Saturday, January 12, 2013

Book Review for Middle School Kids of Divorce

Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom by Susin Nielsen

Every teen struggles to find his or her place in the world, so it is no surprise that middle school readers love books that feature protagonists who often feel like outsiders. Whether a tween or teen in your care is a product of divorce, any middle school student will enjoy reading Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom.

Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Momis about a 12-year-old girl named Violet who is the product of a messy divorce. Her TV producer father lives in LA with a new stepmom while she is stuck in Vancouver with her mother and loser boyfriend.

Her view on life is a little cynical after witnessing her father cheating on her mother with a Hollywood actress. Their divorce has been finalized for a little bit and Violet’s mom is hell-bent on finding a significant other, even if it’s at the expense of Violet and 5-year-old Rosie’s happiness.

Violet is determined that each man that her mother meets is a dud; and by the sounds of it, Violet’s right, there have been cheaters, married men, and alcoholics. This is why Violet (and her best friend Phoebe) have to interject to find her mom the perfect man and so they decide that the handsome, charming and animal loving George Clooney is the perfect choice.

Violet and Phoebe construct a letter to Mr. Clooney explaining why he’s the perfect man for her Mom and why he should retract his widely stated belief that he will not get married again.

This story is filled with a little troublemaker who is clearly acting out because she’s going through a difficult transition as she grows older, however, as a reader, you grow to love the mischievous Violet who only gets into these sticky situations because she loves her mom.

Plus, Violet works on her own dating issues while trying to get the famous actor of the title to come to the rescue.

References:
ReederReads
Voice of Youth Advocates


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