Common Sense Media Review
By Terreece Clarke
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kid turns to podcasting to find her voice and dish advice.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Talia has enough on her plate. Her mother is the co-host of a talk show and shares all of Talia's most embarrassing moments with her audience every morning. Nothing is safe or off-limits really, but Talia is starting 7th grade and she can't have everyone knowing all her dirty laundry, but what's a girl to do? On top of mom drama she's got friend drama, too. Her best friend Bridget is loud, bossy, and sometimes really embarrassing. Her former bff's Meredith and Brynne are no longer talking to her and Bridget, and she doesn't know why. Now somehow she's a part of her own morning show; is this how middle school is supposed to work?
Is It Any Good?
Author Christine Hurley Deriso does a great job capturing the woes of middle school with a new twist. Instead of embarrassing things happening to Talia, Talia has to deal with having a mother who famously broadcasts her worst moments on television. That's a level of embarrassment that many kids couldn't begin to fathom. Deriso also covers timeless topics of friendship and dealing with friendships that change as you grow older.
There are some great moments that will keep readers laughing and that connect the reader to the characters in the book. One of Talia's columns talks about how dorky her mom can be when she acts as a school volunteer wearing holiday sweaters using old slang and getting kid's names wrong -- almost every kid can identify with that. Overall TALIA TALK is a fresh, funny book that both kids and parents will relate to. Kids may even learn a few lessons in the process.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how friendships change. Are you still friends with kids you were friends with in second or third grade? Why or why not? How do relationships change as people grow up? What are some of the good things Talia learned about friendship?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : School
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Delacorte Press
- Publication date : November 11, 2008
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 192
- Last updated : July 13, 2017
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