Will never buy a Junie B. book again
594305
I'd never heard of the Junie B. books and came across them while looking for books for my daughter who was about to enter first grade. After the first few chapters I was ready to trash the book but we pressed on a bit more until the character became just unbearably annoying. My daughters were bored and never got into the story. Junie B. is a spoiled brat who doesn't come across as endearing at all.
2307527
I'd give this no stars if possible. Felt like she was under time constraints with her publisher and didn't know how to end it. The ending was abysmal. She totally rejected all previous character traits from the previous two books. I loved the other two books in the series and the whole premonition series, but this was almost angering enough to put me off from any further works of hers. What a disappointment and betrayal for readers. :(
1785832
I picked up this book because it was left at our house by a visitor. I lived in Charlotte, NC for several years, so I was curious as to how this city was represented. Honestly, this book was so bad that I couldn't even finish it. I read more than half way and was so startled and confused by how bad it was I am truly convinced that this book is in fact an experiment by Ms. Cornwell to see if she can make money without having to actually write a novel.
I am a huge fan of the police procedural genre and mysteries in general. But, this "book" is neither. It is rather a large description of mainly three very pitiful human beings who live totally fabricated lives that are founded upon thier own beauty and desirability. They are two dimensional and trite and I was actually hoping at least one of them would die, but I couldn't withstand the punishment any longer and decided my time was more valuable doing something else - like cleaning out my gutters!
This is the kind of writing that gives women authors a bad name. Cornwell is so wrapped up in how these people look in their uniforms that we never even come close to getting wrapped up in something as minor as a plot. If this book was written to be a romance or even a human interest story, it is still horrible, but at least I would see what she was shooting for. But it isn't. It's supposed to be a mystery based on a senseless string of serial killings. Agghhhh!! Do not buy this book. For the love of all that is worth reading, do not buy it. Unless of course you want to read 300+ pages about two beautiful people who've been hurt before and don't want anything to do with the opposite sex, who happen to be chasing a serial killer between their visits to the firing range, after one of them writes 3 articles for the paper and helps his drunk of a mother into bed. Ridiculous.
The only reason I chose to write this review is to help others not make the mistake I made. If this book is sitting anywhere near you unread, run as fast as you can and throw it into the trash, better yet, burn it. That way not even the sanitation workers would be at risk of reading this horrible novel.
2261113
I haven't read this book nor do I plan to buy it for my first-grade niece because in reading only the sample provided by Amazon, I found grammatical errors. The Juny B. books are just as bad, and just as annoying. When did this become appropriate in Children's Literature? And why am I the only one annoyed by it? It's not charming. Ending sentences with prepositions, for example, is incorrect, and it shouldn't matter if the story is told from a child's point of view. I want my niece to learn the correct way to write and to speak (and behave, for that matter!), and it seems that the Clementine books are as poor of an example as Juny B.

I will NOT be buying this book or any other that provides a poor example to children of how to write and speak.
915325
Don't read this if you want no spoilers.  The plot has already been given away in later reviews but I'll try to be careful.  This book infuriated and irritated me for several reasons.

First, the multiple point of view did not work in this book.  She should have had a chapter heading with Candace or Joy at top because I had trouble every time POV switched figuring out who was talking.  I would have to reread the beginning of the chapter several times and this was annoying.

Second, the hideous thing Weiner did on page 344 was mean, manipulative, and not at all necessary.  Yes, she certainly jerked some tears out of me but they felt like they were forced at gunpoint because the event she used to produce them didn't fit with the book at all.  It was just purely manipulative and wrong.  A cheap shot and a cheap trick rolled into one.  Peter is beloved and did not deserve what Weiner did to him.  To deprive him of experiencing the fruit of their efforts was just mean.  It ruined the end.  Just ruined it.  I couldn't be happy about Charlie in any way.

