Zibby Payne and the Wonderful, Terrible Tomboy Experiment (Zibby Payne) (Zibby Payne) (Paperback)

~ Alison Bell (Author)
Key Phrases: shoe swapping, afternoon recess, morning recess, Tomboy Club, Miss Cannon, Grandma Betty (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5–Sixth-grader Zibby has worn one of Sarah's shoes and one of her own, and vice versa, since the girls were in second grade. But now her friend only wants to hang with the girls who are focused on lip gloss, hair, and boy-watching instead of playing tetherball or other sports. Outspoken Zibby lets them know what she thinks about their interests; she joins the boys for soccer, and they accept her once she makes a goal. She takes her experiment further and decides that Sarah's shoes are too girly for her. She wears her older brother's T-shirts and tries to burp the alphabet. Eventually, Zibby misses her friend, reaches out to her, and learns to show regard for others' feelings by tempering what she has to say. Although the story has its charms, the protagonist seems young and impulsive, her parents provide the wisdom of 1950s family TV shows, and the other children aren't well developed.–Tina Zubak, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
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Review

"A very readable book, this beginner novel deals with personal issues that girls may encounter ... definitely recommended for intermediate readers." -- Resource Links, October 2006

"Bell has created a girl who's not afraid to be HERSELF. A rare treat." -- Mary Hogan, author of The Serious Kiss

"Like Beverly Cleary’s beloved and headstrong heroine, Ramona Quimby, Alison Bell’s Zibby Payne is not afraid to take a stand." -- Robin Abcarian, LA Times Senior Features Correspondent

"Young girls can learn from Zibby Payne." -- CM: Canadian Review of Materials, December 2006

"a perfect coming-of-age tale ... with humor and a breezy style, I was rooting for Zibby all the way!" -- Jane Fort, Editor-in-Chief, TEEN Magazine

"...this beginner novel deals with personal issues that girls may encounter...a humourous story...definitely recommended for intermediate readers." (Resource Links, October 2006) --Resource Links, October 2006

"A very readable book, this beginner novel deals with personal issues that girls may encounter ... definitely recommended for intermediate readers." -- Resource Links, October 2006

Bell has created a girl who's not afraid to be HERSELF. A rare treat." -- Mary Hogan, author of The Serious Kiss

"Like Beverly Cleary's beloved and headstrong heroine, Ramona Quimby, Alison Bell's Zibby Payne is not afraid to take a stand." -- Robin Abcarian, LA Times Senior Features Correspondent

"Young girls can learn from Zibby Payne." -- CM: Canadian Review of Materials, December 2006

--CM: Canadian Review of Materials, December 2006

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Lobster Press (October 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1897073399
• ISBN-13: 978-1897073391
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #304,581 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great chapter book for tweens -- very positive model, December 3, 2006

By	C. Hendry "Cristi" (Riverside, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My daughter who is actually a seventh grader just finished this book -- she's a little of a tomboy too, so she related well even though the story is about a sixth grader. I also read it and I liked the Zibby character. She's an independent thinking girl who doesn't allow peer pressure to steer her towards stuff she's not interested in or ready for. The story moves along nicely -- lots of believable kid interaction. Very fun story -- the next one in the series looks very fun too!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, August 8, 2008

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

It's the start of sixth grade, and Zibby Payne is convinced that this is going to be the Absolute Best Year Ever. All of that changes on the first day when Amber and Camille show up wearing teeny little miniskirts and "Groovy Grapilicious" lip gloss. What's worse is that Zibby's Best Friend on the Entire Planet, Sarah, wants to sit on the benches with them at recess and talk about boy bands and "do" hair. Zibby can't stand the boredom, and decides to play soccer with the boys instead.

When Matthew begins referring to her as a "tomboy," Zibby gets one of her Very Good Ideas. Tomboys never have to sit at recess and wear lip gloss or skirts. She makes up her mind to become a real tomboy.

The tomboy life suits her just fine, but everyone else seems to have a problem with it. Her mom won't let her give away all her old girly clothes or burp the ABCs at the dinner table. Her brother, Anthony, stops letting her borrow all of his old shirts. And Sarah starts ignoring her and hanging out only with Amber and Camille. Finally, Zibby decides to start a "Tomboy Club" at school, but will any of the other girls make the grade?

This first book about a girl who has stubbornly decided to maintain her individuality begins a promising, light-hearted series.

Reviewed by: Allison Fraclose

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Wonderful, February 12, 2007

By	Little Willow (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Zibby Payne is psyched to start the sixth grade with her best friend Sarah. They have always been close and have lots in common, from head to toe. They like many of the same things and often trade shoes so that they have mismatched pairs.

Unfortunately, her first day of middle school does not completely go as she had planned. Sarah and Zibby's friends start talking about boy bands, comparing lip gloss flavours, doing each other's hair, and giggling when boys from their class walk by. Zibby can't believe her eyes or her ears.

At least she still has Sarah. Right? Well, kind of. Sarah's still her friend, but she's interested in this new recess routine.

Zibby would rather go play soccer with the boys than talk about them. She decides that she's a tomboy and starts wearing her older brother's T-shirts so she can kick the soccer ball around at recess. She then founds an Ultra-Exclusive Tomboy Club. Sadly, one other girl is declared fit to join, and the club is short-lived. Meanwhile, Zibby is shocked to discover that her older brother has a girlfriend. What is going on with everyone lately?

As the self-proclaimed tomboy continues to play soccer with the boys, she watches Sarah and her other friends chatting away. She truly misses talking to Sarah. Zibby realizes that although she and Sarah each have new interests, they still share other things, and the two can remain friends.

Alison Bell has created an outstanding character who sticks to her guns and trusts her instincts. Zibby is extremely loyal and very aware of the power of words. She apologizes when she gets too loud or overworked about something. Young readers will learn some important lessons from her, including two very big ones: you don't have to change for others to like you, and you should be proud of who you are. I highly recommend Zibby Payne and the Wonderful, Terrible Tomboy Experiment because it is absolutely adorable and true-to-life.

I look forward to reading Zibby Payne and the Drama Trauma, the second book in this series. If it's anything like the first book, it will have kids relating to and laughing along with Zibby from start to finish.