Mass revisits Willow Falls (the setting of 11 Birthdays) for this entertaining treatment of the weeks following Rory Swenson's eagerly anticipated 12th birthday. Upon turning 12, Rory begins working through a list of fervent wishes she's been compiling since she was seven: owning a cellphone, going to the mall without parents, and getting her ears pierced, to name a few. Each wish's fulfillment, however, is predictably accompanied by a minor disaster (an allergic reaction to a gold stud, an unusually aggressive pet bunny). The plot is bolstered by the filming of a movie at Rory's school, starring the “coolest, hottest fourteen-year-old boy in this or any other universe,” with students playing extras. Angelina, the wizened, ageless seer of 11 Birthdays, appears to Rory early on with a prophetic warning, “You won't get what you want... until you see what you need,” but Rory's wishes are trivial enough to make the final scene of self-discovery fall flat. Though long on page count, the book feels slight, but Rory's chatty, friendly voice and relentless optimism in the face of her many mishaps are heartwarming. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)
Rory Swenson just cannot wait to be 12, that magical age at which her parents will lighten up and allow her some independence. She's been promised that she can get her own cell phone, get contact lenses and attend a boy-girl party, among other things. Just as the long-awaited birthday arrives, Rory and her friend are selected to be extras in a movie being filmed at their school. As Rory begins to tick off items from her list, catastrophes begin. She learns that she is highly allergic to both gold and plant-based make-up, and she mangles her legs when she tries shaving. None of this makes her look good on camera. Rory's amusing disasters foreshadow the lessons she learns at her first boy-girl party, from which she escapes rather than participate in a kissing game: Growing up doesn't have to happen all at once, and it isn't always all it's cracked up to be. A couple of clunky plot points notwithstanding, Mass provides a pretty entertaining and solidly worthwhile read. (Fiction. 8-12)
Rory Swenson has been waiting her entire life to be twelve. Of course, when she reaches that magical age, she discovers that all its intensely imagined coolness and independence is intertwined with complications that she hadn't anticipated. This novel by Wendy Mass (11 Birthdays; Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life) burns as brightly as the very best birthday cake a young girl could ever receive. Now in paperback.
"Finally is a treat-a delicious story about fitting in, falling down, and growing up. Wendy Mass has done it again!"-Rebecca Stead, author of When You Reach MeA Washington Post KidsPost Summer Book Club selection"Author Wendy Mass captures the frustration of pre-teens as they reach the magical time that allows them to begin experiencing tidbits from the grown-up world. Finally will have readers laughing, nodding in agreement, and sighing in sympathy as they follow Rory's tale of reaching 12."-Teensreadtoo.com"Children will relate to this warm, funny story of a heroine who can't wait to grow up."-School Library Journal"Rory's lively first-person narrative clearly expresses her emotions as she seesaws between longing and fear, confidence and insecurity. The jacket photo will attract tween readers."-Booklist "Rory's chatty, friendly voice and relentless optimism in the face of her many mishaps are heartwarming."-Publishers Weekly"A funny story that will appeal particularly to girls who are just learning what it means to begin growing up."-Rave Reviews Log, blog review "I was either smiling, chuckling, or outright laughing all through this book."-Everead, blog review "Finally is a fast-paced, hilarious novel...Mass captures an authentic 12-year-old here that never once feels forced, too old, or too young."-Stacked, blog review
Gr 4–7—Rory Swenson just can't catch a break. She's been waiting for what seems like forever for her 12th birthday. According to her parents' rules, that is the magical age when she'll finally be able to partake in many formerly forbidden activities such as wearing contact lenses, getting a pet, owning a cell phone, piercing her ears, and staying home alone. Now that the day has finally come, she finds that growing up isn't as satisfying as she imagined. She's completely unprepared for the minor disasters that result: her new pet bunny seems homicidal; staying home alone is scarier than she thought; and her attempt at having her ears pierced reveals an allergy to gold. The only silver lining is her growing friendship with movie-star Jake Harrison, who is filming at her school. There's a nice twist at the end, when the many good deeds Rory has done without thinking of herself pay off, and she realizes that her misfortunes are minor. This novel pairs well with Mass's 11 Birthdays (Scholastic, 2009), but it stands on its own. Children will relate to this warm, funny story of a heroine who can't wait to grow up.—Madigan McGillicuddy, Los Angeles Public Library
Finally, Rory is turning 12, and all the things her parents have been telling her she needs to wait until she’s 12 to do are hers to start checking off her list. Kathleen McInerney captures all of Rory’s angst and humor as well as the personalities of her overprotective parents, her 3-year-old brother, and her friends. Rory’s stream-of-consciousness thoughts when she finally gets to drink coffee and ends up in a caffeine-induced haze are particularly funny. Fortunately for the listener but unfortunately for Rory, accomplishing the rest of the things on her to-do list ends up with similarly disastrous results. Her angst, frustration, humiliation, and excitement will delight both young listeners and their parents. Each voice in the story is distinct and lends a rich fullness to the listening experience. G.G. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
SEPTEMBER 2011 - AudioFile
