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Karen Kepplewhite & Janet Hamm #2
Janet Hamm Needs a Date for the Dance
Peer pressure and the lack of a date for the seventh grade dance lead Janet Hamm to inventing a date, but she finds her dishonesty brings complications
- GenresMiddle GradeChildrens
104 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1986
39 people want to read
About the author
Eve Bunting
314 books411 followersAlso known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 7, 2022
Okay, yes, this story has 80s language like, "It's only dumb old Danny DePuzo," which I hated even when I was twelve because it sounds both fake and mean. But, it's followed with lines like, "Either he's putting girls down or trying to get one to go out with him. He never seems to understand that the two things don't go together." So I'll give those handful of dumbs an 80s pass.
The main plots in this story are that Janet needs a date to her end-of-the-year seven grade dance, and that she's jealous of her best friend's new friend.
It's sweet and fun and uses expressions like "Horrors!" so it's a win for me. Plus there's piano playing and planting carrots.
The main plots in this story are that Janet needs a date to her end-of-the-year seven grade dance, and that she's jealous of her best friend's new friend.
It's sweet and fun and uses expressions like "Horrors!" so it's a win for me. Plus there's piano playing and planting carrots.
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June 24, 2024Janet Hamm Needs A Date For The Dance
Janet, Karen, and Star see a notice that the seventh graders will be having a dance thrown by the Leadership Club. It says dating is acceptable (which makes Janet worry). Danny (this jerk of a boy in their class) and asks Star (who's the prettiest girl at Rosevelt). Star says she’s she’ll probably be going with John Hunt (her boyfriend), but she tries to let him down easily because not only is she pretty she’s nice. Janet is hoping that Danny asks her for fear no one else will ask her. Then he asks Karen. (And I’m just figuring out she’s in another series “Karen Kepplewhite Is The World’s Best Kisser”. But even though she says she doesn’t know they all know that this guy named Mark who likes her will ask her. Star says that Danny doesn’t have to have a date, but he says nah. All the best-looking girls will have a date. The leftovers will be dogs. Janet quickly changes her mind about him wanting to ask her. He says he’ll have a hot date don’t worry. Then he moves on down the hall to a girl named Connie. A girl named Francine asks if Janet is going to ask somebody. She suggests they go as a group. Janet knows it's her way of saving face so they won’t get their expectations up.
On the way home, Star, Karen, and Janet start to talk about the dance and what they’ll wear (it’s a 50’s theme dance). Karen says she wishes Micky Mouse (Michael Moss) hadn’t moved away. She says he really liked Janet. But if he liked her so much why hasn’t he written her? Karen invites Janet and Star over later so they can talk more about the dance. As Janet watches her friends leave, she’s a little jealous of how close Karen and Star are. When Janet gets home, Wilbur (her brother) hints that her mother is seeing someone and when she gets in the house she’s talking on the phone and the house is clean. Janet thinks it will be nice to have a man around. (She’s given up on her father), But then what if he’s a jerk? At her piano lesson, she plays a beautiful rendition of “Yesterday”.
Mark does ask Karen to the dance. Star and Karen hug each other and jump around. Janet thinks she and Karen use to do that. Then she notices Karen and Star giving each other a look like they have a secret. Georgie says no one would want to go to the dance with a mean girl like her (Karen’s brother). Janet was playing with him before and holding him upside down and making him say he’d go to the dance with him. Then I think she took his flute.
Her brother tells her he hears their mom talking to this guy and he asked if she’d go to Tahiti with him. On the way to school, Francine says a boy named Chance asked her to the dance. He’s in the ninth grade. Then he announces to a boy passing by named Simon to pass it on that Janet needs a date. But Star sticks up for her and says Janet is coming with them. Janet says she *already* has a date for the dance. She says she already asked someone and they said yes. Only she knows the only boy she asked said he wouldn’t go with her if she were Princess Leah. They all try to guess who it is, but Janet isn’t saying. She thinks about telling them later but then she also thinks about Karen and Star’s secret. Danny says she’s lying and that she made him up. But Janet swears on it.
