The Cat Ate My Gymsuit (Puffin Modern Classics)

by Paula Danziger

Overview

A modern classic with issues that will be relevant always.

Marcy Lewis is bored by school, she knows she's never going to be thin, and she is dead sure she'll never have a date. Life at home isn't great either, since her father bosses her and her mother around. Then along comes Ms. Finney, an English teacher who'll try anything in the classroom and actually treats kids like human beings. Now that she's found a teacher who sees Marcy as more than a name on an attendance sheet, Marcy realizes her life could mean something. When Ms. Finney is suspended, Marcy knows she's got to take a stand. But is this new independence worth the price she'll pay at school and at home?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780142402504
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	09/23/2004
Series:	Puffin Modern Classics
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.04(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.44(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in New York, Paula Danziger knew since second grade that she wanted to be a writer. Beginning her career as a teacher, Danziger taught at the junior high, high school, college levels. She received her Masters Degree in reading and during that time she wrote her first bestselling novel, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit. She returned to teaching, but the success of her book encouraged her to become a full-time writer. It was non-stop for Danziger since then. Among her titles are: the enormously popular Amber Brown books as well as Remember Me To Harold Square, The Divorce Express, and Can You Sue Your Parents For Malpractice?

Danziger received numerous honors, including: Parent's Choice Awards, International Reading Association - Children's Book Council Awards, a IRA-CBC Children's Choice Award and many nominations for state reading and library association awards.

Known as a flamboyantly funny and deeply honest writer and speaker, Paula Danziger knew how to relate to young readers at their level. She was vital, funny, and compassionate. She knew how kids felt, what made them laugh, what they wore, collected, read, and played with. From collecting novelty toys that would make any teacher cringe, to wearing jangly earrings, funky glasses and shoes covered with beads and sequins, Paula Danziger had a direct line into kids' hearts and funnybones. She will be missed always.


In Paula's memory, The Amber Brown Fund has been established to bring authors and illustrators to schools and libraries which otherwise could not afford them. Donations may be sent to The Amber Brown Fund/ SCBWI Museum of Children’s Books, 8271 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Funny and alive. (The New York Times Book Review)

Funny and alive. (The New York Times Book Review)

Editorial Reviews

"Funny and alive." -The New York Times Book Review

"Ms. Danziger has an attractive style; her prose sparkles with wit and originality." -Publishers Weekly

"The issues of teacher independence and student protest are topical, and Marcy, an intelligent and enjoyable adolescent, is an appealing heroine." -Library Journal

From the Publisher

"Full Cast Audio enhances this classic. Every character is perfectly realized, conveying the pain, pleasure, and confusion that are prerequisites to growing up."

AudioFile

"First published in 1974, Paula Danziger’s compassionate and accurate portrayal of a young girl struggling to find her own voice rings as true today as it did 30 years ago.  A full cast brings this modern American classic of teenage angst to life with humor and pathos."

School Library Journal

"The shining star in this production is C

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