Amanda/Miranda [Hardcover]

Richard Peck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2001

"Your future lies beyond a mountain of ice, where you will die, and live again." The wisewoman's prophecy disturbs Miranda, a maidservant who bears an uncanny resemblance to her rich and arrogant mistress, Amanda Whitwell. Thrust into a tangled web of lies by Amanda, Miranda watches helplessly as one fateful night, a prophecy once foretold becomes reality . . . aboard the Titanic. Richard Peck's newly abridged edition of his popular adult novel is an enthralling adventure that will capture the reader's imagination.

"A sure winner . . . A charming novel, full of mistaken identity, thwarted love and sweet revenge."
-Booklist

"The kind of page turner that has rainy days and summer reading written all over it."
-The Horn Book

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard Peck, whose A Long Way from Chicago was the 1999 Newbery Honor Book and a National Book Award finalist, lives in New York City. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 169 pages
• Publisher: Perfection Learning (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756907535
• ISBN-13: 978-0756907532
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,323,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard Peck has written over twenty novels, and in the process has become one of America's most highly respected writers for young adults. A versatile writer, he is beloved by middle graders as well as young adults for his mysteries and coming-of-age novels. He now lives in New York City. In addition to writing, he spends a great deal of time traveling around the country attending speaking engagements at conferences, schools and libraries...Mr. Peck has won a number of major awards for the body of his work, including the Margaret A. Edwards Award from School Library Journal, the National Council of Teachers of English/ALAN Award, and the 1991 Medallion from the University of Southern Mississippi. Virtually every publication and association in the field of children s literature has recommended his books, including Mystery Writers of America which twice gave him their Edgar Allan Poe Award. Dial Books for Young Readers is honored to welcome Richard Peck to its list with Lost in Cyberspace and its sequel The Great Interactive Dream Machine...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Twisting of fate prevails in this deeply fullfilling novel., February 5, 1999

By 

"michaelamatthea" (Morrowville, Kansas, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amanda/Miranda: 2 (Hardcover)

If you got swept away by the simple story of life, love, and loss presented by the film Titanic, you should enjoy this book as well. The ill-fated luxury liner does play a key part in the novel, but there is so, so much more. Amanda is a snobby, spoiled rich girl. Miranda is a good-natured, soft-spoken peasant girl who becomes her maid. Their personalities clash in every way. They are completely different, except for one vital detail--they look exactly the same (although they are not related). Scheming Amanda realizes that she can use this similarity to her advantage. The plot twists and turns. And there are lies, lies, lies. The characters' lives are dramatically changed forever, as a result of all these lies told. Yes, the title of the book reflects the names of the two main characters, but there is a much deeper meaning to the title. Miranda becomes Amanda. Just what exactly do I mean by that? You'll find out if you read the book. Believe me, it's worth your time. My compliments go out to Richard Peck, who did a wonderful job. He managed to write a thoroughly intriguing story that you do not want to end. When the text runs out on the last page, you are, somewhat, left hanging. But, all in all, the novel is neatly contrived. Amanda/Miranda has been my absolute favorite book ever since I read it. It changed me. It made me laugh. It made me cry. Day after day of reading it made me start talking in genuine English terms (the story is set in Great Britain, during the early 1900s). This book made me think about how sometimes it seems that everything is connected on a higher level. How everything seems to work out a certain way, as if it was always intended to do so. Maybe it will make you think that, too.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love and lies on the Titanic - and more., September 13, 1999

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amanda/Miranda (Hardcover)

Eighteen-year-old Mary comes to a grand Edwardian England mansion to be a servant to the young lady of the house, Amanda Whitwell. She is shocked to discover she looks just like Amanda, who renames Mary "Miranda." Used by the selfish, spoiled Amanda, Miranda finally sees the chance to take revenge when the two sail for America on the Titanic. But will the two be caught up in their own web of lies? And when only one survives, who is it? And does she even know herself any more? I highly reccomend this novel. I'm so glad there is now a young adult version, since I've always wanted to read it, but it was just SO LONG! (I'm 14).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Abridged? Why???, May 5, 2008

By 

Byrony (Houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amanda/Miranda (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm almost afraid to read this interpretation. I found the original edition in a Galveston antique store for fifty cents years after the person to whom I had lent my original copy vanished without returning it - after a delightful weekend of rediscovery I looked it up, curious to see the opinions of other readers. This new version is apparently edited for youthful sensitivities. What could possibly been have been considered unsuitable for young adults in this era of Britney Spears and glorified teen pregnancy in "Juno" I cannot imagine. Parents, if you have an old copy on the shelves, don't waste money on the new version. If it's the only one available, however, don't rob anyone of a good read.