If You Only Knew
By Norah Caroline Piehl,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sensitive, frank portrayal of average 7th grader.
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What's the Story?
Zoe's always been friends with everyone, boys and girls. Now that she's in seventh grade, though, the rules are changing, and Zoe's torn between potential best friends and boyfriends. As much a character study as a novel, this book provides a sensitive portrayal of an average seventh grader, whose minor problems Rachel Vail treats sincerely and seriously.
Is It Any Good?
This unusual series is built on keenly drawn episodes and character exploration. The writing doesn't pretend to be literature, and the problems it deals with are more middle-class preteen angst than anything really serious. But Rachel Vail certainly remembers middle school, when romantic feelings both exhilarate and embarrass, and when friendships are more important than life. It's the sharply observed details that make this series.
Certain scenes accurately reflect the agonies of junior high, and others illustrate the humor in pre-teen romances. Zoe's introspective reactions to these traumas are the heart of the novel. Her gradual recognition of her romantic feelings is realistic, and her devotion to CJ is complex rather than merely pathetic. The redesign of the books -- originally published in a small format perfect for tucking into backpacks and purses, but now larger and featuring cover photos of generic models -- is unfortunate.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the book's heroine. Do you relate to Zoe? How so?
Consider one of the issues Zoe struggles with in this book: If you were her friend, what advice would you give her?
Book Details
- Author: Rachel Vail
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
- Publication date: January 1, 1998
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 9 - 12
- Number of pages: 151
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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