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Ally's World #7
Parties, Predicaments and Undercover Pets
Welcome to my world. It's weird but kind of wonderful. For once, Ally's looking forward to school - well, the last week of it anyway. There's a fun run and - joy - the legendary end-of-term party. But that's before Kyra starts smuggling illegal pets into school, and then expects Ally to deal with the fall-out. But Ally's got her own problems to deal with, not least a game of Spin the Bottle that goes weirdly, worrisomely wrong...
Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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121 people want to read
About the author
Karen McCombie
182 books195 followersKaren McCombie is a bestselling author of children's and young adult novels, and has had more than 90 books published. She is the author of the much-loved series 'Ally's World' (early 2000s) and her most recent books include the Carnegie-nominated historical adventure 'Little Bird Flies' (2019) and it's newly published partner novel 'Little Bird Lands' (2020, Nosy Crow Books), plus the 'St Grizzle's School' series for younger readers (Stripes). She has several books publishing in 2021.
Originally from Scotland, Karen lives in London with her husband, her teenage daughter and beautiful but bitey cat Dizzy.
Originally from Scotland, Karen lives in London with her husband, her teenage daughter and beautiful but bitey cat Dizzy.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 14, 2019
As you can probably tell I love this series, they may only be short books but they are just so cosy and fast paced that you can easily get through them in one sitting.
In this book we follow Ally and family as they have to deal with MORE animals, a fun run that isn't actually that fun and how Ally gets roped in to playing spin the bottle
Once again I love these books, each one contains an important message so I think they are great for young teenagers (god I sound old) because this is a similar age to Ally and a lot of the problems that happen in the book are also happening to teenagers e.g. boys, wanting a pet etc. The biggest thing in this book is one of Ally's friends decides she is having a pet but has absolutely no idea what to do with one once she gets it - aka a common problem with kids nowadays. So this book is definitely an insight into what getting a pet involves and why you need to be fully prepared for one
I would definitely recommend this series, I am really looking forward to picking the rest of the series up and seeing what more trouble Ally can get in to! If you are thinking of picking up the series definitely start from book 1 as you will be quite confused with all the characters. You can then pretty much jump around but you might miss a few references but nothing vital
In this book we follow Ally and family as they have to deal with MORE animals, a fun run that isn't actually that fun and how Ally gets roped in to playing spin the bottle
Once again I love these books, each one contains an important message so I think they are great for young teenagers (god I sound old) because this is a similar age to Ally and a lot of the problems that happen in the book are also happening to teenagers e.g. boys, wanting a pet etc. The biggest thing in this book is one of Ally's friends decides she is having a pet but has absolutely no idea what to do with one once she gets it - aka a common problem with kids nowadays. So this book is definitely an insight into what getting a pet involves and why you need to be fully prepared for one
I would definitely recommend this series, I am really looking forward to picking the rest of the series up and seeing what more trouble Ally can get in to! If you are thinking of picking up the series definitely start from book 1 as you will be quite confused with all the characters. You can then pretty much jump around but you might miss a few references but nothing vital
July 14, 2016
Ooh the ending! Quite cute..
January 21, 2014
*SERIES REVIEW*
I have finally finished the series. All fourteen books, in a space of ten days. I read the first four books in the series when I was ten or eleven, and I adored them. This January, I really felt like revisiting them, as well as continuing with the rest of the books in the series that were still in the garage. I was scared that I wouldn't like them anymore in case I felt that they were too young for me...but I think I loved them even more this time round. IT WAS JUST...SO... PERFECT! *sobs* And I am now officially emotionally attached to this series.
The whole Ally's World series centers around thirteen year old Ally who lives in Crouch End in London, in her ramshackle house with her quirky family. Throughout the series we are introduced to her sweet, but dippy dad; her seventeen year old sister Linn, who is neat freak and is quite grouchy with the fact that she has to live in such a chaotic house; Rowan, who is fifteen years old and is away with the fairies, her room is completely overtaken by fairy-lights and her own misshapen art projects; last but not least is her seven year old brother Tor, who is an animal fanatic, with a bedroom that doubles as the equivalent of London zoo. The only person missing in this equation is there mom who left them four years ago, battling bad post-natal depression after having Tor, to go travel the world that she has always wanted to see.
