Nobody Was Here : Seventh Grade in the Life of Me

Rating:
Summary: A rich, delightful read
Review: I cannot recommend this book more highly. Allison Pollet has drawn the most honest portrayal of a seventh grade girl that I've ever read. Immersed in Penelope's world, I truly felt like I was back in seventh grade again.

The characters are delightful--quirky yet real--the storylines are engrossing, and the descriptions of life as a preteen in the early/mid 80s are spot on. I devoured the book over a weekend. And then I went back and picked it up and read through many of the chapters again. And then I described scene after scene to my husband. And then I woke up in the middle of the night laughing at a scene from the book.

While this book is marketed for preteens, it's a wonderful adult read as well--especially if you hit your preteens/teens in the 80s. It'd also be a great read for parents, an excellent glimpse into those enigmatic teenage girl minds. It was almost frightening how true to life it read.

Spend some time with Penelope and her friends--they're a memorable bunch.