The Cat Ate My Gymsuit [Paperback]

Paula Danziger (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 13, 1998 | Age Range: 8 and up

Now you can find Paula Danziger's funny and compassionate testaments to the ups and downs of growing up, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit and There's A Bat In Bunk Five, available in a brand new format sure to elicit lots of laughs (and maybe even a few tears) from teens everywhere. Danziger skillfully balances her insight into the daily trauma of the young adult years with liberal doses of humor. -- School Library Journal Marcy Lewis is bored by school, resents her tyrannical father, despairs of ever being thin, and is certain that she'll never have a date. Then along comes Ms. Finney, a remarkable teacher with unconventional ways, and things begin to change. The issues of teacher independence and student protest are topical, and Marcy, an intelligent and enjoyable adolescent, is an appealing heroine. -- School Library Journal Told with zest and humor, this is a good read. -- Children's Book Review Service

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7–Misunderstood, overweight, and convinced that she'll never get a date, Marcy Lewis wants nothing more than to be "normal." Her admiration and defense of Ms. Finney, an outspoken English teachers with the courage of her convictions, provides a way for Marcy to reexamine what's important to her and to stand up for what she believes. First published in 1974, Paula Danziger's compassionate and accurate portrayal of a young girl struggling to find her own voice rings as true today as it did 30 years ago. A full cast brings this modern American classic of teenage angst to life with humor and pathos. In an afterword, Danziger explains how she came to write this novel.–Cindy Lombardo, Tuscarawas County Public Library, New Philadelphia, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"The shining star in this production is C (Booklist )

"Full Cast Audio enhances this classic. Every character is perfectly realized, conveying the pain, pleasure, and confusion that are prerequisites to growing up."

(AudioFile )

"First published in 1974, Paula Danziger’s compassionate and accurate portrayal of a young girl struggling to find her own voice rings as true today as it did 30 years ago.  A full cast brings this modern American classic of teenage angst to life with humor and pathos."

(School Library Journal ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 154 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (April 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698116844
• ISBN-13: 978-0698116849
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,145,106 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."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Teenagers Real Life Situation February 23, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

THE CAT ATE MY GYMSUIT By Paula Danziger

I had just read this book a year ago, when I was in seventh grade. I really liked "The Cat ate my Gymsuit". I thought it dealt with a lot of real life problems that most teenagers deal with. It was about a girl in seventh grade named Marcy, who was overweight, had a lot of acne, and had barely any friends. In gym class she made up excuses why she couldn't play gym, because she didn't want to change in front of everyone else, because she thought she was fat. She also hated her dad because he always made fun of her, and makes her mom cry. Until one day at school, their class had a new teacher who turned Marcy's life around. But the other teachers didn't like her teaching method and try to fire her. The students try to fight to save her. This was a really good book. I would read it again if I could. I would also recommend this book to be in classrooms everywhere!

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've read! October 17, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

"The Cat ate my gym suit" by Paula Danzinger, was a fabulos book.The book was full of laughter and real events happing today in Amerca. Some parts of the book were a bit exagerated but very true. In the story, a young girl named Marcy Lewis feared she was too fat and ugly to get a boyfriend went on a long rollar coster of events that changed her life. Marcy was having problems at home, hre dad verbally abused both her and her brother. Marcy's mother never defended her in fear that her and her husband may end up in a fight, although she did not aprove of this type of behavior.The only people Marcy felt she had left that she could talk to was her friend Nancy and her younger brother Stuart, until Ms. Barbra Finney, her new English teacher came along. Ms. Finney helped Marcy relize that her life has a perpose and that she shouldn't be afraid to express herself around others. Marcy's new self- confidence not only landed her a boyfriend, named Noel but also a date to the dance. Then when Marcy thought her new found life at school was headed on the right track, the unthinkable happend Ms. Finney was suspended from her work. When Marcy decided to stand up for Ms. Finney her mom was behind her all the way but ofcourse her father was not, which caused friction at home. Marcy too was suspended. Things didn't turn out the way Marcy or Ms. Finney would have like them to, but in the end Marcy used her new knowledge to keep her head up high and not be ashamed, and so he did woth out Ms. Finney. I would recommend this book to a girl my age most definatly or even a teacher whose up for a good laugh and some sad moments. Over all this was an awsome book and i rate it 4 stars!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!!!!!!!!! November 16, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This was one of the best books that I have ever read. I had to read this book for a school project and I did not really want to do this book but it was that or some [...]book. So I chose this book. THis book is about girl named Marcy who has the most horrible life that anyone could imagine. Her father is abusive, she is a dork at school. She has had quite a few acne attacks. She is very smart but she hates school because of gymclass because she is very fat and doesnot like changing into her gymsuit. The only good thing is that her best friend is the most popular girl in school but only because thier moms are on the PTA together. That all changes when she gets a teacher named Ms. Finney who makes school fun and makes lfe better for marcy. One day Ms. Finney got suspended for no t sayindg the Pledge of Alligence but only because the principal and everyone else did not like her teaching methods. They dispised her. Because she was weird. The rest is all history and you will have to buy the book from Amazon.com because they have a great price. P.S. The old cover was way better. Where she was sitting on the green porch. Because the book did not have anything to do with a cat. So that was a stupid cover idea.