The Amazing Life of Birds (The Twenty-Day Puberty Journal of Duane Homer Leech)

The Amazing Life of Birds (The Twenty-Day Puberty Journal of Duane Homer Leech) (2006) by Gary Paulsen. 84 pages.
ISBN: 0-385-90897-0

Duane Homer Leech is in the "Puberty Zone". Frequent thoughts about the female anatomy (which he refers to as "ELBOWS") distract his daily activities and he wakes from having crazy dreams. Duane is disturbed by his name, wishing he was called something else. At home, his parents seem oblivious to his puberty onset and his sister constantly annoys him. He watches a bird family from his window. Keeping an eye on the young bird growing up and learning to fly, Duane's relates similar clumsy experiences.

Puberty has brought zits, hair cowlicks, a voice change and a growing interest in girls. In his journal, Duane recounts his decline caused puberty. His efforst to hide his zits are useless and his attempts to impress girls turn into catastrophes. In one exaggerated incident in the library, Duane falls into a book shelf, knocking over a fish tank and gerbil cage, while reaching for a book on puberty. Duane finds support and perspective from his best friend, Willy. Their phone conversations are brief, almost monosyllabic, but authentically portray boys discussing their issues. Getting perspective and support from Willy, Duane gains some confidence in dealing with the effects of puberty in his life.

This book brings the reader into the daily occurences of a tween dealing with the onset of puberty; with a youth's perspective with funny dialogue and descriptions crazy incidents. Many readers may find themselves relating to this confusing time of life. Good read for 10 to 13 year olds.

More on Gary Paulsen.

Amelia's 7th-Grade Notebook

Amelia's 7th-Grade Notebook by Marissa Moss.
ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-3661-9

Amelia constantly writes about her 7th grade experiences in her notebook. She's happy with her new teachers, works at her friendships and deals with her annoying sister Cleo. 7th grade means dances and her friends are interested in boys and make-up. Amelia tries to figure out if she is ready for all that and what it means for her. Carly, her best friend, enjoys wearing make-up, but tells Amelia that she doesn't "want to be influenced by the media and how it says girls should look". Text in the book is as hand-written journal entries, with line drawings of people. Good read for 9 to 12 year olds.

The Fashion Disaster That Changed My Life

The Fashion Disaster That Changed My Life (2005) by Lauren Myracle. 135 pages.

ISBN: 978-0-14-220861-2

Alli writes in her journal frequently, recording incidents and conversations with her friends and family, including copies of instant messages and e-mails. Being occupied about how others' see her and figuring out her relationships, Alli records these thoughts in her journal.

On the first day of 7th grade, she's mortified when a pair of her mom's underwear is stuck to her pants by static cling and consequently teased by Jeremy. She hangs out with her closest friends are Kathy, who's not always nice to her, and Megan, a new girl in school. But, Alli has a secret longing to be with the popular girls, Rachel, Mica and Hadley. After being assigned to work on a project with Mica, Alli get her chance to be with the popular girls. This is at the expense of her friendship with Kathy and Megan.

The detailed ruminations of incidents and conversations Alli conveys in her journal slow the reading, but also present the story in an authentic voice of a 7th grade girl who's trying to figure out life. The girls shop and eat at places with familiar names-Claires, Express, Long John Silvers. Good read for 10 to 13 year olds.

Lauren Myracle's website.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, A Novel in Cartoons (2007) by Jeff Kinney. New York: Amulet Books. 217 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0-8109-9313-6
Fiction

Humorous. Cartoon graphics.

Reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a glimpse in watching a tween in action. Greg Hefferly, a middle school student, who describes his experiences and perception of those experiences in a journal over the course of a school year. The hand-printed type format and is intermixed with line drawings of people and events that relate to the journal entries. This visual format would immediately be appealing to a reluctant reader, as well as more confident readers. The drawings break up the text and are quite humorous. Greg writes about his experiences at school and home, his relationships with his friend, Rowley, and his family members. Great read for 8 to 12 year olds.

Click here to go to official website for the Wimpy Kid books.
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