My Life in Pink and Green (Pink and Green, #1)

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My Life in Pink and Green (Pink and Green #1)

3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 · rating details · 3,329 ratings · 502 reviews

Twelve-year-old Lucy Desberg is a natural problem solver. After the local homecoming queen shows up at her family’s struggling drugstore with a beauty disaster that Lucy helps to fix, Lucy has a long line of makeover customers for every school dance and bat mitzvah. But all the makeup tips in the world won’t help save the pharmacy. If only she could find a way to make the...more

Hardcover, 272 pages

Published March 1st 2009 by Harry N. Abrams

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Nov 10, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Lisa Greenwald has a nice combination of things going on in her debut novel MY LIFE IN PINK & GREEN. Put together "green" living to save the earth, the trials and tribulations of being a 7th-grade girl, and the financial stress of running a family business, and you have a real page-turner.

Lucy will be the third generation owner of a family pharmacy - that is if her mother and grandmother can keep the store going against the com...more Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Lisa Greenwald has a nice combination of things going on in her debut novel MY LIFE IN PINK & GREEN. Put together "green" living to save the earth, the trials and tribulations of being a 7th-grade girl, and the financial stress of running a family business, and you have a real page-turner.

Lucy will be the third generation owner of a family pharmacy - that is if her mother and grandmother can keep the store going against the competition of large chains and consumers only looking for one-stop shopping options. She hears their constant arguments about which direction is best for the business her grandfather started years ago.

Lucy's mother's objections are that the store is stuck in the 80's, while her mother, Lucy's grandmother, says her own daughter is the downfall of the business because of her poor money management skills. All Lucy knows is that she doesn't want to lose the family business, and she thinks she just might have the answer.

Being a 7th-grader is also a challenge for Lucy. Her older sister is away at college, but thanks to Claudia, at least Lucy knows how to look her best, and with the help of good grooming she maintains a high level of self-confidence in the face of middle school stress. She has always been interested in make-up, and growing up in the pharmacy with its make-up aisle so easily accessible, she has developed a certain knack for making people look their best.

When people begin realizing her talent, she finds herself running a makeover business that is bringing in needed cash for the store.

In an effort to boost her friend Sunny's confidence with boys, Lucy joins the school's Earth Club. Membership in the club revives Lucy's interest in recycling and promoting some of the more nature-friendly make-up products she uses with her customers. When an afternoon of research for the club causes Lucy to stumble across a city grant offering some major money help for local businesses who "go green," she believes she has truly found the way to save the family business.

MY LIFE IN PINK & GREEN grabbed my attention right from the start. Lucy is portrayed as a fun, upbeat 7th-grader not afraid to test out her innovative ideas. The addition of the financial stress in the family business brings this story into the here and now of our economic woes and will help hold the interest of readers dealing with their own tough times. By adding humor and a bit of young romance, Lisa Greenwald has really hit the mark with this novel.

I look forward to reading what I hope will be a long line of her YA work.

(less)

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Oct 12, 2012 Eden Schanzenbach rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction

I loooooved this book! The cover, to me, looks really cheesy, because I don't like girly girl book, but it was amazing!! It had such a great story to it! It was about a 7th grade girl, so I could really relate. This has probably moved it's way up to being on of my favorite books! I would recomend this book...to ANYBODY!!!!! It made me want to read more books by this author. It was a great book!!!

This book is about a girl who's family doesn't have much money. She is really struggling. Her family...more I loooooved this book! The cover, to me, looks really cheesy, because I don't like girly girl book, but it was amazing!! It had such a great story to it! It was about a 7th grade girl, so I could really relate. This has probably moved it's way up to being on of my favorite books! I would recomend this book...to ANYBODY!!!!! It made me want to read more books by this author. It was a great book!!!

This book is about a girl who's family doesn't have much money. She is really struggling. Her family owns a pharmacy and it doesn't get very much business. Plus, her friend now has a crush and is acting very strange about it. She is forced to join this going green club, and figures out that it is really fun!!!! She is lookin online at ways to save the planet one day, and found a really cool idea! She found a grant that says, "This is for any local small business that needs a makeover. We will turn it green and make it better. Fill out this grant by the end of the year and enroll it in. We will choose the winner after they are all sent in." Lucy, the main character, knows that this is what she must do. She has her sister's help with filing it out and they send it into the govener. They wait, and wait, and wait.

