This Is Me from Now On

Common Sense Media says

Honest book about friendships and finding yourself.

Age(i)

2
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Quality(i)

 
(i)
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What parents need to know

Educational value

Kids will enjoy reading this book -- and it will give them plenty to think about, too. Check out our "Families Can Talk About" section for some ideas for delving more deeply into the book's plot.

Positive messages

Evie grows into a person who's learning to be herself, without others' rules. She's also able to realize that friendships can evolve instead of ending.

Positive role models

Evie and Francesca's history teacher turns out to be a very good role model. She's mad at the girls for their antics but is still able to be a teacher. She imparts a powerful life lesson when she says no one has a right to "write my story ... but me."

Violence
Not applicable
Sex

The main character has a crush and later goes on a group date with him. There's some other talk about dates, crushes, and breaking up, but no actual physical stuff.

Language
Not applicable
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Francesca's guardian has parties, and the next day Evie sees wineglasses scattered around the living room. 

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that here isn't much to worry about here on the sex, drugs, or language front. Evie and her new friend Francesca get up to some sneaky antics -- and end up hurting their teacher's feelings -- but their hearts are in the right place. Their teacher turns out to be a very good role model who imparts a powerful life lesson. It's a lesson that connects well with Evie's own growing interest and ability to be herself, without the rules of others.

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Kids say

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AGE
8
QUALITY
 
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What's the story?

Evie is at first embarrassed by her new neighbor Francesca, who dresses in blue stilettos and even impulsively runs through the sprinklers on their first day of school. But when they're paired together for an important school project, Evie gets swept up into Francesca's often fun world, which is more about weekend trips to the beach than school supply shopping. Evie, a good girl who has felt stifled by her two sensible best friends, enjoys this opportunity to reinvent herself -- but soon finds herself in over her head when she and Francesca start imagining a love life for their tough history teacher and forget all about their project.

Is it any good?

QUALITY
 

This is an author who certainly remembers what junior high felt like. Readers will understand Evie's desire to break free of her lifelong friendship with Nisha and Lily -- she loves them but feels trapped by the rules of their relationship and wants to be free to explore her identity. They'll also understand why she's drawn to Francesca, even though her free-spirited neighbor often bugs her ("How could you stay even a tiny bit mad at someone who gets who you really are? Or who you would be if you weren't afraid?").

Another great thing: In the end, no character is ultimately painted as good or bad. Evie is able to work things out with both her old friends -- and get through her problems with Francesca. And along the way, she even learns to start being her own person. This isn't a book with an outrageous plot or any big tragedies, but it's very grounded in reality and imparts gentle lessons about how both friendships -- and your own identity -- can always evolve.

Families can talk about...

  • Evie is starting seventh grade, a time when kids often want to start experimenting with their identity a bit. Do you ever feel like Evie does: bored with your friends or trapped by the role you play in the dynamic? Or do you ever feel jealous when one of your friends starts hanging out with someone new? How do you and your friends work out problems like these when they arise?

  • Families can talk about the fact that Evie's sister studies all the time to be sure she gets into a good college, but Francesca says that "School is not the whole wide world." Who do you agree with?

  • Is there a way to balance the stuff you have to do with the stuff you want to do? How do you feel like the balance is going in your own life? What do you wish you had more time to do?

Book details

Author:Barbara Dee
Genre:Coming of Age
Book type:Fiction
Publisher:Aladdin
Publication date:April 27, 2010
Number of pages:272
Publisher's recommended age(s):9 - 13

This review of This Is Me from Now On was written by

Kate Pavao

About our rating system

  • 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 of any age.

Find out more

Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging, good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

Find out more

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Kid, 10 years old September 6, 2010
AGE
8
QUALITY
 

I love this book!

I loved this because Francesca in it was really unique! I think this book gives positive messages, mostly about being yourself.
What other families should know
Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
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