Bad News/Good News

Beacon Street Girls #2

by Annie Bryant

Things are a little complicated for the Beacon Street Girls right now...Charlotte's dream is to be a writer. But she doesn't seem to care that The Abigail Adams Junior High opened its newspaper, The Sentinel, to seventh-grade writers. Why? Because she's got a heartbreaking secret and it involves moving...again! And just when Charlotte really needs her friends, they've got major problems of their own. Maeve has a really great idea for a community service project, "Blanket Brookline with Love." But try as she might, she can't seem to get it off the ground. And the new girl, Isabel Martinez, is creating major tension. Avery and Katani don't like her, but Maeve and Charlotte do. What will this do to the Beacon Street Girls' friendship? Will it ever be the same?

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Juvenile, Portuguese Literature

277 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

About the author

The Beacon Street Girls books are inspired by all the preteen girls I've ever known. I wanted to create a world where girls can go to have fun and learn about who they are, while modeling real-life experiences. The first book, Worst Enemies/Best Friends, explores creating and testing friendships, skewed first impressions, and being the new kid at school. In the end, true friendship conquers all. Welcome to the world of the BSG!

Reviews

[Dineh · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the just finally get comfortable with each other a new comes into the picture. This book gives a wonderful view on how we all can get nervous either as the new person or welcoming the new person. Just remember to keep an open mind and show the wonderful person you are because we all can help each other.

[Yasemin Güçlü · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started to the serie with a present from my cousin. When I looked at the cover I thought " Again a girl group story." But while reading I found ehat really is a family, or what is friendship. I think I need the 3rd one. I recommend this to anyone who wants to read a unique story of this 5 girls.

[Chosang]

Charlottes moving, Maeve needs help, Katani's jealous of the new girl Isabel. The Beacon street girls are becoming enemies. I really like this book because it had all the girls perspectives, so you would know what they were thinking and how they felt about each situation that was happening. This made it easier to understand why the characters attitudes were how they were in the parts of the story. In my opinion, author Annie Bryant did a great job showing how all the girls didn't have to be the same to be friends. I think this because in books and movies usually the girls are put in groups of friends and they all like the same things and wear the same things. So they all seem like one person other than themselves.

After I read Bad news/Good news I realized it said book #2 to the Beacon street girls series. So I recommend reading this series in order because (like in any other series) it will be confusing. Judging from this book I predict that all the books will let each girl have a chance to be the main character. For example, I think Charlotte was the main character because the book had most of its conflicts about her moving away. Also, from the cover of the book in my opinion it looked kind of boring but I decided to read it because you can't judge a book by its cover!

I think the theme of this book is to be open minded. I think this because throughout the book each girl (other than Charlotte) isn't thinking about how they're acting or if the other people might have some conflict in their lives that they are dealing with. Also, I recommend this series to 4-7 grade because I think that it might be a holiday book for 7th and 6th graders but if you're looking for a challenge this isn't the best challenge book. I believe this series also includes cyber bullying and subjects that (supposedly) many pre-teens deal with.

[Brianna]

My 10 year old self: This is a great book that will want to keep you reading. I didn't like this one as much as the first one in the series because it was like the friends got spilt. Also, it kind of seemed like Maeve wasn't really in place. I don't know why I feel this way, but this is how I feel. Anyways, this is still a great book so borrow it now.

[Orlane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I reread this book because I used to love these books when I was younger. I still did like it, but there were times while I was reading it that I could see so many ways this story could have gone. There were parts that could've been expanded on or explained more, like Katani's frustration with Maeve, which in my opinion was very much oversimplified. If we had just gotten a scene where they had Katani actually talk to her I would've been more invested in that situation. But it is a good book, and the BSG girls' stories are always nice.

[Della Tingle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an elementary school teacher, and I am also working on my Master’s in Library Media. So, children’s books are important to me. This is an adorable book full of GIRLS and FRIENDSHIP. I also got a little teary-eyed at the end! Adorable and fun!

[Amani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember loving this book but this time around I felt really annoyed with Avery & Katani. Let’s see how the other books in the series stack up. I really hope book 6 is as good as I remember it being.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for upper elementary school girls.

[Landa]

I have read the first beacon street girls and i am so amazed by it thank to the author Anne Bryant to making such books

[katie || pickle · Rating 3 out of 5]

middle school y2k camp if i do say so myself

also the new cover is better

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely would recommend this book to someone else!

[Macaylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

i LOVED this series as a teen -

[Cathyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. At the beginning, everything turned out bad. I understand the reason why Kantani was mad at Maeve. It is because she doesn't like Isabel. I'm just glad that Katani went over her negative mood and became friends with Isabel. Also, she helped Maeve with the blanket project, which was a success. Keisha, a girl in the shelter, picked the one that Maeve liked. Marco, this boy, picked the Red Sox blanket that Avery made. Maeve felt pride when she realized such success there was in the blanket project. I feel the same. I guess you just feel so nice when you are helping or doing something that makes a change. And the better part is doing it with your friends together. For the dance that Maeve totally looked forward to, it was interesting. Maeve danced with her crush, Dillon during free choice. What I was more interested in was Charlotte and Nick's dancing on a slow dance. It felt so romantic. At the end, I was glad that Charlotte isn't moving to England. Yeah!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Beacon Street Girls, Charlotte, Katini, Maeve, and Avery, have found that their friendship has strenghtened alot since their teacher Ms. Rodriguez put them together at the same lunch table many months ago. They are there for each other in good times and in bad. But, when Charlotte begins to worry that her father may be contemplating another move yet again, this time to England, she is saddened that she will have to leave her best friends and this hometown where she feels safe and secure.