While they are waiting, her friend, Sunny, finally realizes that there is nothing to be scared about of her crush. They end up becoming good friends and going to the movies. Sunny would have to be my favorite character because of her personality. She is always on the move and wanting to do something. Lucy ends up doing peoples make-up for everything. She fixes hair tramas and make-up messes. She is known as the young grown up for how mature and helpful she is. She feels so good about herself, knowing that she helps everybody. Lucy still waits and waits, and one day she gets a letter.

She doesn't know what to do. She is scared to open it. Lucy doesn't know if she even wants to know whats on the inside. She flips it around, hoping to find good news inside, but she doesn't have to open it. On the back, it says CONGRATULATIONS! Lucy can't barely contain herself. She just saved her family's business! Lucy can't wait to come up with the makeover idea for the pharmacy!! She thinks that she wants to do an eco-spa. Can you imagine saving your own family business, at the age of 12?(less)

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Dec 07, 2011 Lauren S rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is a really fun book to read!!!!!! It talks about so much!!!!! I love this book becuase it has a happy ending and who wants to have a book with a sad ending. So if you want to find out the happy ending you will just have to read the book!!!!!!!!

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May 22, 2009 Deanna rated it 2 of 5 stars

Realistic fiction, small town, friendship, family drugstore, makeup and beauty tips, middle school crushes.

Lucy Desberg is a 12 year old girl who opens the family mail and realizes they are about to lose their pharmacy. Business isn't good anymore because people are going to big box stores to purchase groceries and fill their prescriptions at the same time. One of her hobbies is playing around with and applying makeup on her older sister. Eventually she decides to use these skills to help the yo...more

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Mar 08, 2009 Ellie added it

My Life in Pink and Green is an immediately endearing story. The Old Mill Pharmacy, the business that Lucy’s family revolves around, is in danger of going out of business, and Lucy will stop at nothing to save it. Lucy is strong, smart, and resourceful, and her spunk and green solutions will appeal to readers young and old.

The Old Mill Pharmacy sounds like the perfect place to hang out, and Lucy is determined to revive the aging establishment’s popularity in her town before it’s too late. While...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Sindhu Gowda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-since-september

This is one of the best books i have ever read. You should read it if you like realistic fiction.

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Dec 07, 2011 Erin Forson rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Life in Pink and Green
by Lisa Greenwald
Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am a recycling fool. If I could “Go Green” all the way and minimize my impact on the Earth (otherwise known as my carbon signature) I would. It's hard work sometimes, lugging dirty plastic and smelly cardboard to the recycling center, but I feel good about doing it even though my friends sometimes tease me. So what does going green have to do with a pharmacy that is best known for its cosmetics and Lucy, its young...more

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Sep 12, 2011 Oumiie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think the book is excellent. It all about Lucy and her mothers Pharmacy. Her mothers Pharmacy don't have a lot of clients. So Lucy got a great idea, which was to add change the pharmacy into an eco-spa

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Jan 07, 2009 Jcurtis rated it 4 of 5 stars

A nice little story about what one person can do. This would be a good read in a fifth or sixth grade classroom and is a reminder that families are not perfect but even a 12 year old can help.

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Apr 02, 2013 7706anjali rated it 2 of 5 stars

"My Life In Pink And Green," by Lisa Greenwald, is about a girl, Lucy Desberg who is determined to save her families pharmacy. Lucy wants it to be a place where people come to hang out, have fun, relax. In order to achieve this though, Lucy has to spend a lot of hard work, time and effort. She has to research ways to help her families business become "green", but her "green" idea also has to be the key way to make the business succeed.
I think anyone who enjoys stories about strong, smart girls,...more

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May 15, 2013 Christina (Ensconced in YA) rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've seen good reviews of this book hanging about and I knew I had to pick it up. I don't think I realized it was a middle grade read, but I have to say this is the best middle grade/younger adult book I've read in a long while.

My Life in Pink and Green by Lisa Greenwald stars Lucy, one of the spunkiest and smartest 12 year olds I've ever read about. She has a mother that still lives at home and a grumpy grandmother who is trying to hold their finances together. They all work/live in a pharmacy...more I've seen good reviews of this book hanging about and I knew I had to pick it up. I don't think I realized it was a middle grade read, but I have to say this is the best middle grade/younger adult book I've read in a long while.

