Customer Reviews

Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice?

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you do, you should read this book. Lauren is 14 years old and everything in her life seems very unfair to her, so she is thinking of possible ways to sue her parents for malpractice. As a fourteen-year-old girl she feels she's not a child anymore, byt she can't make any real decisions herself either. Lots of things happen to Lauren: her sister Melissa leaves the house, there's a lot of quarreling going on between her mum and dad, and she meets this new kid, Zack.
From the beginning of the book you can see Lauren growing up, she's handling everything quite well and she learns how to cope with a lot of confusing feelings. She is also making up her mind about whether or not trying to sue her parents.
Although this book is meant for young adults, I read it for educational purposes (I am 36), and I loved it. It is very funny at times and describes the various characters very well. You should read it!

Lauren Allen is in 9th grade, she has weird parents, an older sister that is perfect and about to move in with her boyfriend and a little sister who wants to go "on the road" as a comedian. She signs up for an elective at school on "Youth and the Law" and meets Zak, a younger man, and is torn between a former boyfriend who wants to go too far and someone who is a true friend. As an 8th grade teacher my students identify and laugh at what happens to Lauren. She has feelings and problems that reflect what happens to them. It is also told in a light-hearted fashion, so it doesn't bog them down with problems that can't be solved. What my students like is that everyone has a problem that needs to be solved, just like in real-life. The teacher prints an unauthorized newsletter, Lauren's mom is going to sub at her school, her father can't accept that his perfect college-aged daughter is moving in with her boyfriend and Zak is suffering ! ! the results of a painful divorce, as well as a move from California to New Jersey. Students and teachers alike can relate to Paula Danziger's tale of teen-age angst and the solutions that they wish would come so easily to them. It tells of survival, not of the fittest, but everyone - eventually everyone grows up. I recommend it to all who want a fast read, a chuckle and some genuine young adult emotions.

First of all, this book as very little to do with trying to sue parents. It just makes a good title. It tells of the social and family problems of a 14-year-old freshman. It has some very good humor and you, like Lauren, can't help but like Zack. I'm also 14 and appreciate the fact that my life is much easier (so far). I think it would be best to check it from the library. It's not worth the money for only an hour's enjoyment. But then again, I read fairly quickly. You won't be wasting your time with this book.

The title of this story is kind of catchy! The story is about Lauren,14, is thinking about running electives for her school. She has a 10 year old sister who would completely annoys her with her jokes, and a 19 year old sister who is living on her own with her boyfriend. Lauren met boy who is just in the 8th grade. The people in 9th grade think it's a taboo for a 9th grader dating an 8th grader. What I really like about this story is that Lauren sees what he really is on the inside and not because he's an 8th grader. She truly loves the boy and she doesn't care what anyone thinks about this.

Fourteen-year-old Lauren is always feeling neglected by her family; her little sister's annoying, her big sister never has time for her anymore, and her father's angry and controlling. So when she learns she's been accepted into a Young People's Law elective class at school, Lauren is thrilled. Maybe she'll finally be able to take control of her life!

But just when she thinks she's about to get a grip, Lauren's life turns even more topsy-turvy. She's met Zack, an eighth-grader from California, and instantly fallen in love. No one at school can understand how Lauren might find Zack a fun, caring guy to be around...all they see is a girl going out with a boy a grade lower than her, which seems like a huge gap in junior high.

Meanwhile on the homefront, Lauren's college-aged sister Melissa announces some big news that threatens to change their family dynamic even further...

This book isn't the best ever - or even Danziger's best - but it's fun and interesting nonetheless.

Her dad's impossible. Her boyfriend quits her for someone more sexy. Her little sister is a messy roomate. And she has romantic longings for an eighth-grade boy. BUT she's in the NINTH grade. That's a no-no, a never! Teenage readers will understand Lauren's problems--both the wacky ones and the serious. This is a funny and sometimes sad and moving story.

The Creative Teacher: Activities for Language Arts (Grades 4 through 8 and Up)

This book is about a 14 year old girl named Lauren and it seems like her life is falling apart. Her older sister Melissa was kicked out and now she's living with her boyfriend. Her littler sister annoys her with her jokes. Lauren's parnets fight all the time and Lauren going out with a younger guy. Everyone's teasing her because her boyfriend's in 8th grade in 9th. What I really liked about the book is the girl Lauren really likes the boy and doesn't care what other people think of him. She likes him for who he is.

I don't know why I wrote that as a title for the review. I just thought it was funny. Onto the review.

As a teenager, I've read a few "teenager" books. Now, being quite an open-minded teenager, or at least one that sees reality, I've found most of these books unrealistic. All with the same message: it's all normal, wait till marriege to have sex, be yourself (you think?), blah blah blah. The herione is always a troubled girl (well, in Then Again, Maybe I Won't it was a guy, but I'll get to that later), who thinks she's ugly and wants to fit in (therefore has troubles like- should I wear something I don't like to be hip? Go out with a guy I don't like? and ect), all go really well with their families- either they have their moms or sisters as best friends, and one best friend besides that. And usually, a guy that they like because he is popular. All teenaged books I have read, so far, are like that, expect Then Again, Maybe I Won't, which I also thought was a little bit more realistic than Judy Blume's previos attempts.

And then there's this book. Laurn is 14. Her boyfriend, who is 17 (or was it 16?), and broke up with her because she didn't want to go all the way with him. He broke up with her for the school's lead cheerleader, also known as the school's slut (?). She lives with her dad, who moans about the nmoney his makes, her mom that doesn't work but tries out for quiz shoes and wants to become a sub, her younger sister who wants to be a comedian and is entering adolsence, doing stuff to her Barbie's and Ken's. Then there's her older sister, who's in college and wants to move in with her boyfriend. Then there's her school life. Laurn thinks it's so unfair and had no rights. She joins a course in law, and she and her class make a newspaper about the school. She also meets Zack, who is crazy, funny, nice, cute, sweet, and really turns Lauren on. Problem? The kids at school, who make fun of them. Then Bobby gets back in the picture. Hmm..

I really liked this book. I usually do like these books, even if I whine and moan about them. This one is really good though. The way she talks about her troubles is believeable. And also the sex issue is treated just right- they don't act like they know everything, yet they don't hide from the topic. You can see it exists there, but they don't try to cover it up with code words. The bit where Zack and Lauren set a timer for making out was funny. They talk like some people I know talk- and this book is from 1980. Meaning, I wasn't even born. That alone is enough to impress me.

I had a minor debate with myself if this book should have a sequal. I don't think that after all these yearsm Paula Danziger is gonna write one now, but still. I think a sequal would be cool, but since sequals destroy books often, who knows? You just have to enjoy the book for now, like it is...

Loved this book as a ninth grader, and love it now in my thirties! Lauren, a ninth grader, finds herself drawn to an eighth grade boy. There is nothing more taboo than being a cradle robber at Lauren's school. The teasing they endure at school capped off by the fighting at home between her parents defines her 9th grade year. But she learns somewhere along the way that being happy means being true to yourself, and maybe dating an 8th grade boy who's as amazing as Zach is the best thing to make her happy.

If you have, you'l understand exactley how Lauren feels.

Her parents make all the choices.

Her sister Milissa is all that makes it bearable.

But when she moves out, the only light on Lauren's harizon is Zack, a boy that is in eghieth grade. Great! A year younger then Lauren. Now every ones out to tease her. Could it get any worse? YES. Now her old boyfriend, Bobby wants her back. She could clear up all her school problems, and still have a

boyfriend, or stay with Zack, the perfect guy. How and Who will she choose?