I'm a looong way from a preteen
935907
But I enjoyed it. I agree that the dialog was a bit over the top toward juvenile but I'm not sure this book isn't aimed at young adults. It does have a lost in space flavor but after reading the blurb I was expecting that and it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. The ending was cut short because this is the first in a series. I plan on reading the next book. I would have given 4 stars but for the juvenile dialog.
3464171
I read this when I was a pre-teen and loved it!  So many girls that age are very embarrassed by their mothers and often yearn to have their friend's "cool Mom."  This book shows girls that their friends don't often share their their belief of "your Mom is so cool!" and how your friend with the "cool Mom" often wishes she had your "uncool Mom."  I could relate because I thought my Mom was very embarrassing at that age and I wished she was "cool" like other Moms.  And then, the older I got, I learned that some of my friends wished their mother was more like mine!  So many girls can relate to this book.
3468347
Ok, I admit it. . . I love preteen books. Usually only a little ugly language, and that is mild. Adventure fantasy is my Grandma thing. Reading to my grandsons or just to myself is  so fun. In this one all the weird places are real, who knew a giant ball of twine would fascinate me.  Maybe it's just me, but finding strange in the real world was a blast. So if you are 8 or 68 give this one a try.
332610
I'm almost 30...but 15 years ago I would have loved this book. Now, well, the egotistical, self-centred, selfish mess that is the teenage psyche is a bit too much for me to enjoy.
4245688
Aside from a minor time inaccuracy (within the first couple pages) the author's diary approach seemed a bit unauthentic. Perhaps I am too far removed from being so young, but even as the book moves on I wonder if I teen would really write so... young-like? Rather than wanting to cry "Eat! Eat!" by the end, I wanted to cry "Mature! Mature!" Getting past these things I did enjoy reading the book. As with many of these books she just seems to fall into her disorder, and it is obvious here.

I liked it.
302971
It's O.K....I just don't like running behind my kid while he learns to ride....It's more me then the product
4407007
It looks horrible on me. Looks like I am trying to relieve my youth and can't accept the fact that I am older. So I gave it to my niece.
2199493
I can't help it, I love this kid's music, although I'm sure that I'm NOT in the target demographic - hahaha!
4574135
As much I would have liked my teens and preteens to enjoy this witty book, I had to send it back because it was way more "Animal House" raunchiness than I wanted at my house!
2986215
My friend just got an amazing job that she has been working toward for years, which is really great, but she has two daughters in their early teens, and she took my congrats! Call me if you need anything! comment seriously. So from what Ive been able to gather, from a tween and teen girl perspective: females up to mom-age are okay and not embarrassing to be seen with at all, females that are in the range from mom-age to right before grandmom-age are the most embarrassing things on the planet to be seen with, and grandmoms are okay again and not embarrassing to be seen with. Im a year or two shy of being okay again, hence, Im exceedingly embarrassing to be seen with if you're between the ages of 12 and 15 and with anyone that A.) you go to school with, B.) you ever went to school with, C.) you may ever go to school with, or D.) has ever been to or near a school. Combine the fact that these two NEED picked up from every after school type activity that has ever been targeted by fund-raiser promoters, with the fact that the person tasked with picking them up is apparently mortifying and a dilemma is created. This super awesome green LED keychain light has become our countdown beacon for activity pick-ups. Heres how we work it: I arrive at the scheduled time/place to pick up the girls. I see the girls, the girls see me. The girls have three minutes to finish saying goodbye to their friends and get to the car. If, after three minutes, they aren't in the car I press the keychain light (it flashes), the girls know they have two minutes from the time they see the flashing light before I will get out of the car, call them loudly by name and start doing Uptown Funk karaoke (complete with my coolest dance moves) in the parking lot. It also works great as a beacon so they can find me at concerts and the mall. The keychain light is super bright, has three on modes (two flashing, one constant) and has lasted (Ive been using it for about a month now and its still as bright as the first day). I received this LED light at no cost for evaluation and an unbiased review and it has saved a LOT of people in parking lots from having to see me sing and dance.
24381
A book for teenagers, about teenagers, by teenagers.

Ok, don't stop reading now just because I posted the generalities of this book.

Why?

Because, I wish every teen in America, scratch that... the world, could get a copy of this book placed in their hands.  I wish I would have had something like this placed in my own hands when I was a teenager.  I gave up in my senior year in high school and just did what I had to do to get by in my classes, etc. Had I kept pushing forward, I could have graduated a semester early.  Instead I took the laid back approach and just did what I could to get by.  My GPA probably would have improved, it wasn't bad but it wasn't overly spectacular either.

The authors of this book are twin brothers who are striving to make a difference in the lives of teenagers today.  Honestly, I don't like the word "teenager" because the word conjures up images of recklessness, carelessness, slothfulness, and many others. Why is that?  The twins hit on this and I couldn't agree more... to paraphrase... "society as a whole has set them up to be this way".  We've took away their responsibilities, etc. and gave them mundane tasks  such as making their beds, taking out the trash, etc. as their sole responsibilities. Don't get me wrong, those are good chores to have but they need a little something more that challenges them.  They are just a younger version of an adult and they need to be challenged if they are going to grow.

The book does just that, it challenges them to step out on a limb, take a challenging task and show that it can be done... by a "teenager" nonetheless. Their are examples throughout the book of this very thing being done.  They challenge the readers to take that initial first step and do something that they would consider hard and do it right while having fun and learning at the same time.

Have you ever done something that you thought was impossible?  Nothing is impossible with God and the authors expound on this.  The book is written with a Christian overture to encourage their fellow teenagers. I realize not everyone is a Christian but they don't have to be to read this book... they may become one though by the witnessing  that occurs in the book.

I will say that I prefer the King James version of the Bible and the scripture references throughout the book uses the NIV. The NIV is missing specific scriptures so I can't recommend the book in that regard but the overall message of the book I can recommend it on. I hope it will encourage young people to be truly all they can be ... and more.

BY: Laura Williams of Laura Williams' Musings
831081
I think it's a  great idea for tweener girls. I'm not sure my great-nieces were as enthusiastic as I am.
610774
This is a nice book but it makes me feel toyed with. It might be because its assoiated with Teen Witch and Im 27 now. XD I have successfully broken away from the confusion with Wicca a year and a day.
3765378
Being 13 aint no fun no one thinks your growed up yet. No one treats you like a teen. You might as well still be 12 leastwise thats how it is for me. I thought this book told it like it is. I liked it.
711889
i really liked this book but i am 26 and i felt it is way more directed towards teenagers.
289578
If I was 12 or 13, maybe I would have enjoyed it. But I'm not, so I didn't. Usually, I like her writings, but this was just childish.
3364720
My son sounded like a 13yr old girl at a Taylor Swift concert when he opened this gift. The week after winter break I was asked to hide it from him before school every day. Oops.