Sisters can be the best of friends. Or the worst of enemies.
Or, they can change so much you don’t know who they are.
That’s what happens to 15-year-old Carly in Lauren Myracle’s young-adult novel Peace, Love and Baby Ducks (Dutton, 2009). She comes home from summer camp to find that her younger sister, Anna, has turned into a beautiful, shallow teenager who’s more interested in fashion, friends and boys than Carly ever was.
Carly doesn’t know what to make of Anna — or her extremely well-off family and its focus on money and appearances. Carly’s summer camp made her re-evaluate her priorities, and she’s not sure her family’s lifestyle lines up with them any more.
What will she do?
Let’s see what today’s guest reviewer has to say.
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Reviewer: Je’Kyah
Age: 15
I like: Playing softball, cheerleading, eating Chinese food and watching movies.
This book was about: A girl, Carly, and how she adjusted to her little sister growing up and their experience in high school together. It’s also about how she learned she was a lot closer to her friend Roger than she thought she’d be.
The best part was when: Anna conquered her fear of the high dive and Carly realized she wanted to be more than friends with Roger and they kissed in the pool.
I laughed when: Tracy, the babysitter, left Carly and Vonzelle at the hardware store and they had to walk home.
I was surprised that: Anna got drunk at the party and their parents didn’t figure out they had a party in the house. Also when their dad started crying after he talked to Carly about her Beverly Hillbillies video.
This book taught me: Why having a good relationship with your sister is important.
Other kids reading this book should watch for: Roger’s subtle hints toward Carly throughout the book.
Three words that best describe this book are: Funny, realistic, a good read.
My favorite line or phrase in the book is: “Dr. Smiley has halitosis.”
You should read this book because: It doesn’t end the way you think it will.
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Thanks, Je’Kyah!
Lauren Myracle is a New York Times best-selling author. She’s also one of our country’s most frequently “challenged” writers, meaning, her books have appeared at the top of the American Library Association’s list of titles most often requested for removal — or banning — from our public libraries’ shelves. If you’d like to learn more about Lauren Myracle, you can:
- Watch this video.
- Follow her on Twitter.