Remember Me to Harold Square [Hardcover]

Paula Danziger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1987 | Age Level: 11 and up

When Frank spends the summer with Kendra and her family in their New York City apartment, a friendship develops as the two teenagers set off on a scavenger hunt exploring the city's museums, restaurants, and other landmarks.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Danziger celebrates New York City in this story of a teenage girl (the only one of her gang spending the summer in the city), her brother Oscar (O. K.to his friends, age 10) and Frank Lee (he's 15, from a Wisconsin farm), who all embark on a six-week-long scavenger hunt devised by their parents. The threesome, nicknamed The Serendipities, are being offered, according to their parents, "an absolutely, wonderful, marvelous educational experience in which they will search for objects, facts, people, and places." If they complete the contract, the grand prize is a trip to England for the two families. With characteristic humor, tart language and quick phrasing, Danziger's teenagers not only share a summer getting to know each other but also explore the riches of a city often perceived as dirty and dangerous. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9 Kendra Kaye, 14, is not looking forward to spending the summer in New York City with her bratty little brother, Oscar (O.K.)until her parents announce that a 15-year-old farm boy from Wisconsin is going to live with them for the summer. Both sets of parents scheme up a scavenger hunt for the three kids which forces them to explore all of Manhattan. Frank turns out to be a good-looking guy (with a girlfriend back home), and the three set out to have a good time seeing the sights of New York City. By the end of the summer, Frank's girlfriend dumps him, and his and Kendra's friendship has grown to a very close relationship. Danziger has scored a hit again with her realistic characters, believable dialogue, and smooth style. As in This Place Has No Atmosphere (Delacorte, 1986), she makes good use of puns and seems to have fun in developing her characters. It's refreshing to read a book whose characters develop a special friendship without the subject of sex intervening. Readers will also learn many facts about New York City (through the scavenger hunt); Danziger incorporates these into the story without making it too heavy. An entertaining story. Bonnie L. Raasch, C.B. Vernon Middle School, Marion, Iowa
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Hardcover: 139 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books; 1st edition (September 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038529610X
• ISBN-13: 978-0385296106
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,356,523 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 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Remember me to Harold Square Review, June 21, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Remember Me To Harold Square (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Paperstar Book) (School & Library Binding)

This book is about a scavenger hunt in New York City. The main characters are Kendra, Oscar, and Frank. Kendra is a young teenager who is very energetic and trust worthy. Oscar is Kendra's little brother and he is very annoying. Frank is the son of family friends and he is fifteen. They have been given this task by their parents to learn more about New York. The prize is a trip to England. To complete the scavenger hunt they have to go to new places and try new things. For example they had to go to the Holocaust Museum, a movie studio where they filmed a soap opera called "All My Children", and even try sushi! This book is very interesting because their scavenger hunt is always so unpredictable. All the jokes Oscar does are so funny, for example he calls himself ok because his innitials are O.K. and Kenra kk because her innitials are K.K. The things that go through Kendra's mind are also very funny, like when she starts wondering what Frank looks like. You can feel that you are in the book because the author describes it so well that everything can be pictured in your mind. She also makes it easy to understand and a lot of fun because you want to know what the characters will do next. I really recommend this book to anyone who likes humurous books.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book about normal kids and New York, September 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Remember Me to Harold Square (Paperback)

When I was a kid, I adored this book. Now that I've moved to New York as an adult, I want to buy a new copy because I remember how wonderfully it described the tourist attractions here. Another great thing about this book is that it shows what a great, educational city New York is. Also, the characters are like real, relatable people--not the perfect teens in a lot of young adult fiction. Kendra, Frank, and Oliver have dialogue so snappy that it made me laugh out loud. If you want to learn about fun things to do in New York with kids and teenagers, buy this book! I've read it easily a dozen times.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The GREATEST Book Paula Danziger has to OFFER, December 22, 2001

By 

Stephanie (New York City, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Remember Me to Harold Square (Paperback)

The Book "Remember Me to Harold Square" is a great Novel.It is about a girl named Kendra Kaye who dreads about the decision that she has to stay with a boy name Frank (Her Parents Friend's Son) that she hardly knows and that she has to do some dumb Parents Scavenger Hunt in which she has to do with her pesty younger brother (O.K). This trip doesn't turn out so bad after all! Instead she starts to understand boys and even start to like them! Frank turns out to be a Great Guy who is everything she dreamed of!