Nobody Was Here: Seventh Grade in the Life of Me, Penelope [Hardcover]

Alison Pollet (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

In a debut that lives somewhere between Harriet the Spy and Judy Blume, Alison Pollet brings us the story of Penelope, who's having trouble at home and at her fancy New York private school.

It's 1981, and nothing is going right in Penelope's life. She has just started seventh grade at Elston Prep, and she and her best friend Stacey aren't getting along. Stacy is all caught up in who's wearing what to whose Bar Mitzvah, and has even become friends with Annabella and Pia, two of the biggest snobs at Elston! At home, things are no better: there's a new mother's helper to contend with, and Penelope's little brother Nathaniel just won't leave her alone. And when her parents are at home--which is rare--all they do is fight.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7–It's 1981, and Penelope Schwartzbaum is starting seventh grade at an elite New York prep school. She finds herself thinking "bad thoughts"–thoughts that include a sense that she no longer fits together with her best friend, and suspicions that her mother's involvement with her latest client might be the kind of involvement that leads to divorce. School is a nightmare of never knowing what to do or how to think; the in-crowd has too many rules, from what to wear to who to talk to, and Penelope feels so lost that she is rapidly becoming a nobody. However, a new friendship with oddball but entirely genuine Cass provides a welcome distraction and allows Penelope to regain her sense of self and start becoming somebody. The prose is utilitarian and often reminiscent of the gossipy but omniscient narrative of Cecily von Ziegesar's "Gossip Girl" series or Lisi Harrison's The Clique (2004, both Little, Brown), including brand names scattered across the pages. Today's 12-year-olds might not understand why white Tretorns are so important; on the other hand, the time period might provide some insight into the world their mothers occupied. Overall, this is a satisfying story about early adolescence that doesn't break any new ground, but that won't disappoint readers.–Karyn N. Silverman, LREI–Elizabeth Irwin High School, New York City
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-7. Pollet's debut takes readers to an elite New York City prep school (circa 1981), filled with cliquey preteens guaranteed to put even contemporary "mean girls" in their place. Twelve-year-old Penelope Schwartzbaum is having trouble fitting in with her old friends at the new upper-school campus. She's uncomfortable with their activities (pledging not to make friends with anyone new to the school, for example), but she's unable to disagree with them. Life at home isn't much better. Her father is often out of town, and her mother may (or may not) be having an affair. Penelope hits bottom after participating in a cruel hazing and being expelled for writing on a desk, but, oddly enough, those events seem to bring her out of her "I'm nobody" fog and help her stand up for her own convictions. Pollet has created a believable set of characters who experience nasty, spiteful behavior that most girls over the age of 12 will easily recognize, and her perceptive, often humorous story is sure to be welcomed by readers approaching, as well as those stuck in, seventh grade. Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 218 pages
• Publisher: Orchard (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439583942
• ISBN-13: 978-0439583947
• Product Dimensions: 1 x 5 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,393,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rich, delightful read, July 22, 2004

By 

Jodi Egerton (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nobody Was Here: Seventh Grade in the Life of Me, Penelope (Hardcover)

I cannot recommend this book more highly. Allison Pollet has drawn the most honest portrayal of a seventh grade girl that I've ever read. Immersed in Penelope's world, I truly felt like I was back in seventh grade again.

The characters are delightful--quirky yet real--the storylines are engrossing, and the descriptions of life as a preteen in the early/mid 80s are spot on. I devoured the book over a weekend. And then I went back and picked it up and read through many of the chapters again. And then I described scene after scene to my husband. And then I woke up in the middle of the night laughing at a scene from the book.

While this book is marketed for preteens, it's a wonderful adult read as well--especially if you hit your preteens/teens in the 80s. It'd also be a great read for parents, an excellent glimpse into those enigmatic teenage girl minds. It was almost frightening how true to life it read.

Spend some time with Penelope and her friends--they're a memorable bunch.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nobody Was Here: Seventh Grade in the Life of Me, Penelope, May 22, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Nobody Was Here: Seventh Grade in the Life of Me, Penelope (Paperback)

This book Is about Penelope Schwartzbaum and she is going though changes as a seventh grader. Everything feels different, even her best friend Stacy. Stacy joins the snobby clique of girls who hate new students. Penelope is floating away from reality. Her parents are separating and they always fight. Penelope is also suspicious of a man that her mom may be dating. Then she meets a new student named Cass. When her friends find this out, they ignore her. Will penelope choose to be friends with the snobby clique or will she chose Cass.

I liked this book because it really showed changes a teenager can go through in 7th grade. Tennagers should read this book because it shows the position they are in.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Penelope Strikes!, January 23, 2006

By 

Sylvester (Burien, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nobody Was Here: Seventh Grade in the Life of Me, Penelope (Hardcover)

Penelope Schwartzbaum feels very upset when she gets to school and finds out that she doesn't have any classes with one and only friend. She is very worried about middle school and very curious to find out what it will be like. She likes to write her name in the margins of her paper instead of listening in class. Her parents are hardly ever at home so her and her little brother have to have a house sitter to baby-sit them.


Nobody was Here (7th Grade in the Life of Ms. Penelope) by Allison Pollet is a funny and exciting book with many different things happening. It is 227 eventful pages. Follow her in her 7th grade year! Watch her have good things happen and bad things happen.

This shows you that you should pay attention in school and enjoy what life gives you. This reminds me of a lot of 7th graders in the world. I think if you read this book before middle school, it will prepare you for it even though it is a fiction book.

I would recommend this book for girl's ages 9-13 years old. I thought that this was a really good book. This is a really neat plot and it is from a long time ago. People who enjoy books about kids their age should read this book.