Janet meets a boy named Rolf (that’s German) that’s also taking lessons from Penny, He offers to plant some carrot garden with her but Janet turns it down. When at home she meets her brother’s friend Collen and she thinks he’s really nice looking, All of a sudden Janet’s all into Dungeons and Dragons. Collen says it’ll take months to explain it. But he starts to introduce Janet to his characters. But then his attention turns back to the game. Dismissed Janet realizes that her mom has doodled hearts on a notepad with a number. It must be the mystery guy. Janets copies the number and puts the paper in her pocket. She won’t call but she figures it’ll be handy if her mom disappears to Tahiti. The next day, Karen, Star, and Francine try to get hints out of Janet. She says he has big brown eyes and he plays baseball. She also says he’s not that athletic, but he likes to read. He also likes to play games. He also something of a musician (All true of Georgie). She’s saying he’s not all that short but not all that tall. Then she looks over and sees Collen. Only it doesn’t seem like he remembers her. But he says hi anyway. Then he comes over. Janet introduces him to her friends. Then Janet gives him the Star test. That’s to see if he does something other than oogle star. He passes. She tells him she checked the library for a DNB book. He’s impressed and says he has a copy and he’ll lend it to her. Collen says he’ll bring it by later. Karen and Star lose their minds and start jumping all around. They’re thinking that he’s the one. Janet tries to correct them, but they barely hear her. Janet thinks of how she can tell them the truth but they pick then to tell to confess their secret. So, Janet decides to hold off on telling them the truth.
The secret is Star knows a lady that will make them poodle skirts. Stars will be yellow. Karen’s will be pink. Then she’ll make one for Janet in blue. She also has angora frills to put on top of their socks and necklines. Star and Karen worry that Collen won’t want to go with them. This is when reality hits and Jeants gets out of there. She runs over to Penny’s house. Rolf is there and has planted a carrot garden. While Rolf goes in to practice, Janet tends to the carrot garden and thinks about how she’s going to get Collen to go to the dance with her. When she comes home, her mom she says she’s working out and taking computer classes at the community college. She asks Janet to be her friend and offers her encouragement from time to time. She admits she hasn’t given Janet and her brother that but “someone” told her that today was the first day of her life. Live it and live it well. Janet wonders what she’d say if she knew the mess she was in.
The next time Collen comes by Janet goes all out. She puts on a crop top, her best jeans, pearl earrings, and lip gloss with a KISS ME appeal, and pink nail polish. She srapys on some Heaven Sent perfume. Collen is so wrapped up in the game he barely notices. He’s even forgot to bring the book. She tries to get his attention by mentioning that she’s interested in getting a Dungeon and Dragon club started at her school. She also throws in if she takes him to the dance she can introduce him as the DND master. When she finally gets his attention, he says he’ll go to the dance. She then goes to the library to check out a DND book. After this, she goes to Pennys and Rolf is there. She tells him she’s going to the dance with an older guy and he says there must be someone younger (hint hint). He tells her he really wants to be her “friend”. She doesn’t take the hint and says she’ll be his friend and he’ll probably have a lot of friends once school starts. When she gets back, Wilmer breaks it to her that Collen doesn’t listen when he’s playing DND. He also kinda says he’ll go to talk about the but he didn’t really pick up on the “dance” part of it all. So,Wilmer told him it was a bad idea. Plus, Collen has a girlfriend. Janet breaks down and starts crying and her brother doesn’t know what to do with this. So, he just awkwardly puts her arm around her and offers to go to the dance with her. So, he just changes the subject and starts talking about their mom’s “mystery man”. They both decide to call the number. Turns out it’s a recording of a guy named “Adonis” and he starts talking about this fantasy scenario. They call again and there’s a different scenario. HA! THIS IS SO PATHETIC! I DON’T THINK IN MY WORSE MOMENTS I WOULD HAVE DONE T (AND I HAVE HAD SOME IN THE PAST).
