About This Book
Reach for this book when your pre-teen starts showing signs of romantic interest or social anxiety regarding the opposite sex. It is a perfect choice for parents of middle schoolers who are navigating the awkward transition from childhood play to the complicated world of dating and boyfriends. The story follows Alice McKinley as she navigates her first summer with a boyfriend, capturing the specific neuroses of sixth and seventh grade life with humor and warmth. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor masterfully handles the interior monologue of a young girl who is terrified of making a mistake in her social life. The book addresses themes of self-consciousness, peer influence, and the importance of open communication with family. Parents will appreciate how Alice uses her single father and older brother as sounding boards, providing a healthy model for family transparency during the often secretive years of early adolescence.
