Markus and the Girls [Hardcover]

Klaus Hagerup (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 11 and up | Grade Level: 6 and up

The return of Markus, who's fallen in love again. Today Markus is in love with Ellen Christine; yesterday it was Therese, but that was after Elisabeth; in short, he's been in love with all the girls in his class in just two months of his first year at junior high. His best friend, Sigmund, is always there to help in his humorous pursuits of each girl, but sometimes he gets in the way. Markus's father isn't any help at all; he has only ever been in love with Markus's mother, who died when Markus was very young. With affection and charm, Klaus Hagerup depicts the daily ups and downs, joys and fears of a completely unusual, completely normal teenager and his first steps into the unpredictable world of love. This is the second book in the warm, humorous series about thirteen-year-old Markus.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6–9—In this humorous sequel to Markus and Diana (Front St., 2006), the story's pattern is quickly established: 13-year-old Markus falls in love with a girl, and his best friend, Sigmund, tries to help him win her over (though Sigmund often has motives of his own), but by the time the two boys make anything resembling progress, Markus has already moved on to his next infatuation. Sigmund gets a girlfriend and, along with her best friend (also a discarded love interest of Markus), the four teens form a club called the Four-Leaf Clovers. They make it their mission to help Markus get together with the current light of his life, a beautiful new student named Alexandra. To this end they stage a ragtag production of Romeo and Juliet, a plot development original only in the hilarious ways in which it goes wrong. The characters are neatly developed, and the lighthearted tone is effortlessly sustained throughout. Mellower and gentler than most middle school fiction starring boys, the sweetness of the story and outdated cultural references make this book feel behind the times, but to many readers, this may come as a relief.—Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA END

From Booklist

This sequel to Markus and Diana (2006) finds Markus and best friend Sigmund negotiating the pitfalls of eighth-grade romance. Readers will suspect early on that the boys’ elaborate plans to stage Romeo and Juliet (so that Alexandra as Juliet will fall for Markus as Romeo) are doomed to failure, but Hagerup’s ear for teen dialogue and his sense of comedic timing more than make up for any lack of suspense. By the story’s end, Markus realizes that his deepening friendship with Ellen Christine is more satisfying than his infatuation with Alexandra—not at all a bad place for a 14-year-old to be. Set in contemporary Norway, this has much middle-school appeal. Grades 6-9. --Kay Weisman

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Front Street Press (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590785207
• ISBN-13: 978-1590785201
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,840,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, May 6, 2009

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Markus and the Girls (Hardcover)

In MARKUS AND THE GIRLS, Klaus Hagerup, a critically acclaimed children's novelist from Norway, illustrates the difficulties of early pubescent childhood. Markus, thirteen, has been in love with every girl in his grade, and now is in love with the lovely Ellen Christine.

With his best friend, Sigmund, at his side, Markus experiences the daily troubles coupled with teenage life as he slowly begins his journey into the confusing world of love, in its many shapes and forms.

Markus' journeys and friendships, and the diverse, deep characters, make this book one to pick up off the bookshelves. Despite falling under the category of a perhaps typical 'coming-of-age' story, Markus' complex nature and Hagerup's choice of character kept me entertained throughout.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, resulting from its unique characterizations and the comical relationship of Markus and Sigmund, with their quirky natures intertwined. A quick read as well, good for all ages.

Reviewed by: Andrew S. Cohen