sentence Review: Definitely well written but the low-key subject matter almost made it difficult for me to get through in the end.
Nov 15, 2011
Maria
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it's okay. but i felt like its more for like a 4th grader or around there.
Jan 31, 2012