Wilmir says he bets she’ll find a friend and that (that) guy was too old for her. snorts the phone sex guy). After this, Janet thinks of Rolf. She goes to return the books. Then she sees that Rolf is still there. (He was there before fronting like he was into carrots and carrot recipes). Janet asks him when his recital is and tells him she’d like to go. Janet asks Rolf to the dance and he says Rolf says yes. Big sigh of relief. Janet says she might have to get permission, but he says he’ll be going to the school anyway next year. He’ll be in the eighth grade like she is. Janet fears that he’ll move soon just like Micheal but he says no chance of that. They just moved here. The librarian tells Janet she has some new DND books but she says she won’t need them and then whispers to her that she has a date.
Then she tells her friends she’ll be going with Rolf instead of Colin. They all go have ice cream and Janet confesses everything. Karen thinks it’s romantic meeting by a carrot tree and Star thinks it’s nice that he made a garden for her. On the night of the dance, they all get initial chains, They all look great in their poodle skirts, angora ankle socks, and collars. Janet’s mom gives her a pale, blue, angora sweater that goes perfect with Janet’s skirt. Now she doesn’t have to wear the tight, blue, tee-shirt that Karen gave her to wear. Rolf has his hair in a ducktail and Janet’s mom tells him he looks like a young Jame’s Dean. The dance decorations are great. There’s even a mirror ball. Janet is a little worried what they’ll think of Rolf, but Karen and Star approve of him right off the bat. They both go nuts over Janet’s sweater. Danny turns out to be the DJ He was going around bragging he was going to bring the best babes to the dance .. and he did the one on the RECORDS. But now Janet GETS IT! Sometimes people make stuff up because they don’t want to be shamed by their peers.
Francine’s date looks OLD (the malbarow man?). She tries to compensate by making snide comments about Janet’s date and calling him small. And then they find out Francine’s date Chance is her cousin. The teacher surprises Janet by allowing Ralph to come up on stage and play the drums. Janet is a little nervous but her teacher says he can play. It’s his drum set that’s on the stage. But then Rolf brings the house down! All the kids LOVE him and yell out for more. Karen and Star think he’s HOT! Even Francine is on his jock now. Janet tells Francine off and says she doesn’t like Rolf because he’s talented. She likes him because of who he is.
!
My Thoughts
So, I started a shelf called “I Remember” on my shelves. These are books I remember owning but not quite what they were about. So, I need a refresher and I started with this one. I do remember the cover vividly. There were elements of this that were memorable (the ice cream shop, the poodle skirts). I also remembered Karen from another book that I also had (that I’ll also have to go back and read).
It feels like I’ve read countless of these books about school dances. Then there’s the drama surrounding if the girl will get asked. The funny thing is when I was in middle school, and in high school. I don’t remember one dance where this was a serious issue. I do vaguely remember there might have been the occasional party in the gym (in middle school) but I don’t remember there being an emphasis on having to go with *anyone*. You kinda just went with your friends and then everyone danced. If you danced with someone cool. If not you just danced with whoever you came with. If at all. And even though it was a long time ago since I’ve been in the seventh grade, I don’t think anyone gave you ish about it.
What kind of made me amused was this “fantasy guy”. I was just thinking ok. Now I know there probably *was* something like this way back when but I just can’t see a woman actually calling one of these recordings. Now maybe if the guy was “REAL” I could definitely see there being a line for lonely women to call to talk to a guy that could engage them in some romantic conversation because I knoooow how rough it gets. But a RECORDING spouting off romantic scenarios. UH NOOO! To each his own tho I guess. If this did it for Janet’s mom then hey. All in all, this was a good first book to start my shelf. Sometimes you do have to look past what LOOKS good to what’s good FOR you. Rolf seemed a lot better suited for Janet. Truthfully DND guy just seemed boring.
