How to Fight a Girl [Paperback]

Thomas Rockwell (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Joe and Alan's plan to get revenge on Billy backfires when their secret weapon, the prettiest girl in their class, becomes Billy's friend.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-7 The kids from How to Eat Fried Worms (Watts, 1973) are back in a story of mean tricks, fighting, and getting even. Billy's trail bike, obtained through winning a bet that he could eat 15 worms, has made four neighborhood kids jealous, and they're out to get him. When he lets Amy ride his bike, the other three turn against her also. What follows is an unfocused story of children trying to get revenge, cast with unpleasant charactersBilly's bickering parents, his mother who is unable to follow through with a punishment, and the conniving and vindictive kids. The humorous black-and-white illustrations belie the serious undertones of the story, in which the children only pretend to their parents that they are contrite about their behavior and the vandalism that they caused. There is no discussion of the way they treated each other or about sharing, and their bewildered parents never do understand what was going on. They laugh at the children's written confession, and the story ends. Most adults who read this will wonder, ``Who's in charge of these kids?'' Young readers are more likely to wonder if any of the adults have even an ounce of common sense. Everyone will most likely wonder what what the point of it all is. Trev Jones, ``School Library Journal''
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Rockwell has an excellent grasp of the language, the thinking, and the Byzantine relationships of 11 to 13-year-olds." --Kirkus Reviews.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (November 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440401119
• ISBN-13: 978-0440401117
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #257,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas Rockwell is the author of a number of books for young readers. He was the recipient of the Mark Twain Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and the Sequoyah Award for How to Eat Fried Worms. He lives in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How to Fight a Girl, November 4, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: How to Fight a Girl (Paperback)

How to Fight a Girl is a great book with lots of activities in it. This book is one of the best books I ever read because it has people causing mischief, getting dirty, and a little fighting.
I liked this book because it's a very exciting book just like How to Eat Fried Worms. This book has people spraying wipped-craem on windows; that reads BF+Am, Billy+Amy, or Billy Forrester+Amy Miller. The book has a trail bike that Billy rides with Amy, and Billy and Amy kiss in the chapter called Super Girl. If you want to know the rest you should read How to Fight a Girl.
I recommend this book. Out of 1-6, I give it a 5.50 because it has great word choice. I think kids 9 and up can read this book because I think it would be a little complicated for kids at the age of 8 and under. How to Fight a Girl is a super book and if you ever read it I think you will enjoy it.

1.0 out of 5 stars Bad book, November 9, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: How to Fight a Girl (Paperback)

How A Fight a Girl By thomas Rockwell. I didn't like this book because it is not as good as how to eat Fried worms because it is not as gross.

The book is about a girl named Amy and a boy named Billy. They got along until she asked him to ask here to go to the dance. Then they became enemies and fight. I also like it only one part witch is the part when she takes Billy's trail bike and rides it.

I might recommend it because it is sometimes has action. The action is the part well I can't tell you. I don't no if you would like it, but I'm not much for it.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book, November 4, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: How to Fight a Girl (Paperback)

How to Fight a Girl is a very good book. I personally didn't like How to eat Fried Worms because i didn't have enough action and too many boys in it . Tomas Rockwell is obviously a very adventurous person because he likes to write about adventures. That is what I like to read about, adventures.
This book is about three kids going against two kids. All they do is give each other a hard time. Oh yeah,if you read the first book, Billy had a mini bike. Well he trades it for a trail bike. That's all I'll tell you for now I don't want to spoil it .
Well,I give this book 4 stars because the book has alot of action. I liked it because when people got in fights and I had to stop reading for my assinment I just kept wanting to read on. I hope you enjoy this book!!!!!