Finally [Hardcover]

Wendy Mass (Author)

Book Description

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

A humorous look at what it means to FINALLY turn twelve years old.

You can pierce your ears when you're twelve. You can go to the mall with your friends when you're twelve. You can babysit little Timmy next door when you're twelve. You can get a cell phone when you're twelve. Hey, you can even ride in the front passenger-side seat when you're twelve.
When you're twelve, when you're twelve, when you're twelve . . .
My name is Rory Swenson, and I've been waiting to turn twelve my whole life. In exactly 18 hours, 36 minutes, and 52 seconds, it will finally happen.
My life will officially begin.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7 Rory Swenson just can't catch a break. She's been waiting for what seems like forever for her 12th birthday. According to her parents' rules, that is the magical age when she'll finally be able to partake in many formerly forbidden activities such as wearing contact lenses, getting a pet, owning a cell phone, piercing her ears, and staying home alone. Now that the day has finally come, she finds that growing up isn't as satisfying as she imagined. She's completely unprepared for the minor disasters that result: her new pet bunny seems homicidal staying home alone is scarier than she thought and her attempt at having her ears pierced reveals an allergy to gold. The only silver lining is her growing friendship with movie-star Jake Harrison, who is filming at her school. There's a nice twist at the end, when the many good deeds Rory has done without thinking of herself pay off, and she realizes that her misfortunes are minor. This novel pairs well with Mass's 11 Birthdays (Scholastic, 2009), but it stands on its own. Children will relate to this warm, funny story of a heroine who can't wait to grow up. Madigan McGillicuddy, Los Angeles Public Library
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From Booklist

Rory has a list of things she longs to do when she turns 12: stay home alone, shave her legs, babysit, wear makeup, drink coffee . . . So overprotected that she has never ridden in the front seat of a car, Rory can’t wait for her birthday. But those long-anticipated experiences bring some disconcerting surprises. In this sequel to 11 Birthdays (2009), Amanda and Leo play minor roles and wise woman Angelina works her magic again. Rory’s lively first-person narrative clearly expresses her emotions as she seesaws between longing and fear, confidence and insecurity. The jacket photo will attract tween readers. Grades 4-7. --Carolyn Phelan

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (March 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545052424
• ISBN-13: 978-0545052429
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Wendy Mass is the author of "A Mango-Shaped Space" and "Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life," published by Little, Brown in November 2006. She lives with her family in Sparta, NJ.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A stroll down memory lane, March 6, 2010

By 

Tina "Tina" (Montreal, Quebec) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Finally (Hardcover)

I loved, loved this book. I have to start my review with this because the author has managed to perfectly capture the youth, innocence and expectation of what lies ahead in your life.

This book made me revisit my past and how much I, too, was so looking forward to being 12 FINALLY! I had a rough year the previous year, with the unexpected death of my dad, so somehow, getting to 12 was soooo important - things would be different.

The author created a main character that was a joy to read. She was so full of hope and expectations and I loved reading about every little thing (good and bad) that actually happened when she did turn 12.

Of course, things did not quite work out as she hoped - nothing really ever does - and that is okay, but through this storyline there are life lessons that are learned, yes, even at the tender age of 12.

This book is about accepting your life and living it to the fullest - not only when you are 12.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Do you remember finally turning 12?, May 2, 2010

By 

Jennifer Donovan "5minutesforbooks" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Finally (Hardcover)

Wendy Mass has done it again. My 11-year-old daughter has been a fan of her books for a while, and has "made" me read 3 of them. I'm so glad that I have.

This book (and the others) are the kind of books that give the reader (old readers like me) a walk down memory lane. Not only do I remember what it was like to be 12, but it helps me connect with my soon-to-be-twelve daughter.

Rory is finally turning 12, which means she will finally be able to do all those things that her overprotective parents have been promising her that she could do when she turned 12, including get a cell phone, shave her legs, stay home alone, get a pet and more. She knows -- she's been keeping track. The novel deals with her response to dealing with all of these new areas of responsibility and privilege. I'll give you a tip off to say that all of these things do not go off without a hitch.

Very clever and relatable.

NOTE FROM A PARENT: One thing I like about Mass' books (including this one) is that they are great books for kids ten and up who are looking to make that transition from "kids' books" to Young Adult fare. They deal with typical middle school issues, yet in a completely age-appropriate way -- either for those who are that age, or for those who will be soon.

Many of her books will appeal to boys and girls, but I think that this one is definitely targeted to girls.

The parents are also portrayed in a realistic way. For example, they are a little dorky and overprotective (through the eyes of their tween), but they are supportive and follow through with their promises.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally, March 8, 2011

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Finally (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed reading the book Finally, by Wendy Mass. This book is about a girl name Rory Swenson who couldn't wait to turn twelve. Rory really wanted to turn twelve, because when she was little her parents always said when she was twelve she could get everything that she asked for, from when she was little. For example when she was little she asked if she could get a cell phone and her mom always said when she was twelve. Also for example when she was also younger she wanted to always stay home by her self and her dad said " you can do it when you are twelve." Rory started writing all of her wishes down on a piece of paper. Rory couldn't wait to be twelve!



I enjoyed this book for many reasons. This book is silly, funny and just a fun book to read. You get to learn about Rory's life, and all of her adventures. When you get to read this book it feels like you are in the book with Rory. I really like the author of this book. She really gave details of all the characters, and was really good at making the story up. I also really liked the author a lot because in every chapter something new was coming. Because Rory's life is like a whole different chapter in the book. Because in life something new happens each day. Our lives are another chapter in the book. That's why I think that the author was so good about writing the book. I thought it was a really interesting story with Rory's ups and her downs in her life. Another reason why I really liked that book because it reminds me of when I get to turn twelve, and do all those things like her. Something that I really liked about Rory is that she never gave up. She remembered all her wishes that she had, and never forgot them. It would be pretty hard for me to remember all of those wishes from when I was younger.



I thought Finally was a great book. I would love to read more of Wendy Mass's books. I think Wendy Mass is a great author, and one of my favorite authors. I would rate this book four out of five stars. Or maybe four and a half stars out of five. I thought the book had a great plot. I just think that this book is a great all-around kind of book. It is a well-written story; great characters to it and is just an amazing book. I really enjoyed this book, and I hope that you guys should all read it!