I loved this book as a preteen and now as a student of young adult literature, I have found a new reason to esteem Blume as a wonderful writer. Having teenage sons, I have not felt the appropriateness to share this book with them. I would have absolutely no reservations of having a preteen daughter reading it. I would encourage it. The general messages of the book is that kids grow at different paces and that's okay, all religions have good aspects and boring ones and that you can't always judge a book by its cover (think girls with big chests and boy who are cute.) The way in which Blume covers puberty is one in which a young girl will relate without feeling embarrassed or disgusted. It's a really good and easy read.
i think this book is just magnifecent. it shows how real pre-teens would act around their age. I remeber when i was a child and had my crushand felt left out. i felt like Laura Danker. she was a girl at school that all the girls didnt like, yet she had big boobs,nice body,and quite beautiful. im not trying to be concieted,but-haha- that was how it was for me. it relates to how kids were.
This book is a great story for preteen girls to read. It helps them to understand all the changes that they will be going through throughout their next few years. It is a must read for all girls.