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The Pistachio Prescription
Cassie Stephens is dealing with a lot. She's got asthma. World War III is waged daily in her home, beginning at the breakfast table and ending with slammed doors at night. She's running for freshperson class president. The pressure is mounting, and there's only one thing that can make Cassie feel better. Pistachio nuts. No matter how weird it sounds, those little red nuts are just the prescription for Cassie s troubles.
154 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
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1057 people want to read
About the author
Paula Danziger
116 books351 followersPaula Danziger was an American children's author. She wrote more than 30 books, including her 1974 debut The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, for children's and young adult audiences. At the time of her death, all her books were still in print; they had been published in 53 countries and translated into 14 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
May 24, 2020
I have both fond and also rather many incredibly painful memories (but yes, all of them in a very positive and necessary manner) with regard to Paula Danziger's 1978 middle grade novel The Pistachio Prescription (which I originally read the year after it was first published, at the age of twelve). And yes, I very fondly do nostalgically recall that main protagonist and first person narrator Cassandra (Cassie) did really and majorly and like the friend I did not have in 1979 sweetly and supportingly speak to me on a personal level and that her issues with especially her harridan of a mother also rang a majorly annoying and nasty but also incredibly justified and relatable bell.
For even though my family did not have the divorce related issues presented in The Pistachio Prescription, Paula Danziger's depiction of how Cassie's mother in particular often reacts to and tends to approach her daughter were pretty well similar in a general manner to how my own mother would tend to act towards me if we went shopping together and the clothes I was trying on would not immediately fit or look fashionable "enough" for my mother's high class tastes, about my problematic body image issues, about how I was someone my mother felt was a family alien, a deliberately obtuse oddball, with regard to me like Cassie with her pistachio nuts also sometimes using a recurring food based strategy to self soothe and to deal with stress and anger issues, that while The Pistachio Prescription was of course incredibly relatable (and readable), its themes and contents also made me incredibly angry and depressed (and so much so that I did in fact throw my copy of The Pistachio Prescription against my bedroom window a few times whilst I was reading as an act of rebellion and catharsis, but that yes, that very pain and that angry reading outburst, as well as meticulously underlining in my copy of The Pistachio Prescription all the instances where Cassie's mother acts like a total jerk, this also both helped to reign in my own angry frustration and it also made me strong enough to once in a while stand up to my mother in a determined manner and especially during those horrid shopping expeditions).
And although after rereading The Pistachio Prescription for the first time since 1978, I can definitely to a point and as an older adult reader now understand some of Cassie's mother's backstory and why she behaves the way she does (that as a teenager, she had to take care of her ailing parents, that she married too young, that she feels as though she has no life except being a wife and mother), I still do even now actively and totally despise the mother and consider her at least with regard to how she approaches her children (Cassie and her siblings) emotionally as at best substandard and at worst totally spiritually neglectful and often rather nasty and gratingly, immaturely entitled (and that yes, I also do very strongly consider that in The Pistachio Prescription, Cassie's mother and her rampant self-centredness are probably one of the main and most obvious reasons why Cassie's mother and father are getting a divorce).
For even though my family did not have the divorce related issues presented in The Pistachio Prescription, Paula Danziger's depiction of how Cassie's mother in particular often reacts to and tends to approach her daughter were pretty well similar in a general manner to how my own mother would tend to act towards me if we went shopping together and the clothes I was trying on would not immediately fit or look fashionable "enough" for my mother's high class tastes, about my problematic body image issues, about how I was someone my mother felt was a family alien, a deliberately obtuse oddball, with regard to me like Cassie with her pistachio nuts also sometimes using a recurring food based strategy to self soothe and to deal with stress and anger issues, that while The Pistachio Prescription was of course incredibly relatable (and readable), its themes and contents also made me incredibly angry and depressed (and so much so that I did in fact throw my copy of The Pistachio Prescription against my bedroom window a few times whilst I was reading as an act of rebellion and catharsis, but that yes, that very pain and that angry reading outburst, as well as meticulously underlining in my copy of The Pistachio Prescription all the instances where Cassie's mother acts like a total jerk, this also both helped to reign in my own angry frustration and it also made me strong enough to once in a while stand up to my mother in a determined manner and especially during those horrid shopping expeditions).
And although after rereading The Pistachio Prescription for the first time since 1978, I can definitely to a point and as an older adult reader now understand some of Cassie's mother's backstory and why she behaves the way she does (that as a teenager, she had to take care of her ailing parents, that she married too young, that she feels as though she has no life except being a wife and mother), I still do even now actively and totally despise the mother and consider her at least with regard to how she approaches her children (Cassie and her siblings) emotionally as at best substandard and at worst totally spiritually neglectful and often rather nasty and gratingly, immaturely entitled (and that yes, I also do very strongly consider that in The Pistachio Prescription, Cassie's mother and her rampant self-centredness are probably one of the main and most obvious reasons why Cassie's mother and father are getting a divorce).
April 27, 2008
I've read this book several times through my adolescence. I was never the type of girl growing up who was overly feminine, or really sensitive, or bubbly, or any of those things. So I read Paula Danziger books, painted my nails black, and hid in my bedroom all summer instead of engaging with the real world. Just like her some of her characters would have done. The protagonists of her books are smart, witty, cynical, ambitious, and human all at once. They are real. And I, and many other real teenage girls, could really identify with them.
May 24, 2010
I always remembered this book as a story about a girl who ate lots of pistachios and, most awesomely, knew how to raise one eyebrow at a time. Despite a family that drove her crazy and made her feel worthless, she became class president.
