One of the absolute joys that I experienced in judging the middle grade fiction round I nominees for the Cybils was discovering many books that are perfect for that older middle school reader (like my daughter, Amanda, an avid 12-year-old reader). Barbara Dee’s This is Me From Now On was one of the stand-outs (linked to my review of it and other awesome novels for tween girls).
When I had the opportunity to review her new novel, Trauma Queen, I knew it was something that Amanda and I would enjoy.
This book centers around a mother-daughter relationship, or rather the lack of a relationship, since the daughter in question is in middle school and lives in a perpetual state of embarrassment of her mother. Her reasons are many, but mostly stem from her mother’s wacky job as a performance artist. In fact, one of her performances not only cost Marigold a relationship with her best friend, but resulted in them leaving town.
Marigold changes school right at the end of the year, giving her an outsider’s view of all the middle school drama. There are cute boys, mean girls, and loners — all the usual suspects — but I loved that they are not portrayed in a completely stereotypcial way.
This funny and sweet novel is a great book for moms and daughters to read together. Both Marigold’s (“She named me after a flower that most people think is a weed!”) and Becca’s (“You know I hate being called Mrs. Bailey”) stories are told fairly, which will help mothers and daughters empathize with each other.
This giveaway is closed.
I am pleased to be able to offer a copy to one of you (U.S. and Canadian addresses are eligible). Please leave a comment if you’d like to win, and we’ll announce the winner in our giveaway post on Wednesday, May 4.
Also, please check out author Barbara Dee’s guest post on “The Perfect Mom” (in literature), published here in our On Reading column.
- The winner of The Fourth Stall, another fabulous just-right novel for older middle grade readers, is #15 Chris Curuchet
- The winner of the 5-Star memoir The Wilder Life is #8 Barbara H.
Jennifer Donovan has never wrapped herself in plastic wrap as Becca Bailey did, but she still embarrasses her tween daughter. She tries not to blog about such matters at Snapshot.
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Janet says
Sounds like a great book. Thank you for this opportunity.
Karen Gonyea says
Another great prize – count me in please 🙂
Jennifer says
Karen–
You won this book! Congrats. Please reply to the email notification with your shipping info.
Joy says
My daughter would love this book. She is 9, and loves to read! Thanks.
Ellie says
This sounds like exactly what my young reader’s group would love to read!!!!!! I’ll be requesting it from our library for sure! Thank you for the review!
Barbara Dee says
Thanks, Jennifer, for such a lovely review! I’m so glad you found the book fair to both the mom and the daughter. That’s something I was really focused on as I was writing–but it was tricky because the book is from the daughter’s point of view! If your readers share it with their daughters, I’d love to hear how it goes!
Linda Kish says
I would love to read this book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Natalia K says
Would like to win!
Beth C says
My granddaughter would love this.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Sue says
Looks cute!! Thanks for sharing.
Glykia says
I think I know some trauma queens! Would love to see if I do!
Miranda Ward says
This looks like a great book
[email protected]
Linda Peters says
would love to read this, thanks
Megan says
I’d love to win this for my middle school library
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
Jacquelyn Cannon says
Sounds like a really great book. I daughter would love it!
Shannon Baas says
I would like this.
Debra Hall says
grandaughter would love this book
Debra Hall says
new facebook fan
EMMA L HORTON says
YES…I WOULD LIKE TO WIN THIS BOOK
angie says
I would love this.
McKim says
This would be a great book for my daughter.
kimkmc at yahoo.com
riTa says
I enjoyed the review and Perfect Mom post, so, yes, count me in.
Desmond says
Count me in!
Kim says
Count me in! I’d love to read it and pass it along to my middle school library!
debbie says
I would love to read it, it sounds really good.
[email protected]
Barb says
My daughter is not quite a Tween yet. But soon.
Miranda Ward says
This looks like a great book!
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jolene says
id like to win!
Melissa D says
I’m always on the lookout for a new book and this one sounds great! Thanks!
Tracy says
Sounds like a brilliantly funny book, just in time for mothers day LOL
AEKZ2 says
Sounds like a fun read.
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Ed Nemmers says
Yes, I would love to win!
Kerrie Mayans says
This sounds like a fun read for summer.
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Deborah Wellenstein says
I would like to win-thanks!
Debbie Kennedy says
I need some books for summer reading at camp – would love to add this one to my “to read” list
thanks
Diane Baum says
I subscribed via e-mail and it looks and sounds like an adorable read