Jean and Johnny (Avon Camelot Books) [Paperback]

Beverly Cleary (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1996 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Avon Camelot Books

First Date

Fifteen-year-old Jean is astonished when a handsome Johnny whirls her ‘round the dance floor. She's never given much thought to boys before; now Johnny is all that's on her mind. Finally she finds the courage to invite him to a dance. But the excitement of a new dress and a scheme to take Johnny's photograph cannot stop jean's growing uneasiness that she likes Johnny a lot more than he likes her . . .

This high-school story, which is both funny and touching, is about a girl who lacks self-confidence, and a boy who has too much.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Another delightful girls' story. Jean fifteen and petite, has a crush on Johnny, seventeen and tall." -- -- School Library Journal

About the Author

Beverly Cleary was born in McMinnville, Oregon, and until she was old enough to attend school she lived on a farm in Yamhill, a town so small it had no library. Her mother arranged to have books sent to their tiny town from the state library and acted as a librarian in a room over a bank. It was there that Mrs. Cleary learned to love books. Generations of children have grown up with Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, Ralph Mouse, and all of their friends, families, and assorted pets. Beverly Cleary continues to capture the hearts and imaginations of children of all ages throughout the world.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380728052
• ISBN-13: 978-0380728053
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,162 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( C ) > Cleary, Beverly

More About the Author

Beverly Cleary's birthday, April 12th, is celebrated across the country on D.E.A.R. Day, with activities related to the Drop Everything and Read Program. One of the most popular and honored authors of all time, Beverly Cleary has won the Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw, and both Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and Ramona and Her Father have been named Newbery Honor Books. She makes her home in coastal California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The "no illustrations" edition., September 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Jean and Johnny (Avon Camelot Books) (Paperback)

The publishers did this book a great disservice by not including the charming illustrations that were in the original 1959 edition (and most of its subsequent editions). Though these drawings were a bit dated - Jean's dad wears horn rimmed glasses, Jean and the other girls wear long skirts and saddle oxfords to school - so is the book! Keeping these 1950s-esque illustrations would just seem appropriate for a book that is so quintessentially 1950s. Without these illustrations, a first-time reader would think that this book was about Jehovah's witnesses, what with Jean and her sister making their own clothes, the high school sewing class for girls and the lavishness of going out for Cokes. With the recent return of retro, it's amazing that the publishers didn't opt with including the old illustrations. The same goes for the new editions of "Fifteen" and "Sister of the Bride" - both Beverly Cleary books that were given the same treatment. For the full effect of these charming books, better find an older edition.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jean and Johnny, March 17, 2002

By 

Katalina Villalba (Cerritos, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jean and Johnny (Avon Camelot Books) (Paperback)

Jean and Johnny was about a girl that was fifteen years old and falls in love with a popular boy. It all started when Johnny asked her to dance at a local school party. Jean was amazed that he had actually asked her. Jean found out that Johnny went to the same school as her and they started hanging out together. Johnny would wait for Jean after classes and go out to lunch with her. Jean started liking him and asked him to the dance. He canceled because, supposedly, his grandmother was very sick. Jean knew that he didn't want to go with her, so she asked his best friend. Johnny ended up going to the dance with another girl and Jean felt that his friend was much better than he was.
I liked this book because it shows what a real teenager goes through when they like a boy. It shows how they get nervous whenever a phone rings. It shows that they cringe when their father talks about a specific boy. I like the way it shows her perspective of how life works and goes into detail about what she's thinkning.This book is a great way to learn how other people think and feel.
My favorite part of the book is when Jean dumps Johnny for Homer. Even though Homer is the best looking and is really shy, Jean looks past that. She doesn't go only looks and she likes his personality. Also, when they are at the dance and she tells Johnny, "Wonder drugs? Im so glad your grandmother is feeling better." I think it takes a lot of pride to say that and that's why I admire Jean.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent first-love story; dated but with a definite edge., April 23, 1999

By 

E. Fagan (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jean and Johnny (Avon Camelot Books) (Paperback)

I'm 35, & have read this book many times since childhood. I loved Jean's likable awkwardness, her loving and supportive family, her tight relationship with an even more awkward best friend. The charm of this story was in the painfully familiar adolescent details: mortification on being dressed completely wrong; tailing a crush all over and calling on weak pretexts; slighting a "dorky" best friend to earn a place with the popular crowd, etc. All the characters just jumped out at me. There's a definite edginess to the writing that I haven't seen elsewhere: Johnny is portrayed as a vain, shallow jerk...but in the end not only does he go unpunished & unguilty for his selfishness, but Jean still carries a torch! An absolutely delightful, memorable tale of unrequited love and all its humiliations.