As if being 12 3/4 isn't bad enough, my mother is running for president!

Book Cover
Average Rating
Publisher
Delacorte Press
Publication Date
[2008]
Language
English

Description

As if being 12 3/4 isn’t bad enough, Vanessa Rothrock’s mother is running for president and it’s ruining her life. Isn’t it enough that her enormous feet trip her up all the time, even on stage during the school spelling bee? Isn’t it enough that Reginald Trumball, love of Vanessa’s pathetic life, read her personal and private list of deficiencies to some boy she doesn’t even know? And that the Boob Fairy hasn’t visited her even once?! Doesn’t Mom realize that Vanessa needs her more than the rest of the country? More importantly, doesn’t she realize that she may be in grave danger? Vanessa's receiving threatening notes at school–notes that imply some psycho has it out for her mother at the Democratic National Convention. Vanessa might be the only person who can save her. But does she have the courage to do what that requires?

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ISBN
9780385734813
9780385904797

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Published Reviews

Booklist Review

Taking more than a few leaves from presidential family trees, Gephart creates a likable protagonist caught in circumstances that are by turns embarrassing, unpleasant, hopeful, and nerve wracking. Vanessa, a seventh-grade spelling whiz, lives in Florida's governor's mansion because her mom is the state's executive officer. Now that Mom has decided to run for president, Vanessa must deal with increased security at school where she's also suffering from a crush on a nasty boy and getting anonymous notes. Like Chelsea Clinton, to whom she compares herself, Vanessa is curly haired, brainy, and proud of her ambitious mom. But she doesn't like being left behind because of her mother's busy schedule, and things become edgy when notes in Vanessa's locker turn from puzzling to threatening. The villain is finally revealed at the Democratic Convention, where he turns violent and the credibility of the tale spins out of bound. It's Vanessa's emotional and social life that will keep readers engaged, and also the kid's-eye view of a candidate's campaigning.--Goldsmith, Francisca Copyright 2008 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

Even though her breasts are "the size of cherry pits" and her widowed mother-the governor of Florida and a frontrunner in the Democratic presidential primaries-is rarely around, wonderful things are happening for seventh-grader Vanessa Rothrock. She wins the school spelling bee, and love notes from a secret admirer appear in her locker. Vanessa is proud of her mother's political success, but she grows weary of receiving motherly advice via telephone, e-mail and hastily scribbled notes. First-novelist Gephart adds a good degree of tension as Vanessa accidentally finds hate mail addressed to her mother; Vanessa is sure her mother is in imminent danger, but her mother-who happens to be meeting with Governor Schwarzenegger-explains that she receives dozens a day ("You should have seen the ones I got during the budget crunch," says Gephart's Schwarzenegger. "Half the state wanted to pummel me to death with oranges"). Soon afterward, Vanessa begins receiving threatening letters at school from someone who wants her to pressure her mother into dropping out of the race. Gephart maintains the humor even as the stakes rise; she also successfully captures life in the public eye. She delivers a diverting story that also gives readers an intelligent look at primaries, caucuses and nominating conventions. Ages 8-12. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
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School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-7-Vanessa Rothrock is much like any girl her age. She studies hard for spelling bees, loves her best friend, hates P.E., frets about her flat chest, and has a crush on the most popular boy in school. In other ways, she is very unusual. Vanessa has a bodyguard and fan mail. And her mom has little time for her because she is the governor of Florida, running for president. Likewise, this book is much like others for this audience. It is written in friendly first person and teaches nice lessons about growing up. When Vanessa and the candidate receive death threats, the girl's concern for her mother's safety is tender and adds an exciting mystery and climax to an already compelling story. Readers learn about the political process and motivations of people who work in this milieu despite the considerable risks and sacrifices. Information is woven seamlessly into the narrative. Vanessa's mother runs on a Democratic ticket, and the book is clear about the issues that motivate her, particularly gun control. Issues and relationships are somewhat simplified, but appropriately so.-Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Horn Book Review

Vanessa would like to concentrate on spelling bees, her crush, and seventh grade. However, with her oft-absent governor mother running for president, there are distractions--particularly the threatening notes in her locker. Vanessa's subsequent worries are realistic, but her total ignorance about involvement in a national campaign is not. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Kirkus Book Review

