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Andrews Family #1
Freaky Friday
Annabel thinks her mom has the best life. If she were a grown-up, she could do whatever she wanted! Then one morning she wakes up to find she's turned into her mother… and she soon discovers it's not as easy as it looks!
154 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 1972
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8119 people want to read
About the author
Mary Rodgers
39 books65 followersMary Rodgers was an accomplished author, screenwriter and composer. Her first book--Freaky Friday--won several prizes, and was cited on the ALA Notable Book list. She composed many musicals, and had also amassed credits in television and radio. She had served as Chairman of the Board of the Julliard School and on the Board of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 508 reviews
December 10, 2020
Oh Good Lawd. Just watch the movie.
Annabel (the greasy-haired, fashion-missing daughter) is absolutely in love - like horribly, painfully cringe-worthy hero worship love - with her mother's life.
But, like most teenagers...she never listens to her mother's sage advice, gentle chastises and constructive criticism. Because reasons. Instead, she decides to spend her teen years with unkempt hair and terrible clothes.
After one particularly awful fight, her mother does a little bit of behind-the-scenes magic and Annabel wakes up in her mother's body - she is delighted!
Her mom has such a hot bod (yes, that was an actual observation of Annabel) and the coolest life - Annabel just knows she will have the time of her life.
Only when Annabel actually tries to do all the things her mother does - like laundry and other grownup stuff...she comes to the realization that while her mother might not have the most glamorous life but she is a superhero and a saint through and through.
So, as painful as it was to read the over-the-top awkward adoration aimed towards the mother, at least Annabel gains understanding and insight.
And what is her mother doing while in Annabel's body? Getting a makeover, getting a haircut, buying fashionable clothes - aka actually changing all those little things she's been nagging her daughter to do for years.
Instead of being pissed, the daughter is super psyched about this violation - woohoo mom! Thanks for literally forcing me to abide by your expectations.
This whole book bugged me so freaking much.
The mother has absolutely no faults and Annabel (who's still in her awkward teen years) just completely rolls over once she sees her mother has completely changed everything about herself.
If I could erase my memory of this book, I would.
Honestly, just watch the movie.
Audiobook Comments
Read by Rebecca Gibel. She had good tone/inflection but no amount of fantastic reading could save this book.
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
Annabel (the greasy-haired, fashion-missing daughter) is absolutely in love - like horribly, painfully cringe-worthy hero worship love - with her mother's life.
But, like most teenagers...she never listens to her mother's sage advice, gentle chastises and constructive criticism. Because reasons. Instead, she decides to spend her teen years with unkempt hair and terrible clothes.
After one particularly awful fight, her mother does a little bit of behind-the-scenes magic and Annabel wakes up in her mother's body - she is delighted!
Her mom has such a hot bod (yes, that was an actual observation of Annabel) and the coolest life - Annabel just knows she will have the time of her life.
Only when Annabel actually tries to do all the things her mother does - like laundry and other grownup stuff...she comes to the realization that while her mother might not have the most glamorous life but she is a superhero and a saint through and through.
So, as painful as it was to read the over-the-top awkward adoration aimed towards the mother, at least Annabel gains understanding and insight.
And what is her mother doing while in Annabel's body? Getting a makeover, getting a haircut, buying fashionable clothes - aka actually changing all those little things she's been nagging her daughter to do for years.
Instead of being pissed, the daughter is super psyched about this violation - woohoo mom! Thanks for literally forcing me to abide by your expectations.
This whole book bugged me so freaking much.
The mother has absolutely no faults and Annabel (who's still in her awkward teen years) just completely rolls over once she sees her mother has completely changed everything about herself.
--How does Annabell not feel violated?This book must have been written by a jilted overbearing mother. There is no other explanation.
--How does she accept that her mother thinks everything about her needs to be changed?
--How does she live with the knowledge that her mother could take over her body at a moment's notice?
If I could erase my memory of this book, I would.
Honestly, just watch the movie.
Audiobook Comments
Read by Rebecca Gibel. She had good tone/inflection but no amount of fantastic reading could save this book.
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
April 21, 2017
Así que esto es lo que está pasando...
Compré este libro por Amazon hace no más de un mes, y para ser franco, lo hice porque era mi deber, ya que la película —del año 2003, interpretada por Lindsay Lohan y Jamie Lee Curtis— era una de mis favoritas cuando apenas era un pequeño feto-renacuajo de cinco años de edad, so... se lo debía a mi inexistente infancia.
Volviendo un poco más al tópico de esto, leí la novela porque... no lo sé, sólo sé que lo hice, y me alegro mucho de haberlo hecho, dado que, para ser honesto, está muy buena, bastante bien pensada, y para su tiempo —yup, publicada en 1972—, es sumamente innovadora.
Ahora, del libro a la película, creo que prefiero un poco más la película, pues, a pesar de que la premisa resultó ser bastante similar, no fue exactamente la misma —y no esperaba que fuera igual, pero entiéndanme, crecí con ese filme, con el deterioro en la carrera de Lindsay—, aunque el libro tiene un toque distinto en su interior. Además de que todo está de cabeza y de repente me confundía —no sé, creo que esto sólo se debió a mi problema de sueño, que por cierto, nunca se va—.
¿Qué es distinto?
1.- Los Coleman no existen. Yep, en el libro son la familia Andrews.
2.-Ape Face —Harry en la película— no era tan malditamente desesperante como en el filme, por el contrario, en la novela era tierno.
3.- No hay tal padrastro, hay un padre y tiene una nula relevancia.
4.- Borris/Morris no se llama Jake, ni parece un veinteañero que se retrasó en la escuela media superior. En el libro tan solo tiene catorce años, mientras que Annabel, no "Anna" tiene trece.
5.- Annabel no toca la guitarra, ni canta, ni nada, ella es una nueva adolescente con brackets que sufre un huge make over al final.
