Cry Baby (Random House Pictureback Shape Book) [Paperback]

Phyllis Karas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1996 | Series: Random House Pictureback Shape Book

Feeling like the black sheep of her family when she prefers lacrosse to tennis, a fifteen-year-old girl learns terrible secrets that threaten to upset her home life, her best friend's happiness, and her relationship with a new boyfriend.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With three older sisters, Sam is quite content being the baby of the Sloan family. So she's not exactly thrilled when she hears that her 47-year-old mother, Marsha, the high school girl's tennis coach, is pregnant. In fact, the 14-year-old is downright angry and unequivocally communicates her feelings to her parents, grandmother and siblings. Through Sam's chatty if often rambling first-person narrative, Karas (The Hate Crime) explores the issues of resentment, perceived betrayal and jealousy. These feelings are edged out by fear and guilt after Marsha's soaring blood pressure lands her in the hospital. Treading on some soap-opera-ish ground, Karas has the far-too-mature-to-be-true Peter (who happens to be dating bulimic Patsy, one of Sam's best friends) step in to comfort and counsel Sam?and begin a semi-clandestine romance with her. Patsy, the victim of the author's rather belabored but sound point about eating disorders, forgives both Sam and Peter in the end. The plot line frequently relies on long, explanatory monologues from various characters in order to advance, but specific developments are often involving. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (November 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380785137
• ISBN-13: 978-0380785131
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,677,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Cry Baby, July 9, 2001

By 

"linz_ee" (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cry Baby (Random House Pictureback Shape Book) (Paperback)

I thought that "Cry Baby" was a really good book for teens to read. It has a lot of issues in it that a lot of teen girls (and maybe even teen guys) can relate to.

Samantha is not exactly going through the best time in her life right now. One of her friends may be anorexic, her mother is pregnant, and her sister Polly is a constant problem, always making fun of her and telling her what a big baby she always is. Nothing seems to be going right for her, until she meets a boy who is a great match with her. But there is still one problem left....he is her best friend's boyfriend....

Read this cool book to see how things go for Samantha.

5.0 out of 5 stars *awesome book*, May 16, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cry Baby (Random House Pictureback Shape Book) (Paperback)

*I've read this book so many times I can't even remember how many times I've pulled it off the shelf. This book was awesome because Samantha's problems are so realistic and relevant to any teenager's life. It has all the elements of a great book; drama, love, and comedy*

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, June 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cry Baby (Random House Pictureback Shape Book) (Paperback)

I read this book once while on summer vacation. When I returned home I pulled the book off the shelf and read it over again, and found out that their were parts that I missed. Total now I've read this book at least 5 times it's been just as great each time round.