My Life in Pink and Green by Lisa Greenwald stars Lucy, one of the spunkiest and smartest 12 year olds I've ever read about. She has a mother that still lives at home and a grumpy grandmother who is trying to hold their finances together. They all work/live in a pharmacy that has been in their family forever. It's barely holding on, and they are struggling to pay the bills. Lucy has a terrific idea to help save the pharmacy and go green (her mom is an activist) to bring together the disparate personalities of both her mom and grandmother and stay lucrative. On top of all that, she deals with first crushes and her new burgeoning makeup side business. Will Lucy be able to pull all of this together to save her beloved pharmacy?

Lucy is a TERRIFIC character, and I don't say that lightly. I was thinking while I was reading this book, that she is definitely in the top five characters that I would love to meet in real life. When I have a child, I'd be ecstatic if she had a fraction of the drive, passion, and just overall curiosity and love for life and learning as Lucy does. She is what makes this book-- and her voice definitely sounds 12 even though she's obviously doing a lot more than most 12 year olds (and most growups). I think this book has mass appeal to both the 12 year old audience, and people... my age. :-)

My only caveat was that Lucy's personality is so big, and her character so terrific, that she can't be contained in just one book, and at the end, I was so sad to see her go. When preparing for this review, imagine my excitement that there is a followup to this book! I don't actually usually clamor for sequels, but this is an exception to the rule.

Overall, a terrific middle grade read that everyone will enjoy with one of the most engaging protagonists I have ever read about. Greenwald puts everything together seamlessly, and I will definitely be watching her career from now on!(less)

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Apr 27, 2013 Nancy Goldberg rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Although this is a YA book, I ordered it because I loved the premise. I have a subplot in my “Practically Perfect” heroes series books that involves a woman who is trying to revitalize the suburb where she grew up. She has a restaurant there that also features entertainment, and has been able to bring people back to the old neighborhood.
Although I have never met the author, after reading the book, as well as the acknowledgements, I feel like I know her.
I loved Lucy, as well as the secondary char...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Kaitlyn Lew rated it 4 of 5 stars

Kaitlyn Lew
A Book Review for: My Life in Pink & Green
267 pages, ISBN: 978-0-8109-8352-6. $16.95
Author: Lisa Greenwald
Lucy Desberg is a twelve-year-old girl who nobody really pays any attention to. She has her little group of friends and her family owns a pharmacy. Everyday after school, Lucy would help out her mother and grandmother at the drugstore, or hangout with her friends there. Her sister Claudia is now in college but when she was back home, she was more on the popular side, unlike he...more Kaitlyn Lew
A Book Review for: My Life in Pink & Green
267 pages, ISBN: 978-0-8109-8352-6. $16.95
Author: Lisa Greenwald
Lucy Desberg is a twelve-year-old girl who nobody really pays any attention to. She has her little group of friends and her family owns a pharmacy. Everyday after school, Lucy would help out her mother and grandmother at the drugstore, or hangout with her friends there. Her sister Claudia is now in college but when she was back home, she was more on the popular side, unlike her little sister. But soon all of this changes. Their pharmacy sells and big line of make-up and other beauty supplies. People all over town (teenagers) would go and buy their make-up there for school dances and bat mitzvahs. But the pharmacy is slowly dying. It's no longer the center of the town. So, Lucy whips up an idea to make a eco-friendly beauty room in the pharmacy where girls of all ages can hangout out there and get their make-up done, or if they just want beauty tips.
When the soon to be homecoming queen, Courtney, comes into the pharmacy. She has a meltdown over the phone with her mother because her makeup is not done and her hair is all frizzy and messy. Lucy over hears and volunteers to help her for homecoming. Courtney is hesitant at first but she doesn't know anybody else who can help so she lets Lucy help her. Courtney is really happy with the results! She was willing to pay Lucy but Lucy felt bad and said no. At homecoming, everybody loved Courtney's makeup so the next day Courtney and all of her friends stopped by the pharmacy and raided the makeup and hair-product aisles. Since everybody now loves the pharmacy's makeup, the pharmacy is making a lot of money and no longer is in money danger thanks to Lucy.
This book was really enjoyable for me because of the design of the book. Lisa Greenwald would start off every chapter with a little beauty fact. It was a fact about hair, makeup, how sleep effects how you look, etc. But not only did I learn about new beauty tips, but also about what's good for the earth because of Lucy's eco-freindly relaxation room in her pharmacy, and that Lucy attended Earth Club. I recommend this book mostly to teenage girls because it gives good advise about makeup and other assessories. (less)

