Dear Mom, You're Ruining My Life [Paperback]

Jean Van Leeuwen (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Samantha Slayton's eleventh year includes losing her last baby teeth, towering over every boy in dance school, and being mortified by everything her mother does.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Attention to detail gives this novel an unusual and satisfying sparkle," said PW about this comical tale of an 11-year-old girl's worrisome adolescence. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (September 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140343865
• ISBN-13: 978-0140343861
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,024,285 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This a very good, very well written book., January 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Dear Mom, You're Ruining My Life (Paperback)

This is a great book about the bond between a mother and daughter. Sam thinks her mother is SO WEIRD! She comes to Sam's soccer game wearing a STOCKING CAP, tells Sam's friends to GO TO SLEEP AT 10:00 at Sam's slumber party, and makes the winning play at a sudent/parent volleyball game (which hit Sam's crush right on the head!). This is an awesome, realistic, funny book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Dear Mom, You're Ruining My Life, March 22, 2006

By 

Christina - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dear Mom, You're Ruining My Life (Paperback)

I will admit I am a hard one to please when it comes to books but I loved this book. It is one worth reading I would even read it again it was so good I would recommend this book to any one who enjoys teen or adolescent fiction and I think girls would enjoy it more than boys. There society is very similar to our society. Also the problems are similar to our problems. In addition the conflicts are also similar to conflicts we may have.
This book is about a girl, Sam who feels her mom is ruining her life. Her mom is always embarrassing her in public, in front of her friends, and in front of a boy she likes. This book keeps me interested because I have had similar experiences. The story is very believable because Sam is in middle school having feelings that just about almost everyone in middle school has which is stress, being embarrassed by their parents, crushes, and wanting to baby-sit. I like this book because it is one that teens can easily relate to. There are no slow or confusing parts in this book. I felt very much inside the world of the book when I read it.
The author Jean Van Leeuwen Gavril had a balance of description, style, and action. I would say the main feeling the author emphasizes would be stress and embarrassment. The ending pleases me because Sam in the end had a better relationship with her mother. But I really do wish the author had gone further with the story and made it longer. The only thing wrong with the book is that it was too short. The author definitely fulfilled my expectations for the main characters and minor characters.
I think you should read this book. I would freely read any other book by this author. This was not a book with surprises like when suddenly someone is seriously injured or dies. This was a book with everyday surprises. I would seriously recommend you to read this book because I really loved it very much.

4.0 out of 5 stars You can Relate!, January 8, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Dear Mom, You're Ruining My Life (Paperback)

Samantha Slayton is a smart young girl trying to find her place in the 6th grade.She has fights with her Mom,Dad,and Brother and is jealous of the popular girls.She has a crush and her friends Katy and Heather are helping her through her problems.Basiclly this book is telling about a girls life thats typical of a 12-13 year old girl.I could totally relate.