6.- El libro está escrito desde el punto de vista de Annabel, y no es hasta el final que nos enteramos que estuvo haciendo la señora Andrews en el cuerpo de su hija.
7.- La premisa es la misma, pero los eventos son distintos.
Me gustó mucho, y aunque no pude imaginarme a Lindsay como Anna, si que me devolvió a esos viejos días en los que todo parecía ser más simple.
Estoy feliz, y esta vez no es una broma.
Compré este libro por Amazon hace no más de un mes, y para ser franco, lo hice porque era mi deber, ya que la película —del año 2003, interpretada por Lindsay Lohan y Jamie Lee Curtis— era una de mis favoritas cuando apenas era un pequeño feto-renacuajo de cinco años de edad, so... se lo debía a mi inexistente infancia.
Volviendo un poco más al tópico de esto, leí la novela porque... no lo sé, sólo sé que lo hice, y me alegro mucho de haberlo hecho, dado que, para ser honesto, está muy buena, bastante bien pensada, y para su tiempo —yup, publicada en 1972—, es sumamente innovadora.
Ahora, del libro a la película, creo que prefiero un poco más la película, pues, a pesar de que la premisa resultó ser bastante similar, no fue exactamente la misma —y no esperaba que fuera igual, pero entiéndanme, crecí con ese filme, con el deterioro en la carrera de Lindsay—, aunque el libro tiene un toque distinto en su interior. Además de que todo está de cabeza y de repente me confundía —no sé, creo que esto sólo se debió a mi problema de sueño, que por cierto, nunca se va—.
¿Qué es distinto?
1.- Los Coleman no existen. Yep, en el libro son la familia Andrews.
2.-Ape Face —Harry en la película— no era tan malditamente desesperante como en el filme, por el contrario, en la novela era tierno.
3.- No hay tal padrastro, hay un padre y tiene una nula relevancia.
4.- Borris/Morris no se llama Jake, ni parece un veinteañero que se retrasó en la escuela media superior. En el libro tan solo tiene catorce años, mientras que Annabel, no "Anna" tiene trece.
5.- Annabel no toca la guitarra, ni canta, ni nada, ella es una nueva adolescente con brackets que sufre un huge make over al final.
6.- El libro está escrito desde el punto de vista de Annabel, y no es hasta el final que nos enteramos que estuvo haciendo la señora Andrews en el cuerpo de su hija.
7.- La premisa es la misma, pero los eventos son distintos.
Me gustó mucho, y aunque no pude imaginarme a Lindsay como Anna, si que me devolvió a esos viejos días en los que todo parecía ser más simple.
Estoy feliz, y esta vez no es una broma.
April 3, 2015
I found this well-loved ex-library book on the dollar table at a used bookstore. That Edward Gorey cover just screamed "Buy me!" Plus, it was, well, you know - a buck.
I've never seen either film version, but I'm familiar enough with the plot to know that at NO point in my life would I have EVER wanted to switch places with my mother.
(Though, on closer examination, in my illustrious career as a homemaker/housewife, it seems I have done exactly that. Damn! That sucks.)
Rodgers used a kind of whiny, rather scatterbrained delivery to bring to life her thirteen-year-old narrator. It brought back memories of the rambling speech patterns my boys used as pre-teens, long before they became monosyllabic teen-teens. That's been a few years, so, yeah, I had forgotten just how annoying it can be to listen to this chaotic chatter. Another drawback - though the pace is fairly frenetic, some scenes drag on and on, like when Annabel/Mom has a meeting with Annabel's teachers. AND while the ending ties things up nicely in just a few pages, we never learn just how the little switcheroo was accomplished.
My real rating is two-stars, however, I'm not the intended audience. It's been a couple of years since I was a thirteen-year-old girl. (Well, a couple of decades. Okay. SEVERAL decades. Happy now?) So, three stars it is - not a bad book, just wrong book, wrong time.
I've never seen either film version, but I'm familiar enough with the plot to know that at NO point in my life would I have EVER wanted to switch places with my mother.
(Though, on closer examination, in my illustrious career as a homemaker/housewife, it seems I have done exactly that. Damn! That sucks.)
Rodgers used a kind of whiny, rather scatterbrained delivery to bring to life her thirteen-year-old narrator. It brought back memories of the rambling speech patterns my boys used as pre-teens, long before they became monosyllabic teen-teens. That's been a few years, so, yeah, I had forgotten just how annoying it can be to listen to this chaotic chatter. Another drawback - though the pace is fairly frenetic, some scenes drag on and on, like when Annabel/Mom has a meeting with Annabel's teachers. AND while the ending ties things up nicely in just a few pages, we never learn just how the little switcheroo was accomplished.
My real rating is two-stars, however, I'm not the intended audience. It's been a couple of years since I was a thirteen-year-old girl. (Well, a couple of decades. Okay. SEVERAL decades. Happy now?) So, three stars it is - not a bad book, just wrong book, wrong time.
April 15, 2025
This book was okay. I haven't ever watched the original movie with Jodie Foster but the remake with Lindsey Lohan was much better than this book.
I was a little hesitant to pick this book up when I read that it had been published in the seventies but apart from some old slang words, it was pretty much the same as a newer book. I felt like this book just pushed its message across too hard. It was so obvious that Mary Rodgers was trying to show kids that mothers do a lot and children should respect their mothers more. It felt very preachy and it took away from the story.
I didn't like what went down between Morris/Boris and Annabel. Morris hated her and spoke about how ugly and horrible she was to Annabel herself (as Ma) but once she came home with a makeover, he liked her. And Annabel still liked him after all the bad stuff he said about her! Kids are really impressionable and so I just didn't like how that played out. I was kind of shocked that there was a lot of bad language and talk of murder/rape in this kids book. Then there was "unless you're a total [r slur], you can figure out what you're supposed to say". That was just wrong on so many levels and I absolutely despise that word. I wouldn't let kids read it. I guess it’s a sign of the times.