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Jan 16, 2013 Brennan H rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have just finished reading My Life in Pink and Green by Lisa Greenwald. Lucy Desberg, her mother, and grandmother work at a family famacy. Lucy has been there as long as she can remember and has had nothing but good times. When suddenly, she revealed a secret, the phamacy can't afford to pay all the bills. Unless they get some serious cash, it might close! It just so happens on High School, Homecoming night, that Courtney Adner, Homecoming Queen for two years in a row, comes in with (A very w...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Abbey rated it 4 of 5 stars

In the book My Life and Pink and Green, Lisa Greenwald combines the two aspects of girl power and “going green” to create a realistic fiction novel. The book takes place in a small town located in Louisiana. The main characters include Lucy, a seventh grade girl with a passion for makeup and making the world eco-friendly, her mother and her grandmother. The Old Mill Pharmacy is the family business that has been in the family since Lucy’s grandfather opened it. Lucy soon finds out that they may...more In the book My Life and Pink and Green, Lisa Greenwald combines the two aspects of girl power and “going green” to create a realistic fiction novel. The book takes place in a small town located in Louisiana. The main characters include Lucy, a seventh grade girl with a passion for makeup and making the world eco-friendly, her mother and her grandmother. The Old Mill Pharmacy is the family business that has been in the family since Lucy’s grandfather opened it. Lucy soon finds out that they may be losing there family business to bigger commercial businesses. When Lucy finds this out she is determined to solve this crisis despite her mothers pessimistic attitude. Lucy adds many amenities to the pharmacy, like the “relaxation room” where patients can go and relax while waiting for their prescriptions to be filled, in hope it will raise business. Lucy’s passion for makeup even helps save the prom queen at her schools’ hair disaster. Word gets around and soon Lucy’s doing makeup and hair for every event in town, provided that they buy the products first.
I connected with this character because she right around my age and is willing to help others.
I did enjoy the book because I feel that Lucy is an inspiration to all young girls. Lucy’s determined attitude shows girls all over that they can do anything if they put their minds to it. Any part of the book where Lucy, her mom, and grandmother all got along and communicated with each other was my favorite. However I did not enjoy the parts where her family was arguing and not agreeing with each other. If I could change one thing about the book I would change her mothers attitude toward Lucy’s ideas for saving the business. I feel her mother could have been a little more supportive of her and and her plans.
I would most definitely recommend this book to any young girl who wants to make a difference. If you want to read about making a difference, helping world become more eco-friendly, and makeup and beauty tips than this is definitely the book for you. (less)

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Nov 01, 2012 Cflower rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Girls around the age of 12 or 13 who like sweet realistic fiction books.

Recommended to Cflower by: I found it at the library.

Shelves: 1st-quater

This book is about a twelve-year-old girl named Lucy. She lives with her mom and her grandma, and they own a pharmacy. She has a sister named Claudia who is away at college. People aren't coming to the pharmacy and it's starting to go out of business. Lucy wants to try to save it, and tries to think of ways to. She joins the Earth club at her school with her friend Sonny. One day, a girl comes in with a hair and makeup disaster, and Lucy helps her. Lucy loves to do people's makeup, and is very g...more

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Jun 15, 2012 Anthony rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 06, 2012 IndyPL Kids Book Blog rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kid-life

Lucy’s Mom and Grandma run a small town pharmacy. Lucy hangs out there a lot to help out. She straightens shelves and runs the cash register too, but her favorite part of the pharmacy is the beauty aisle. Lucy reads all the boxes and tries out the samples and even though she’s only twelve, she’s kind of an expert.

The problem with the pharmacy is that it is in trouble. There is a lunch counter and soda fountain that nobody is visiting anymore. Too many people are going to Wal-mart instead of thei...more Lucy’s Mom and Grandma run a small town pharmacy. Lucy hangs out there a lot to help out. She straightens shelves and runs the cash register too, but her favorite part of the pharmacy is the beauty aisle. Lucy reads all the boxes and tries out the samples and even though she’s only twelve, she’s kind of an expert.

The problem with the pharmacy is that it is in trouble. There is a lunch counter and soda fountain that nobody is visiting anymore. Too many people are going to Wal-mart instead of their small main street pharmacy. Bills are not getting paid and there’s talk that the family may have to sell their house.