And don't get me started on Joy.  OK, I'll start anyway.  What a brat.  Spoiled, rotten brat.  It made me sick how Candace sucked up to her and accepted any amount of bad behavior from her.  It was obvious that she had been a good mother and her snotty little daughter was using her feelings to crucify her at will.  She should have had a knot jerked in her tail long before the little stunt she pulled with the white credit card.  No telling how much her little California tantrum cost and then Cannie takes her shopping for the dress she wanted?  But says she is not rewarding bad behavior.  How does she figure that?  Especially when Candace was right:  spaghetti straps, bangles and beads is way too old for a thirteen year old.  Talk about mixed messages.  Candace says she doesn't want Joy to have a big expensive party that obscures the meaning of the event then buys her a designer dress that she will wear once.  I just shook my head so many times at what this kid got by with.

Joy somewhat redeems herself by the end but by that time the book has so gone off the rails you don't really care.  The book has slapped you in the face one time too many.

Not well done Weiner, not at all.  I wish I had never read this one.
667561
I wish I had read the Publisher's Weekly review before taking this book on tape out of the library!  The main character Alicia's inner thoughts are repeatedly interjected into this story every few minutes.  This wouldn't be bad if the character had a rich and diverse set of inner dialogue, but instead all she thinks --on and on and on- is "I'm going to keep shopping whether or not my  husband likes it, my friends think I have a problem, my parents are advising against it...." it just keeps going and going and there is NO character development of the main character.  I was left feeling like no one is really like that.  Or if people really are that shallow and self obsessed they must not have many friends because they are boring.  Why anyone would write a book about such a boring character and then torture the readers with the never ending, never changing rationalizations the character comes up with for her out of control spending is beyond me.  I took this book out of the library and didn't even finish listening to it, because it was that bad. Don't waste your time or money on this one!!!
2514104
I thought that the first two books were good (not great but good).  Unfortunately, Cleary has a large chip on her shoulder and a bad memory.  Most of the characters are divorced or end up divorced later on in the  series.  The main character's friends turn on her in later books.  Palmer  is set near Boston in the first book and yet later is set in the midwest  ("Over there is the Kentucky border," remarks a character.  Kentucky must be a town in Massachusetts.). Cleary must have had a terrible  life to concoct such depressing stories.  I refuse to purchase any more of  her books and plan on trashing the ones I own.  I wouldn't dare put anyone  through such misery.
2134438
I won't waste my money buying another book by this author.  She has consistently made a fascinating period I history {the Tudor years} boring beyond belief.  If I could give this book no stars I would. The dialogue is beyond trite, a sorry mixture of olde English and modern pap.  The book has no substance. I read it in two sittings.  The characters are cardboard, the dialog wooden.  The author modernizes Elizabeth's speeches, especially the Tilbury speech,a particular favorite of mine so it was annoying to see how she mangled it.

I don't know why or how Elizabeth Tudor offended Ms. Erickson, but the author goes out of her way to portray this remarkable woman as a vain, petty tyrant.