I absolutely ADORE Ally's family. They are all so loveable and quirky and I just adore them! Linn is the super-sensible, neat-freak and the oldest one out of the siblings. She also thinks that she has actually been adopted and belongs to a royal family somewhere out there. I felt sorry for Linn, at times I wished she wouldn't be so grouchy, but I could understand the frustration that she felt. I completely adored Rowan, she was utterly adorable and so sweet! I loved how she wasn't afraid to be different and dress quirkily, as it really just made her such a fantastic character that was strong in her own way. Tor was utterly adorable, he is such a cute character, and I loved reading about all his endless pets. I also loved Ivy, who was such a sweet little thing, she is only introduced way later in the series though, so I won't say much else!
I love that Karen McCombie has shown us all these little things that the characters do and how different their personality traits are. She wrote the family aspect amazingly - capturing the chaotic, yet wonderful, every day life of being in a big family. The characters had their ups and downs, where they lent on each other for support when there were times as trouble and I could clearly see the strong bond they all had with each other. It was truly wonderful the way Karen McCombie wrote the life of the Love family.
Throughout Ally's World, we also become acquainted with Sandie, Ally's best friend who can win the award for being The Shyest Person in the Universe; Kyra (my name!), who, at first sights, is seen as rude and obnoxious...but there is more than meets the eye; Billy, Ally's boy best mate and her four other friends who we also begin to know, but not quite as well as the others, who are made up of Chloe, Jen, Salma and Kellie.
The characters in this series are fantastic!
Ally is such a phenomenal character! She is sarcastic, funny, kind and she tells her stories with such an authentic voice. Throughout the series it honestly feels like we have become best friends. I love the way she tells the stories of her everyday life and how she deals with certain situations. She is also a character that I can relate to, as we are both professional worriers.
Then there are Ally's three best friends: Sandie, who is such a sweet character that I immediately liked, although she did disappoint me later on in the story as she did something that she really shouldn't have done, but I suppose it did all workout in the end. Billy, I adored Billy! He is, as Ally calls him, such a berk. He's absolutely hilarious and I often found myself laughing at the ridiculous antics that he could get up to. Then there is Kyra...at first I was disappointed to share my name with her, as she was quite rude and obnoxious without a singular tactful bone in her body.
However, I soon learned about Kyra's troubled home life in book four and I felt sorry for her. Kyra, as a character, definitely improves throughout the series. She is still loud and obnoxious...but she is funny and sarcastic too, which is a good thing. I think.
This is a truly phenomenal series. I would love to say more, especially about books 10 to 14 in the series. Some truly shocking things happened and there were times where I wanted to cry, scream, hug the books and fling them across the room.
Whenever I started reading the next book in the series, I felt like I was being welcomed into my second home. It felt like I was literally living in the story, and partaking in the hustle of the Love household's every day life. I felt like part of the family. I know the characters' histories, I know their fears, their wants and I know each of them as they were my own sibling.
I think that's the truly amazing thing that Karen McCombie accomplished when she wrote the stories, is how she makes you feel like you're living in their world. She makes the characters seem so unbelievably real.
When you open another Ally's World book, you'll feel as if you are walking into your second home.
These books are absolutely perfect. The characters are loveable, the dialogue is fantastic and Karen McCombie has a way with words that will have you devouring every word on the page and constantly in hunger for more.
The last book was highly emotional, as I saw how far the characters had come, compared to where they were at in the first book. Laughs will be had, tears will be shed, hearts will broken, unexpected love lurks around the corner, families will fall and families will be completed. The last book was stunning and I was a highly emotional person after the final page had been read. A series that I will cherish. After reading this whole series, I can safely say Karen McCombie is now one of my favourite authors.