The Beacon Street Girls: Bad News/Good News takes the four, plus newcomer Isabel, to a new sense of urgency. They devise a plan to make Charlotte's dad realize that moving the Ramsey family would not be good for Charlotte or the Beacon Street Girls.

[Emma Xoxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I LOVE reading about the Beacon Street Girls. I've read the first book already, and this is the second book. I am going to go on to the third book. This book has many complications and friendship disasters all because of Isabella. It also has some because of Charlotte almost moving to Oxford,England. But the Beacon Street Girls ( and Isabella ) aren't going to let that happen. They work together to convince Mr.Ramsey ( Charlotte's dad ) to stay in Boston, where Charllotte was born. In the process of working together, they finish Maeve's "Project Thread" , and they all become friends with Isabella.

[Skylar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about this girl isabel who moved with her sister and mom and has to go to this new school. Charlotte and Maeve are really nice to her but Katani and Avery dont like her. Just when things are a mess Charlottes dad is thinking about moving. Will Charlotte have to move again and have to say goodbye to all of her best friends or will she stay in her house for a really long time? Will Katani and Avery learn to like Isabel or will they hate her forever? Find out in Bad News/Good News. This is the next book to Worst Enemies/Best Friends.

[Ruqiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because it shows how friends could do anything to stay friends and be together.
I felt happy for Charlotte because she has friends that really like her.Charlotte's friends are doing anything to convince Charlotte's father for her to stay and not move.
I'd say a theme of this book is do anything for your friends because in the book the Beacon street girls do any thing for their friends.
The main characters of this book are Charlotte,Maeve,Katani,Isabel,Avery,and Charlotte's dad because the book mostly talks about them.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I understand why this series is such a hit with pre-teen girls. While many of the characters' actions and reactions seem cliche to an adult, they are definitely the sort of things that this age group deals with. This second book got a little emotional towards the end, and I even found myself a bit teary. The story is sweet, and even though I sometimes wanted to shake the characters and tell them they were blowing things out of proportion, I could understand it from from a twelve-year-old's perspective.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good alternative to the Babysitters Club. Charlotte has lived all over the world -- her dad is a travel writer. When they settle in Boston, Charlotte hopes it is the last move and makes friends and puts down roots. She is devastated to find out that her dad plans to move to Oxford (England) mid-school-year, but feels helpless to stop him.

Her best friends step in to make her dad change her mind. The final solution is a bit unrealistic (I can't see a middle school student coming up with this idea), but otherwise the characters will ring true with tween readers.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was good so far,it was really interesting.Hopefully other people will enjoy this book,also I'm going to tell my best friend about this book and hope that she will read this book.The main character is Charlotte and shes in the seventh grade she traveled alot when she was little cause her father had different job interviews.Soo you need to read the book to find out more ;D. I liked the book cause it was kinda like my friend and how she acts (she doesnt act "fast") but shes nice person also i am too so we make a good pair :D.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not get into this book... I forced myself to read it, but was frustrated with how annoying the characters were, their terrible advice to one another, and the simple solutions that unrealistically fixed everything. I don't think I will quickly take young girls to this shelf, because the characters were not really full of traits I want more girls emulating. They had some nice qualities, but the mean-spiritedness throughout cancelled the nice for me. Maybe the other installments are better??

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked the first Beacon Street Girls book, you'll definitely like this one! In this story another girl joins the BSG (Beacon Street Girls). At first she is not accepted by all the girls. The BSG starts to fall apart. Will the girls find a way to put the BSG back together? Read the book and find out!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to check out this series to find out the reading level and
age appropriateness. I was pleasantly surprised to find young teens
living the life of young teens. These are books that can definitely
go into the hands of readers who are not ready for real YA. Charming and thoughtful they will fill a needed niche.

[Chanty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series and that is when a new classmate joins their class and 2 of the Beacon Street Girls are happy to welcome her and include them into their inner circle but the other 2 aren't so happy about it but when 2 of them invite her to one of their famous BSG sleepovers that draws the line for the other 2 until they realize she might not be that bad.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the "Beacon Street Girls" series, and is just as enchanting and fun as the first one. Just like the first book this one is filled with laughs, hearts and many more interesting events! Read this and LOVE it!!

[Andie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the BSG! Its all about friendship, I love how the girls stick up for each other and stay loyal. I read this whenever I want a light book to read.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rele havent gotten into this book I'm hoping it is as good as the 1st one=]]]

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stopped this book in the second chapter because it was so boring. Don't read it.

This is boring!!!!!!!!!

[Adrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the beginning it's sad. In the end everything is allright.

[Milana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE the BSG books!!!!