Almost Alice

Phyllis Reynold Naylor's ALMOST ALICE provides another Alice story, this one revolving around her long-standing friendships with Pamela and Liz. Alice's concern about her role as a friend to them is also complicated by Patrick's return and the senior prom in this fine tale of evolving relationships.

Alice is finishing up her junior year and things couldn't be brighter for her: Patrick asked her to his prom, she is now features editor of the school newspaper, and she's getting along better with her stepmother. Life is good! Scott, her secret crush, agrees to go to the Sadie Hawkins dance with her. Patrick remains close to her heart, though she isn't quite sure what their relationship truly is. Her friends are busy, too, with school and boys. Alice starts to feel like she's always there rooting for them, but where are they when she needs them? It takes a pregnancy test to bring the friends together again. This is the twenty-third book in the ALICE series. Reading an ALICE book is like catching up with an old friend. I've been a loyal fan for several years and wait anxiously for the next book to come out each time! If you are a new reader to the series, it would be easy to start with this book and read the others in the future. Reviewed by: hoopsielv

I love the Alice series because it is so true to how adolescents think and react to things. There are a few times in this book that did not seem to fit an adolescent mind, but over all I liked it. I agree with other reviewers that one part of the plot was resolved too easily (and I would have like more about prom). Alice continues the second semester of her junior year. She looks forward to going to senior prom with her old friend (and boyfriend) Patrick. She has new opportunities in journalism class as her role for the newspaper changes. And she remains a good friend to Liz (who breaks out of her shy mold to do something new), to Molly (with leukemia) and to Pamela (who has a problem that is new to them all).

I have been reading the "Alice" series for as long as I can remember. I first began in seventh grade when I picked up one copy by accident and I have been hooked ever since. Each year, I look forward to a new addition and I can honestly say that despite what others have written, I loved it and was not let down by any means. First, I loved how Naylor began by incorporating Patrick back into the mix. While he has always remained a character in all of her novels, he took on more of a role and I really appreciated that. Also, it showed Alice to be growing up because even though Patrick was back in the mix, Alice continued to keep her dating options open. (I don't want to give away too much information!) Second, I loved how Naylor put a spin on both Pamela and Elizabeth. Both characters are fairly predictable and this novel showed that they can go against the norm, especially in the chapter, "Stupefyin' Jones". It is nice to see one character calming down, and one character breaking out of her shell. (I don't want to give away too much information!) Finally, Naylor took a risk and included an issue that most teens never want to face, especially at their young age. And no, I don't think that Naylor used an easy way out to solve the problem. It is definitely something that can occur and I liked how Naylor handled it. I think that it sends kids a message that they need to be careful and not everyone will have the same result. (Again, I don't want to give away too much information!) Overall, this was an amazing book and everyone needs to remember the age group that Naylor is gearing this novel towards teens. While I began reading this series when I was thirteen and am now twenty-six, I always remember that it is gears towards teens, and does not always have to make perfect sense to an adult like me. It is a great book and I think everyone should read the Alice series, including teens and adult together. *** I also want to mention that I read the bulk of this novel in one night because I could not put it down! :-)