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jolaechen's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
2nd prequel. more adorable young alice- this time in 4th grade.
bondtsou1's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
carimz's review against another edition
3.0
Bearing in mind I’ve just read this children’s book as a childless woman in her mid-twenties, I can only apply so much perspective to the analysis of this book.
I started rereading the "Alice" series after sporadically picking these books up throughout my childhood and teen years. I’ve never met a book series that followed a main character throughout so much of their life. This series is unique in that most of the books aren’t entirely plot-heavy and are more driven by the year in the life of Alice, regardless if that year lends itself to a perfectly crafted story arc.
In that way, the books have a sense of realisticness that I don’t get from many books I’ve read. This one, in particular, was humorous and light-hearted, as most children’s books are, but Reynolds-Naylor has a way of capturing a nine-year-old’s voice that is both realistic and enjoyable enough for an adult to read.
That being said, of the two prequels to this series, I felt this was one of the more “filler”/unnecessary additions to the story. I won’t fault it too much as I don’t know the impact this novel has on its intended audiences, but it’s not my favorite Alice book. Even so, I'm excited to continue the series.
3 mysterious boxes to Lisa Shane out of 5
I started rereading the "Alice" series after sporadically picking these books up throughout my childhood and teen years. I’ve never met a book series that followed a main character throughout so much of their life. This series is unique in that most of the books aren’t entirely plot-heavy and are more driven by the year in the life of Alice, regardless if that year lends itself to a perfectly crafted story arc.
In that way, the books have a sense of realisticness that I don’t get from many books I’ve read. This one, in particular, was humorous and light-hearted, as most children’s books are, but Reynolds-Naylor has a way of capturing a nine-year-old’s voice that is both realistic and enjoyable enough for an adult to read.
That being said, of the two prequels to this series, I felt this was one of the more “filler”/unnecessary additions to the story. I won’t fault it too much as I don’t know the impact this novel has on its intended audiences, but it’s not my favorite Alice book. Even so, I'm excited to continue the series.
3 mysterious boxes to Lisa Shane out of 5
stephann_4's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lemonysnicket's review against another edition
4.0
I wish Lester was reprimanded for lying to Alice just a little but maybe it isn't a big deal
finesilkflower's review against another edition
3.0
The middle book in the Alice prequel trilogy is a "bunch of incidents loosely connected by a theme" book more than a plot book, and the theme (aptly for Alice) is embarrassment. Nine-year-old Alice is at an age when good intentions + gullibility = lots of opportunity for embarrassment. Notably, she believes Lester when he tells her that his girlfriend is a Cinderella-like orphan who is mistreated by her adoptive family, and she sends the perplexed girl a box of random clothes/food/cash raised by her and her friends. This is also the book that contains the infamous "trying to kiss the neighbor boy while playing Tarzan" scene recounted in [b:The Agony of Alice|66929|The Agony of Alice (Alice, #1)|Phyllis Reynolds Naylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924191l/66929._SY75_.jpg|550624] and other subsequent books. It wouldn't be an Alice book without sex education, and in this book it comes in the form of age-appropriate lessons about fetal development, inspired by Alice's teacher's new baby.
Bottom Line
Reasonably enjoyable, if not stellar or particularly memorable. While Alice's antics can be cringeworthy (that's the whole point of the book), she is also likeable and spunky.
Content Warnings: PRN really cannot make it though a book without a casual use of the g***y slur.
Random Observations
I don't think it's very funny or cool of Lester to tell his little sister lies and then get bent out of shape when she believes him, although I suppose 16-year-olds gonna 16. It's especially appalling that he jokes around about child abuse, however, and I also think it's sort of irresponsible of PRN to make that the crux of the big misunderstanding, as if to say that abusive parents are some sort of outlandish fairy tale villain you'll never actually encounter.
I was really worried that something would happen to Mr. Dooley's baby. You never can tell about a series like this, which sometimes pulls at the heartstrings. I'm glad he was fine <3
The description of the Tarzan scene here is, if anything, less detailed than in Agony. The comedic timing is definitely better in Agony, too.
Bottom Line
Reasonably enjoyable, if not stellar or particularly memorable. While Alice's antics can be cringeworthy (that's the whole point of the book), she is also likeable and spunky.
Content Warnings: PRN really cannot make it though a book without a casual use of the g***y slur.
Random Observations
I don't think it's very funny or cool of Lester to tell his little sister lies and then get bent out of shape when she believes him, although I suppose 16-year-olds gonna 16. It's especially appalling that he jokes around about child abuse, however, and I also think it's sort of irresponsible of PRN to make that the crux of the big misunderstanding, as if to say that abusive parents are some sort of outlandish fairy tale villain you'll never actually encounter.
I was really worried that something would happen to Mr. Dooley's baby. You never can tell about a series like this, which sometimes pulls at the heartstrings. I'm glad he was fine <3
The description of the Tarzan scene here is, if anything, less detailed than in Agony. The comedic timing is definitely better in Agony, too.