When the local homecoming queen comes in with a major hair disaster, Lucy is able to fix her up for the big night. The beauty queen and her friends become loyal customers.

You saved my friend from horrible hair humiliation at homecoming. You’re like a a hair-care prodigy.

Word gets around and Lucy is soon dishing out beauty tips, make-up lessons, doing nails and offering beauty advice. While kids are there for beauty tips, they begin ordering from the soda counter and buying things. When Lucy joins her school’s Earth Club, her plan really begins to come together, she’s determined to open an Eco-Spa right in her family pharmacy and save it from going out of business

While on the internet, Lucy discovers a grant application for businesses going green. With the help of her college age sister Lucy puts together the grant proposal to make her eco-beauty dreams come true. Will her Mom and Grandma stop bickering long enough to listen to her plan? Do they notice that Lucy has loyal customers of her own, returning for their beauty treatments before the prom and graduation? Do they realize that Lucy has a plan, a real business plan, even if she is just a kid? This is a story for any kid who has ever been frustrated by grownups that won’t take them seriously, just because of their age. Old people don’t want discriminated against because of their age - neither do kids!

For more: http://www.imcpl.org/kids/blog/?p=5188 (less)

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Apr 10, 2011 Maxine Mathew rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books, mg, book-from-sis, owned, chick-lit

The Old Mill Drugstore, owned by twelve year old Lucy Desberg’s family, is going to close down unless some miracle happens to save it. As if this wasn’t enough, now Lucy also has to handle her best friend’s first crush. But when she helps Courtney Adner, the Homecoming Queen, fix her hair disaster, the word gets out and people start lining up for their own makeover. Would turning the pharmacy into an eco-spa save it? Would her mother and grandmother stop fighting long enough for them to seriousl...more

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Jun 04, 2010 Karin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile-fiction, realistic, green-eco-friendly, chick-lit, gutsy-girls, young-adult-fiction, business-acumen, makeovers, borrowed-from-the-library

Lucy Desberg’s family (her mom and her grandmother) owns a pharmacy, which has been in their family since before Lucy was born. They’re now in financial straits, what with big business stealing many of their customers, and the family is trying to think of ways they can draw more people in. Lucy takes their hardships seriously and begins making her own improvements. First she adds a “Relaxation Room,” a nook with some comfortable seating in an area of the store that wasn’t being used. This, she h...more Lucy Desberg’s family (her mom and her grandmother) owns a pharmacy, which has been in their family since before Lucy was born. They’re now in financial straits, what with big business stealing many of their customers, and the family is trying to think of ways they can draw more people in. Lucy takes their hardships seriously and begins making her own improvements. First she adds a “Relaxation Room,” a nook with some comfortable seating in an area of the store that wasn’t being used. This, she hopes, will encourage people to stay while they wait for their prescriptions and to buy other things while they wait. Lucy also gets teenagers back into the pharmacy when she helps the prom queen successfully repair a hair disaster, and starts doing the makeup (provided the teens buy the products first) for a bunch of other girls. As her reputation spreads, Lucy decides to make people (her family especially!) take her more seriously and her friends Yamir and Sunita help her design and print brochures (their family owns and operates a printing business) about her services. Meanwhile, Lucy joins Earth Club at school and learns about a grant opportunity that will help expand the pharmacy – if they incorporate green practices. Will all of this be enough to save the pharmacy?

It’s great how practical and capable Lucy is through all of this. She sees a problem and she’s determined to fix it. She knows when to ask for help and when she can go it alone. The adults around her are all falling apart – fighting, panicking, giving up, failing – but Lucy is this tower of inspiration and enthusiasm. It was just a little bit of a stretch to imagine a 12 year old being so mature as to be trusted with the appearance (and confidences!) of a bunch of older teenage girls, but Lisa Greenwald made me believe it! I love what Lucy did (and I don’t even personally wear or really approve of makeup). What she does is make people feel beautiful and amazing, and hey, if putting a little gloss on one’s lips can do that, why not? This is a really empowering book – not just entertaining, but also inspiring. It shows you exactly what you can do (even if you’re only 12) if you put your mind to it!(less)

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Apr 12, 2010 Brenda L. rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 02, 2010 The Reading Countess rated it 3 of 5 stars

