The Luckiest Girl (An Avon Camelot Book) [Paperback]

Beverly Cleary (Author)

Book Description

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

Falling in Love . . .

Shelly fells as if she's living in a fantasyland. She's spending the school year in southern California, where flowers bloom in November, oranges grow on trees, and lawns are mowed in winter. When the star of the basketball team smiles at her, Shelly feels as if she's been touch by magic. Now she's about to discover the magic of falling in love!

A bittersweet story of first love from one of America's most beloved children's authors.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ought to be required reading for teenage daughters and their mothers." -- -- The New York Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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: 272 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380728060
• ISBN-13: 978-0380728060
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 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

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just Not as good as "Fifteen", February 9, 2005

By 

Reader Mom "cakebaker21" (Annandale, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Luckiest Girl (An Avon Camelot Book) (Paperback)

Beverly Cleary rightfully occupies the pedestal of supreme excellence; her books were my girlhood favorites (I'm 49) and my daughter's girlhood favorites (she's 14). Beverly Cleary's characters are more real to me than some people, along with Elizabeth Enright's Melendys and Eleanor Estes' Moffats. No one writes books like these anymore...a tragedy! Like many Beverly Cleary fans, I'm sure, I remember all of her books vividly, and though I'm a library mom all the way, I actually BUY Beverly Cleary books because I want to own them for all time. But this one fell a bit short. First, it's so dated, unusual because her books mostly transcend time. The dialogue sounds so stilted, maybe because there are precious few contractions used. Has our speech really become that much more casual? Also, I agree with the reviewer who observed that Shelley Latham's experiences are a bit too perfect. New girl... instantly popular...snags the coolest guy in school...it seems like such a cliched and dated definition of success/happiness. My daughter told me, though, that girls still become popular through the boys they attract...guess we haven't come that far after all! I noticed also that most of the kids reviewing this book gave it glowing 5-star reactions, which makes me think girls today probably long for a more innocent, more civil time, when they weren't expected to be sexualized by 5th grade (chiefly by the media's relentless bombardment). I still felt like Shelley, Philip, Hartley, etc. were very real people, just antiquated and living in a world long gone, whereas Jane, Stan, Marcy, etc. from "Fifteen" seem to ring more true even today. Oh well, like all Beverly Cleary books, this one had me looking forward to reading each night, and I finished it this morning when I should have been cleaning the bathrooms! The master still retains her magic touch, even if a bit off kilter in "The Luckiest Girl."

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVED IT!, March 18, 2005

By 

Amanda (kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Luckiest Girl (An Avon Camelot Book) (Paperback)

I adored this charming book! relates alot to teen/ preteen girls. It shows what things are to come in the teen years, i loved it! STRONGLY RECCOMENDED! No sexual scenes NOT EVEN KISSING! No violence or anything! I LOVE Beverly Cleary's books and i feel this one is her best to date! ;)

Sincerley,

Amanda [14 years old]

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Book, August 14, 2002

By 

monkey123 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Luckiest Girl (An Avon Camelot Book) (Paperback)

The Luckiest Girl by Beverly Cleary is a good book. The main character is Shelley Latham, who is sixteen. Shelley lives in Oregon, but her mother's friend from college, Mavis Michie, has sent a letter inviting Shelley to spend the school year in California with the Michies. Shelley goes to California. She feels like she is in fantasyland. Oranges are growing on trees, and flowers are blooming in the winter, and there are palm trees! And now she is going out with Philip, the cute star of the basketball team, and the other girls are all jealous. To find out what happens to Shelley, read this book, which I would reccomend to anyone who likes to read.