The Pistachio Prescription [School & Library Binding]

Paula Danziger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1999 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Cassie's not really sure how it started, but eating pistachio nuts always makes her feel better. Whenever her parents have a shouting match, the pressure of running for freshperson class president gets overwhelming, or her beautiful (and short) sister calls her a giraffe, grabbing a handful of red nuts somehow helps. Cassie has medicine for her asthma attacks; why not have a prescription for "unhappiness attacks"? "An entertaining storyfunny, well-characterized, and loaded with popular appeal." -- Booklist an announcement that she's sure will ruin her life—the family's moving to the moon! How can they expect her to live in a place that has no atmosphere? "A mischievous spoof of a science fiction novel as well as a warm and funny saga about a teen of the future who is having severe difficulties adjusting to a family move." — School Library Journal "The story is funny and the setting intriguing in another popular title for Danziger fans." — The Horn Book

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Cassandra (Cassie) Stephens is thirteen, a "mousy-brown" in a family of blonds and redheads, a totem pole among shapelies, a nonentity in a world of achievers. On top of that, she's got asthma.

World War III is waged daily in her home, beginning at the breakfast table and ending with slammed doors at night. "Operation Overthrow" is under way at school, with Cassie running for freshperson class president. Pressures mount from all sides until Cassie, the first "teenage bomb in captivity," thinks she just might explode. But it isn't Cassie who explodes--it's her family.

To find out who wins the election at school and what happens to Cassie's family at home, tune in to this book! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 154 pages
• Publisher: Topeka Bindery (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881033359
• ISBN-13: 978-0881033359
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,301,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in New York, Paula Danziger knew since second grade that she wanted to be a writer. Beginning her career as a teacher, Danziger taught at the junior high, high school, college levels. She received her Masters Degree in reading and during that time she wrote her first bestselling novel, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit. She returned to teaching, but the success of her book encouraged her to become a full-time writer. It was non-stop for Danziger since then. Among her titles are: the enormously popular Amber Brown books as well as Remember Me To Harold Square, The Divorce Express, and Can You Sue Your Parents For Malpractice?Danziger received numerous honors, including: Parent's Choice Awards, International Reading Association - Children's Book Council Awards, a IRA-CBC Children's Choice Award and many nominations for state reading and library association awards. Known as a flamboyantly funny and deeply honest writer and speaker, Paula Danziger knew how to relate to young readers at their level. She was vital, funny, and compassionate. She knew how kids felt, what made them laugh, what they wore, collected, read, and played with. From collecting novelty toys that would make any teacher cringe, to wearing jangly earrings, funky glasses and shoes covered with beads and sequins, Paula Danziger had a direct line into kids' hearts and funnybones. She will be missed always.In Paula's memory, The Amber Brown Fund has been established to bring authors and illustrators to schools and libraries which otherwise could not afford them. Donations may be sent to The Amber Brown Fund/ SCBWI Museum of Children's Books, 8271 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. "I want people who want to become writers to read lots, write and rewrite lots, take acting lessons to learn about character development, observe people and not to be afraid of not being perfect. As for those people who don't want to be writers, I hope that you will always continue to read and also not be afraid of not being perfect." "I have two sets of heroes: One--bright, creative teachers, who manage to stay in the classroom. And, two--people who have difficult childhoods and manage to use the experiences to grow into caring, understanding adults."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Page Turner!, January 25, 2002

By 

eugenia (El Salvador,San Salvador) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pistachio Prescription (Turtleback)

The Pistachio Prescription, written by Paula Danzinger was an excellent and entertaining novel about a teenage girl dealing with the troubles of being one. Let me introduce you to Cassandra Stevens Brown hair, brown eyes, very tall, 14. She has two siblings, Stephie, the typical seventeen-year-old sister; she has blonde hair, blue eyes. She has a smaller green-eyed red haired brother. Her mom is identical to her brother, and Stephie is identical to her father.
Paula Danzinger talks about Cassie (short for Cassandra), a girl just about to enter high school. As typical, there's a "cool" crowd, the student council people.
But this year, Cassie has a plan. An intelligent,deviousplan. Her friends all got together for a meeting discussing what they'll do, whom they will elect, and who will lead. Guess who gets chosen? Cassie for president! She feels quite insecure and does not want to do it, but gets convinced afterwards.
If you are wondering about the tittle, whenever Cassie feels angry, mad or sad, she eats red pistachios, a prescription of them is sure to get her joy back in an instant, the only bad part is tat her parent's don't like the idea of her eating them. Her mother says it's not ladylike, and her father agrees with her. Cassie has to hide her pistachios wherever she can.
When Cassie enters school, there's a new kid in town, Scott. They start talking and he is part of the plan to too. This book talks about teamwork, teenage troubles, school, and friends. It's a great page-turner that everyone is sure to enjoy. The pistachio prescription bye Paula Danzinger is a great book that everyone will enjoy.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic YA story!, November 29, 2006

By 

Joanna Mechlinski (CT, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pistachio Prescription (Mass Market Paperback)

At home, 14-year-old Cassie lives amidst a daily World War III; her parents won't stop fighting, her older sister is catty and mean, and her little brother is trying to make himself invisible.

So, Cassie figures, she's got to eke out a great life at school. With the support of her new boyfriend and her best friend, she runs for "freshperson" class president. (And as a direct result of an unfortunate personal grooming incident, she gains the entire school's respect as a cool girl who doesn't care what the teachers tell her...)

However, Cassie can't ignore her home life altogether. Whenever things get especially bad, her asthma flares up, and the only thing that makes her feel better is her beloved pistachio nuts, which she hides in her bedroom. The time comes, however, when Cassie admits she can't keep relying on pistachios; she needs to work with her family to make a change that will result in a better, healthier life for all of them.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Prescription - Pistachio Nuts, April 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Pistachio Prescription (Audio Cassette)

Cassie has a lot of problems in life, like when her mom and dad fight, her older sister calls her names, and when she has an asthma attack. Eating pistachio nuts always seems to help. Can she get a prescription from the doctor to eat pistachio nuts each day? I really enjoyed this book. It was humerous, yet had real life problems in it. It was really good!