Rating: 6
Janet, Karen, and Star see a notice that the seventh graders will be having a dance thrown by the Leadership Club. It says dating is acceptable (which makes Janet worry). Danny (this jerk of a boy in their class) and asks Star (who's the prettiest girl at Rosevelt). Star says she’s she’ll probably be going with John Hunt (her boyfriend), but she tries to let him down easily because not only is she pretty she’s nice. Janet is hoping that Danny asks her for fear no one else will ask her. Then he asks Karen. (And I’m just figuring out she’s in another series “Karen Kepplewhite Is The World’s Best Kisser”. But even though she says she doesn’t know they all know that this guy named Mark who likes her will ask her. Star says that Danny doesn’t have to have a date, but he says nah. All the best-looking girls will have a date. The leftovers will be dogs. Janet quickly changes her mind about him wanting to ask her. He says he’ll have a hot date don’t worry. Then he moves on down the hall to a girl named Connie. A girl named Francine asks if Janet is going to ask somebody. She suggests they go as a group. Janet knows it's her way of saving face so they won’t get their expectations up.
On the way home, Star, Karen, and Janet start to talk about the dance and what they’ll wear (it’s a 50’s theme dance). Karen says she wishes Micky Mouse (Michael Moss) hadn’t moved away. She says he really liked Janet. But if he liked her so much why hasn’t he written her? Karen invites Janet and Star over later so they can talk more about the dance. As Janet watches her friends leave, she’s a little jealous of how close Karen and Star are. When Janet gets home, Wilbur (her brother) hints that her mother is seeing someone and when she gets in the house she’s talking on the phone and the house is clean. Janet thinks it will be nice to have a man around. (She’s given up on her father), But then what if he’s a jerk? At her piano lesson, she plays a beautiful rendition of “Yesterday”.
Mark does ask Karen to the dance. Star and Karen hug each other and jump around. Janet thinks she and Karen use to do that. Then she notices Karen and Star giving each other a look like they have a secret. Georgie says no one would want to go to the dance with a mean girl like her (Karen’s brother). Janet was playing with him before and holding him upside down and making him say he’d go to the dance with him. Then I think she took his flute.
Her brother tells her he hears their mom talking to this guy and he asked if she’d go to Tahiti with him. On the way to school, Francine says a boy named Chance asked her to the dance. He’s in the ninth grade. Then he announces to a boy passing by named Simon to pass it on that Janet needs a date. But Star sticks up for her and says Janet is coming with them. Janet says she *already* has a date for the dance. She says she already asked someone and they said yes. Only she knows the only boy she asked said he wouldn’t go with her if she were Princess Leah. They all try to guess who it is, but Janet isn’t saying. She thinks about telling them later but then she also thinks about Karen and Star’s secret. Danny says she’s lying and that she made him up. But Janet swears on it.
Janet meets a boy named Rolf (that’s German) that’s also taking lessons from Penny, He offers to plant some carrot garden with her but Janet turns it down. When at home she meets her brother’s friend Collen and she thinks he’s really nice looking, All of a sudden Janet’s all into Dungeons and Dragons. Collen says it’ll take months to explain it. But he starts to introduce Janet to his characters. But then his attention turns back to the game. Dismissed Janet realizes that her mom has doodled hearts on a notepad with a number. It must be the mystery guy. Janets copies the number and puts the paper in her pocket. She won’t call but she figures it’ll be handy if her mom disappears to Tahiti. The next day, Karen, Star, and Francine try to get hints out of Janet. She says he has big brown eyes and he plays baseball. She also says he’s not that athletic, but he likes to read. He also likes to play games. He also something of a musician (All true of Georgie). She’s saying he’s not all that short but not all that tall. Then she looks over and sees Collen. Only it doesn’t seem like he remembers her. But he says hi anyway. Then he comes over. Janet introduces him to her friends. Then Janet gives him the Star test. That’s to see if he does something other than oogle star. He passes. She tells him she checked the library for a DNB book. He’s impressed and says he has a copy and he’ll lend it to her. Collen says he’ll bring it by later. Karen and Star lose their minds and start jumping all around. They’re thinking that he’s the one. Janet tries to correct them, but they barely hear her. Janet thinks of how she can tell them the truth but they pick then to tell to confess their secret. So, Janet decides to hold off on telling them the truth.