If you are to read these books, I'd recommend that you make sure you have all the books in the series at your fingertips, as you'll want to keep reading and drinking in the words and completely losing yourself in Ally's World.
I give it: 5/5 CUPCAKES!
I have finally finished the series. All fourteen books, in a space of ten days. I read the first four books in the series when I was ten or eleven, and I adored them. This January, I really felt like revisiting them, as well as continuing with the rest of the books in the series that were still in the garage. I was scared that I wouldn't like them anymore in case I felt that they were too young for me...but I think I loved them even more this time round. IT WAS JUST...SO... PERFECT! *sobs* And I am now officially emotionally attached to this series.
The whole Ally's World series centers around thirteen year old Ally who lives in Crouch End in London, in her ramshackle house with her quirky family. Throughout the series we are introduced to her sweet, but dippy dad; her seventeen year old sister Linn, who is neat freak and is quite grouchy with the fact that she has to live in such a chaotic house; Rowan, who is fifteen years old and is away with the fairies, her room is completely overtaken by fairy-lights and her own misshapen art projects; last but not least is her seven year old brother Tor, who is an animal fanatic, with a bedroom that doubles as the equivalent of London zoo. The only person missing in this equation is there mom who left them four years ago, battling bad post-natal depression after having Tor, to go travel the world that she has always wanted to see.
I absolutely ADORE Ally's family. They are all so loveable and quirky and I just adore them! Linn is the super-sensible, neat-freak and the oldest one out of the siblings. She also thinks that she has actually been adopted and belongs to a royal family somewhere out there. I felt sorry for Linn, at times I wished she wouldn't be so grouchy, but I could understand the frustration that she felt. I completely adored Rowan, she was utterly adorable and so sweet! I loved how she wasn't afraid to be different and dress quirkily, as it really just made her such a fantastic character that was strong in her own way. Tor was utterly adorable, he is such a cute character, and I loved reading about all his endless pets. I also loved Ivy, who was such a sweet little thing, she is only introduced way later in the series though, so I won't say much else!
I love that Karen McCombie has shown us all these little things that the characters do and how different their personality traits are. She wrote the family aspect amazingly - capturing the chaotic, yet wonderful, every day life of being in a big family. The characters had their ups and downs, where they lent on each other for support when there were times as trouble and I could clearly see the strong bond they all had with each other. It was truly wonderful the way Karen McCombie wrote the life of the Love family.
Throughout Ally's World, we also become acquainted with Sandie, Ally's best friend who can win the award for being The Shyest Person in the Universe; Kyra (my name!), who, at first sights, is seen as rude and obnoxious...but there is more than meets the eye; Billy, Ally's boy best mate and her four other friends who we also begin to know, but not quite as well as the others, who are made up of Chloe, Jen, Salma and Kellie.
The characters in this series are fantastic!
Ally is such a phenomenal character! She is sarcastic, funny, kind and she tells her stories with such an authentic voice. Throughout the series it honestly feels like we have become best friends. I love the way she tells the stories of her everyday life and how she deals with certain situations. She is also a character that I can relate to, as we are both professional worriers.
Then there are Ally's three best friends: Sandie, who is such a sweet character that I immediately liked, although she did disappoint me later on in the story as she did something that she really shouldn't have done, but I suppose it did all workout in the end. Billy, I adored Billy! He is, as Ally calls him, such a berk. He's absolutely hilarious and I often found myself laughing at the ridiculous antics that he could get up to. Then there is Kyra...at first I was disappointed to share my name with her, as she was quite rude and obnoxious without a singular tactful bone in her body.
However, I soon learned about Kyra's troubled home life in book four and I felt sorry for her. Kyra, as a character, definitely improves throughout the series. She is still loud and obnoxious...but she is funny and sarcastic too, which is a good thing. I think.
This is a truly phenomenal series. I would love to say more, especially about books 10 to 14 in the series. Some truly shocking things happened and there were times where I wanted to cry, scream, hug the books and fling them across the room.
Whenever I started reading the next book in the series, I felt like I was being welcomed into my second home. It felt like I was literally living in the story, and partaking in the hustle of the Love household's every day life. I felt like part of the family. I know the characters' histories, I know their fears, their wants and I know each of them as they were my own sibling.
I think that's the truly amazing thing that Karen McCombie accomplished when she wrote the stories, is how she makes you feel like you're living in their world. She makes the characters seem so unbelievably real.
When you open another Ally's World book, you'll feel as if you are walking into your second home.
These books are absolutely perfect. The characters are loveable, the dialogue is fantastic and Karen McCombie has a way with words that will have you devouring every word on the page and constantly in hunger for more.
The last book was highly emotional, as I saw how far the characters had come, compared to where they were at in the first book. Laughs will be had, tears will be shed, hearts will broken, unexpected love lurks around the corner, families will fall and families will be completed. The last book was stunning and I was a highly emotional person after the final page had been read. A series that I will cherish. After reading this whole series, I can safely say Karen McCombie is now one of my favourite authors.
If you are to read these books, I'd recommend that you make sure you have all the books in the series at your fingertips, as you'll want to keep reading and drinking in the words and completely losing yourself in Ally's World.
I give it: 5/5 CUPCAKES!
February 24, 2025
Po dlouhé době jsem se vrátila k Aliciným dobrodružstvím a opět nezklamaly. Tentokrát se děj točí okolo konce školního roku a nadšení zúčastnit se všech úžasných akcí, které škola před létem pořádá. Bohužel do toho Alici neplánovaně vpadne řada nepříjemností a oslavy neproběhnou podle představ.
Změna oproti předešlým dílům je v tom, že se zde objevuje romantický zájem. I když se Alfie v minulých knihách osvědčil jako skvělý crush, všichni tuší, že se jedná jen o crush. V tomto díle se konečně objeví někdo zajímavý, u kterého je cítit potenciál. Ačkoliv jsem si Alfieho zamilovala a tajně Alice přála, aby jí to vyšlo, jsem ráda, se nám to po romantické stránce trochu rozpohybovalo s někým jiným. Budu doufat, že se jedná o přechodný romantický zájem a nakonec to Alice a Alfiemu vyjde, protože si holt nemohu pomoct a jsem fanoušek klišé. Ačkoliv stále nerozumím klučičí logice, že když budou kluci holku otravovat a částečně šikanovat, vyjadřují tím zájem.
Alicina kamarádka Kyra mi v tomto díle vyloženě pila krev. Běžně mě pouze mírně irituje, ale tentokrát se svým frackovským přístupem překročila mezi. Nechápu, že ji Alice trpí. Na jednu stranu rozumím složitosti její rodinné situace, ale kdyby mi bez varování vrazila svoje koťátko, protože se o něj nezvládá starat, hezky bych se na ni vykašlala.
Líbí se mi zobrazení homosexuálnímu páru sousedů Aliciny rodiny, protože mi přijde fajn do mladistvé literatury tato témata nenásilně zakomponovat. Tím, jak je série stará, mě to těší o to víc.
Změna oproti předešlým dílům je v tom, že se zde objevuje romantický zájem. I když se Alfie v minulých knihách osvědčil jako skvělý crush, všichni tuší, že se jedná jen o crush. V tomto díle se konečně objeví někdo zajímavý, u kterého je cítit potenciál. Ačkoliv jsem si Alfieho zamilovala a tajně Alice přála, aby jí to vyšlo, jsem ráda, se nám to po romantické stránce trochu rozpohybovalo s někým jiným. Budu doufat, že se jedná o přechodný romantický zájem a nakonec to Alice a Alfiemu vyjde, protože si holt nemohu pomoct a jsem fanoušek klišé. Ačkoliv stále nerozumím klučičí logice, že když budou kluci holku otravovat a částečně šikanovat, vyjadřují tím zájem.
