A Place Called Home

Barbie and Friends Book Club

by Linda Williams Aber, Julie Temple Stan, Agnes Priscsak

Barbie knows that any day can turn into an exciting adventure. It all depends on your attitude. Whether she's helping one of her sisters tackle a problem or lending a hand to a friend, you can be sure that everyone has a smile in the end!

Camp Sunnydale is fun for everyone except Lisa, who has a bad case of homesickness. This is her first time away from home since her parents' divorce. Luckily, art counselor Barbie spots Lisa's talent for drawing. Together they paint a clearer picture of the true meaning of home.

Genres: Childrens, Juvenile, Fiction

55 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the highlights in the Barbie Book Club. It tackled some heavy-hitting subjects in a book intended for elementary school children. The book focuses on a young girl headed off to summer camp for the first time after her parents' divorce. The author encapsulates the confusion and awkwardness of a girl in a strange, new place. Barbie was a camp counselor who helped take the girl under her wing and help her stay at camp instead of leaving early. It was a nice surprise and I liked the way a simple Barbie book had many nuanced layers.

[Dria · Rating 5 out of 5]

We had this book in our school library and me and my friends were obsessed! This is so nostalgic. The pictures inside the book are so captivating and soothing. A huge thank you to the team behind this. It has made my childhood more memorable and special!

[Bulk Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

update: I FINALLY READ IT.

i subbed at a school library where i knew this book was located JUST so i would be able to read it (and to get some extra $$$ ig.) i regret nothing.

it was honestly really cheesy, and relies heavily on a metaphor of a baby bird being pushed out of its nest in order to fly. i also do NOT get why stacie wasn't in this book, although it is interesting to learn she went on vacation with whitney (and katie and janet DIDN'T.) also who is amanda and what is her hair?

i definitely see why i used to like this book so much though, because i was a lot like lisa when i was younger. asocial for absolutely no reason at all and very dramatic.

i don't know what it is about sleepaway camp settings and why they're so appealing. i mean, i didn't know anyone who went to a fancy camp like this growing up. i did girl scout camping and that was it. the dioramas were nice, but not the best this series has put out.
_

so this is the ONE book in the series that i currently don't have access to whatsoever. thankfully, this is also one of the two books that i read a bunch during childhood, so i know what happens. but i'm disappointed that i'm unable to revisit it for now.

i know that it is available at one of the school libraries i sometimes sub at, so whenever i sub there again i will update this review with my thoughts.

right now it's getting five stars because as a child of divorce, i remember relating to this book hard when i was younger. i also loved the sleepaway camp setting. interested if it still holds up like "little sisters keep out"!

officially, i have read every book in this series!

[Almera]

i love this one im proude to be a barbie place called homei love it............its so?buatiful like me so buatiful wow..............................................................................................so ment like a kendy ......................................................................................................................................................................................good news hhaahahahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahhahahahaha text /a/com......ph/////////////////////////////////////////////////////

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seemed to be less of a typical Barbie book than a story for comforting children of divorced parents. The story line was okay, and the emotions displayed by Lisa, the little girl, were demonstrative of what a child might experience. I don't know how much the story would help a child in this situation, but it at least validates their feelings.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better stories in the Barbie books. Touches lightly on the topic of divorce; just enough for my 5 year old to want to know more about it. A nice, easy chapter book for younger readers.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used to read these as a kid, now my niece reads them. I am so happy to share them with her.