The secret is Star knows a lady that will make them poodle skirts. Stars will be yellow. Karen’s will be pink. Then she’ll make one for Janet in blue. She also has angora frills to put on top of their socks and necklines. Star and Karen worry that Collen won’t want to go with them. This is when reality hits and Jeants gets out of there. She runs over to Penny’s house. Rolf is there and has planted a carrot garden. While Rolf goes in to practice, Janet tends to the carrot garden and thinks about how she’s going to get Collen to go to the dance with her. When she comes home, her mom she says she’s working out and taking computer classes at the community college. She asks Janet to be her friend and offers her encouragement from time to time. She admits she hasn’t given Janet and her brother that but “someone” told her that today was the first day of her life. Live it and live it well. Janet wonders what she’d say if she knew the mess she was in.
The next time Collen comes by Janet goes all out. She puts on a crop top, her best jeans, pearl earrings, and lip gloss with a KISS ME appeal, and pink nail polish. She srapys on some Heaven Sent perfume. Collen is so wrapped up in the game he barely notices. He’s even forgot to bring the book. She tries to get his attention by mentioning that she’s interested in getting a Dungeon and Dragon club started at her school. She also throws in if she takes him to the dance she can introduce him as the DND master. When she finally gets his attention, he says he’ll go to the dance. She then goes to the library to check out a DND book. After this, she goes to Pennys and Rolf is there. She tells him she’s going to the dance with an older guy and he says there must be someone younger (hint hint). He tells her he really wants to be her “friend”. She doesn’t take the hint and says she’ll be his friend and he’ll probably have a lot of friends once school starts. When she gets back, Wilmer breaks it to her that Collen doesn’t listen when he’s playing DND. He also kinda says he’ll go to talk about the but he didn’t really pick up on the “dance” part of it all. So,Wilmer told him it was a bad idea. Plus, Collen has a girlfriend. Janet breaks down and starts crying and her brother doesn’t know what to do with this. So, he just awkwardly puts her arm around her and offers to go to the dance with her. So, he just changes the subject and starts talking about their mom’s “mystery man”. They both decide to call the number. Turns out it’s a recording of a guy named “Adonis” and he starts talking about this fantasy scenario. They call again and there’s a different scenario. HA! THIS IS SO PATHETIC! I DON’T THINK IN MY WORSE MOMENTS I WOULD HAVE DONE T (AND I HAVE HAD SOME IN THE PAST).
Wilmir says he bets she’ll find a friend and that (that) guy was too old for her. snorts the phone sex guy). After this, Janet thinks of Rolf. She goes to return the books. Then she sees that Rolf is still there. (He was there before fronting like he was into carrots and carrot recipes). Janet asks him when his recital is and tells him she’d like to go. Janet asks Rolf to the dance and he says Rolf says yes. Big sigh of relief. Janet says she might have to get permission, but he says he’ll be going to the school anyway next year. He’ll be in the eighth grade like she is. Janet fears that he’ll move soon just like Micheal but he says no chance of that. They just moved here. The librarian tells Janet she has some new DND books but she says she won’t need them and then whispers to her that she has a date.
Then she tells her friends she’ll be going with Rolf instead of Colin. They all go have ice cream and Janet confesses everything. Karen thinks it’s romantic meeting by a carrot tree and Star thinks it’s nice that he made a garden for her. On the night of the dance, they all get initial chains, They all look great in their poodle skirts, angora ankle socks, and collars. Janet’s mom gives her a pale, blue, angora sweater that goes perfect with Janet’s skirt. Now she doesn’t have to wear the tight, blue, tee-shirt that Karen gave her to wear. Rolf has his hair in a ducktail and Janet’s mom tells him he looks like a young Jame’s Dean. The dance decorations are great. There’s even a mirror ball. Janet is a little worried what they’ll think of Rolf, but Karen and Star approve of him right off the bat. They both go nuts over Janet’s sweater. Danny turns out to be the DJ He was going around bragging he was going to bring the best babes to the dance .. and he did the one on the RECORDS. But now Janet GETS IT! Sometimes people make stuff up because they don’t want to be shamed by their peers.
Francine’s date looks OLD (the malbarow man?). She tries to compensate by making snide comments about Janet’s date and calling him small. And then they find out Francine’s date Chance is her cousin. The teacher surprises Janet by allowing Ralph to come up on stage and play the drums. Janet is a little nervous but her teacher says he can play. It’s his drum set that’s on the stage. But then Rolf brings the house down! All the kids LOVE him and yell out for more. Karen and Star think he’s HOT! Even Francine is on his jock now. Janet tells Francine off and says she doesn’t like Rolf because he’s talented. She likes him because of who he is.
!
My Thoughts
So, I started a shelf called “I Remember” on my shelves. These are books I remember owning but not quite what they were about. So, I need a refresher and I started with this one. I do remember the cover vividly. There were elements of this that were memorable (the ice cream shop, the poodle skirts). I also remembered Karen from another book that I also had (that I’ll also have to go back and read).
It feels like I’ve read countless of these books about school dances. Then there’s the drama surrounding if the girl will get asked. The funny thing is when I was in middle school, and in high school. I don’t remember one dance where this was a serious issue. I do vaguely remember there might have been the occasional party in the gym (in middle school) but I don’t remember there being an emphasis on having to go with *anyone*. You kinda just went with your friends and then everyone danced. If you danced with someone cool. If not you just danced with whoever you came with. If at all. And even though it was a long time ago since I’ve been in the seventh grade, I don’t think anyone gave you ish about it.
What kind of made me amused was this “fantasy guy”. I was just thinking ok. Now I know there probably *was* something like this way back when but I just can’t see a woman actually calling one of these recordings. Now maybe if the guy was “REAL” I could definitely see there being a line for lonely women to call to talk to a guy that could engage them in some romantic conversation because I knoooow how rough it gets. But a RECORDING spouting off romantic scenarios. UH NOOO! To each his own tho I guess. If this did it for Janet’s mom then hey. All in all, this was a good first book to start my shelf. Sometimes you do have to look past what LOOKS good to what’s good FOR you. Rolf seemed a lot better suited for Janet. Truthfully DND guy just seemed boring.
Rating: 6
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2021
This is the sequel to Karen Keppelwhite Is The World's Best Kisser. This time, the story is told from Janet's point of view as she tries to land a date for the dance. Greàt, vintage slice of life story.
July 25, 2021
It was exactly what I expected. The author did a great job capturing the voice of a self absorbed teenager. I was a 'boggled' that the author seemed to think carrots grew on trees though.
June 27, 2024
I was obsessed with this book when I was in 4th-5th grade. Just got a used copy and it brought me back immediately.
August 19, 2024
Cute middle years novel. I didn't remember I had read this until I read certain passages. Cute story with fun characters. I kinda wish she's written a sequel.
January 7, 2025
I remember liking this in junior high
November 23, 2010
this book is about a girl who is worried about not getting a date for the dance. so she lies to her friends and says she has one even though she doesnt. Will she get a date for the dance? you will have to read it to find out...
August 22, 2016
This was one of my favorite books as a "tween". I was so able to relate to the story and loved the way the story was written.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews