The Kissing Diary

by Judith Caseley

Twelve-year-old Rosie Goldglitt is a never-been-kissed, hopeless romantic. Her mother has a new boyfriend. So why can't Rosie attract the attentions of the cutest boy in the seventh grade, Robbie Romano? Is it because she's two inches taller than he is? Is it her horrible name? Or is she simply a dork? If only she could be more like her rival, the perfect and popular Mary Katz, then maybe Robbie would notice her. As Rosie navigates the ups and downs of adolescence, she eagerly anticipates the experience of a first kiss - when she's not completely grossed out at the thought of it. But by the time the big dance rolls around, Rosie manages to surprise herself, in more ways than one.

This perceptive and funny story captures the bittersweetness and euphoria of growing up, the messiness of having a crush, and how sometimes the most unexpected things in life are the most enjoyable.

Genres: Realistic Fiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published July 24, 2007

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book attempts to capture the awkwardness of middle school and would be most enjoyed by a tween audience. Rosie Goldglitt has never been kissed (shocker). She is in love with a boy who doesn't know she exists, her parents are divorced, and her grandfather is dying. This is a little book with lots of stuff crammed into it, and in the end, nothing really ever happens. The moral of the story: 7th grade sucks. And don't make fun of the smelly kid too much because you might end up making out with him.

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve-year old Rosie is a pretty typical young girl growing up in a divorced family with an eccentric single mother. The kissing diary that the book is named after seems like a crutch for the story, especially since it doesn't live up to the name. But, the story of first crush is cute and the author creates a realistic pre-teen voice.

2010 NYRA nominee

[Julitza]

i cant contain any spoils but its about a romantic 12 year girl name rosie and she never been kissed! and she a has a major crush on this kid who is rude to rosie she scared him and made him fall in a bush and she said sorry i scared you thats where he started hateing her.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book for a younger female audience. A girl survives the divorce of her parents and learns to accept herself.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosie doesn't like her name, doesn't know how to attract the boy she likes, and doesn't know what to do about her mom kissing a strange man.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Caseley, Judith The Kissing Diary, Pg. 199: Frances Foster Books. Language-PG, Sexual Content-PG-13, Violence-PG.

Rosie Goldglitt is an outcast in school. She has a few friends but it doesn't help her status much. The bad thing is, she has a crush on the most popular boy in the whole school. Rosie struggles to decide whether or not she has a crush on the most popular boy in school.

This was an okay book, after the first chapter. The way that the book started made me want to slam the book shut and throw it on the ground because it was so inappropriate., but after I had made it through that part I was able to read on and finish the book.

MS, HS - NO, Student Reviewer-MP
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...

[Calli · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was not a very good put together book

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This plot has been done so many times!

Rosie parents are divorced and her parents are constantly knick-picking at each other.

Rosie is in love with Robbie, who is the popular boy in school. He acts like she doesn't even exist.

Mary is constantly mean to Rosie. One day Rosie snapped and punched Mary in the face. Rosie's friends started to treat her like an outcast.

While Rosie is having some problems at school, her grandpa is slowing deteriorating and is stuck in a nursing home.

Rosie found a note in her locker, asking her to the dance. She thought Robbie gave it to her. When she went to the dance, she saw Robbie kissing Mary.

Rosie found out that the note was from Billy, the smelly kid. She realized that she liked Billy instead.

[Hanna Aaron]

The book I was recently reading is The Kissing Diary. This book is about a twelve year old girl who's name is Rosie. Rosie's mother has a new boyfriend, and once Rosie sees how much her mom and her mom's new boyfriend are interested in each other, it makes Rosie wonder why she can't be romantic with someone. Maybe her middle school crush, Robbie? I personally liked the book at first, but the more I read it, the more I lost interest. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.

[Bekka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wonders about their first kiss. It's about a girl who is dieing for her first kiss and begins studying the people around her to find out how to kiss, like her mother and her mother's boyfriend. As she goes along with this journey she learns a few things about kissing, and a few things abouther crush. I suggest you read it and find out what happens!

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet romance for younger girls with good storyline and fairly well drawn characters. My soon-to-be 6th grade daughter really liked it. Just enough boy stuff to make it interesting but not so much more.

[Chelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I abandoned this book because, to me, it just dragged on and on. The age group was too immature for me, things iv already experienced, and things iv already witnessed in my lifetime. This would be a great book for 7th and 8th graders.

[Madelin Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this is a ........... Book that tells an talks about middle school 7th grade ,romance ok to the point now lets see Rosie has never been kissed (shoker)but she is in love with Robbie the most popular 7th grader but she isn't in love with it ut she will find thatout through the story!!!!!!!!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

See Something to Blog About for comments

[Holly]

young, easy girl read

[Diana · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring!!

[Korbyn]

I absolutely LOVED this book it was sooo good and gave great advice i read this for my summer reading book and actually loved it.. i would reccomend this book to like anyone. :]

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ilove this book It was very differant but intresting at the same time.

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very dull novel that I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

[Juliette Fonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book really related to girls in middle school and some of there thoughts they had through out the 3 years.

[Haylie Sonsthagen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, but not that fun to read.

[Grace Paustian]

I liked this book because it was really romantic and I would reccomend this book to anyone who likes romance.