 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Story of a Girl
- By Sara Zarr
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Coming-of-age story about girl who had sex at 13.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is a book about a teen who had sex when she was 13. There are no descriptions of sex, but many sexual references. Teens also smoke, including marijuana. There is quite a lot of profanity, including "f--k."
What's the story?
When she was 13, Deanna had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old boy, Tommy, which was ended by her father who caught them in the act. Now it's the summer between her sophomore and junior years, and she is still dealing with the repercussions: Her father can't look at her and seems to hate her, and Tommy's stories have made most of the high schoolers in her small town think she is nothing but a slut.
Hoping to make enough money to move out, Deanna takes a job at a local pizza place, even though Tommy works there too. Meanwhile she is dealing with her brother, who has become a teen father; his girlfriend, who takes off, leaving them with the baby; and her changing feelings about her only two remaining friends.
Is it any good?
The feelings and motivations of all of the characters, but especially of Deanna, are subtle and complex here in a way that most young adult novels aren't. For instance, Deanna is repelled by Tommy, angry at him, contemptuous, a bit frightened, and yet still attracted to him. Tommy himself is a lout, but not evil, and with complex feelings of his own. Every character and every relationship gives the reader much to recognize and think about.
The theme of forgiveness is similarly subtle and complex here -- this is not an author to hit the reader over the head with The Point. Forgiveness is something all the characters confront in one way or another, and those who can manage it do it for themselves more than for others. It becomes an act of survival, not sainthood.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the role of forgiveness in the story. Who needs to forgive -- and who needs to be forgiven?
This book deals with a teen who has sex at a young age. Why does she decide to make that choice? Do the repercussions she faces feel authentic? Parents may want to use this opportunity to discuss their own attitudes about teen relationships and sex. Common Sense Media's Too Sexy Too Soon offers advice for how to help girls develop a healthy self-image.
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AGE
This boook was amazing and had such a strong message. Most people don't understand what most young girls go through and are exposed too. EVERYONE talks about sex even elementary kids. I don't know if anyone agrees but it sounded like Stacey was doing something illegal on her little "trip". This book is outstanding and i encourage parents and teens to read the book. It has a very gripping, on edge climax. Hope you enjoy!
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AGE
I am 16 years old right now, but i was 13 when i read the book, and i LOVE it.
What you need to know is, this book is NOT just about some girl that had sex when she was 13. Its about more than that. The story takes place when she was 16, and she has to live with all the bad decisions she has made, and tries to figure out how to make her life better, and i think that she succeeded very much. This book is very emotional and is and will always be one of my very favorites.
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AGE
Good
This book is all about this girl who had sex when she was 13 and people found out that she did that and called her really bad names! So this book is telling you that you should wait to have sex otherwise you might just get called bad names.(i know i did)
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AGE
perfect for just teens 13-19 READ IT!!!!!!
i love it because this can happen to any girl/boy and its teaching you that if you forgive nothing bad will happen just postive things.I wish that they make more books that are like this one i LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!=]
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AGE
Know Your Child
this book was really good. but i'm 14. so i wouldn't recommend this book for an 11 year old unless they know what they are talking about or they will be really lost. i thought it was a really good book b/c it was told from a girl who was having sex at 13 and she was called names all throughout high school.
it shows teens that waiting to have sex is really a good thing.
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AGE
perfect for young adults
this book can show children how life sometimes works out. it can show them that nooones life is perfect nor is it anywhere near perfect. lives have ups and downs and everyone has their own stories. noone is perfect and that everyone makes mistakes that they must live with. i love this book because these things do happen everyday to millions of young adults, and it makes them feel alone. i believe this can help change a young adult mind, to help them prevent a big mistake, and if not preventable it can show them that they are not alone.
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AGE
AWESOME!!!
i think it was a good book because one day you will find about this and you will also have to read a book like this. other than that it was so INTERESTING!!! but if you look at schools today kids know a lot because of other kids especially not from these books
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AGE
Know when to stop
This book is about a girl that had sex when she was thirteen. This is an inapropiate book for an eleven year old. They can get confused while reading it. I was a situation like deanna, but i knew when to stop. This book is like a model of my life, and what i should've done.
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AGE
Terrible.
I really, really did not like this book. I started reading it, thinking it would get better, but it didn't. I just wanted it to end, Deanna isn't a very enjoyable character, and it was just flat out boring. Nothing excited happens, I just really did not like it.
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| Author: | Sara Zarr |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown and Company |
| Publication date: | January 10, 2007 |
| Number of pages: | 192 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 14 |
| Read alone: | 14 |
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