Some of the exchanges between the characters were just flat out weird. I think it was supposed to be funny but it just wasn't. I felt like Annabel's father spoke down to Ma a lot and it shocked me that Annabel referred to him as a cute man after he did.
I didn't particularly like Annabel as a protagonist. The rest of the characters were okay but Ben was a real sweetheart. At the end, Annabel's mother wouldn't tell her how she swapped their bodies, how convenient for the author.
It was a quick and easy read and I did like the idea but it was just an okay read. I wouldn't recommend it to kids or anyone else.
I was a little hesitant to pick this book up when I read that it had been published in the seventies but apart from some old slang words, it was pretty much the same as a newer book. I felt like this book just pushed its message across too hard. It was so obvious that Mary Rodgers was trying to show kids that mothers do a lot and children should respect their mothers more. It felt very preachy and it took away from the story.
I didn't like what went down between Morris/Boris and Annabel. Morris hated her and spoke about how ugly and horrible she was to Annabel herself (as Ma) but once she came home with a makeover, he liked her. And Annabel still liked him after all the bad stuff he said about her! Kids are really impressionable and so I just didn't like how that played out. I was kind of shocked that there was a lot of bad language and talk of murder/rape in this kids book. Then there was "unless you're a total [r slur], you can figure out what you're supposed to say". That was just wrong on so many levels and I absolutely despise that word. I wouldn't let kids read it. I guess it’s a sign of the times.
Some of the exchanges between the characters were just flat out weird. I think it was supposed to be funny but it just wasn't. I felt like Annabel's father spoke down to Ma a lot and it shocked me that Annabel referred to him as a cute man after he did.
I didn't particularly like Annabel as a protagonist. The rest of the characters were okay but Ben was a real sweetheart. At the end, Annabel's mother wouldn't tell her how she swapped their bodies, how convenient for the author.
It was a quick and easy read and I did like the idea but it was just an okay read. I wouldn't recommend it to kids or anyone else.
November 18, 2023
After an argument with her mother, thirteen-year-old Annabelle Andrews goes to bed mad. The next morning, she wakes up in her mother's body. Annabelle decides she now has everything she ever wanted. Adults don't have to go to school or do homework. Adults don't have people telling them what to do. Annabelle can eat anything she wants for breakfast and spend the rest of the day in front of the TV. Right? Well, it turns out things don't go as she thought they would.
I remember watching this movie in the 70's starring Jodie Foster, but I didn't remember the details. My library had the audiobook, so I decided to give it a try. The story is told from Annabelle's point-of-view. I actually expected we'd read about her mother's side of things, but that didn't happen. This is a cute story geared toward grade school students, but it was also entertaining for adults. My rating: 4 Stars.
I remember watching this movie in the 70's starring Jodie Foster, but I didn't remember the details. My library had the audiobook, so I decided to give it a try. The story is told from Annabelle's point-of-view. I actually expected we'd read about her mother's side of things, but that didn't happen. This is a cute story geared toward grade school students, but it was also entertaining for adults. My rating: 4 Stars.
July 6, 2009
Reviewed by Samantha Clanton, aka "Harlequin Twilight" for TeensReadToo.com
I don't know about anyone else, but whenever I hear the words Freaky and Friday, I automatically think back to Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis circa 2003. But this is a different FREAKY FRIDAY, the original, the better of the two in my opinion (I know there was another movie version in the 70s, but I've not seen it in years, and don't remember much about it besides Jodie Foster). This is the story of Annabel and Ellen Andrews, and Annabel needing to learn her lesson.
I will tell you now, don't expect the same exact story as the movie that you've probably seen at some point in your life; expect the same premise, but a better story. Annabel is the stereotypical 13-year-old girl: she's loud, bossy, and negative, hates her family and teachers, but loves her friends and annoying her brother. Annabel is a highly amusing narrator and she sees things like most kids do, i.e. better than adults give them credit for.
Annabel wakes up as her mother, gets dressed, fixes breakfast, sends Ben, aka Ape Face, and Annabel off to school, and then goes through her day in her mother's body. Dealing with all kinds of issues throughout the day, from the neighbor boy saying he loves her, losing both the kids, the police thinking she's crazy, and her husband's unexpected clients as guests, she handles it well...at first.
Not only does she have a wild ride, dealing with things her mother normally would have to deal with, she also has a school meeting to attend...about herself. She finds out things that she probably needed to hear, but things that hurt to hear, and that's where the lesson really starts to set in.
The majority of the story is told from Annabel's perspective, while she is in her mother's body, and that actually helps the humor even more. Take this little gem for instance: "Well, in case you're interested, a mouthful of heart is something like a mouthful of captured frog, and a mind in turmoil simply means all the blood in your body rushes around in your head, leaving you icy cold from the neck down. As for 'butterflies in the stomach,' there is no such thing. They are June bugs." You'll have to read the book to find out the context here, but there are plenty more humorous moments between the 175 pages that make up this book.
This is a quick read, but one I definitely recommend. It's funny and somewhat realistic, not in the whole switching bodies with your mother aspect, but in the way this family interacts with one another. I know that despite the length and the material that make up this adorable story, even I learned something about myself and I think everyone could take something away from this book, kids and parents alike.
The whole 1972 copyright may throw some people off, but don't let it; it's a story that is still relevant today and probably will continue to be for as long as there are 13-year-old girls with mothers and little brothers especially.
I don't know about anyone else, but whenever I hear the words Freaky and Friday, I automatically think back to Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis circa 2003. But this is a different FREAKY FRIDAY, the original, the better of the two in my opinion (I know there was another movie version in the 70s, but I've not seen it in years, and don't remember much about it besides Jodie Foster). This is the story of Annabel and Ellen Andrews, and Annabel needing to learn her lesson.