Publisher's Summary: Twelve-year-old Lucy Desberg is a natural problem solver. After the local homecoming queen shows up at her family’s struggling drugstore with a beauty disaster that Lucy helps to fix, Lucy has a long line of makeover customers for every school dance and bat mitzvah. But all the makeup tips in the world won’t help save the pharmacy. If only she could find a way to make the pharmacy the center of town again—a place where people want to spend time, like in the old days. Lucy dr...more Publisher's Summary: Twelve-year-old Lucy Desberg is a natural problem solver. After the local homecoming queen shows up at her family’s struggling drugstore with a beauty disaster that Lucy helps to fix, Lucy has a long line of makeover customers for every school dance and bat mitzvah. But all the makeup tips in the world won’t help save the pharmacy. If only she could find a way to make the pharmacy the center of town again—a place where people want to spend time, like in the old days. Lucy dreams up a solution that could resuscitate the family business and help the environment, too. But will Lucy’s family stop fighting long enough to listen to a seventh-grader?

This book is a funny and sweet debut featuring an unforgettable narrator who knows what she wants, whether it’s great makeup, a killer business plan, or a better world.

***********************************************************************
Perhaps being the mother of all boys makes me a harsher critic of "these types of books." I do try to balance my reading with a healthy infusion of chick lit books, I really do. I've read Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf, Boys Are Dogs, and Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies in recent months for my all-girls book clubs. I have enjoyed them all. MY LIFE IN PINK AND GREEN is reminiscent of these and more that I have read in recent years.

That is not to say that the book is without merit. Greenwald touts that beauty resides not only on the outside, but (most importantly) on the inside as well. She also delivers on many other messages: diversity, personal responsibility for our planet, and family cohesiveness are all wrapped nicely into the book. The voice of Lucy, a twelve year old seeking to single-handedly save her grandmother's pharmacy from financial disaster is written authentically. I could almost hear my own son's voice throughout.

Greenwald's book will certainly find a home in many tweener's hands. I have seen her book in my own student's book bags already. I wonder, though, if this is ALL we can give our girls. Beauty tips, a positive main character and a happy ending is not all the world is. I like a meatier read, myself. But then again, I am not twelve anymore, am I?(less)

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Nov 15, 2009 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is about a 12 year old girl named Lucy her family owns a pharmicy and right now times are tough for them. Like any other 7th grader at a middle school theres always some mean girl and for lucy her name is Erica Crane. Lucy has a best friend too her name is sunny R. and her brother Yamir is soooooo annoying and kind of nerdy to lucy. Lucy works at her family's pharmacy and one day while working the homecoming queen (Courtney) for 2 years in a row comes in crying because that night is ho...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Leeor rated it 5 of 5 stars

My life in Pink and Green by Lisa Greenwald is a story about a determined seventh grader named Lucy. Lucy’s family owns a pharmacy that is on the verge of going out of business. The story follows her quest to save her family’s business. Lucy thinks of clever and creative ideas to make money to save the pharmacy such as doing makeup for girls in the community. Lucy’s sister, Claudia, is optimistic and helpful but her grandma and her mom have some doubts. Nevertheless, Lucy is persistent and refus...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Natajah rated it 2 of 5 stars

I really did not like this book because it's about a teenage girls life. it tell you about girls with maleup , boys , drama , family ,friends,spa & other teenage girls stuff. for example on page 174 it say " i think you should were the bright red lip stick it fits your color' sunny gives me the look saying that the lipstick look ugly in me , but wereimg a ugly lipstick that dont fit me for one night cant kill me , right? "
a girl who like to life the easy life / the rich life would like this...more

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Dec 13, 2009 Brianna rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Super Quick Plot Summary: Lucy Desberg is your everyday seventh grader...except that she's a super fab makeup artist. And her family could go bankrupt any minute now because their pharmacy is struggling. She hadn't thought of bringing these two things together until she went to Earth Club with her friend Sunny and found a grant opportunity for green businesses. She and her sister Claudia (who is away at school and, by the way, taught Lucy everything she knows about makeup with the exception of L...more Super Quick Plot Summary: Lucy Desberg is your everyday seventh grader...except that she's a super fab makeup artist. And her family could go bankrupt any minute now because their pharmacy is struggling. She hadn't thought of bringing these two things together until she went to Earth Club with her friend Sunny and found a grant opportunity for green businesses. She and her sister Claudia (who is away at school and, by the way, taught Lucy everything she knows about makeup with the exception of Luce's own intuition) write up the grant and Lucy comes up with the idea for adding an eco-spa onto the business as part of the 'expansion' section of the grant, but her mom and grandmother (her dad's away in London) won't listen to her and think she's just another silly kid. Add the regular seventh grader stuff into this mix (mean girl Erica, BFF trouble and boy crushes) and Lucy's life is pretty crazy.

