I’m Lucy Rose and here’s the thing about me: I am eight and according to my grandfather I have the kind of life that is called eventful, which means NOT boring. According to my mom and my grandmother, I’m what they call a handful. And according to my dad, I am one smart cookie.
I say I am one girl who is feeling not-so-sure about things on account of my parents got a separation. Plus my mom and I just moved to Washington, D.C. Plus I haven’t met any friends yet, but I do know someone who is not one and that is Adam Melon, who I call Melonhead.
Here’s another thing about me: Most of the time, I am plain hilarious.
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4–Readers of the Amber Brown and Rosy Cole series will love Lucy Rose, an eight-year-old whose has moved to Washington, DC, with her mother after her parents' separation. Her maternal grandparents are a huge factor in her life, especially since her grandmother, also named Lucy Rose, is an advice columnist who is an expert on children. The younger Lucy Rose writes this book about herself because she is an "original thinker," according to Pop. Lucy Rose copes with all the usual issues of being the new kid in school. The school year continues in a series of little vignettes where Lucy Rose writes about incidents such as wanting to take the class guinea pig home for vacation, writing anonymous letters to her grandmother asking for advice, and the incessant teasing by Andrew "Melonhead" Melon. Although she misses her dad, they speak often. Mom, Madam (Grandma), and Pop gently help Lucy Rose through the anxieties caused by her parents' separation. Written by Katy Kelly (Delacorte, 2004) and told in diary format, Tara Sands sounds absolutely convincing as Lucy Rose. She also does the voices of family members and friends the way a child would, such as sounding absurdly deep voiced when quoting Pop. By the end of the story, Lucy Rose realizes that she likes being a city girl and has learned many lessons. Hopefully there will be further adventures of the indomitable third grader.–B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor, NY
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From Booklist
Gr. 2-4. In the spirit of Junie B. Jones, Amber Brown, and mother of them all, Ramona, comes Lucy Rose. Eight years old, Lucy has just moved to Washington, D.C., with her mother after her parents' separation. Kelly covers familiar ground. Lucy misses her father, she takes the classroom gerbil home for vacation and loses him, and Alan Melon, her nemesis (he has given her a valentine that says "You are a fart"), eventually becomes a friend. Her knowing yet funny voice will be familiar to any kid who has read books about Ramona or Junie or Amber. Yet there's something especially endearing about Lucy Rose, and her interactions with her parents, grandparents, teacher, and friends all seem believable and comfortable. Written as a month-by-month diary, this will give a push to readers ready to move beyond chapter books. Planned illustrations were not available in galley. Ilene Cooper
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