Kids between 12 and 16 have plenty on their plates already, without mom or dad deciding to turn their lives upside down by doing something like running for public office--especially the office of president of the United States. But---just in case you have some vague political aspirations lurking in the back of your mind, you might want to pick up at least one copy of a hilarious book called, "As If Being 12 ¾ Isn’t Bad Enough, My Mother Is Running For President," by Donna Gephart.
This book is guaranteed to make you, your pre-teens, and even your older teenagers laugh. Poor Vanessa, the star of the book, is a bit of a klutz who figures that her mom should be helping her through this difficult time of her life instead of always off making speeches, or being on call to other people who aren’t even related to her.
Vanessa would much prefer that people didn’t notice her, but that is a pretty hopeless goal since she is now required to travel with a bodyguard, and pretty much expected to be on public display 24-7. Her mom is already a governor, so you would think Vanessa would be used to all the publicity, but it seems to be getting worse every day.
Vanessa’s crush on Reginald Trumball, along with her tendency to trip over enormous feet when she is nervous, and her somewhat deficient (at least in her own eyes) figure are just a few of the problems that threaten to consume her.
Then, just when you think things couldn’t get worse, notes threatening her mother’s life begin to appear in Vanessa's locker. What to do? Can Vanessa take care of this situation by herself, or will she need help?
Ms Gephart's book seems to have come along at a very convenient time in our country’s history. Not only is it a good read just for the entertainment, but it also offers a glimpse into our country's political system, and a really nice look at a wonderful mother-daughter relationship.
Grab a copy for yourself, and I think you’ll be back for several more to give to the young girls, and maybe even a few boys you know.
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2 comments:
Jeanne,
Thanks so much for your lovely review of my novel! I've mentioned it on my blog today.
With all good wishes,
Donna
I love reviewing books, and once even tried my hand at writing one.
It received lots of nice comments from editors, but never sold so I turned to writing magazine articles. I have had lots of those published, but gave up on the book writing. I wish you continued success.
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