Beetle and Me: A Love Story [School & Library Binding]

Karen Romano Young (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1999 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Fifteen-year-old Daisy Pandolfi wants more than anything to rebuild her parents '57 Volkswagon Beetle.For Daisy the Beetle has always been special, almost magical. It must run again, and it will be her very own set of wheels if it does. But she's determined to fix the Beetle herself, with no assistance from concerned family or friends who recognize that Daisy's got a lot more invested in her project than elbow grease and midnight oil. And then there's Billy. He wants to help, but should Daisy let him into her heart -- or let him go?

A singular first novel about an unforgettable family and the blossom of first love.

01-02 Young Hoosier Book Award Masterlist (Gr 6-8) and 00-01 Tayshas High School Reading List

2000 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)

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

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a starred review, PW called this story of a girl's obsession with restoring her father's 1957 VW Bug "an impressive debut with a quirky plot that lands a deft jab against gender stereotypes." Ages 12-up. (Mar.)n
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-10-There's just one thing Daisy Pandolfi wants to do before her 16th birthday: restore her father's abandoned 1957 Volkswagen and claim it as her own. While observing the ups and downs of her older sister's love life, she suddenly finds herself interested in a new boy in town. Angered when her beautiful cousin captures his attention, Daisy focuses again on the car, but it, too, seems an impossible goal. Then, while working backstage during a school play, Daisy is surprised by a kiss delivered by a fellow stage-crew member. Billy may drive a neat Thunderbird, but she's still grossed out. As she struggles to figure out what is wrong with the Beetle and becomes aware of Billy's family situation, she comes to appreciate her family's love and support. Although the book starts off slowly, patient readers will be rewarded with an entertaining romance. Young shows many types of love: mature love; intense and unrequited teen love; and steady, slow-growing someday love. She also knows her way around an automobile engine. Obviously interested in fighting the stereotypical view about mechanics being reserved for men, the author comes close to pushing it a little too obviously, but she does establish strong, likable female characters who still find men very attractive. Readers will like Daisy and be amused by the way she reflects her father's stubborn streak.
Cindy Darling Codell, Clark Middle School, Winchester, KY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• School & Library Binding
• Publisher: Rebound by Sagebrush (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613346068
• ISBN-13: 978-0613346061
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,647,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars incredibly difficult and sweet, November 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Beetle and Me: A Love Story (Hardcover)

i/m 16 years old and i just read this book. i really loved it even though the end left me kind of hanging. i really hope a sequel will come out soon. anyway i recommend it for anyone.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book!, June 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Beetle and Me: A Love Story (Hardcover)

Daisy, 15, spends every spare minute working on her purple '57 Beetle, hoping to get it up and running before her 16th birthay. With her wild red hair, spirited nature, and red hightop sneakers, Daisy's a teen version of Pippi Longstocking. Someone once said the test of a great book is whether you'd recognize the characters if you sat next to them on a train. If you read this book, you'll recognize Daisy Pandolfi the next time you see her -- in auto-shop class or at a stock-car race!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book!, January 14, 2004

By 

"surferchicaav13" (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beetle and Me: A Love Story (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book. It had everything from Volkswagons to love and it really showed that girls CAN be mechanics and that cars aren't just for guys. The author did a really great job describing how a fifteen year old acts and what it feels like to be in one's first real romance.

Daisy Pandolfi, the main character had strong will and tons of determination. She knew what she wanted, which was a 57' purple Volkswagon that had been her dads and was being neglected in the icehouse in their meadow. After Daisy begged her dad to let her have the Volksie, he finally gave in and she recieved the barely fixable old car. Daisy fixed it up all by herself without help from her family, all of whom are excellent mechanics. This book was really enjoyable and I reccomend it to everyone!