Good idea, but poorly written. There's not really a climax, no big event/realization. She comes up with ideas on how to save the pharmacy, but they all come in a slow, steady stream that progresses onward rather than a "Bam! Idea!"

Another key element the story is missing is that Disney moment. The "Mom, Grandma, this is what I'm doing, this is who I am, and you need to accept that!" moment where Lucy empties her heart out and her mom and grandma go, "Luce, I don't know if this is going to work. But I'm going to encourage and support you to try, and no matter what happens, I'll still love you." And she goes, "Aw, Mom, I love you too!" and then they all group hug. And the teen or tween reader goes, "Aw blah, all this lovey mushy stuff" but you also know the story (at least, these types of stories) wouldn't be complete and conclusive without it. My Life in Pink and Green is missing this essential moment. This did happen partially when Grandma gave in during Morrie's visit, but that was really just Grandma and Mom saying, "Ugh. This little girl is really determined. But we're goin' down anyways, so why not? And if an actual adult, Morrie, not little kid Lucy, approves of it, then why not?"

And just about Lucy's character, gotta love her, but sometimes she's a little TOO innocent and clueless. Seventh graders are not that clueless. It's like the author is trying to make her seem as useless and helpless as her mom and grandma think she is, at least a little bit. But I love Lucy's go-get-'em attitude; I'm just like her! When people go, "Aw, I can't talk to him, let's leave" and turn three different shades of red like Sunny in the book. Even though, as Lucy finds out too, it's different when it's you.

But in the book's defense:

• For tweens or teens looking for a break from the sometimes dreary, hard to understand classic literature forced upon them in English class, this is the book for you!
• And yes, this is a "chick" novel. It has a cute pink cover and talks about makeup and boy crushes. But it's not all shallow, there's more to it than that. And unless you're a dude (sorry dudes, this just really isn't your book), you might still like it!(less)

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Jul 11, 2012 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-group, childrens

My Life in Pink and Green tells the story of a twelve-year old girl who has spent most of her life in her family's pharmacy; testing makeup, using products and reading the labels on just about everything. All this has resulted in a love for all things that have to do with beauty. So when the local high school prom queen comes in with a hair problem, Lucy is to the rescue. News spreads of Lucy's expertise and soon every girl in town is coming in with their makeup and beauty woes. All this new bui...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Twelve-year-old Lucy lives with her mom and grandmother (sister Claudia is away at college) and helps out at the family pharmacy. Unfortunately, the pharmacy has come on hard times and the family may have to sell their house to keep financially afloat. Lucy, who loves the beauty products the pharmacy sells, is determined to find a way to help. After she unexpectedly helps the homecoming queen with a hair emergency, opportunities arise that just might enable her to do that. Can Lucy convince her...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Lianna Navasardyan added it

I choose this book because the cover looked very interesting to me, so I thought it would be a fun to read it. In this story Lucy’s mother and grandmother have a business, there family business is a pharmacy. It is there school homecoming and the homecoming queens hair is messed up Lucy is there to save the day, she uses the cosmetics she ordered for the store to help the queen .after she helped with the queens hair disaster suddenly lots of girls age in line so Lucy can fix there hair. She is p...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Tess added it

Summer book reflection for:
My Life in pink and Green by Lisa Greenwald
This book was a very fun summer read it was about a girl a little older than me. Jane and her family are going through some really tough times. The own a pharmacy they are having trouble making enough money to support the family and keep the business open. Instead of being at the mall or doing what most teenagers do she spend most working at the pharmacy helping her mom and her Granma. The best part for her working at the phar...more

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About Lisa Greenwald

A long bio can be kind of boring, so instead I'm going to pretend
that a famous journalist (maybe Barbara Walters) is interviewing me.
The only thing is, I'm making up the questions.
If you think of any other questions you'd like me to answer, send me an email and ask away!

Q. Where did you grow up?
A. I lived in Fairfield, Connecticut until the end of fifth grade and then I moved to Roslyn Heights...more

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