Gephart writes humorously about a preteen's concerns regarding her mom, governor of Florida. Vanessa Rothrock is always tripping, getting tongue-tied and generally being a regular preteen. She suffers many realistic humiliations around her crush while all but ignoring classmate Reginald, with whom she has lots in common. Underpinning her humor is sadness that she is too often relegated to the backburner by her mother's many responsibilities. When Mom announces her run for the presidency, Vanessa knows things will only get worse. Her mother is not really neglectful and they discuss their feelings, but Vanessa's fear that something bad will happen to her mom (as it did to her late dad) overwhelms her. While her mother's handlers take somewhat seriously the increasingly threatening notes Vanessa gets at school from an unknown source, Vanessa has other worries--like why hasn't the Boob Fairy made an appearance at her house already? Eventually, a bad guy does emerge and it's up to Vanessa to rescue her mom. Had the author left out the mystery element, she would have had a satisfyingly funny story of teen/parental communication and the self-consciousness felt by so many preteens. (Fiction. 8-12) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
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Booklist Reviews

Taking more than a few leaves from presidential family trees, Gephart creates a likable protagonist caught in circumstances that are by turns embarrassing, unpleasant, hopeful, and nerve wracking. Vanessa, a seventh-grade spelling whiz, lives in Florida's governor's mansion because her mom is the state's executive officer. Now that Mom has decided to run for president, Vanessa must deal with increased security at school—where she's also suffering from a crush on a nasty boy and getting anonymous notes. Like Chelsea Clinton, to whom she compares herself, Vanessa is curly haired, brainy, and proud of her ambitious mom. But she doesn't like being left behind because of her mother's busy schedule, and things become edgy when notes in Vanessa's locker turn from puzzling to threatening. The villain is finally revealed at the Democratic Convention, where he turns violent—and the credibility of the tale spins out of bound. It's Vanessa's emotional and social life that will keep readers engaged, and also the kid's-eye view of a candidate's campaigning. Copyright 2008 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2008 Booklist Reviews.
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Publishers Weekly Reviews

Even though her breasts are "the size of cherry pits" and her widowed mother—the governor of Florida and a frontrunner in the Democratic presidential primaries—is rarely around, wonderful things are happening for seventh-grader Vanessa Rothrock. She wins the school spelling bee, and love notes from a secret admirer appear in her locker. Vanessa is proud of her mother's political success, but she grows weary of receiving motherly advice via telephone, e-mail and hastily scribbled notes. First-novelist Gephart adds a good degree of tension as Vanessa accidentally finds hate mail addressed to her mother; Vanessa is sure her mother is in imminent danger, but her mother—who happens to be meeting with Governor Schwarzenegger—explains that she receives dozens a day ("You should have seen the ones I got during the budget crunch," says Gephart's Schwarzenegger. "Half the state wanted to pummel me to death with oranges"). Soon afterward, Vanessa begins receiving threatening letters at school from someone who wants her to pressure her mother into dropping out of the race. Gephart maintains the humor even as the stakes rise; she also successfully captures life in the public eye. She delivers a diverting story that also gives readers an intelligent look at primaries, caucuses and nominating conventions. Ages 8-12. (Feb.)

[Page 70]. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
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School Library Journal Reviews

Gr 5–7— Vanessa Rothrock is much like any girl her age. She studies hard for spelling bees, loves her best friend, hates P.E., frets about her flat chest, and has a crush on the most popular boy in school. In other ways, she is very unusual. Vanessa has a bodyguard and fan mail. And her mom has little time for her because she is the governor of Florida, running for president. Likewise, this book is much like others for this audience. It is written in friendly first person and teaches nice lessons about growing up. When Vanessa and the candidate receive death threats, the girl's concern for her mother's safety is tender and adds an exciting mystery and climax to an already compelling story. Readers learn about the political process and motivations of people who work in this milieu despite the considerable risks and sacrifices. Information is woven seamlessly into the narrative. Vanessa's mother runs on a Democratic ticket, and the book is clear about the issues that motivate her, particularly gun control. Issues and relationships are somewhat simplified, but appropriately so.—Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK

[Page 114]. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
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