I will tell you now, don't expect the same exact story as the movie that you've probably seen at some point in your life; expect the same premise, but a better story. Annabel is the stereotypical 13-year-old girl: she's loud, bossy, and negative, hates her family and teachers, but loves her friends and annoying her brother. Annabel is a highly amusing narrator and she sees things like most kids do, i.e. better than adults give them credit for.
Annabel wakes up as her mother, gets dressed, fixes breakfast, sends Ben, aka Ape Face, and Annabel off to school, and then goes through her day in her mother's body. Dealing with all kinds of issues throughout the day, from the neighbor boy saying he loves her, losing both the kids, the police thinking she's crazy, and her husband's unexpected clients as guests, she handles it well...at first.
Not only does she have a wild ride, dealing with things her mother normally would have to deal with, she also has a school meeting to attend...about herself. She finds out things that she probably needed to hear, but things that hurt to hear, and that's where the lesson really starts to set in.
The majority of the story is told from Annabel's perspective, while she is in her mother's body, and that actually helps the humor even more. Take this little gem for instance: "Well, in case you're interested, a mouthful of heart is something like a mouthful of captured frog, and a mind in turmoil simply means all the blood in your body rushes around in your head, leaving you icy cold from the neck down. As for 'butterflies in the stomach,' there is no such thing. They are June bugs." You'll have to read the book to find out the context here, but there are plenty more humorous moments between the 175 pages that make up this book.
This is a quick read, but one I definitely recommend. It's funny and somewhat realistic, not in the whole switching bodies with your mother aspect, but in the way this family interacts with one another. I know that despite the length and the material that make up this adorable story, even I learned something about myself and I think everyone could take something away from this book, kids and parents alike.
The whole 1972 copyright may throw some people off, but don't let it; it's a story that is still relevant today and probably will continue to be for as long as there are 13-year-old girls with mothers and little brothers especially.
December 29, 2022
I could absolutely kill her! If she were stupid, I could forgive her. An ordinary, pedestrian, untalented, unimaginative, boring student, I could feel sorry for. . . and as long as such a student handed in her assignments, regardless of how ordinary, pedestrian, untalented, unimaginative, and boring they were, I would manage, somehow, to give her a passing grade. (PG. 81-82)
It was nothing like the movie where we laughed along with Lindsay Lohan but it was just as hilarious and imaginative as Mary Rodgers intended it to be. I enjoyed reading through this novel in a day.
Annabel Andrews is a monster of a child. She is disgusting and rude and disrespectful as much to her mother as her teachers. She wakes up one morning in her mom's body and the day gets weird from there. Luckily her dad didn't attempt any French kisses or sexy time. . .
This was enjoyable with many LOL moments. My 12 year-old son even enjoyed this one, hence me reading it. I miss these innocent, no agenda type books. The authors simply told a story without putting their politics on the pages. Highly recommend this YA classic.
It was nothing like the movie where we laughed along with Lindsay Lohan but it was just as hilarious and imaginative as Mary Rodgers intended it to be. I enjoyed reading through this novel in a day.
Annabel Andrews is a monster of a child. She is disgusting and rude and disrespectful as much to her mother as her teachers. She wakes up one morning in her mom's body and the day gets weird from there. Luckily her dad didn't attempt any French kisses or sexy time. . .
This was enjoyable with many LOL moments. My 12 year-old son even enjoyed this one, hence me reading it. I miss these innocent, no agenda type books. The authors simply told a story without putting their politics on the pages. Highly recommend this YA classic.
June 16, 2016
Dad: Starting out, how many stars do you guys want to give the book?
Eleanor: 5!
Gwen: 5!
Poppy: 6!
Gwen: Wait, I mean, 4.
Poppy: SEH-VEN!
Eleanor: You can't give it 7, Poppy. You can only give it 5.
Dad: Have I ever made an executive decision before? I'm giving it 3 stars. And there's nothing you can do about it.
Eleanor: Really? You're giving it really three stars?
Dad: Ahhh...
Gwen: Well, it's a little less than 4.
El: And way less than 5.
Poppy: Or a lot of money.
Dad: I want you to know that I heard how many you think it deserves, but this time, I'm giving it less than that. To tell the truth, I think it should be happy with 3 stars. I was thinking about giving it 2.
...And you know what?
All: What?
Dad: I loved this book as a kid. I especially loved the Morris/Borris stuff and the meatloaf/beetloaf stuff. I thought that was hilarious. But there were some things that... when I was reading it out loud, I didn't actually read out loud to you because I felt like it was a little bit inappropriate.
Eleanor: Really?
Dad: Yeah.
Eleanor: So that's why there were sometimes pauses?
Dad: Yeah. I was thinking of how to say it so it would still make sense, but not be quite so unsavory.
Eleanor: So, you didn't skip those parts, you just said them in a more childish way?
Dad: Yeah. For instance, I didn't always like the way that the dad talked to the mom... so I changed that a little bit. And the cleaning lady? She said some things that were racist.
Eleanor: What's racist mean?
Dad: Mean to people that don't look like you because they don't look like you. ...Anyway, the book's point was that being racist is bad... and I like that point, but I didn't really like the way they made that point.
Gwen: What point?
Dad: That being racist is bad.
...Also, there were times I thought the book got a little bit boring. And some chapters just took a little too long for what I wanted at the time. Did you guys feel that way?
Gwen: Yeah.
Dad: Gwen, did you fall asleep while I was reading it?
Gwen: No. I was awake the whole time. ...Well, maybe I did. I don't know.
Eleanor: I understand about the cleaning lady, but I didn't think the dad was talking mean, or anything like that. I mean, he was only trying to say, "don't do so much for Annabel. She needs to do things herself." And I didn't mind that. Sometimes parents need to do that for each other.
Dad: That's a fair point, Eleanor.
Eleanor: Then why don't you like the way the dad talks to the mom?
Dad: There were some times where the dad acted like all the mom did was spend money, and that the mom was stupid for not knowing how to clean shirts, and the mom was stupid for not understanding math... things like that... I bet, if you read it when you're older, you'll catch what I caught when I read it this time.
Eleanor: But I wouldn't call the parents mean. Or Annabel mean. Or the brother mean.
Dad: Well, I agree with you on the brother, for sure. He was nice.
Gwen: Can I say that I liked the book?
Dad: Sure.
Poppy: I loved the book, and I love the wall.
Dad: The wall? *confused about where a wall was featured in the book* What wall?
Poppy *p0ints*: THAT WALL!
Eleanor: Well, I liked the book, and I want to recommend it to people.
Eleanor: 5!
Gwen: 5!
Poppy: 6!
Gwen: Wait, I mean, 4.
Poppy: SEH-VEN!
Eleanor: You can't give it 7, Poppy. You can only give it 5.
Dad: Have I ever made an executive decision before? I'm giving it 3 stars. And there's nothing you can do about it.
Eleanor: Really? You're giving it really three stars?
Dad: Ahhh...
Gwen: Well, it's a little less than 4.
El: And way less than 5.
Poppy: Or a lot of money.
Dad: I want you to know that I heard how many you think it deserves, but this time, I'm giving it less than that. To tell the truth, I think it should be happy with 3 stars. I was thinking about giving it 2.
...And you know what?
All: What?
Dad: I loved this book as a kid. I especially loved the Morris/Borris stuff and the meatloaf/beetloaf stuff. I thought that was hilarious. But there were some things that... when I was reading it out loud, I didn't actually read out loud to you because I felt like it was a little bit inappropriate.
Eleanor: Really?
Dad: Yeah.
Eleanor: So that's why there were sometimes pauses?
Dad: Yeah. I was thinking of how to say it so it would still make sense, but not be quite so unsavory.
Eleanor: So, you didn't skip those parts, you just said them in a more childish way?
Dad: Yeah. For instance, I didn't always like the way that the dad talked to the mom... so I changed that a little bit. And the cleaning lady? She said some things that were racist.
Eleanor: What's racist mean?
Dad: Mean to people that don't look like you because they don't look like you. ...Anyway, the book's point was that being racist is bad... and I like that point, but I didn't really like the way they made that point.
Gwen: What point?
Dad: That being racist is bad.
...Also, there were times I thought the book got a little bit boring. And some chapters just took a little too long for what I wanted at the time. Did you guys feel that way?
Gwen: Yeah.
Dad: Gwen, did you fall asleep while I was reading it?
Gwen: No. I was awake the whole time. ...Well, maybe I did. I don't know.
Eleanor: I understand about the cleaning lady, but I didn't think the dad was talking mean, or anything like that. I mean, he was only trying to say, "don't do so much for Annabel. She needs to do things herself." And I didn't mind that. Sometimes parents need to do that for each other.
Dad: That's a fair point, Eleanor.
Eleanor: Then why don't you like the way the dad talks to the mom?
Dad: There were some times where the dad acted like all the mom did was spend money, and that the mom was stupid for not knowing how to clean shirts, and the mom was stupid for not understanding math... things like that... I bet, if you read it when you're older, you'll catch what I caught when I read it this time.
Eleanor: But I wouldn't call the parents mean. Or Annabel mean. Or the brother mean.
Dad: Well, I agree with you on the brother, for sure. He was nice.
Gwen: Can I say that I liked the book?
Dad: Sure.
Poppy: I loved the book, and I love the wall.
Dad: The wall? *confused about where a wall was featured in the book* What wall?
Poppy *p0ints*: THAT WALL!
Eleanor: Well, I liked the book, and I want to recommend it to people.
August 30, 2017
This is a quick page-turning read which was first published in 1973 and by 1976 had been made into a film starring Jodie Foster in the title role, as shown by the cover of the film-tie-in 1976 Puffin edition which I picked up second hand quite recently.
The book gives us a first person narrative of one day in the life of 13-year-old Annabel Andrews who wakes up in the body of her thirty-five year old mother after an argument where she complains about not being allowed to have responsiblity for herself, and her mother says she will show her the meaning of that. Far from freaking out, Annabel is quite cool about it although she thinks that her mother's mind has gone jaunting off to possess someone else, such as Jacqueline Onassis, because Annabel's body is behaving as if Annabel is still onboard.
After the bodily form of Annabel departs for school with younger brother Ben, whom Annabel persists in calling Ape Face and detests, she has to cope with the various things her mother is meant to be doing, including hosting dinner for her father's clients and attending a conference at school about Annabel's disappointing performance. During the day there are various farcical occurrences, such as the boy from upstairs, on whom Annabel has a crush, showing he is in fact smitten with her mother, certainly the Annabel-possessed version, and various run-ins with the police force.
Parts of the story are very funny, such as the case conference at school. Other parts are just weird and don't work as the slapstick they are obviously meant to be, such as her telephone conversation with the police when she thinks her brother has been kidnapped. During the course of the story, she learns not to take for granted what her mother does, and to appreciate her little brother, who is actually a sweet kid.
The story shows its age in some aspects, such as her insistence on being an adherent of Women's Lib in capital letters. The contradiction is that the feminism is superficial: her mother does all the things expected of women at the time including doing the catering for the husband's clients, doing his washing etc. Also, beauty is very much skin deep, with the boy Annabel fancies being put off her while she wears braces, and Annabel herself seeming to go along with the importance of physical attractiveness over other aspects. There is also a run-in with an unpleasant cleaning woman with racist attitudes, though the story shows its liberal credentials when Annabel gives her the sack.
Overall it is a nice light read, although the above attitudes make it of limited relevance to today's teenagers. And obviously this is a portrayal of teenage life without the internet, smartphones and all the paraphenalia of being a teenager in the modern world. Having not seen either of the film adaptations - I gather there was a more recent one than the one starring Jodie Foster - I don't know if any of these issues were overcome.
The book gives us a first person narrative of one day in the life of 13-year-old Annabel Andrews who wakes up in the body of her thirty-five year old mother after an argument where she complains about not being allowed to have responsiblity for herself, and her mother says she will show her the meaning of that. Far from freaking out, Annabel is quite cool about it although she thinks that her mother's mind has gone jaunting off to possess someone else, such as Jacqueline Onassis, because Annabel's body is behaving as if Annabel is still onboard.
After the bodily form of Annabel departs for school with younger brother Ben, whom Annabel persists in calling Ape Face and detests, she has to cope with the various things her mother is meant to be doing, including hosting dinner for her father's clients and attending a conference at school about Annabel's disappointing performance. During the day there are various farcical occurrences, such as the boy from upstairs, on whom Annabel has a crush, showing he is in fact smitten with her mother, certainly the Annabel-possessed version, and various run-ins with the police force.
Parts of the story are very funny, such as the case conference at school. Other parts are just weird and don't work as the slapstick they are obviously meant to be, such as her telephone conversation with the police when she thinks her brother has been kidnapped. During the course of the story, she learns not to take for granted what her mother does, and to appreciate her little brother, who is actually a sweet kid.
The story shows its age in some aspects, such as her insistence on being an adherent of Women's Lib in capital letters. The contradiction is that the feminism is superficial: her mother does all the things expected of women at the time including doing the catering for the husband's clients, doing his washing etc. Also, beauty is very much skin deep, with the boy Annabel fancies being put off her while she wears braces, and Annabel herself seeming to go along with the importance of physical attractiveness over other aspects. There is also a run-in with an unpleasant cleaning woman with racist attitudes, though the story shows its liberal credentials when Annabel gives her the sack.
Overall it is a nice light read, although the above attitudes make it of limited relevance to today's teenagers. And obviously this is a portrayal of teenage life without the internet, smartphones and all the paraphenalia of being a teenager in the modern world. Having not seen either of the film adaptations - I gather there was a more recent one than the one starring Jodie Foster - I don't know if any of these issues were overcome.
October 28, 2007
This is a no no. I LOVE the 1970's movie. My siblings and I grew up on it. But I just dragged myself to the end of the book this week. I wanted to weep. Books shouldn't be that bad. It gave me hope, though, that perhaps one of the books I'm writing can be as bad as this and still get picked up by Disney and made into a classic movie. Sorry Mary Rodgers.
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February 28, 2017
Okay so I read this book for a reading challenge otherwise I would of never read it and just enjoyed my memories of the movie. This book wasn't written that great in my opinion and I felt like more of the story was played out in the movie which, made it more interesting. Odd for me to say that because, usually the book is always better. Guess it wasn't the issue in this case.
November 10, 2012
I saw the movie when it first came out and thought it was great but the book...not so much. This is one of those few times where the movie is better than the book.
January 10, 2022
A few days ago I said to myself, "Self? You know what you haven't read in a coon's age?" "No, what?" "Some of those books that were eventually made into Disney movies." You know what? I was right. It had been a while, the last one being, The Light in the Forest, and it was a little disappointing. So I went through my to-read list, found a handful of the titles at the library (limited myself to only 6 books), happily took them home, automatically selected this one first and after work I stayed up till 4:30 AM finishing this odd little book.
Several years ago I watched the remake movie with Jamie Lee Curtis- frankly it's been too long since I've watched it to honestly say what I thought of it. But recently (maybe a couple months ago) I watched the original with Jodi Foster. It was...interesting. Definitely shows its age but it wasn't bad. The book and the movie (original), while similar in some aspects and the narrative tone was on point with Jodi Foster's narrative, were very different. For starters, the mother's perspective in all this chaotic madness is not given to the extent that I expected. This threw me off at first but seeing as it is Annabel's story, I guess that makes sense.
The story moved very quick and never once left me bored. I believe the author went out of her way to make it as head-scratching, and eye-squinting unbelievable as possible. It was an extremely easy read with it's quirky and sarcastic Annabel relating all the strange events. You need to keep in mind, this came out in the 70's so there's unfamiliar and humorous slang sprinkled throughout which only enhances the story's charm in my opinion. It does mention things about liberals, race, and the big environmental movement back then- but again you have to keep in mind the time frame it was written. None of it was offensive, just not something you'd see in a book nowadays. I enjoyed the few minor plot twists but I'm still trying to wrap my head around the how- how in the world did this freaky body switch happen? No spoilers, but the "explanation" and the switch back was most bothersome and unsatisfactory.
All in all- I'm glad I finally got the chance to read this but once is enough for me. Annabel learned that the life of an adult is not all marshmallows and T.V shows and I learned that If I stay up too late reading, I'll pay for it the following morning. :)
Several years ago I watched the remake movie with Jamie Lee Curtis- frankly it's been too long since I've watched it to honestly say what I thought of it. But recently (maybe a couple months ago) I watched the original with Jodi Foster. It was...interesting. Definitely shows its age but it wasn't bad. The book and the movie (original), while similar in some aspects and the narrative tone was on point with Jodi Foster's narrative, were very different. For starters, the mother's perspective in all this chaotic madness is not given to the extent that I expected. This threw me off at first but seeing as it is Annabel's story, I guess that makes sense.
The story moved very quick and never once left me bored. I believe the author went out of her way to make it as head-scratching, and eye-squinting unbelievable as possible. It was an extremely easy read with it's quirky and sarcastic Annabel relating all the strange events. You need to keep in mind, this came out in the 70's so there's unfamiliar and humorous slang sprinkled throughout which only enhances the story's charm in my opinion. It does mention things about liberals, race, and the big environmental movement back then- but again you have to keep in mind the time frame it was written. None of it was offensive, just not something you'd see in a book nowadays. I enjoyed the few minor plot twists but I'm still trying to wrap my head around the how- how in the world did this freaky body switch happen? No spoilers, but the "explanation" and the switch back was most bothersome and unsatisfactory.
All in all- I'm glad I finally got the chance to read this but once is enough for me. Annabel learned that the life of an adult is not all marshmallows and T.V shows and I learned that If I stay up too late reading, I'll pay for it the following morning. :)
April 3, 2020
Libros recomendados: ‘’Quin dia tan bèstia’’, de Mary Rodgers. Idioma catalán. L’ESPARVER, 125 páginas. Ficción, juvenil, infantil, aprendizaje…
Este libro se lo hicieron comprar a mi hermano en el instituto.
La verdad es que me hizo mucha gracia el título y la sinopsis; y cuando me lo leí por primera vez ya me encantó. No recuerdo la fecha exacta; pero sí que lo leí más de una vez, ya que es de lectura fácil y muy entretenida.
Una niña que se despierta y resulta que se ha convertido en su madre: cambio de cuerpos (me encanta este tema) que quizás nos demuestre una vez más, cómo es estar en el lugar del otro; aunque al final casi nunca sirva demasiado… Se olvidan rápido las enseñanzas, gusta mucho pasar página. Y así no se aprende, a no ser que leas un buen libro.
Cuántas experiencias va a tener que sufrir la ‘’pobre’’ protagonista, con el ‘’típico’’ hermano pequeño y el vecino de al lado que… Y la escuela y esas malditas reuniones de todas las edades… Muchos descubrimientos.
Y la madre… ésa sí que sabe. Una maestra de otro mundo.
Leerlo; aunque sea para un público infantil-juvenil (llego un día tarde con mi reseña); porque vale la pena para todos los públicos.
***Mi portada es otra.
Este libro se lo hicieron comprar a mi hermano en el instituto.
La verdad es que me hizo mucha gracia el título y la sinopsis; y cuando me lo leí por primera vez ya me encantó. No recuerdo la fecha exacta; pero sí que lo leí más de una vez, ya que es de lectura fácil y muy entretenida.
Una niña que se despierta y resulta que se ha convertido en su madre: cambio de cuerpos (me encanta este tema) que quizás nos demuestre una vez más, cómo es estar en el lugar del otro; aunque al final casi nunca sirva demasiado… Se olvidan rápido las enseñanzas, gusta mucho pasar página. Y así no se aprende, a no ser que leas un buen libro.
Cuántas experiencias va a tener que sufrir la ‘’pobre’’ protagonista, con el ‘’típico’’ hermano pequeño y el vecino de al lado que… Y la escuela y esas malditas reuniones de todas las edades… Muchos descubrimientos.
Y la madre… ésa sí que sabe. Una maestra de otro mundo.
Leerlo; aunque sea para un público infantil-juvenil (llego un día tarde con mi reseña); porque vale la pena para todos los públicos.
***Mi portada es otra.
January 3, 2023
Quando alguém transforma Síndrome da Adolescência Normal em um livro 🤌 e a adaptação para o filme fica bem melhor!!
[off a capa da edição que eu encontrei na casa da minha prima em 2010 é bem melhor que essa aqui! (peguei para ler pq título e capa legal e relembrei ele guardado agora! hoje também descobri q ele é o livro do filme ‘uma sexta feira muito louca!’ !!)
Muita coisa problemática nessa tradução/edição de 1997 o que estava rolando? e particularmente não acho que ele deveria ter sido lido por uma turma de 6º ano …. !
[off a capa da edição que eu encontrei na casa da minha prima em 2010 é bem melhor que essa aqui! (peguei para ler pq título e capa legal e relembrei ele guardado agora! hoje também descobri q ele é o livro do filme ‘uma sexta feira muito louca!’ !!)
Muita coisa problemática nessa tradução/edição de 1997 o que estava rolando? e particularmente não acho que ele deveria ter sido lido por uma turma de 6º ano …. !
October 24, 2017
“I don't look like her. I wish I did. Well, today I do, and it's a great improvement!”
Freaky Friday is certainly not the most sophisticated book but it fulfilled its purpose of keeping me entertained for a while. In fact, it did not last me for as long as I hoped it would. Not necessarily because it was gripping but because the lettering was rather large for an already short book.
I have seen the film several years back – I cannot remember it well enough to say which I preferred but they were rather different. The main character of the book version – Annabel – felt younger than her movie version.
Other than the implausibility of the body-swap being treated as rational– this book was rather fun to read with some quirky and adorable dialogues between Annabel and her younger brother who thinks he is actually talking to his mother. The dialogues between her and her love interest – who also believes he is talking to the mother – are also sweet.
All in all, it is a cute (and very fast) read but there is nothing special to be expected from it. The type of story actually seemed more like something you would find in a comedy manga – and I think that for me personally, these kinds of stories just work better as a manga, to begin with.
April 23, 2015
Wow. Just wow. I get that it is dealing with the daily life of a mother and daughter in 1972 by someone who was a young woman in the 50's. But wow. At some point Annabelle herself calls somebody a misogynistic pig or something. And it wasn't the role of housewife at all I take issue with, but the attitude towards her. Granted it was the daughter as mother saying she, herself, was dumb, but also the husband and the way he spoke to her sometimes. And that awful cleaning woman.
I also thought this was a children's book but all the smoking and drinking references (yes, I realize it was much more common), and all the jokes Annabelle makes about rape and other flippant remarks. I realize some of that would be attributed to age and attitude, but it does make the book more young adult.
As for the audio version, there were several distinctive "New Yorker" voices. I wonder how those might be perceived. And I do have to say I kind of like the 2003 Curtis and Lohan film adaptation better, (I haven't seen the Jodie Foster) and I find it easier to accept that something beyond the mother and daughter wanted to give them the opportunity to appreciate the other. Though in the books case, it was really just the daughter appreciating her mother and brother, and even herself.
Now I can say I know the original. I do recommend the audio for performance value.
I also thought this was a children's book but all the smoking and drinking references (yes, I realize it was much more common), and all the jokes Annabelle makes about rape and other flippant remarks. I realize some of that would be attributed to age and attitude, but it does make the book more young adult.
As for the audio version, there were several distinctive "New Yorker" voices. I wonder how those might be perceived. And I do have to say I kind of like the 2003 Curtis and Lohan film adaptation better, (I haven't seen the Jodie Foster) and I find it easier to accept that something beyond the mother and daughter wanted to give them the opportunity to appreciate the other. Though in the books case, it was really just the daughter appreciating her mother and brother, and even herself.
Now I can say I know the original. I do recommend the audio for performance value.
December 15, 2014
I didn't like this at all. In a way, it was almost didactic - the mother switchies bodies with her daughter to teach her daughter a lesson; daughter realizes how wrong she has been. It was also VERY dated, including a couple slang terms for other races (some expressed by the cleaning lady whom Annabel fires). The humor was way off to me; a phone conversation between the main character and the police was so bad it was excrutiating to read. Also, in my version the cover art shows Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, but the much newer movie was very different from this book. I didn't like that Annabel's mother supposedly managed to switch their bodies, but in the last chapter refuses to explain to her daughter how, thus conveniently keeping the author from having to have a credible explanation. I don't think I'll even keep this one on my shelf.
August 1, 2015
I preferred the movie, but the book was cute too, at times. A bit too juvenile for my tastes, but I can't hold that against the book. It was interesting how the story differed from the movie in a big way (didn't expect that!).
July 29, 2008
Picked this up at a used book sale because it looked interesting. Not as good as the Lindsay Lohan movie so far.
June 26, 2017
I read the 1970s version, in the seventies.
April 21, 2020
More "takes me back" reading because it's all my brain can handle right now. Hard to believe I first read this almost 40 (!!) years ago. Will revisit Harriet the Spy next!
July 11, 2025
I remember reading this book when I was little. It was one of the few “kid” books on the book shelf at my paternal grandparents’ house. This book does NOT withstand the test of time. Eeeeeek. 😬 If the parents’ casual social smoking and drinking don’t get you, how about a side of archaic gender roles with a dash of the r-word? The idea is great, and finishing the book inspired a deep dive binge (much more entertaining than working on my dissertation) of the adaptations made of this book. The book only talks about the girl’s point of view. The first movie with Jodie Foster (the author wrote the screenplay) explored both points of view, and it was so much more interesting and entertaining, though still super dated now. The next version with Lindsey Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis did even better. I think the musical version is the best, but the movie-version of the musical on Disney+ left out some of the best songs/parts. I guess the point is that it’s a great idea, but the telling of the story rings best in the current time and gets outdated pretty quickly. See the newest version for the least cringe. Maybe avoid the book.
May 8, 2022
Read for the Disney Origins Bookclub. It was interesting to compare this book to the movies it inspired.
August 28, 2025
A lot different than the movie, but you know what? This made me chuckle
April 9, 2024
Read for a challenge, so I'm not the target audience. The changes made for the Lindsay Lohan/Jamie Lee Curtis movie were so much better.
December 5, 2024
It was so different from the movie! ( that’s not a bad thing)
August 21, 2022
There are major ick issues with this book, it has not aged well at all, but it is still a fun read with several funny and memorable scenes.
October 31, 2018
I watched the 2003 movie and was expecting the book will be the same. It was an adaptation after all. I did not know why I kept believing that scriptwriter wouldn't change a thing and followed the book by the hook.
The book was in Annabelle's pov. She woke up in her mother's body and have to take her roll. Her real body however was missing. Instead of being in her own awkward teenage body, with teeth covered in braces, she's in her mother's gorgeous body and the more reason for Boris, her childhood friend, to stay and help.
A few was saying that this book was anti-feminist with the way Annabelle's dad treated her mom (with Annabelle in her) and with the way Boris treated Annabelle herself by confiding to her mom (not knowing it was Annabelle inside it). The book was written in the 70's. I'm not saying the 70's women should be Stepford Wife but, merely they have other priorities. I, myself, was more concern of my kids well-being compare to gender equality.
If you want something that stick to the book, then the 2003 movie was not it. If you want something with more girl power, then ignore the book.
SPOILER ALERT
The book was in Annabelle's pov. She woke up in her mother's body and have to take her roll. Her real body however was missing. Instead of being in her own awkward teenage body, with teeth covered in braces, she's in her mother's gorgeous body and the more reason for Boris, her childhood friend, to stay and help.
A few was saying that this book was anti-feminist with the way Annabelle's dad treated her mom (with Annabelle in her) and with the way Boris treated Annabelle herself by confiding to her mom (not knowing it was Annabelle inside it). The book was written in the 70's. I'm not saying the 70's women should be Stepford Wife but, merely they have other priorities. I, myself, was more concern of my kids well-being compare to gender equality.
If you want something that stick to the book, then the 2003 movie was not it. If you want something with more girl power, then ignore the book.
SPOILER ALERT
April 22, 2011
I’d seen the movies before, but had never read the book on which they were based. It’s hysterical. After a terrible fight with her mother, Annabel Andrews wakes up one morning and realizes that they’ve switched bodies! Actually, she can’t tell if her mom’s in her body because her body is still totally acting like her, so she figures her mom is off somewhere else enjoying someone else’s body. Annabel’s excited to be her mom, until all sorts of things start going wrong, until her brother Ape Face disappears with a stranger, and until her father/husband (confusing!) invites some important clients over for dinner. That’s when the adventure becomes a nightmare. It seems like everything will end very badly for Annabel, but her mother switches them back in the nick of time and she’s been up to things, too, while Annabel has been coping as best she can. Mom and daughter each learn something about each other, helping them to understand why they do the things they do. Very funny and entertaining.
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