Alicina kamarádka Kyra mi v tomto díle vyloženě pila krev. Běžně mě pouze mírně irituje, ale tentokrát se svým frackovským přístupem překročila mezi. Nechápu, že ji Alice trpí. Na jednu stranu rozumím složitosti její rodinné situace, ale kdyby mi bez varování vrazila svoje koťátko, protože se o něj nezvládá starat, hezky bych se na ni vykašlala.
Líbí se mi zobrazení homosexuálnímu páru sousedů Aliciny rodiny, protože mi přijde fajn do mladistvé literatury tato témata nenásilně zakomponovat. Tím, jak je série stará, mě to těší o to víc.
November 18, 2019
I finished this book ages ago I've just been so busy with school that I haven't had a chance to update my good reads. I really love this series and they will always hold a special place in my heart and be nostalgic for me, hence the 5 star rating. Sometimes it's great to read a book that's just light hearted, funny, relatable and easy to read. Also I read this book and the series ages ago, this is definitely one of the best books in the series as well.
April 8, 2023
Série: Alice a ... .Tuto sérii jsem naprosto milovala.Alice je velmi vtipná a blázen.Oblíbila jsem si celou rodinu a mimo to i Alfieho.Rozhodně doporučuji sice je Alice 13 let,ale myslím,že knížku si můžou přečíst i starší. ;)
December 23, 2019
I love these series
November 15, 2013
**GENERAL REVIEW FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES**
Aww, man....
I started reading these books when I was about nine years old. I don't think I even read them in order at first, just got whichever ones I could find out of my schools library. I loved them. LOVED.
Eventually I figured out the order and filled in the gaps. And then proceeded to read the entire series about five times over. Those were the times.
Ally was my spirit animal in those days. She was a little awkward, wasn't quite sure where she fit into her family, had a nice group of friends but only a special few that she considered best friends. She was unlucky in love, to say the least. That's not even mentioning all of the unbelievably embarrassing moments.
Coupled with a few other series, these books pretty much sum up my childhood reading. I think my heart sank a little when I realised I was reading the last one.
Aww, man....
I started reading these books when I was about nine years old. I don't think I even read them in order at first, just got whichever ones I could find out of my schools library. I loved them. LOVED.
Eventually I figured out the order and filled in the gaps. And then proceeded to read the entire series about five times over. Those were the times.
Ally was my spirit animal in those days. She was a little awkward, wasn't quite sure where she fit into her family, had a nice group of friends but only a special few that she considered best friends. She was unlucky in love, to say the least. That's not even mentioning all of the unbelievably embarrassing moments.
Coupled with a few other series, these books pretty much sum up my childhood reading. I think my heart sank a little when I realised I was reading the last one.
July 24, 2022
Takové to, když se člověku děje jedna katastrofa za druhou a stane se toho pekelný týden, který jako by ne a nechtěl skončit. Alice se dostává do kolotoče nepříjemných událostí a neví, jak z nich vybruslit. Ale zároveň je to zdroj zábavných hlášek a vtipných momentů, u kterých jsem se pobavila. Možná to není úplně nejsilnější díl ze všech, ale stejně jsem se bavila. Nevím, kam autorka chodí na ty zápletky. Sice působí dost jednoduše, ale přitom jsou tak ze života, že se v řadě z nich člověk prostě najde. Baví, prostě baví.
June 21, 2023
For me, this is a prime example of a mid-series slump. Kyra still has one or two moments, but has now pretty much become a terrible friend (and an even worse pet owner). Ally suddenly can't walk around school without tripping; Tor's suddenly neglectful of the needs of his less cute and fluffy pets, and some moron called Feargal O'Leary has suddenly materialised in order to play a major role. Oh, and did I mention Feargal was black? Well, the narrative certainly mentions it, a lot!
September 24, 2010
Do I honestly have to keep on saying how I love Karen. If your out there Karen I LOVE YOU!!!
October 21, 2016
3.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews