Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that the main character is innocently fascinated with the gory details of a boy who got run over by a car, reflecting on his "splattered brains." She also enjoys horror movies and refers back to certain scenes that may make a young reader's skin crawl. A group of kids are cruel to a cat, swinging it around in a suitcase, but are punished later.
Families can talk about what it's like to move. Are there any good things about moving and changing schools? Peer pressure is also an issue in the book. Was there a time you had to stand up to a friend? If you saw someone hurting an animal, what would you do?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kate James
Younger fans of Meg Cabot's other bestsellers -- like The Princess Diaries series -- will be eager to meet Allie Finkle, the heroine of Cabot's first series especially for tweens. Allie's not very likable at first. For instance, she complains bitterly about her best friend, Mary Kay, calling her a cry baby when she's the one that often brings her friend to tears. When Allie realizes that her own behavior could use some improvement, she creates a book of rules to remind her of simple and rather offbeat things to keep herself in line, such as: "Don't stick a spatula down your best friend's throat."
Allie becomes more likable and relatable as her family's moving day approaches. Kids who have been there will feel for her. She hates the house (saying it was probably rejected from the TV show My House is Really Old. Won't Someone Fix It, Please?) and wants to foil her parents' plan but knows she has no real control over it. But Allie will get over it and kids looking for engaging, light reading with a quirky heroine will be looking forward to Allie's next adventure and her next set of offbeat rules.
Plot Summary:
Allie Finkle doesn't realize how much she likes her old school and old friends until her parents announce the family is moving into a dark and creepy house straight out of a ghost story. As Allie tries to decide if her parents are crazy, she creates a secret book of rules for herself that's full of reminders like, "Treat your friends the way you would want them to treat you" and "Don't get a pet that poops in your hand." Allie's complete list of rules is included in the back of the book -- kids shouldn't read them until they're done or it might spoil some surprises.
Related Books:
More Tweens with Diaries:
Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jennifer Holm
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney
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Sexual Content |
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ViolenceReference to "splattered brains" from a car accident; some mild horror movie images; a cat is treated cruelly, but the act is punished; mention of one newt eating another one. |
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Language |
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Message |
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Social BehaviorBad acts have consequences; good deeds are rewarded. Allie realizes she's not being a nice friend and tries to change her ways. |
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CommercialismBrands like Polly Pocket and Bratz are mentioned specifically; the line seems blurry between commercial endorsement and the author's attempt to integrate real-life "girl culture" into the book. |
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Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
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