Daphne's Book (Library Binding)

by Mary Downing Hahn (Author) "It was one of those dreary January days when nothing goes right..." (more)
Key Phrases: Baby Mouse, Sir Benjamin, Princess Heatherfern (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Readers can hardly help rooting for the two girls and hoping that these two appealing characters do remain best friends for a long time." -- Review --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review
“Seventh-grader Jessica’s assignment is to write a children’s book with a partner who will illustrate it. To her consternation, Jessica’s partner turns out to be Daphne Woodleigh, a reclusive, poorly dressed, silent classmate . . . . The growth of the girls’ friendship in the face of cruel peer pressures is honest and tender and even Jessica’s several betrayals of Daphne are understandable and lead to her growth as a person. . . . Readers can hardly help rooting for the two girls and hoping that these two appealing characters do remain best friends for a long time.” (School Library Journal )

“A meaningful, gently humorous novel about characters the author endows with humanity.”—Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Library Binding: 176 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (May 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380723557
• ISBN-13: 978-0380723553
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,088,325 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ballad of the Misfits, June 21, 2001

By	Gwyn Gwyrdd "geek" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daphne's Book (Hardcover)

I remember the very first time our librarian held this book up - brand new and shiny - the protective book cover crackling an invitation...."read me". I was in elementary school - Daphne's Book was brand new and had been nominated for an award - which it lost to another book written the same year, The Dollhouse Murders.

I checked this book out so many times, I would be surprised if anyone else was able to read it! I was a misfit - the kind in Jessica's category - not fitting in anywhere - and kind of fitting in everywhere. I had not found my niche, but knew I didn't believe in treating people differently based on appearances. I cannot begin to tell you the magic of this book and the way it touched my life. Few offerings to children these days offer such a statement on the meaning of love and true friendship. Jessica faces a true "moral dillema" and makes the right choice, even though it is difficult. Daphne (the true hero of the book) is magic - she lures you to those that sit by themselves in the corner of the room - lost in a realm we do not understand. She makes you think twice about prejudice of any kind. She encourages us to rise above our situation and bloom where we are planted. Any child that feels they are "different" would be enriched by this book. Any parent will be moved to tears as they read it with them.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant work., July 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Daphne's Book (Hardcover)

I read this book many years ago and it still haunts me. I read it during those horrible junior high school years and I was so happy to know that someone else felt those same feelings of constriction and alienation. A fantastic, ambitious book. It encourages young women to dream.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A really good, really sweet book, July 6, 1998

By	Hal Johnson (Hokenboken, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daphne's Book (Hardcover)

"Social issues," of any kind, are usually the death knell of the children's book, but, although they seem to be creeping in here, they are handled expertly and do not intrude upon the narrative.

_Daphne's Book_ is very reminiscent of Zilpha Keatley Snyder in her non-occult mode, so if you like that, you'll probably like this, too. But then, I always like books that have kids half-embarassedly playing games they know they're too old for.

I can't believe I called a book "really sweet," but I'm going to pretend it never happened and quickly post this before I can change it. I mean, after all, it's true.