Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day

Gary Paulsen is the award winning author behind such books as Brian's Hunt, Guts, and Hatchet. His books usually have boys as the main character, because, as he put it, "...I was a boy and I did boy things - still do, since I'm what might be called an old boy." But in Molly McGinty Has A Really Good Day, he steps out of his outdoor/wilderness writing to introduce us to a well-organized 6th grader named Molly. He based this character on a girl who once told him about her three-ring binder similar to Molly's. For Molly however, this notebook is her lifeline. She needs it for everything in her school life, her social life, and her family life. And now it's gone! The book follows Molly for one day... one crazy day. After she loses her notebook, she thinks her life has fallen apart. She gets a black eye, she has her eccentric grandmother go to school with her for Grandparent's Day, she gets a lunch tray dumped into her lap, and to top it off, she is embarrassed in front of Jake Dempsey, the cutest boy in school Will Molly find her notebook? Will her grandmother ruin her social life at Our Lady of Mercy middle school? Will Jake Dempsey ever talk to her? Follow Molly on her crazy day (minus her notebook) in Molly McGinty Has A Really Good Day by Gary Paulsen!

Molly McGinty has lost her notebook. It contains everything she ever needs. There's a huge test tomorrow and she can't study. She finds out that her crazy grandma is coming to school with her. She gets a black eye and gets embarrassed in front of the cutest boy in the 6th grade. And that's only the beginning! What else will happen to her in the course of one school day? I think this book is good for anyone over the age of seven to read.

When overly organized, straight-laced sixth-grader Molly's completely disorganized, outgoing grandmother, with whom she's been living since her parents died in a car crash, comes to her school on Senior Citizens' Day, Molly is embarrassed by her grandmother's hilarious escapades such as befriending the school's social misfits, being sent to the office for smoking, having her French class find words that sound like swear words, etc. (M) (RR) I'm still guffawing over this hilarious tale, filled with love as much as laughs!

What a day Molly McGinty is having! She lost her notebook that contained everything she needs to live. She tore her skirt and got a black eye. And she finds out that her crazy grandmother, Irene, will be spending the day at school with her. How can her day get any worse? Well, it does. Her grandma is caught smoking in the girl's room, and Molly gets detention for skipping Science class to bail her out. Irene is a free spirit who teaches Molly how to live in the moment. Our Lady of Mercy Middle School will never be the same again after her visit. Will Molly ever change and learn to be more flexible? Gary Paulsen is the author of many critically acclaimed books for young people. THE WINTER ROOM, HATCHET and DOGSONG were all Newbery Honor books. With MOLLY MCGINTY, he has stepped out of his comfort zone and written a light, funny and entertaining novel. Early middle school and late elementary students will giggle all the way through this fun romp of a book. I hope Mr. Paulsen writes a sequel to this amusing story. --- Reviewed by Renee Kirchner

My little sister and I started our own book group (right now we're the only two members!) and "Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day" by Gary Paulsen was our first selection. This book is targeted to the fourth to sixth grade level (my sister is in fifth grade) and proved to be not only a fun book to read, but also taught some good value lessons. The title is a little deceiving at first, because when we meet Molly McGinty, she appears to be having the worst day of her life. She has lost her binder that contains everything of importance to her (her addresses, her homework, etc.) What could possibly happen to make things even worse? Her grandmother is coming to talk at school for Senior Citizen's Day and she's wearing purple suede pants! Grandmother Irene has Molly carry around her humongous purse, which she promptly trips over, causing her to get a black eye. And that's not all... Molly is mortified as Irene is caught smoking in the ladies room and teaches vocabulary in French class that sound just like cuss words. What turns this day into a really good day in my opinion is that by the end of the book Molly has come to see her grandmother in a new light. This bad day has also shown Molly that she needs to take things as they come. We both give this wonderful book five stars. It kept us interested, it was unpredictable and made us laugh out loud. My sister was able to relate to Molly and this book was a jumping off point for us to discuss some of the wackier members of our family. It made for a great bonding experience. Thank you Gary Paulsen!