Anna is desperate to be popular, but the key to being cool has devastating consequences
About to start her freshman year of high school, Anna wants more than anything to be popular. At a family reunion, her cousin describes a secret “slam book”—a notebook kids use to write all kinds of comments about one another. Anna decides this may be her key to success.
Anna’s friends Paige, Randy, and Jessie quickly jump in on the nasty fun and before long, Anna has realized her dreams of popularity. But the slam book keeps getting meaner, and Paige and Anna start using the book to fight with each other. Soon, Anna comes up with the ultimate prank, using lonely and insecure Cheryl as her means to pull it off. But Anna’s vicious trick may lead to tragic consequences.
This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Ann M. Martin, including rare images from the author’s collection.
Review
“The gritty, well-paced plot guarantees that this novel will involve readers from start to finish.” — Publishers Weekly
“A highly readable and serious title.” — School Library Journal
“Martin writes smoothly, with good understanding of this age group and its concerns.” — Kirkus Reviews --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
About the Author
Ann M. Martin grew up in Princeton, New Jersey. After attending Smith College, where she studied education and psychology, she became a teacher at a small elementary school in Connecticut. Martin also worked as an editor of children’s books before she began writing full time. Martin is best known for the Baby-Sitters Club series, which has sold over one hundred seventy million copies. Her novel A Corner of the Universe won a Newbery Honor in 2003. In 1990, she cofounded the Lisa Libraries, which donates new children’s books to organizations in underserved areas. Martin lives in upstate New York with her three cats. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Anna's slam book really is the "key" to popularityit seems as though everyone in her high school wants to contribute to it. No one can resist the chance to write, anonymously, honest reactions to friends and classmates. The trouble begins when Anna's mixed-up friend Paige tries to use the slam book to snare gorgeous Gooz. But Paige's scheme backfires, and Gooz starts going out with Anna instead. Hurt and jealous, Paige lashes out at Anna; in retaliation, Anna uses the slam book to embarrass her former friend. Neither girl realizes, until it's too late, the harm they are doing to a fellow classmate. This forceful novel makes its point quite clearslam books are not fun and games. Although the characterizations of Anna and her friends often seem to center on their psychological problems, the gritty, well-paced plot guarantees that this novel will involve readers from start to finish. Ages 12-up. Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up Small-town girl Anna seems to have it made. She is well-adjusted, has a warm, stable family life, and is popular. She enters high school surrounded by a clique of friendswho, incidentally, represent various origins and societal profiles: wealthy, beautiful, neglected Paige; principled, black, good kid Randy; and Jessie, who is victimized by battling parents and an older brother who is a drug addict. To insure her status in a new environment, Anna begins and passes around a slam book''a notebook in which students write about each other. Thetruth'' hurts and leads to the destruction of friendships and a suicide. Martin has a sure grasp of the games teens play and empathy for the exultation and pain of high schoolers. Character development is rather limited, especially when adult figures are introduced. The chain of events is dramatic, yet believable. It's not difficult to fathom the message: we are responsible for our actions; our actions have consequences to others. Despite faint echos of TV's Facts of Life, this is a highly readable and serious title. Libby K. White, Schenectady County Public Library, N.Y. Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Description:
Anna is desperate to be popular, but the key to being cool has devastating consequences
About to start her freshman year of high school, Anna wants more than anything to be popular. At a family reunion, her cousin describes a secret “slam book”—a notebook kids use to write all kinds of comments about one another. Anna decides this may be her key to success.
Anna’s friends Paige, Randy, and Jessie quickly jump in on the nasty fun and before long, Anna has realized her dreams of popularity. But the slam book keeps getting meaner, and Paige and Anna start using the book to fight with each other. Soon, Anna comes up with the ultimate prank, using lonely and insecure Cheryl as her means to pull it off. But Anna’s vicious trick may lead to tragic consequences.
This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Ann M. Martin, including rare images from the author’s collection.
Review
“The gritty, well-paced plot guarantees that this novel will involve readers from start to finish.” — Publishers Weekly
“A highly readable and serious title.” — School Library Journal
“Martin writes smoothly, with good understanding of this age group and its concerns.” — Kirkus Reviews --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
About the Author
Ann M. Martin grew up in Princeton, New Jersey. After attending Smith College, where she studied education and psychology, she became a teacher at a small elementary school in Connecticut. Martin also worked as an editor of children’s books before she began writing full time. Martin is best known for the Baby-Sitters Club series, which has sold over one hundred seventy million copies. Her novel A Corner of the Universe won a Newbery Honor in 2003. In 1990, she cofounded the Lisa Libraries, which donates new children’s books to organizations in underserved areas. Martin lives in upstate New York with her three cats.
--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Anna's slam book really is the "key" to popularityit seems as though everyone in her high school wants to contribute to it. No one can resist the chance to write, anonymously, honest reactions to friends and classmates. The trouble begins when Anna's mixed-up friend Paige tries to use the slam book to snare gorgeous Gooz. But Paige's scheme backfires, and Gooz starts going out with Anna instead. Hurt and jealous, Paige lashes out at Anna; in retaliation, Anna uses the slam book to embarrass her former friend. Neither girl realizes, until it's too late, the harm they are doing to a fellow classmate. This forceful novel makes its point quite clearslam books are not fun and games. Although the characterizations of Anna and her friends often seem to center on their psychological problems, the gritty, well-paced plot guarantees that this novel will involve readers from start to finish. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up Small-town girl Anna seems to have it made. She is well-adjusted, has a warm, stable family life, and is popular. She enters high school surrounded by a clique of friendswho, incidentally, represent various origins and societal profiles: wealthy, beautiful, neglected Paige; principled, black, good kid Randy; and Jessie, who is victimized by battling parents and an older brother who is a drug addict. To insure her status in a new environment, Anna begins and passes around a slam book''a notebook in which students write about each other. Thetruth'' hurts and leads to the destruction of friendships and a suicide. Martin has a sure grasp of the games teens play and empathy for the exultation and pain of high schoolers. Character development is rather limited, especially when adult figures are introduced. The chain of events is dramatic, yet believable. It's not difficult to fathom the message: we are responsible for our actions; our actions have consequences to others. Despite faint echos of TV's Facts of Life, this is a highly readable and serious title. Libby K. White, Schenectady County Public Library, N.Y.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.