Parents' Guide to

The All New Amelia

By Mary LeCompte, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Amelia learns a lesson from identity crisis.

Book Marissa Moss Friendship 1999
The All New Amelia Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

There's a new girl at school, and Amelia thinks she'll win her friendship by acting exactly like her. Can Amelia's friends convince her that the all-new Amelia is really a non-Amelia? You'll have fun watching Amelia learn an important lesson in this jam-packed chapter from her ongoing journal.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Die-hard fans of Amelia may be disappointed that their heroine sells out in an attempt to impress a popular girl, and risks losing her friends in the process. But if the fans can get past Amelia's temporary slip-up, there's a valuable lesson to be learned between the notebook's lines. Like other Amelia books, this one deals with a common childhood issue: This time, it's an identity crisis. Lots of young girls will rejoice in having a protagonist they can relate to, and many parents will raise eyebrows at Amelia's frankness.

Bright, watercolor illustrations depicting scenes of elementary school drama and funny, related images serve as support for the main text, as well as entertaining and educational side notes. All this activity creates visually busy pages that kids will giggle their way through. It's hard to resist the charm of the familiar black-and-white composition notebook, complete with class schedule and information charts.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Amelia's efforts to reinvent herself. Why does she throw so much of her life -- and herself -- aside? Have you ever tried to reinvent yourself?

Book Details

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