The Grooming of Alice

By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Book Overview

The first day of the summer vacation between eighth and ninth grades, Alice, Pamela, and Elizabeth decide they have to get in shape. "However you look when you start ninth grade, that's how people will think of you for the next four years," says Pamela. And they all begin jogging three miles every morning."It's going to be the most exciting summer of our lives," Pamela says. And Alice hopes it will be. But things keep happening that no one counted on. Alice knows that she is going to be a volunteer -- with her friend Gwen -- at the hospital; but she doesn't know that along with the satisfaction of doing something useful she can also find an unexpected sorrow. And she certainly doesn't know that trying to decide alone how to handle a Pamela-emergency can be a big mistake. Pamela doesn't know that she will be spending the summer dealing with the results of her parents' separation. And Elizabeth does not know that trying to be thin -- and trying to be what everyone wants her to be -- can almost lead to disaster.Mixed with the problems and the complications the summer brings are moments of fun, moments of learning that variety is the way of nature -- beauty comes in more than one form -- and moments when all three girls see the future in whole new ways. There are also moments of stress and change for Lester, Alice's brother, and for her father. Though nothing works out quite as planned, the end of summer does find everyone in better shape -- mentally if not physically.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689826338
• ISBN13: 9780689826337
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: Atheneum
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.5" x 1.0" x 4.8"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

The Grooming of Alice

I am a big fan of the Alice series and have read each book a number of times each. Before this book the books seemed kinda unrealistic. Like some of the stuff they did I never would do. But in this one it talks about the disese anorexia. I think it is good to educate kids about that cause I know someone that has that and it has TOTALLY ruined their life. So I really recomend this book to everybody.

WOW WOW WOW

After reading the entire series, I got very stuborn with myself reading this one. Currently the last one in the series, I couldn't let go. I didn't want the series to finish so fast that I tried taking my time reading it. Silly me, I finished it in a day.I am a teenage boy and i LOVED it. I think a girl would enjoy it even more. The age listed is not appropriate, however, as 9 year olds don't need to know some of the stuff that is said. Many times, Alice can gross you out or make you cry. This one is truely the best in the series so far... Alice Alone should be great, too.

Very realistic and as good as always

Going through the period of time Alice and her friends are in The Grooming of Alice myself--the summer between 8th and 9th grade--I was startled by how well the book, in main theme at least, mirrored what for me is reality. As my friends and I have become increasingly self- and weight-concious, I have wrestled with a desire to be thin(ner) and a fear of anorexia or the like. The Grooming of Alice not only addressed this, it offered a sensible but not official solution as well as girls'general fears about the normalcy of their bodies. In the same breath, it was funny as always and incorporated so many components of life, almost everyone should be able to find something to identify with. A few show-don't-tell lessons were a little too obvious, but, hey, this isn't meant to be Shakespeare. It's a good, easy, entertaining read about growing up a girl.

Best Yet of The Alice Series

The Grooming Of Alice was my favorite book in the Alice series yet! I have read every Alice book there is and I LOVED this one! I don't like any of Naylors book series besides the Alice ones. My favorite part of the book is when Alice's dad calls home and gives the big news. I better not tell what the news is but it is really good news! I also liked when they gathered at Mark Stedmeisters pool. Pamela went through lots of problems in this book but in the end she seems to have a good grasp on them. This book is full of suprises and any Alice fan will thoroughly enjoy this book!

Possibly the best Alice book ever!

I have read every Alice book and this has to be one of the most important and well written ones. Changes are everywhere for Alice and her family and friends- some bad, some good, and one incredible surprise! Once again it is filled with humor and touching moments. I couldn't put it down until I reached the end. I can't wait for the next installment. Things are really getting exciting in this series and I don't want to miss a beat!