Visiting Miss Caples

By Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

Book Overview

Did you ever have the feeling that your life had taken some kind of a turn -- and you weren't even sure exactly how it happened?At first our routine consisted of her staring at the rug while I read aloud. But today, something happened. Maybe it wouldn't have if I hadn't run out of things to read, and ended up talking about how shaky things had gotten between me and my best friend, Liv. And how once again my dad wasn't actually at his office working late like he said he was.All I know is that today she started to talk -- mostly about this girl, a friend once worshipped and then lost, a person she described as "dangerous".So we're not exactly friends, Miss Caples and me, but we did make this connection. And I feel like it's about to take us into, I don't know, some unforeseeable territory -- and that I'm not the,only one who's excited about, and a little afraid of, what we might discover.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803725027
• ISBN13: 9780803725027
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Dial
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.8" x 5.8"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

Enjoyed it very much

I read this book last night with an eye to whether or not I would recommend it to my 12 year old daughter. While I agree with the reviewer that stated that the girls in the book seem like older teens, I found the book to be absorbing and touching. I thought it was a bit of a wake-up call, both to understand what may be behind the behavior of kids who are cruel and unpleasant, and also how what seems like a "prank" can have serious unforeseen consequences. I think my daughter might enjoy it in a couple of years, because although it is short and highly readable, the themes are a bit disturbing, particularly in some of the "flashback" scenes and descriptions relating to the past. The main character's transparency is refreshing--had she not been so open with her mother and Miss Caples, the story could have had a very unpleasant ending. Also, the character of Jane, as the unpopular girl, is interestingly portrayed with a view to Jenna's changing perceptions. I liked the story very much, and may well reread it in the future--I enjoy reading books geared at kids, both for personal enjoyment of a quick, relatively innocent read, and so I can share them with my own kids.

"Hello? It's Jenna from Fire Hill school. Anyone home?"

Those are the first words that started a new friendship. Jenna and her long time best friend,Liv, are working on a project for one of their classes. What they must do is go to a senior citizens house and read to them. Liv, one of the most popular girls in their school, isn't thrilled about this project, and wants to have it over with. Because of her snobby ways, thinking she is better then everyone. For example Liv is very rude to a girl in their science class because she is different. She humiliates this girl in front of the entire class but they all turn against Liv. This hoydenish girl instructs for Jenna to get back at her with a devilish prank that Jenna doesn't approve of. When Jenna and Miss Caples met, she didn't talk to Jenna for about a week. But when she finally did talk to Jenna they found that they totally relate to each other. Jenna tells Miss Caples of all her problems with Liv, and how Liv and her are not as good of friends anymore because of the involvement of the prank she doesn't want to participate in. This prank to me is about the crueliest I have ever heard. To me, Liv has a sick mind.You find in this book that "history is repeating itself". Why you ask? That is the same question I asked myself when I looked at the front cover.Don't judge this book by the cover, I almost did and I am sure glade I finished it. I would have been making a BIG mistake! I reccomend this book for teen girls and their mothers. You can relate to this book no matter what age.

A stupid project turns into a life story

When Jenna is assined a project to do she gets Miss Caples. Miss Caples doesn't talk or move unless shes petting her cat. When magizines and books get boring Jenna starts to tell Miss Caples about her life problems. When Jenna's dad moves our and her best friend Liv get in a fight Miss Caples and Jenna start to see eye-to-eye on things. Miss Caples knows something about Jenna that Jenna doesn't know about. In this book you will start to see this story become a book. Little things in Jenna's world now seems to get more important everyday. Once you find out what this secret that Miss Caples has you will have to keep turning that page.

Great writing, but a little unbelievable.

I was enthralled with this book from page one. The action anddialogue are very crisp. However, I find the main characters, who aresupposed to be about 13 years old, to act and speak as if they were more like 16. Additionally, the portions of the book from Miss Caples point of view add quite a bit of characterization at the beginning, but then the author inexplicably stops using them until the very end. A little more of them throughout the book would have been nice. I think if the author had simply changed the ages of the girls and written the book a little longer, it would have made a fine YA read. As it is, it's a better than average juvi selection.