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marjen's review
4.0
After a much-needed six month hiatus, I am back at it with my read-through of the Alice series. Binging the first twelve was not my best idea, but now I'm ready to tackle the second half the series: the high school years.
Alice Alone is one of the most memorable books in the series. In addition to detailing the rocky transitional months of beginning high school, it also covers a pivotal moment in Alice's life: her breakup with longtime boyfriend and major dud Patrick Long.
There's a new girl in town named Penny, and she sets her sights on Patrick. Alice gets involved in a bunch of extracurriculars, and doesn't have as much time for Patrick as she did in junior high. And in the words of poet Justin Bieber, "I've been so caught up in my job, didn't see what's going on", Alice's unavailability leaves Patrick right in the palm of Penny's hand.
Naylor handles the breakup really well. The slow buildup as Alice realizes she's losing Patrick, but can't do anything to stop it, is appropriately gut-wrenching. And Alice immediately starting to feel so ugly and unlovable following the breakup is so on point and so painful:
It's also interesting that the breakup occurs only about 60% percent through the book; there's a whole third part in which Alice starts to learn how to go and love herself post-breakup. Bieber would have been proud.
The overall message is that you can survive a breakup, and come out stronger and healthier on the other side. Breakups suck, especially when you have to ride the bus to school with your ex the next day. Alice handles it all so gracefully and honestly. I don't imagine it would take the sting off anyone's own breakup, but it might help to know that you're not the first, or the last, to go through it and come out the other side.
This is also the one where Elizabeth tells Pamela and Alice that she was molested by a family friend. I read this book for the first time in middle school, and I remember being so shocked by this. It's heavy, and Naylor does not spare any detail (does she ever?) when discussing the molestation. I don't think Naylor planned Elizabeth's backstory from the start...her prudishness is a running joke throughout the series, and always seemed to stem from a religious upbringing. It feels a little shoehorned in.
Alice Alone is one of the most memorable books in the series. In addition to detailing the rocky transitional months of beginning high school, it also covers a pivotal moment in Alice's life: her breakup with longtime boyfriend and major dud Patrick Long.
There's a new girl in town named Penny, and she sets her sights on Patrick. Alice gets involved in a bunch of extracurriculars, and doesn't have as much time for Patrick as she did in junior high. And in the words of poet Justin Bieber, "I've been so caught up in my job, didn't see what's going on", Alice's unavailability leaves Patrick right in the palm of Penny's hand.
Naylor handles the breakup really well. The slow buildup as Alice realizes she's losing Patrick, but can't do anything to stop it, is appropriately gut-wrenching. And Alice immediately starting to feel so ugly and unlovable following the breakup is so on point and so painful:
"My knees suddenly looked fat to me. Fat knees. How could I expect Patrick to like a girl with fat knees? I sucked in my breath and spread my fingers out over each kneecap. My fingers looked short and stubby, and my nails were uneven. How could Patrick like a girl with stubby fingers? ... Now that Patrick didn't love me anymore, I most be unlovable."
It's also interesting that the breakup occurs only about 60% percent through the book; there's a whole third part in which Alice starts to learn how to go and love herself post-breakup. Bieber would have been proud.
The overall message is that you can survive a breakup, and come out stronger and healthier on the other side. Breakups suck, especially when you have to ride the bus to school with your ex the next day. Alice handles it all so gracefully and honestly. I don't imagine it would take the sting off anyone's own breakup, but it might help to know that you're not the first, or the last, to go through it and come out the other side.
Spoiler
This is also the one where Elizabeth tells Pamela and Alice that she was molested by a family friend. I read this book for the first time in middle school, and I remember being so shocked by this. It's heavy, and Naylor does not spare any detail (does she ever?) when discussing the molestation. I don't think Naylor planned Elizabeth's backstory from the start...her prudishness is a running joke throughout the series, and always seemed to stem from a religious upbringing. It feels a little shoehorned in.
knobbyknees's review
5.0
Alice starts high school and, in an attempt to be more social, bites off more than she can chew. She has less time for friends and her boyfriend, and Patrick ends up attracted to someone else.
Book takes place: Fall semester of 9th grade.
Alice's life lessons: You are stronger than you think you are. As Lester says, "Life is always changing. Bad things don't last forever. If you care about yourself, then the things that happen outside yourself, things you can't control, can hurt, but they can't destroy you."
Best Alice moment(s): The coed sleepover; the fake kiss; Elizabeth organizing a suicide watch; Thanksgiving with CCFO; Elizabeth's secret.
I loved this book because it was so raw and captured the feeling of a first breakup really well. I remember reading internet forums when this book first came out (in 2001) and people were raging on Penny like crazy. Patrick was just as much to blame, though; he was interested and was drawn in, and it can't be helped. The older I get the more I understand Patrick's rationalizations, but the first time I read it I felt Alice's crushed feeling well.
Elizabeth's admission that she was molested as a 7-year-old was very odd to me. It felt like an insertion by PRN to take Elizabeth's character in a different direction, but it was such a subtle part of this book that I don't think it diminished the other plot points.
Ben and Sylvia's relationship was put to the test when she received a visit from Jim Sorringer over the holidays. She had no idea of his coming, but Alice was tipped off by a friend. Sylvia called as soon as the meeting was over and smoothes everything out.
Book takes place: Fall semester of 9th grade.
Alice's life lessons: You are stronger than you think you are. As Lester says, "Life is always changing. Bad things don't last forever. If you care about yourself, then the things that happen outside yourself, things you can't control, can hurt, but they can't destroy you."
Best Alice moment(s): The coed sleepover; the fake kiss; Elizabeth organizing a suicide watch; Thanksgiving with CCFO; Elizabeth's secret.
Elizabeth's admission that she was molested as a 7-year-old was very odd to me. It felt like an insertion by PRN to take Elizabeth's character in a different direction, but it was such a subtle part of this book that I don't think it diminished the other plot points.
Ben and Sylvia's relationship was put to the test when she received a visit from Jim Sorringer over the holidays. She had no idea of his coming, but Alice was tipped off by a friend. Sylvia called as soon as the meeting was over and smoothes everything out.
amandathebookishlibrarian's review
5.0
This was the first book of the series that I read and I fell in love.
It is such a great story part of a great series.
It is such a great story part of a great series.
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