A Mother to Embarrass Me

by Carol Lynch Williams

Now that Laura is 12 years old, she realizes that everything about her mother is totally embarrassing. Like the way she yodels at the top of her lungs while she works (okay, she calls it singing). And plays really old music so loud the neighbors can hear (can’t she listen to normal music?). And walks around in clay-covered pajamas (yes, she is a sculptor, but still . . . ).

But things are about to get much, much worse. Laura has noticed that her mother is getting a little bit, well, fat. Then one night over dinner (at a restaurant, since she almost burned down the house trying to cook), her mother announces that she’s going to have a baby. Now all the neighbors, including the gorgeous boy Laura has a crush on, will know her parents have been doing it. Maybe even in the house! There must be some way Laura can change her mother before her own life is completely, utterly ruined!


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Middle Grade

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Carol Lynch Williams is the author of more than 30 books for middle grade and young adult readers. Her novels include The Chosen One, Never that Far, Messenger and Never Said. Her most recent book is the novelization of the movie Once I Was a Beehive. Carol has an MFA from Vermont College in Writing for Children and Young Adults and teaches creative writing at BYU. She runs Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers, a week-long writing conference for the not-faint-of-heart writer (www.wifyr.com). As well she is a mentor for those who want to write for kids and teens. Her best creative effort, however, are her five daughters.

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Laura, the character “writing” the story, is a twelve year old young lady, who to be honest is a brat! I know as a growing kid it is completely normal and natural to feel embarrassed by your parents, but this girl made me angry in how incredibly self centered she was. I truly felt sorry for her mom. I remember being upset with and embarrassed by my own parents, I even remember friends talking about their parents weirdness too, however I have never known anyone that is this judgmental, ungrateful, rude, and whinny. The mother that Laura so desperately wants to change is loved by everyone in the community, and isn’t even talked about in anyway that would add to Laura’s embarrassment. Laura went from being close to her mom, and friends with her mom, to disliking and judging everything her mom did and said. I feel that Laura was much too disrespectful, and just mean. This isn’t a book I’d recommend, or read again.

[Randy R.1]

Laura Stephan is a 12 year old girl who has a crush on the boy across the street named Quinn, but her mom is always there to embarrass her. Laura has an idea to make a list about things to fix about her mom.
The story takes place in the early 2000 in Mapleton Utah. Laura Stephan lives in a small neighborhood where she lives next door to her best friend Mary and across the street lives Christian and his brother Quinn. Laura has a huge crush on Quinn. Every day she goes to Christian's house to play basketball with Mary, Christian and Quinn. Laura goes over to basketball just to see Quin but when she finds out he has a girlfriend Laura doesn’t go over as much anymore.
Laura is embarrassed by her mother. Her mom is always listening to od music and sings really loud so that the whole neighborhood could hear her horrible singing, she also goes to work in her pajamas and always has food on her face. Once Laura finds out her mom is having a baby she makes a list of things she needs to fix about her mother.
I personally didn't really like this book because it wasn’t exciting and I would get bored while reading it. This book had a lot of laughable parts and drama. I would require this book for young adults and people that like a little comedy or drama.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura's thinks she has the most embarrassing mom in the whole state of Utah! Laura is so embarrassed, that she makes a list: Thing to change about my mother. Her mom does embarrassing things such as: sing and listen to old music, work in her pajamas, and leaving food on her face. Then, her mom says she's going to have a baby. Everyone knows and she doesn't feel happy about it. I recommend this book to people that are 12 and over because of some bad things going on in the book.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this like a while ago back when I was in middle school. When I was in middle school I thought that this was a good book but now that I have reread it again as a rising high school senior, I just don’t find it as good. It’s not as relatable for me I guess as it was back then in 7th grade.

[Glasdow Teacosy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Mother to Embarrass Me is a cute peek inside a small Utah town where a preteen, named Laura, struggles with life. Unfortunately for Laura, her mother is a former model and the belle of the town. This causes grown men to fawn over her, which is quite embarrassing for Laura. In addition, her mother is fairly bad at domestic activities, which inspires Laura to create a massive list of things to change about her mother. The crushing blow, however, is that Laura's mother is pregnant. This means that her parents have actually been "doing it" in the house, which for some reason wasn't a bad thing when Laura's conception was involved. This, however, is not something that occurs to Laura, nor would it for a girl of her disposition.

My oldest daughter went through this stage when she was in sixth grade. She was hotly embarrassed by anything family related. She acted as if our every foolish move was being filmed and broadcast into the homes of her peers. It was a terrible time to live through and nearly broke my heart.

Perhaps this is one reason I never fully enjoyed the story, aside from the fact that I am not a twelve year old girl embarrassed by my parents. Carol quite perfectly captured the negative misery of this young girl. Although her parents were undeniably embarrassing, the daughter was too bitter, and I never really liked her. I kept waiting for her to throw me a bone and give me a reason to root for her. She redeemed herself in the end, but for me the wait was just a bit too long.

Overall, however, I found the characterization wonderful, the narrative voice strong, and the story charming. If you have a daughter who wears dark sunglasses and a large hat every time she is in public with you, or is ashamed by your pregnancy, I imagine she would identify well with this book.

[Sandra Strange · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel, with a 12 year old narrator, is obviously aimed at middle school readers or late elementary readers, since it deals with the preoccupations of that age group; however, teachers should approach it with care because it does treat a pre-teen’s horror at her the thought of her parents having sex. (The issue is dealt with tastefully in connection with Laura’s mother’s pregnancy. It is a realistic concern, and treated with affection, even humor--but preteens and teens wouldn’t see the humor!) Laura Stephan’s parents are particularly embarrassing to her because they are so different. Her mother is a beautiful, ex-model sculptor who is a bohemian airhead. Everyone loves her, but Laura sees her as vaguely awful, until she announces she is expecting a baby. Laura’s unhappiness with her mother changes to downright horror. Of course, in time, Laura comes to terms with her parents’ difference from the norm and realizes how much she loves her mother. Positive.

[Kami · Rating 2 out of 5]

- I think I'm a little old for this book. I probably would have appreciated it more when I was twelve.

- Laura is really whiny, and she is SO mean to her mother. I can't believe some of things she says and thinks. I just wanted to smack her!

- I can see why Laura thought a couple things her mom did were embarrassing. The loud music and the dancing in front of her friends would turn my face red too.

- The ending was lame. There wasn't really any conclusion. Laura and her mom didn't reconcile anything. There wasn't really a point to the story.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time relating to Laura, simply because somehow I was one of those rare teens that didn't really ever get embarrassed by her mother (and when mine was pregnant at my high school graduation, I thought it was the best thing ever). That being said, I did have empathy with Laura's struggle regarding some of the things her mother would do and say. I also really loved the story's resolution, and that both Laura and her parents find ways to accept each other for who they are.

[jessica chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is funny, and i can imagine the main characters embarrasment, but the ending seriously sucks!!!!!!! she didn't fix her problems, and she didn't fix her mom into another mom. what wierd ending!!!!!!!!!!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hillarious! I loved it!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS RELATABLE TO LIFE. There are some things that go a little far but it's a fun book with a fun story!

[Stephanie G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haha, i was in elementary school when i read this.

[Melanie Skelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny. Loved the interaction between mother and daughter as life changes for both of them.

[Emilie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is unique because its easy to relate to! My mom can sometimes embarrass me...but I love her very much!!

[Lavender Darcangelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is quite ironic that the teenage girl knows a lot more than her mother.