Instead, this is a story about a girl who ate lots of pistachios and managed to become class president, despite a family that was insane and coming apart at the seams. Her eyebrows meet a different fate.
Overall, a great mix of angst and wish-fulfillment, but now I really want to know the name of the book with the girl who could do that thing with her eyebrows!
Instead, this is a story about a girl who ate lots of pistachios and managed to become class president, despite a family that was insane and coming apart at the seams. Her eyebrows meet a different fate.
Overall, a great mix of angst and wish-fulfillment, but now I really want to know the name of the book with the girl who could do that thing with her eyebrows!
February 25, 2023
Who could ever forget the story of Cassie and her eyebrows and pistachio nuts? I read this as a kid and never forgot it because it is written so well.
The character of Cassie is instantly relatable for any young girl and her story is so interesting to read.
I loved that the book, which is the ultimate coming of age story, is packed full of humor and witty observations by Cassie. This is one I want to reread as an adult.
The character of Cassie is instantly relatable for any young girl and her story is so interesting to read.
I loved that the book, which is the ultimate coming of age story, is packed full of humor and witty observations by Cassie. This is one I want to reread as an adult.
June 23, 2019
The Pistachio prescription⭐️
Cassie thinks her problems can be solved by little red pistachios. Take one and all her worries go away. Take one and she no longer feels like she has every disease on the face of the earth.
She needs to learn to be brave and deal with life without the crutch of pistachios
Cassie thinks her problems can be solved by little red pistachios. Take one and all her worries go away. Take one and she no longer feels like she has every disease on the face of the earth.
She needs to learn to be brave and deal with life without the crutch of pistachios
February 11, 2009
I easily read this 15 million times from age 12-18... actually I just read it again the other day when I found it in a box as I was sorting through our basement. I recommend this for any pre-teen / teenage girl, it really spoke to me at that age.
December 29, 2018
4.5 STARS
"Cassie's not really sure how it started, but eating pistachio nuts always makes her feel better. Whenever her parents have a shouting match, the pressure of running for freshperson class president gets overwhelming, or her beautiful (and short) sister calls her a giraffe, grabbing a handful of red nuts somehow helps. Cassie has medicine for her asthma attacks; why not have a prescription for "unhappiness attacks"?" (From Amazon)
I have read this novel so many times and have listened to it on audio as well. I used to clean my room or draw while listening to this on audio. A great novel for all pre-teens and teens.
"Cassie's not really sure how it started, but eating pistachio nuts always makes her feel better. Whenever her parents have a shouting match, the pressure of running for freshperson class president gets overwhelming, or her beautiful (and short) sister calls her a giraffe, grabbing a handful of red nuts somehow helps. Cassie has medicine for her asthma attacks; why not have a prescription for "unhappiness attacks"?" (From Amazon)
I have read this novel so many times and have listened to it on audio as well. I used to clean my room or draw while listening to this on audio. A great novel for all pre-teens and teens.
December 19, 2016
Though I must have read my worn paperback copy of The Pistachio Prescription a million times when I was in middle school, I don’t have many distinct memories of the story or the characters. Before re-reading it this past week, all I could remember about the book was that the main character had asthma and that she liked eating pistachio nuts even though her mother didn’t want her to. Though I had both of those details right, I’d forgotten that this story is actually about a ninth grader named Cassie, whose family is falling apart. Her parents’ constant fighting is a big contributor to her frequent asthma attacks, as well as to her addiction to the pistachio nuts that give her comfort. While things get worse at home, Cassie is also dealing with stress at school, where she has been nominated to run for president of the freshperson class.
I have to admit that I’m not sure why my thirteen-year-old self connected so strongly with this book. I suspect it was because it was written by Paula Danziger, whose writing feels very authentic to the middle school experience, and not because of anything specific in the story itself. Cassie’s voice is believable, and I had no trouble rooting for her, but I found it difficult to connect with the things that worried and pleased her. Maybe that just means that this book isn’t as appealing once you age out of the target demographic.
Interestingly, though, reading this from a reviewer’s standpoint, and not just for entertainment caused me to notice some of the more artful aspects of Danziger’s writing. As a teen, I always sympathized with Cassie and disliked her mother for being so critical and demanding of her. As an adult, though, I noticed the background details that Danziger gives us about Cassie’s mom’s family life. She grew up taking care of her own mother, who had multiple sclerosis. Once I read that detail, I immediately understood why she is so quick to treat Cassie like an invalid when her asthma flares up, while also criticizing her for not being able to keep calm enough to prevent the asthma attack. I like that this detail is included in the story, but not explained directly. True, I missed it when I was a middle schooler, but I like that Danziger always respects her readers enough to let them draw their own conclusions and put the big picture together on their own. I also really appreciated the realistic way Danziger portrayed Cassie’s relationship to her sister, Stephie, and the ultimate resolution of some of the enmity between the girls.
The Pistachio Prescription was published in 1978, but it didn’t seem dated in 1995, and it doesn’t feel much older now. Danziger is one of the best authors of middle school fiction, and I’m still sad that she’s no longer around to write us more wonderful stories. At least the books she did write seem to hold up pretty well for a new generation of readers - and I’m pleased to have her books on hand to recommend to those tween girls who aren’t quite ready for YA, but are dealing with teen issues of their own.
I have to admit that I’m not sure why my thirteen-year-old self connected so strongly with this book. I suspect it was because it was written by Paula Danziger, whose writing feels very authentic to the middle school experience, and not because of anything specific in the story itself. Cassie’s voice is believable, and I had no trouble rooting for her, but I found it difficult to connect with the things that worried and pleased her. Maybe that just means that this book isn’t as appealing once you age out of the target demographic.
Interestingly, though, reading this from a reviewer’s standpoint, and not just for entertainment caused me to notice some of the more artful aspects of Danziger’s writing. As a teen, I always sympathized with Cassie and disliked her mother for being so critical and demanding of her. As an adult, though, I noticed the background details that Danziger gives us about Cassie’s mom’s family life. She grew up taking care of her own mother, who had multiple sclerosis. Once I read that detail, I immediately understood why she is so quick to treat Cassie like an invalid when her asthma flares up, while also criticizing her for not being able to keep calm enough to prevent the asthma attack. I like that this detail is included in the story, but not explained directly. True, I missed it when I was a middle schooler, but I like that Danziger always respects her readers enough to let them draw their own conclusions and put the big picture together on their own. I also really appreciated the realistic way Danziger portrayed Cassie’s relationship to her sister, Stephie, and the ultimate resolution of some of the enmity between the girls.
The Pistachio Prescription was published in 1978, but it didn’t seem dated in 1995, and it doesn’t feel much older now. Danziger is one of the best authors of middle school fiction, and I’m still sad that she’s no longer around to write us more wonderful stories. At least the books she did write seem to hold up pretty well for a new generation of readers - and I’m pleased to have her books on hand to recommend to those tween girls who aren’t quite ready for YA, but are dealing with teen issues of their own.
January 20, 2010
This book is about a girl who deals with alot of problems.Her parents always fight and she has many asthma attacks.She uses pistachio's to stop her asthma attacks then she begins to get interested in a boy named Ben.This book is really good!!
May 28, 2012
I liked Cassie a lot. Her voice was true and believable, wavering there on the edge of growing up. This is an Issue Book but it manages to not be particularly pointed or preachy. I found parts of it poignant and parts laugh-out-loud funny. Nicely done, but certainly a period piece now.
August 20, 2021
After plowing through some Norma Klein young adult novels, I decided to pick up the only Paula Danziger young adult novel on my shelf: The Pistachio Prescription. I recall as a young adult I absolutely loved this novel along with Danziger’s The Cat Ate My Gymsuit (which I need to find and re-read as well).
I still like it and I must say it’s a lot better and much more realistic than all the Norma Klein novels I’ve read combined.
The plot is simple: 13-year-old Cassie Stephens is starting her freshman year in high school. She has a super rotten bitchy older sister, Stephie, who bullies Cassie when she isn’t ignoring her. A younger, precocious, pet obsessed brother Andrew. A gorgeous, supportive best friend Vicki. A cute new guy at school named Bernie, who’s really into her. And parents who constantly wage World War III at the dinner table. On top of that Cassie has asthma. So, to cope with it all, Cassie constantly eats red pistachios. She’s convinced they’ll cure any ailment or problem.
Over the course of a couple of months, Cassie deals with her parent’s increasing animosity towards each other, running for freshman class president at Vicki’s insistence, a bully high school teacher, insecurities about her looks, and uncertainty about her blossoming romance with Bernie.
The main issues I have with The Pistachio Prescription is for a novel with pistachios in its title, they really don’t play that big of a role in the story. The pistachio point is hammered home in the first couple of chapters but once the plot kicks in they’re more of an aside than a plot point.
Also, Cassie is a half-hearted hypochondriac. Whenever she’s feeling insecure or if something bad happens, she starts to think her anxiety is maybe appendicitis or an ulcer or something like that. Or maybe the blotch on her hand is a fatal, contagious rash caused by the pistachio dye. Or maybe if she kills herself, it will best for everyone. There’s a lot of these “maybes” throughout the novel. It gets exhausting but does tap into the insecurities of a teenager.
Outside of that this is a fun read and easily one of the better entries in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s young adult canon
I still like it and I must say it’s a lot better and much more realistic than all the Norma Klein novels I’ve read combined.
The plot is simple: 13-year-old Cassie Stephens is starting her freshman year in high school. She has a super rotten bitchy older sister, Stephie, who bullies Cassie when she isn’t ignoring her. A younger, precocious, pet obsessed brother Andrew. A gorgeous, supportive best friend Vicki. A cute new guy at school named Bernie, who’s really into her. And parents who constantly wage World War III at the dinner table. On top of that Cassie has asthma. So, to cope with it all, Cassie constantly eats red pistachios. She’s convinced they’ll cure any ailment or problem.
Over the course of a couple of months, Cassie deals with her parent’s increasing animosity towards each other, running for freshman class president at Vicki’s insistence, a bully high school teacher, insecurities about her looks, and uncertainty about her blossoming romance with Bernie.
The main issues I have with The Pistachio Prescription is for a novel with pistachios in its title, they really don’t play that big of a role in the story. The pistachio point is hammered home in the first couple of chapters but once the plot kicks in they’re more of an aside than a plot point.
Also, Cassie is a half-hearted hypochondriac. Whenever she’s feeling insecure or if something bad happens, she starts to think her anxiety is maybe appendicitis or an ulcer or something like that. Or maybe the blotch on her hand is a fatal, contagious rash caused by the pistachio dye. Or maybe if she kills herself, it will best for everyone. There’s a lot of these “maybes” throughout the novel. It gets exhausting but does tap into the insecurities of a teenager.
Outside of that this is a fun read and easily one of the better entries in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s young adult canon
April 9, 2017
I remember reading and loving this around 5th or 6th grade as a kid. Apparently, the only part I remembered is that the narrator was sassy and liked to eat pistachios. I still liked it.
January 5, 2020
"I keep thinking how everything's changing, how nothing seems certain. Some things get better. Some things get worse. But they sure don't stay the same."
Paula Danziger, like many great writers for young people, works hard to get inside her characters' heads, and to tell the story and see their world the way they see it. "The Pistachio Prescription" is a fine example of her talent in this regard, as we follow the first-person narrative of Cassandra Stephens through the beginning of her freshpersons (Cassie prefers this to "freshman") year.
Cassie lives in a house where her parents are always fighting--- "So far all is quiet downstairs, but I never know how long that's going to last," she tells us at one point--- with her older sister Stephie, who she does not get along with, and her seven-year old brother Andrew, who she adores, and his menagerie of pets. Cassie tells us about her asthma, which tends to crop up whenever her parents fight, and her best friend Vicki, a wannabe psychiatrist, assures her it is hypochondria. In truth, Cassie, if demonstrating these symptoms today, is clearly suffering from anxiety and panic attacks, often triggered by her parents fighting, and, thus, whenever she witnesses anger or frustration toward her.
While the books is dated (it was published in 1978 after all), there is plenty for young readers of today to identify with on an emotional level. Cassie is an easy narrator to listen to--- she is funny, snarky at times, and honest about her emotions. We see her deal with a nasty teacher (Mr. Stoddard, who, though Danziger tries to give him a bit of a backstory, still comes off as a bit of a cliche), a terrible accident with her eyebrow tweezers, and a class election. Through all of her stress, she reaches for the red pistachios, which she considers to be the solution to all problems.
While this novel may sound slight, I assure you, there is a great deal of insight in these pages, and it is amazing how no matter how much changes, so many things stay the same.
It is good to see a depiction of a sympathetic and kind high school principal, and as a former drama teacher, I love this otherwise throwaway line from Cassie when it is announced over the intercom that auditions for "Cheaper by the Dozen", the school play, will be happening:
"Personally, I think that any school that does a play about twelve kids in one family likes to use everyone who tries out."
Very true.
While some of the supporting characters are a bit thin, and I do think Danziger makes Cassie's Mom a bit too unlikable and unsympathetic at times, this is a worthwhile read for middle grades and young adults. The late Ms. Danziger helped pave the way for young adult writers of today like Laurie Halse Anderson, Rainbow Rowell, and even John Green (there are some thematic similarities here with his "Turtles All the Way Down"), and I am glad her books remain in print.
I give this a solid B+.
Thanks for taking the time to read about my thoughts on "The Pistachio Prescription". Happy reading!
Paula Danziger, like many great writers for young people, works hard to get inside her characters' heads, and to tell the story and see their world the way they see it. "The Pistachio Prescription" is a fine example of her talent in this regard, as we follow the first-person narrative of Cassandra Stephens through the beginning of her freshpersons (Cassie prefers this to "freshman") year.
Cassie lives in a house where her parents are always fighting--- "So far all is quiet downstairs, but I never know how long that's going to last," she tells us at one point--- with her older sister Stephie, who she does not get along with, and her seven-year old brother Andrew, who she adores, and his menagerie of pets. Cassie tells us about her asthma, which tends to crop up whenever her parents fight, and her best friend Vicki, a wannabe psychiatrist, assures her it is hypochondria. In truth, Cassie, if demonstrating these symptoms today, is clearly suffering from anxiety and panic attacks, often triggered by her parents fighting, and, thus, whenever she witnesses anger or frustration toward her.
While the books is dated (it was published in 1978 after all), there is plenty for young readers of today to identify with on an emotional level. Cassie is an easy narrator to listen to--- she is funny, snarky at times, and honest about her emotions. We see her deal with a nasty teacher (Mr. Stoddard, who, though Danziger tries to give him a bit of a backstory, still comes off as a bit of a cliche), a terrible accident with her eyebrow tweezers, and a class election. Through all of her stress, she reaches for the red pistachios, which she considers to be the solution to all problems.
While this novel may sound slight, I assure you, there is a great deal of insight in these pages, and it is amazing how no matter how much changes, so many things stay the same.
It is good to see a depiction of a sympathetic and kind high school principal, and as a former drama teacher, I love this otherwise throwaway line from Cassie when it is announced over the intercom that auditions for "Cheaper by the Dozen", the school play, will be happening:
"Personally, I think that any school that does a play about twelve kids in one family likes to use everyone who tries out."
Very true.
While some of the supporting characters are a bit thin, and I do think Danziger makes Cassie's Mom a bit too unlikable and unsympathetic at times, this is a worthwhile read for middle grades and young adults. The late Ms. Danziger helped pave the way for young adult writers of today like Laurie Halse Anderson, Rainbow Rowell, and even John Green (there are some thematic similarities here with his "Turtles All the Way Down"), and I am glad her books remain in print.
I give this a solid B+.
Thanks for taking the time to read about my thoughts on "The Pistachio Prescription". Happy reading!
May 25, 2013
GOOD FOR WHAT AILS HER!
Thirteen-year-old Cassie is convinced that eating pistachios will cure most of her teenage ills, if only she can sneak them past her mom's sharp eye. Where does Danziger get her material for the wacky ideas and snappy repartee of these kids? It helps that she is a former junior high teacher herself-- I bet she slunk through the corridors with a hidden microphone! Her former students must cringe if they recognize themselves in this light-hearted tale about a Freshperson girl facing the social horrors of high school.
Cassie's family life is definately depressing: her parents fight bitterly about everything, so the three kids try to avoid the conflict or flee the house for peace. Her older sister is a snotty b--- of a senior who does not want to be related to this lowlife, figureless drip. She makes a career of torturing poor Cassie, as they both try unsuccesfully to cope with a miserable homelife. Young Andrew holds up in his treehouse, but remains a sweet and loyal con artist who adores Cassie no matter what.
Fortuately she has a staunch girlfriend named Vicki, who provides free head shrinkage. This brainy gal organizes the incoming class into Operation Overthrow--to break the strangle hold of the In Crowd and elect officers who will truly represent All the class. And guess who has to run for President! A marshmallow fluff read just for fun, but intermediat school kids will enjoy this book. School settings appeal.
(August 15, 2019. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
Thirteen-year-old Cassie is convinced that eating pistachios will cure most of her teenage ills, if only she can sneak them past her mom's sharp eye. Where does Danziger get her material for the wacky ideas and snappy repartee of these kids? It helps that she is a former junior high teacher herself-- I bet she slunk through the corridors with a hidden microphone! Her former students must cringe if they recognize themselves in this light-hearted tale about a Freshperson girl facing the social horrors of high school.
Cassie's family life is definately depressing: her parents fight bitterly about everything, so the three kids try to avoid the conflict or flee the house for peace. Her older sister is a snotty b--- of a senior who does not want to be related to this lowlife, figureless drip. She makes a career of torturing poor Cassie, as they both try unsuccesfully to cope with a miserable homelife. Young Andrew holds up in his treehouse, but remains a sweet and loyal con artist who adores Cassie no matter what.
Fortuately she has a staunch girlfriend named Vicki, who provides free head shrinkage. This brainy gal organizes the incoming class into Operation Overthrow--to break the strangle hold of the In Crowd and elect officers who will truly represent All the class. And guess who has to run for President! A marshmallow fluff read just for fun, but intermediat school kids will enjoy this book. School settings appeal.
(August 15, 2019. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
August 15, 2011
cassie stephens doesn't feel like she belongs in her own family, which seems to be falling apart. everyone constantly fights and cassie feels the anxiety in asthma, headaches, and stomachaches. she has her friends, but they've talked her into running for class president. when she's stressed, cassie eats pistachios, but her mother doesn't approve.
i picked this up at the dawn treader this weekend because it was a big favorite in middle school. on the re-read, i'm not totally sure why. i was really into romances back then and the one between cassie and bernie is pretty boring. then again, i do love pistachios. ultimately, the years have not been kind to this book but it did fill me with a happy nostalgia.
i picked this up at the dawn treader this weekend because it was a big favorite in middle school. on the re-read, i'm not totally sure why. i was really into romances back then and the one between cassie and bernie is pretty boring. then again, i do love pistachios. ultimately, the years have not been kind to this book but it did fill me with a happy nostalgia.
January 1, 2022
I love this book so much. I decided to re-visit now after reading it dozens of times as a child. The character of Cassandra is one of those YA lit protagonists that you rarely get to meet in adult fiction. You know her every thought and fear and you want to protect her. I loved the subtle details that remind you this book takes place in the 70s. Just wonderful!
September 11, 2011
Reviewed on Ms. Wolicki Librarian account.
July 27, 2015
Loved reading it with my girls, who loved it.
May 25, 2023
Cassie Stephens is about to start high school, and she’s worried. Truth is, she worries about a lot of things. She worries about what high school will be like, especially since she’s planning on running for freshperson class president. She and her best friend Vicky, a staunch feminist, are wanting to change the entire leadership of the class, so it’s genuinely representative of the class and not just the same popular clique who gets voted into everything.
She’s also worried about what’s happening at home. She’s always felt insecure next to her gorgeous older sister, and now that they’re going to be in the same school, Stephie doesn’t want Cassie to let anyone know that they’re related. Her younger brother Andrew is a great brother though, and he has a bunch of pets, since he wants to be a vet. But her parents are always arguing, and while Stephie can usually call her boyfriend and get out of the house for awhile, Cassie and Andrew can’t always get away from the shouting.
And Cassie worries about her health. She has asthma, and sometimes it feels like her lungs are filling with water and she can’t breathe. She worries about being a burden to her friends. She worries about not doing well enough in school. And she worries about her relationship with Ben, which may turn into a thing. She’s never had a boyfriend before, and she’s worried she’ll screw it up.
In other words, she’s a teenager.
To help with her anxiety, she eats pistachios. It’s what she uses to help her cope, even though she knows it’s only a temporary fix. But as she slowly learns to navigate high school, she also starts to learn that those around her can help her with her anxiety. And she thinks maybe one day she can give up her pistachio habit.
Or maybe not.
I first read Paula Danziger’s The Pistachio Prescription when I was a kid, far too many years to count. It wasn’t my favorite back then, as I couldn’t connect with Cassie as much as I did with other characters from Danziger’s writing. But I still enjoyed reading it. I loved celebrating with Cassie when the good things happened for her, and feeling sad when the bad things happened. But I always knew that there were readers out there who could connect with Cassie and that her story was important.
Reading this again as an adult brought up lots of nostalgia and warm fuzzies for me. I will forever be a fan of Paula Danziger. And while there are certainly things about this story that are dated, the basic human emotions, the need to connect with others, the struggle to ask for help can all be just as strong in modern times as it was back in the 1970s. It’s also a perfect snapshot of time from the ‘70s, so if you want to know what it was like to be a teenager before smartphones and streaming services, even before most households had a computer. This is where I grew up, in the pages of Paula Danziger, and I think more readers should get to know what that’s like.
She’s also worried about what’s happening at home. She’s always felt insecure next to her gorgeous older sister, and now that they’re going to be in the same school, Stephie doesn’t want Cassie to let anyone know that they’re related. Her younger brother Andrew is a great brother though, and he has a bunch of pets, since he wants to be a vet. But her parents are always arguing, and while Stephie can usually call her boyfriend and get out of the house for awhile, Cassie and Andrew can’t always get away from the shouting.
And Cassie worries about her health. She has asthma, and sometimes it feels like her lungs are filling with water and she can’t breathe. She worries about being a burden to her friends. She worries about not doing well enough in school. And she worries about her relationship with Ben, which may turn into a thing. She’s never had a boyfriend before, and she’s worried she’ll screw it up.
In other words, she’s a teenager.
To help with her anxiety, she eats pistachios. It’s what she uses to help her cope, even though she knows it’s only a temporary fix. But as she slowly learns to navigate high school, she also starts to learn that those around her can help her with her anxiety. And she thinks maybe one day she can give up her pistachio habit.
Or maybe not.
I first read Paula Danziger’s The Pistachio Prescription when I was a kid, far too many years to count. It wasn’t my favorite back then, as I couldn’t connect with Cassie as much as I did with other characters from Danziger’s writing. But I still enjoyed reading it. I loved celebrating with Cassie when the good things happened for her, and feeling sad when the bad things happened. But I always knew that there were readers out there who could connect with Cassie and that her story was important.
Reading this again as an adult brought up lots of nostalgia and warm fuzzies for me. I will forever be a fan of Paula Danziger. And while there are certainly things about this story that are dated, the basic human emotions, the need to connect with others, the struggle to ask for help can all be just as strong in modern times as it was back in the 1970s. It’s also a perfect snapshot of time from the ‘70s, so if you want to know what it was like to be a teenager before smartphones and streaming services, even before most households had a computer. This is where I grew up, in the pages of Paula Danziger, and I think more readers should get to know what that’s like.
November 29, 2017
In the story, “The Pistachio Prescription” by Paula Danziger, The story shows Character development, and characterization. Cassie Stephens is weird, and a typical teenager who suffers through the same problem every other typical teenager does. Unlike most people she uses red pistachio nuts to calm her nerves. Her mother disapproves her from eating them. She goes into her room when she isn’t home and looks for them. Cassie’s mom always likes to Cassie shopping, but her dad gets angry when the bills come in, because they spend too much money. Cassie also does not like shopping because everything she wants her mom does not let her get. Her mom picks out clothes for her that Cassie does not like, and stores, she does not shop at. Cassie’s sister, Stephie, is always yelling at her, and calling her names, like ugly, stupid, and snitch. Vicki, her best friend knows that when Cassie goes over early her parents are yelling at each other. Towards the middle of the story, Cassie gets nominated to run for class president, and while in the process she ends up catching feeling for her neighbor Bernie. When Cassie goes home, her parents are not there, and she wants to keep Bernie interested in her. She tries to pluck her eyebrows to get rid of the unibrow with tweezers, then she tries to shave her legs, and ends up cutting herself. Cassie then became the hero, because she stood up to Mr. Stoddard about wearing sunglasses, and no one ever stands up to him. Cassie then becomes the hero, but yet she still has her addiction to pistachio nuts. During Election Day Stephie and her mother can not stop yelling at each other. At the end of the story, she becomes class president, and all of her siblings are not fighting anymore, but there parents are breaking up!! Their mom is going on a date. Their brother Andrew gets hurt, and is bleeding from his head, from falling out of the tree house. He was going to be fine. He had got a concussion and three stitches. Cassie has gotten over her addiction to red pistachio nuts. She has realized that the pistachio nuts aren’t the answer to her problems. She then goes on with life with out pistachio nuts, and learned that she doesn’t have to deal with her problem by eating them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2020
Considering that this YA was written a year before I was born, and I first read it when I was about 10, it has aged really well.
I am moving and going through the Kondo, but also wanted a quick read off my own shelf before I went to pick up the library materials that are now ready because curbside pickup is happening. I think it's the push that I need to write YA, as Danziger was well over the age of majority at the time she was writing, and ended up writing even younger as she got older.
The cover here is a bit more cartoony than the one that I have, which is a real girl in a windowsill, in a strong red (for pistachio) wash. I had a copy of The Divorce Express as well, but I gave it to a little girl who was also going through her parents' divorce-and suspect it has been read exactly zero times. (Sigh). Oh well, not all our solutions are applicable across circumstances.
It's funny, because the protagonist goes through a bad first leg shaving and eyebrow pluck, and I did the same under the tyranny of my single dad, and at the time I thought it was of my own accord (not that young women don't all have their own experience of succumbing to the society's beauty ideals as expressed through body hair), but perhaps a seed had been planted via Cassie's experience.
I appreciate Paula Danziger's early work, as well as that of Norma Klein's, as they were the Jodeci to Judy Blume's Boyz II Men-I remember being quite titillated by the frankly erotic and political themes. I feel like Jenny Han and M.K.Choi are taking up some of this space, but it still feels a bit safe in comparison. But the times and circumstances are different so we can't compare Jordan to Lebron.
I am moving and going through the Kondo, but also wanted a quick read off my own shelf before I went to pick up the library materials that are now ready because curbside pickup is happening. I think it's the push that I need to write YA, as Danziger was well over the age of majority at the time she was writing, and ended up writing even younger as she got older.
The cover here is a bit more cartoony than the one that I have, which is a real girl in a windowsill, in a strong red (for pistachio) wash. I had a copy of The Divorce Express as well, but I gave it to a little girl who was also going through her parents' divorce-and suspect it has been read exactly zero times. (Sigh). Oh well, not all our solutions are applicable across circumstances.
It's funny, because the protagonist goes through a bad first leg shaving and eyebrow pluck, and I did the same under the tyranny of my single dad, and at the time I thought it was of my own accord (not that young women don't all have their own experience of succumbing to the society's beauty ideals as expressed through body hair), but perhaps a seed had been planted via Cassie's experience.
I appreciate Paula Danziger's early work, as well as that of Norma Klein's, as they were the Jodeci to Judy Blume's Boyz II Men-I remember being quite titillated by the frankly erotic and political themes. I feel like Jenny Han and M.K.Choi are taking up some of this space, but it still feels a bit safe in comparison. But the times and circumstances are different so we can't compare Jordan to Lebron.
September 26, 2022
Pros:
an easy read, I liked Vicki and her weirdly spot-on psychological wisdom, the principal, and the brief exploration of how parent relations can impact their kids.
Cons:
•the pacing and structure of this book was really odd to me. I actually googled to see if my used copy had pages missing when I was done (it didn’t), since the end was so abrupt. I had trouble identifying a main conflict and there was little suspense or depth. It felt more like reading a kid’s diary
•Cassie’s mother was selfish, immature, and mean to her children. Her father’s main issue is that he’s absent and just leaves the incompetent mother to parent the kids. Though sort of thrown in there by Stephie at one point, I wish the fact that her parents were being awful was addressed more directly? It seems like Cassie didn’t really get it and I don’t love that as a message for reader
•I have mixed feelings about the idea that Cassie paints this idea of herself as awful and unlovable while she’s liked enough to be class president and gets a boyfriend in three seconds when a new boy moves to town. I guess it’s trying to show middle schoolers that their insecurities are all in their head? I just suspect that most 13-year-olds who read the book wouldn’t have as smooth a ride as Cassie
Recommendation: This is a middle grade read that doesn’t transcend its genre. I’d recommend if you’re a middle schooler looking for normal characters to relate to, or looking for a short read. Despite being written almost 50 years ago, the most outdated part is just that they don’t dye pistachios pink anymore, which is actually kind of impressive.
an easy read, I liked Vicki and her weirdly spot-on psychological wisdom, the principal, and the brief exploration of how parent relations can impact their kids.
Cons:
•the pacing and structure of this book was really odd to me. I actually googled to see if my used copy had pages missing when I was done (it didn’t), since the end was so abrupt. I had trouble identifying a main conflict and there was little suspense or depth. It felt more like reading a kid’s diary
•Cassie’s mother was selfish, immature, and mean to her children. Her father’s main issue is that he’s absent and just leaves the incompetent mother to parent the kids. Though sort of thrown in there by Stephie at one point, I wish the fact that her parents were being awful was addressed more directly? It seems like Cassie didn’t really get it and I don’t love that as a message for reader
•I have mixed feelings about the idea that Cassie paints this idea of herself as awful and unlovable while she’s liked enough to be class president and gets a boyfriend in three seconds when a new boy moves to town. I guess it’s trying to show middle schoolers that their insecurities are all in their head? I just suspect that most 13-year-olds who read the book wouldn’t have as smooth a ride as Cassie
Recommendation: This is a middle grade read that doesn’t transcend its genre. I’d recommend if you’re a middle schooler looking for normal characters to relate to, or looking for a short read. Despite being written almost 50 years ago, the most outdated part is just that they don’t dye pistachios pink anymore, which is actually kind of impressive.
February 5, 2017
The Pistachio Prescription is about a girl of the age of 13; her name is Cassie (Short for Cassandra). She has a mother that only cares for her when she's sad or sick, a father who could care less about her, a snotty older sister, and lastly a younger brother who's the only one that understands her. The setting (s) of the story is at school and home. I think one of the biggest events of the movie is when is when Cassie shaves off her eyebrows; which caused her to wear her mothers sunglasses so that her bald face could not be seen to those around her. When she was in her classroom, the teacher asked her to take them off and she refused, trying to ignore him. She got in trouble and was sent to the office, the principal understood and allowed her to wear the sunglasses. When she came back and sat down in her seat, students stared at her while her teacher glared at her because she confronted him.
I like book very much, if it weren't for my mother I would know nothing about the book. If I were chosen to recommend this book I definetly would recommend it, with no second guessing. The reason is because I get into the book, it takes me in and doesn't make me fall asleep like other books would. Also because it tells about an average middle child's life, I'm the middle child so I would know about it. The thing about being a middle child you have more pressure on you than your other siblings do from your parent or guardian.
I like book very much, if it weren't for my mother I would know nothing about the book. If I were chosen to recommend this book I definetly would recommend it, with no second guessing. The reason is because I get into the book, it takes me in and doesn't make me fall asleep like other books would. Also because it tells about an average middle child's life, I'm the middle child so I would know about it. The thing about being a middle child you have more pressure on you than your other siblings do from your parent or guardian.
August 16, 2021
Finished reading THE PISTACHIO PERSCRIPTION by Paula Danziger, published in 1978. Paula Danziger is a fun author.
This is the third book I've read by her and she's like Judy Blume, but with more of a fun, sarcastic approach to her problems. This story is about Cassie who is not pretty and is kind of a hypochondriac. So much, in fact, that she's taken to eating pistachio nuts, thinking that they'll cure whatever ailment she has. But pistachios can't cure an older sister who hates her guts, a mom and dad who do nothing but fight, a best friend who is pushing Cassie to be the nominee for student body president, and a new boy who seems to take an interest in her.
While I didn't enjoy this one as much as Danziger's first novel, THE CAT ATE MY GYMSUIT, I still think this one was interesting enough. It's about school politics, horrible teachers, parents getting a divorce, and how to deal with members of the opposite sex when you're not the most attractive person on the planet.t.
While I didn't enjoy this one as much as Danziger's first novel, THE CAT ATE MY GYMSUIT, I still think this one was interesting enough. It's about school politics, horrible teachers, parents getting divorced, and how to deal with members of the opposite sex when you're not the most attractive person on the planet.
I think the one thing I am noticing with Danziger's writings is that the main characters are all different, but all seem the same in each of her novels. Not to say that's bad. Most authors fall into that sooner or later. But all the narrators remind me of what Paula Danziger herself was like or said or thought.
It's always fascinating to find these old young adult novels from the seventies and read about things from forty to fifty years ago and laugh at just how much things are still the same. I also find it confusing because while I read these stories I try and remember back to my middle school / high school days and I can't remember them very much. It's like the readings are clouding my brain into thinking that they were in some way my experience in school, even though they weren't. I suppose it's nice to imaging at my age that school back then was just as fast-paced and fun as a Paula Danziger novel. I will say that reading young adult novels as an adult has been a nostalgic and fun experience.
THE PISTACIO PERSCRIPTION, by Paula Danziger. 4/5.
This is the third book I've read by her and she's like Judy Blume, but with more of a fun, sarcastic approach to her problems. This story is about Cassie who is not pretty and is kind of a hypochondriac. So much, in fact, that she's taken to eating pistachio nuts, thinking that they'll cure whatever ailment she has. But pistachios can't cure an older sister who hates her guts, a mom and dad who do nothing but fight, a best friend who is pushing Cassie to be the nominee for student body president, and a new boy who seems to take an interest in her.
While I didn't enjoy this one as much as Danziger's first novel, THE CAT ATE MY GYMSUIT, I still think this one was interesting enough. It's about school politics, horrible teachers, parents getting a divorce, and how to deal with members of the opposite sex when you're not the most attractive person on the planet.t.
While I didn't enjoy this one as much as Danziger's first novel, THE CAT ATE MY GYMSUIT, I still think this one was interesting enough. It's about school politics, horrible teachers, parents getting divorced, and how to deal with members of the opposite sex when you're not the most attractive person on the planet.
I think the one thing I am noticing with Danziger's writings is that the main characters are all different, but all seem the same in each of her novels. Not to say that's bad. Most authors fall into that sooner or later. But all the narrators remind me of what Paula Danziger herself was like or said or thought.
It's always fascinating to find these old young adult novels from the seventies and read about things from forty to fifty years ago and laugh at just how much things are still the same. I also find it confusing because while I read these stories I try and remember back to my middle school / high school days and I can't remember them very much. It's like the readings are clouding my brain into thinking that they were in some way my experience in school, even though they weren't. I suppose it's nice to imaging at my age that school back then was just as fast-paced and fun as a Paula Danziger novel. I will say that reading young adult novels as an adult has been a nostalgic and fun experience.
THE PISTACIO PERSCRIPTION, by Paula Danziger. 4/5.
August 23, 2024
My sister read the Pistachio Prescription multiple times growing up. I never did, but I thought I should see what it was about. Somewhat relatable story of a girl who has aloof parents and who lives with anxiety. Some of it is cute, but I quit after 60 pages. It was killing my buzz for reading, probably because it was meant for a 12 year old, not someone of my vintage. It is a bit dated too. Changing the cover art for more modern times doesn't help improve that. Anyhoo...
December 3, 2019
It's been a while since I've read anything published before 1980. It's quite interesting to see the trends in MG / YA, clear back to Judy Blume's books -- this probably would fall into "YA" if written today but was in the "children's/MG" collection. Divorce. First kisses/boyfriends. Running for class president. A nice trip back in time!
May 7, 2024
This girl has some stuff going on. Some good, some bad, some terrible. Some ridiculous. She definitely has the most selfish parents I’ve ever heard of. While this book is entertaining to a degree, it’s also got a few annoying things going. I felt like the ending was rushed. Perhaps I should stick to books written for my own age group or learn to deal.
May 3, 2021
A favorite from childhood that held up really well. Normal coming of age angst here but with a lot of humor and a snarky bite. Despite a couple of details that set it in the era this is still a relatable story and good for any middle grade reader.
March 23, 2023
I never got around to reading this one as a kid and that's a shame -- this is delightful! Well-written characters and enough humor to balance out (but not cover up) the rather heavy subject matter (divorce, a narcissistic mother, a distant father, a child with extreme anxiety).
November 4, 2023
I felt like Danziger piled too much on top of Cassie through the first half, but I was ultimately moved by the resilience of the siblings and impressed by the author's consistent quirky humor throughout.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
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