Daphne's Book [Paperback]

Mary Downing Hahn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 18, 2008 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Daphne is the weird girl in Jessica's class--the one no one wants to talk to or even be seen with. But when the girls are assigned to be partners in the Write-a-Book contest at school, they find they have a lot in common and start spending time together outside of the project. As their friendship deepens, Jessica stumbles on a terrible secret about Daphne's life. Jessica promises not to tell anyone. But sometimes it takes a true friend to break a promise instead of keeping one.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Seventh-grader Jessica’s assignment is to write a children’s book with a partner who will illustrate it. To her consternation, Jessica’s partner turns out to be Daphne Woodleigh, a reclusive, poorly dressed, silent classmate . . . . The growth of the girls’ friendship in the face of cruel peer pressures is honest and tender and even Jessica’s several betrayals of Daphne are understandable and lead to her growth as a person. . . . Readers can hardly help rooting for the two girls and hoping that these two appealing characters do remain best friends for a long time.” (School Library Journal )

“A meaningful, gently humorous novel about characters the author endows with humanity.”—Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly )

About the Author

Mary Downing Hahn, a former children's librarian, is the award-winning author of many popular ghost stories, including Deep and Dark and Dangerous and The Old Willis Place. An avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Ms. Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her two cats, Oscar and Rufus.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; None edition (March 18, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547016417
• ISBN-13: 978-0547016412
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 6.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #82 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Family Life > Multigenerational

More About the Author

Mary Downing Hahn, a former children's librarian, is the award-winning author of many popular ghost stories, including Deep and Dark and Dangerous and The Old Willis Place. An avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Ms. Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her two cats, Oscar and Rufus.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ballad of the Misfits, June 21, 2001

By 

Gwyn Gwyrdd "geek" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daphne's Book (Hardcover)

I remember the very first time our librarian held this book up - brand new and shiny - the protective book cover crackling an invitation...."read me". I was in elementary school - Daphne's Book was brand new and had been nominated for an award - which it lost to another book written the same year, The Dollhouse Murders.

I checked this book out so many times, I would be surprised if anyone else was able to read it! I was a misfit - the kind in Jessica's category - not fitting in anywhere - and kind of fitting in everywhere. I had not found my niche, but knew I didn't believe in treating people differently based on appearances. I cannot begin to tell you the magic of this book and the way it touched my life. Few offerings to children these days offer such a statement on the meaning of love and true friendship. Jessica faces a true "moral dillema" and makes the right choice, even though it is difficult. Daphne (the true hero of the book) is magic - she lures you to those that sit by themselves in the corner of the room - lost in a realm we do not understand. She makes you think twice about prejudice of any kind. She encourages us to rise above our situation and bloom where we are planted. Any child that feels they are "different" would be enriched by this book. Any parent will be moved to tears as they read it with them.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Daphne's Book, October 29, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Daphne's Book (Paperback)

When I read Daphne's Book by Mary Downing Hahn I couldnt put it down! This book is about a girl,Jessica getting paired with a girl who dosen't talk much.As they get to know eachother they become friends but is Daphne hiding something?Could Jessica really be friends with her?

The book wasnt the happiest book I have ever read but it always seemed that Daphne's sister, Hope would make the story brighter. It was a very depressing book but one of the best books I have ever read!

Daphne was my favorite charcter by far. She was so different and didnt really care what people thought. She was so nurturing to her little sister and acted as a mom towards her. At the end Daphne says "May the sky fall on me,may the earth swallow me,may the ocean waters sweep over me if i dont write to you, Jessica" This really stuck out to me because it showed Daphne really cared about Jessica.

This whole book shows how much friendship matters. It shows how strong a friendship can be even when you are so different from eachother. The only thing is it leaves you wondering if they end up okay. I highly recommend this book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant work., July 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Daphne's Book (Hardcover)

I read this book many years ago and it still haunts me. I read it during those horrible junior high school years and I was so happy to know that someone else felt those same feelings of constriction and alienation. A fantastic, ambitious book. It encourages young women to dream.