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