Customer Reviews

Finally

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

Finally is a realistic novel of an 11-year old girl about to turn 12 named Rory. She has been waiting for her 12th birthday her whole life because she has a list of everything she gets to do when she is 12. I loved every second of this awesome tale and thought about how everyone must feel about themselves on the inside. In a nutshell, this really taught me a lesson and I highly reccomend this to any girl going to middle school because it is a great young-teens book. I think of this book as a path to learning whether you really need something or everyone else has one so you "have to have one too". This book.... it is truly great.

I am a 11 year-old girl who has read the book, Finally, and would like you to read it, too. I am very picky about the books I read, I usually only read three partcular series, but this book changed that. Now, I read mostly Wendy Mass! Some of my favorite authors have been Andrew Clements, Anne Mazer, and Jeff Kinney...oh, and I can't forget myself! This book captures the whole idea of wanting to grow up too fast, and how it may not always turn out like you think it should. I am a very stubborn person, and so is the main character in this book, Rory Swenson. Everytime she asked for something like a pet, or getting her ears pierced, or riding in the front seat of the car, her parents would always give the same response, "When you're twelve!" So she finally wrote down all the big and little things that her parents said she could do at the age of twelve! She is also a very caring person. She can analyze a situation and realize the true feelings of any person. In the end, Rory makes a very mature decision and finds her true self. You should really read this book. It will make you smile, gasp, etc. Well, I can't find anymore words to describe this book except for amazing, wonderful, delightful, extraordinary, and fantastic!

I have read a lot of Weddy Mass's books, and after a while they seem to be very repetitive. I read FINALLY in a day. I found it very entertaining, although the plot wasnt very clear. A bunch of little things would happen in the story, and it was hard to tell if what just happened was important or not. It turned out that all of those little things were leading up to something, but that something didn't happen until the last couple of pages of the book. Looking back on the book, I realize there were a bunch of little puzzle pieces that all came together, but the whole puzzle is an after thought once the book is done. This book takes place in the same town that 11 BIRTHDAYS takes place in (11 BIRTHDAYS is also by Wendy Mass). The characters in 11 BIRTHDSAYS are also minor characters in FINALLY. This was a bit exciting to find out. I read 11 BIRTHDAYS when I was 11 myself, and I loved all the magic that was in it. Having those characters in the book FINlLLY brought a bit of the magic back. For anyone who likes Wendy Mass, I recommend reading A MANGO SHAPED SPACE, which is my all time favorite book.

Rory Is an 11 year old girl who is turning 12 soon, so she has made a list of stuff she is allow to do when the time comes. There's the little but important things like using the kitchen appliances without any supervision or staying home alone and there's the big stuff to do like getting her ears pierced and getting a cell phone. Rory is excited to do everything on her list because finally she will be like her friends. Rory will soon realize all her wishes won't come true.

This book was a surprise! I though I wasn't going to like "Finally" because is for preteens but it was really funny and fast read. I loved Rory and how she handles every situation in the book. What I found more enjoyable in the book was Rory's relationship with her parents. Here is one of my favorite conversations in the book:


Dad scurries along, eyes down, with his hands held up to the right side of his face like he's shielding it from the sun. "Dad, seriously," I plead. "People are going to think you stole something"


"I'll take my chances," he says without looking up.


"You know, just because you see something in a store window doesn't mean you have to buy it"


"These places are tricky"

This book will make you laugh! The author really lets you get to know the main character, Rory Swenson, who has the worst luck! Many of these problems lead to hilarious happenings and although the reader will find it very funny, they feel sympathy for poor Rory.
This book is about Rory not being able to do things other students at her school in Willow Falls can do.Some of these rules are resonable, like not being able to have a cell phone or get contacts. Others are outrageous, like not being allowed to pick out her own clothes! When she turns twelve she can do all these things and even more.FINALLY! In fact she has a whole list of things she can do when she turns twelve! At the end of the story there is a true moral.
I beileve that everyone going through puberty should read this book to make them see that there is no rush to grow up, and to never forget the things you like and the things you need.
If you have read 11 Birthdays (by Wendy Mass ) then you'll like this book because it takes place in the same town and some characters from 11 Birthdays appear in this book a few times.
Remember, you won't get what you want until you see what you need.

Do you remember when your parents used to tell you "wait until you're 12" or "wait until you're 16"? You were, no doubt, just like Rory Swenson and created a list of things you would "someday" be able to do or have. FINALLY, that day has arrived for Rory.

Being 12 means being on the edge of her teen years. Rory can hardly sleep the night before. She's thinking of her list - getting a cell phone, getting her ears pierced, getting a pet, and getting to go to her first boy/girl party. Those are just a few of the things she is excited about finally being about to do.

Let's take the cell phone. She can't believe it's true when she finds the box that looks like it's her dream come true. Imagine her disappointment when she opens it to find a cell phone, but not the one she's dreamed of. Instead, this is an ugly thing with two buttons. Count them! Just two buttons! One to call home and the other to call 911. WT*! Leave it to her parents to give her the second present, which is a box filled with cell phone brochures and calling plans. They confess that the two button phone is some sort of sick joke, and then tell her since the phone will be her responsibility, she must investigate all the choices and make a presentation about which are the best - and then they'll make the purchase.

Next, imagine Rory getting her cell phone and managing to lose it in 15 minutes before they've even left the mall where it was purchased. Yep, that's how being 12 begins for Rory.

FINALLY is one girl's experience as she reaches the magical age where everything seems possible. Whatever can go wrong, does. There are incidents involving leg shaving, make-up, being home alone, and contact lenses, just to name a few. Author Wendy Mass captures the frustration of pre-teens as they reach the magical time that allows them to begin experiencing tidbits from the grown-up world. FINALLY will have readers laughing, nodding in agreement, and sighing in sympathy as they follow Rory's tale of reaching 12.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

This book is just incredible. I have been searching for the perfect book and this is the one. It is so good I cannot put it in words. Simply amazing