Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining (The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Anne Mazer (Author) "Does this mean that if I start school today, I'm already halfway through the year?..." (more)
Key Phrases: soccer season, soccer star, shin guards, Abby Hayes, Swiss Hill, Lancaster Elementary (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Mazer (The Fixits) introduces a spunky and appealing heroine in this inaugural volume of The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes: sheAand her daysAare more average than amazing. This is, in fact, the bee in Abby's bonnet. Her three "SuperSibs" outshine her. One of her older twin sisters excels at virtually every sport, the other is the top student in ninth grade, and her younger brother is a math and computer genius. Her lawyer mother also runs marathons, and her father owns a successful computer business. Where does this leave poor Abby? Feeling "small and insignificant," yet determined to prove "that she was deserving of being a Hayes, too." At the start of her fifth-grade year, Abby resolves to make her mark by becoming a soccer star by the end of the fall season. Documented largely through the journal writings of this devoted young writer, Abby's quest to reach this goal, as well as her frustration with her accomplished siblings, makes for repetitious reading at times. But Mazer injects some moments of sophisticated, wry humor (e.g., a Bridget Jones-like journal entry in which the allegedly newly reformed heroine notes, "Went home and ate plate of cookies to celebrate decision to turn self into great athlete"). In the end, Abby's real talents outshine those to which she aspires. Abby may well score enough points with readers that they'll ride out this tale's pleasures and faults, and move on to her next caper, The Declaration of Independence, also due this month. Ages 8-12. (July)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Booklist
In a style that is reminiscent of the Amelia books by Marissa Moss, this offers the innermost thoughts of Abby Hayes as she looks for a way to shine in her family of superstars. Told through prose, journal entries, and line drawings, the story follows Abby as she tries to make her mark in soccer, though she has little natural talent or inclination. Meanwhile, she is oblivious to her her true calling--writing--until a piece she writes on soccer is printed in the local newspaper. The first in a series, this covers some well-traveled ground, but the format, the realistic happenings, and the upbeat ending make it appealing fare. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 043954405X
• ISBN-13: 978-0439544054
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,069,138 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #12 in

  Books > Children's Books > Sports & Activities > Sports > Soccer > Fiction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go Abby! Go Abby!, June 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining (Amazing Days of Abby Hayes, Book 1) (Paperback)

This book is about 10 year old Abby Hayes and her family. The first of the series, this book leaves you wanting more. I reccomend this book to all girls, probably ages 7 and up. It was great!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BOOK THAT STARTED IT ALL!, April 11, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining (Amazing Days of Abby Hayes, Book 1) (Paperback)

I have read 10 books about Abby Hayes and they have all had problems, like a dull room or a dull newspaper job. But this book was the book that started it all. In the first book, we meet Abby, a fifth grader who has a superstar family. Abby has SuperSibs who can do anything from playing sports to debating to programming computers. Abby just wants to fit in! That's all she wants (except for her wish of pierced ears)! So Abby's friend, Jessica, a sporty girl who loves space and soccer, helps Abby train for the soccer team. Abby finally acheives her goal, until someting very embarrassing happens in one of the game. But it turns out all right when she sees what is in the newspaper the next day. This is a great book, so you should read this one and all of the other one to see how Abby grows up and experiences something that everyone can relate to.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book for young girls, December 15, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining (Amazing Days of Abby Hayes, Book 1) (Paperback)

Have you ever felt singled out in your family and nobody understands? Well if you do you should read this book. It is a book about a girl around your age, who always thinks she is totally different from the rest of her family. Her name is Abby Hayes. Abby has a dream to be a great soccer player. She also wishes she weren't so different. Abby goes through some struggles in her way to becoming a soccer star. Will she succeed at her dream? Read the book to find out. I think that Anne Mazer did an excellent job on this book. I didn't really like the ending, but all in all this was a 5 star book.