The Diary of Melanie Martin: or How I Survived Matt the Brat, Michelangelo, and the Leaning Tower of Pizza (Melanie Martin Novels) (Paperback)

by Carol Weston (Author) "Dear Diary, You will never in a million years guess where we're going..." (more)
Key Phrases: travel wallet, thirty lines, Miss Sands, New York, Matt the Brat (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
W said of this diary of a girl who travels from New York to Italy, "Weston clearly knows a 10-year-old's take on foreign customs." Ages 8-12.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-Ten-year-old Melanie Martin and her family are going to Italy for spring break. Her diary begins shortly before their European adventures start, and continues as they travel across Italy and back home again. As on many family vacations, the two kids fight, the parents argue, pickpockets strike, children go missing, new things are tried, but, ultimately, everyone has a memorable trip. Melanie's diary has an authentic ring: she grumbles about her brother, her parents complain that she is a grump, but by journal's end she has gained a maturity that often accompanies a trip abroad. Sections of the book are laugh-out-loud funny and Weston's descriptions will have readers wanting to see the country for themselves. An enjoyable read.
Elaine Baran Black, Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, GA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (June 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440416671
• ISBN-13: 978-0440416678
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,359 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A 10-year-old's view of Italy, June 7, 2000

By	Xeneri - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Diary of Melanie Martin: or How I Survived Matt the Brat, Michelangelo, and the Leaning Tower of Pizza (Hardcover)

Meet 10 year old Melanie Martin, your average american kid and child travel critic . Melanie keeps a travel journal when her folks take her and her 6 year old brother Matt on a trip to Italy. Remember those family vacations you used to take as a kid? Well trust me, when you travel with Melanie, it'll all come rushing back at you.

Melanie's accounts of plane travel, Italian culture ("Almost everyone here speaks Italian-even kids"), and her goofy adventures with her family (at a museum she plays a game with Matt to "Point out the Naked People") will have you in stitches. Ms Weston is not only a funny writer, she's a mom and it serves her well in her accounts of family behaviour. This book reminds me of my own family trips when I was a kid (hey, when I was 11, my folks took me to Italy too! I can't say I appreciated it as much as Melanie did, but then maybe she should have joined us for the ride!)

Funny, breezy and filled with the easily believable dialogue of a ten year old (complete with doodles on the pages!) This is a great book for would-be travelers of all ages.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Diary of Melanie Martin, May 10, 2006

A Kid's Review

A must read with the monalisa, sistin chapel, and boots the cat. Also it has ton of poetry. The book makes your mouth water for more.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Melanie Martin Strikes Again, February 21, 2004

By	Gwynne C. Spencer (Monmouth, Oregon) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you loved the Amelia books by Marissa Moss, you are going to go gaga over Melanie Martin and her world-class travel adventures with her family. Funny, touching, full of great details, how can you NOT love a book that has a map at the beginning? Like all the Melanie Martin books, this one encourages kids to travel widely in their imaginations and come home changed by their encounters. too bad all the adults who travel BADLY don't read Melanie before they head out! Great gift for any age Italian-bound tourist.