Best Enemies [Paperback]

Kathleen Leverich (Author), Judith Lanfredi (Illustrator), Susan Condie Lamb (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 23, 1998 | Age Level: 8 and up | Series: Best Enemies

On the first day of school, big-hearted Pris cilla hopes to make lots of new friends. When she meets Feli city Doll, the most obnoxious girl ever, Felicity plays tric ks on her but will Priscilla triumph in the end? '

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the first of these chapter books, a new girl at school finds herself saddled with a snaky nemesis who wants to bond. "There's not a drop of false sentiment in these pages, just plain, old-fashioned fun. A real winner," said PW. A follow-up story again features Felicity, whom PW called "the character beginning readers love to hate." Ages 7-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-- First-grader Priscilla Robin must deal with Felicity Doll, a brash classmate who by the end of the first week has tricked Priscilla out of her desk, pencil case, lunchbox, and self-respect. As the year wears on so do the inflicted indignities, but with some help from a school-wise older sister, Priscilla survives. In the end Priscilla concludes that although she and Felicity are never destined for friendship, perhaps they can be best enemies. The plot's premise is initially inviting, but the book is marred by stylistic and structural weaknesses. The ages of the characters would indicate that the book is intended for novice readers, yet its overall length, length of chapters (over ten pages), print size, and vocabulary are more appropriate for third or fourth graders. Stylistically, the endless succession of short subject-predicate sentences, especially at the start, stilt the story's flow. The children's dialogue doesn't ring true--they answer "Very well" to questions or announce "I must leave." Most puzzling is why Priscilla would encourage any relationship, even a hostile one, with the thoroughly unlikable Felicity, who rebuffs her every attempt at peacemaking. There is also no revelation scene in which Priscilla finds out possible reasons for Felicity's rude behavior. Lamb's illustrations are an appealing blend of sarcasm and whimsy, but otherwise Best Enemies, with its conflict between reading level and interest level, may be left without an audience.
- Joanne Aswell, Long Valley Middle School, N.Y.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (April 23, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688158536
• ISBN-13: 978-0688158538
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,782,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific-Deals With a Real Issue For Young Girls, May 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Best Enemies (Paperback)

I bought this book for my daughter when she was six---and it became an often-quoted family favorite. It is very realistic in the way it deals with the way girls pick on each other in school, and was just what my daughter needed to hear---you don't have to like everyone, you do have to get along with them. It is also terrifically funny! After she read the book my daughter would often refer to a girl she didn't like as a "Best Enemy" and I think the lesson she learned has helped her to do better socially. If it were up to me, it would be required reading for every little girl out there!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My Review on Best Enemies, May 8, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Best Enemies (Paperback)

It is about a girl named Priscilla Robin. She is eight years old and is very excited to go to school. It was her first day and she couldn't wait to find out if her friends were going to be in her class. She meets a new girl whose name is Felicity Doll. She is very mean becuse she takes Priscilla's desk, then her pencil case, her lunchbox, and ever her sweater! When she tells her parents about it, her sister, Eve, gets mad and wants to have a word with Felicity. Priscilla wants to take care of it herself. This book is really good and should be read by everyone. It is funny and exciting at the same time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a really good book, December 30, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Best Enemies (Paperback)

I remember first reading this book when I was 7 years old. This girl felicity really annoyed priscilla and then stole her stuff while pretending to be her friend and priscilla finds a way to confront her without tattletaling or fighting back which can be pretty inspiring. Felicity was mostly jealous of her throughout the book like when she got new shoes and everyone loved them, when priscilla won the sports festival at her school and almost ruining her birthday party by being such a brat. But through it all priscilla kept her cool in a way I never would have been able to in my day, and basically knowing that two wrongs don't make a right.