This book failed on very level.  I am totally done with this author because she has failed to write engrossing books, she's all fluff.
2716774
I will never buy another Suzanne Brockmann book.  So disappointed in her soapbox stand.  I used to love reading her books but with all the extreme political correctness, I can't stomach any more.
1481384
The overall quality of the books I have been reading lately haven't been up to my standards but this book has to take the cake. Ruth was the most insulting, stereotypical character I have ever had the displeasure of reading. For a woman who was supposed to be SO strong and intelligent she certainly didn't display any of that to me. First of all she claims to be a Christian but every other word out of her mouth is a curse word. Then she still holds on to her ex-husband (even though she denies it). What woman in her right mind would play at this man's wedding after he tried to have her kicked out of the church? All of the so-called Christian characters were the BIGGEST hypocrites I have ever seen. Dewey was the weakest character. Ruth told him what to think, what to wear, etc. Then she demands a wedding ring after the first time they sleep together? I also thought the storyline with Tee and Dee's (stupid names) mother was unnecessary for the book. Why does every book have to have someone who is a crack head in it? There were other ways to explain why their relationship didn't work. This book had no redeeming qualities to me and this is the last dollar this author will ever receive from me.
4975564
How the author made any money off this book is mind blowing! This has to be the longest and most boring book I have ever read and I love reading! Never thought the movie would out do the book. I keep reading hoping it will get better but it doesn't! Bridget eats like 2,000 calories a day, smoke constantly, drinks alcohol like a fish and says at 123 pounds she's fat! Way for a teenager to feel good about themselves if they read this trash. There is no humor in this book it's depressing! She's not witty and no mother acts how this author portrays any mother to be. The book is 307 pages might as well be 1,000 how boring it is. Save your money. I want my money back
4133617
It is so very sad. I, like most of the previous reviewers,  was intensly disappointed with this book!  In the past, as soon as I complete the current book I am already looking forward to the next.  NO MORE! Even if LJB or whoever is ready to end the series, this book was extremely cruel to her loyal fans. I have always enjoyed the wonderful use of words and the love for and antics of the cats. To suddenly move Polly to France (of all places) and with a wave of the pen have her give instructions to "find Burtus and Cata a good home" as if they were totally expendable and an irrelevant part of her life, which loyal "Cat Who" fans know is ludicrous.  Whoever wrote this did not know Polly, or for that matter any of the charaters, at all!  I will no longer buy any books supposibly written by LJB without a review.  I will miss the wonderful characters of Pickax City and Mooseville. I have read and reread each of them and in most cases, save one or two,they have maintained there quality and have been totally enjoyable. LJB or her representatives owe us all an apology, big time! I too hope this is just a nightmare that we will wake up from come January 2008 and find all is as it has always been 400 miles north of everywhere.
573074
I don't know what the hype is all about.  I was horrified reading this to my daughter.  My mom bought us the 1st book (stupid yellow bus) and I was making it up as I went along b/c I didn't want to read what was really written to my child.  She hides in the classroom after dismissal!!!! What terrible messages (not to mention completely imperfect grammar) to send to our children. I will never buy/read another Junie B. Jones book again and advise you to do the same.  Reading books with your children is a great way to share morals, values and spend quality time together - pick a more deserving book and teach a better lesson.  Try "The Magic Treehouse" series or "Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo" they are much more valuable than this series.
3539612
I personally think Junie B. is a brat... but my first grader loves the books! Anything to keep her reading!
3203265
Have you read Junie B Jones? I just purchased the box set and began reading them to my kindergartener. I was horrified from the beginning at the very attitude and rude, ignorant spirit of Junie B Jones. She hates her name, the bus, the people on it, the teacher and her new school. What a negative thing to meet someone on the bus and instantly HATE them. Is this the kind of human interactions that we should be teaching our children? She yells, throws fits and generally has attitude about everything. The grammer is written from a 6 year old's perspective, which does nothing to educate our children about the way things should be phrased. This is not the picture of kindergarten, nor the worldview that I would suggest to my children or anyone else's for that matter. After 4 chapters, the entire series is in the trash as a waste of money. Think twice about what you are reading to your impressionable young children (or letting them read for themselves!)
1639296
This was one of the worst books I have ever read!  I have read the early books about Eve et al, and this was a cross between a bodice buster and a re-warmed print-by the numbers crappy book.  I will never read one of her books again.  After reading it, and I skimmed a lot of the obnoxiously bloated prose, I wondered if this was really written by Iris Johansen or just some hack that the publisher hires to write books under her name so they can all make money??  Why else would they have Quinn and Bonnie following so quickly?  This book was TERRIBLE.  Shame on the author for selling-out her good name.
1681565
I felt betrayed by my favorite author when I picked up this book.  Instead of humor and whimsy, there was melodrama and tragedy.  Yuck!  It was like getting a kick in the stomach!  I won't get the next book until I check it  out thoroughly.  I have read all of the Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters  books, and I must say, I intensely dislike this one and hope it's an  isolated example.  I have never been so disappointed by a book!