Finally (12) (Willow Falls Series #2)

by Wendy Mass

Overview

Get a cell phone. Stay home alone. Go to the mall with best friend and No Parents. Wear makeup. Get contact lenses. Attend a boy-girl party. Rory Swenson has been waiting her whole life to turn twelve. And she's got a list to prove it. Whenever Rory asks her parents for something, they always say, "When you're twelve . . ." Well, in exactly, 18 hours, 36 minutes, and 52 seconds it will finally happen. Rory's life will officially begin!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545388887
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	07/01/2011
Series:	Willow Falls Series , #2
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
Lexile:	750L (what's this?)
File size:	9 MB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Wendy Mass is the author of award-winning books for young readers, including 11 Birthdays, Finally, 13 Gifts, The Last Present, and the Twice Upon a Time series; as well as A Mango-Shaped Space, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall, Leap Day, Every Soul a Star, Space Taxi, and The Candymakers. She lives with her family in New Jersey.

Editorial Reviews

Rory Swenson just cannot wait to be 12, that magical age at which her parents will lighten up and allow her some independence. She's been promised that she can get her own cell phone, get contact lenses and attend a boy-girl party, among other things. Just as the long-awaited birthday arrives, Rory and her friend are selected to be extras in a movie being filmed at their school. As Rory begins to tick off items from her list, catastrophes begin. She learns that she is highly allergic to both gold and plant-based make-up, and she mangles her legs when she tries shaving. None of this makes her look good on camera. Rory's amusing disasters foreshadow the lessons she learns at her first boy-girl party, from which she escapes rather than participate in a kissing game: Growing up doesn't have to happen all at once, and it isn't always all it's cracked up to be. A couple of clunky plot points notwithstanding, Mass provides a pretty entertaining and solidly worthwhile read. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews

Rory Swenson has been waiting her entire life to be twelve. Of course, when she reaches that magical age, she discovers that all its intensely imagined coolness and independence is intertwined with complications that she hadn't anticipated. This novel by Wendy Mass (11 Birthdays; Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life) burns as brightly as the very best birthday cake a young girl could ever receive. Now in paperback.

"Finally is a treat-a delicious story about fitting in, falling down, and growing up. Wendy Mass has done it again!"-Rebecca Stead, author of When You Reach MeA Washington Post KidsPost Summer Book Club selection"Author Wendy Mass captures the frustration of pre-teens as they reach the magical time that allows them to begin experiencing tidbits from the grown-up world. Finally will have readers laughing, nodding in agreement, and sighing in sympathy as they follow Rory's tale of reaching 12."-Teensreadtoo.com"Children will relate to this warm, funny story of a heroine who can't wait to grow up."-School Library Journal"Rory's lively first-person narrative clearly expresses her emotions as she seesaws between longing and fear, confidence and insecurity. The jacket photo will attract tween readers."-Booklist "Rory's chatty, friendly voice and relentless optimism in the face of her many mishaps are heartwarming."-Publishers Weekly"A funny story that will appeal particularly to girls who are just learning what it means to begin growing up."-Rave Reviews Log, blog review"I was either smiling, chuckling, or outright laughing all through this book."-Everead, blog review "Finally is a fast-paced, hilarious novel...Mass captures an authentic 12-year-old here that never once feels forced, too old, or too young."-Stacked, blog review

From the Publisher

Finally, Rory is turning 12, and all the things her parents have been telling her she needs to wait until she’s 12 to do are hers to start checking off her list. Kathleen McInerney captures all of Rory’s angst and humor as well as the personalities of her overprotective parents, her 3-year-old brother, and her friends. Rory’s stream-of-consciousness thoughts when she finally gets to drink coffee and ends up in a caffeine-induced haze are particularly funny. Fortunately for the listener but unfortunately for Rory, accomplishing the rest of the things on her to-do list ends up with similarly disastrous results. Her angst, frustration, humiliation, and excitement will delight both young listeners and their parents. Each voice in the story is distinct and lends a rich fullness to the listening experience. G.G. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

SEPTEMBER 2011 - AudioFile