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I, Lorelei

(2009, Fiction - Family Life, Written by Yeardley Smith)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Poignant and funny family tale for tweens.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The adults in this novel seem to have the most trouble behaving. They have affairs, fight, contemplate divorce, are revealed to be notorious felons wanted by the FBI, etc. Compared to the adults, the kids' behavior, which involves a lot of sulking, teasing, and regular school-day issues, is no big deal.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    There's a fairly dramatic moment when someone is arrested by the FBI, and there are some sad and disturbing moments when there's talk about a family pet dying and an extramarital affair is revealed.

  • Sex:

    Some school-age crushes on boys, and adults kiss and exchange hugs.

  • Language:

    Some mild name calling such as "stupid" and "wad."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Adults drink alcohol, and a dad makes homemade beer and asks his teen son to design the labels.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About I, Lorelei

Parents need to know that this is a book that deals with a family going through divorce, school issues, and the loss of a pet. There are also discussions about infidelity and some teasing of students who don't fit in at school.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the importance of having an outlet for their feelings. Why was it important for Lorelei to keep her journal? Do you keep a journal? How does it help you sort through your problems?
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