Discount Price: $5.99
Price fluctuation possible.
How soon does it ship: Normal ship time within one day
Shipping? Absolutely FREE if you qualify for Super Saver Shipping.
Type of bind: Paperback
EAN num: 9780140344431
ISBN number: 0140344438
Label: Puffin
Manufacturer: Puffin
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 144
Printing Date: May 01, 1990
Publishing house: Puffin
Age index: Ages 9-12
Sale Popularity Level: 160199
Studio: Puffin
Other books you might be interested in perusing:
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
-
I have to say, I would have given up on this book except that my daughter never lets me do that. (I was reading it to her, she's seven).
I'm glad I stuck with it because the second half of the book rewards the reader with a faster-paced story and satisfyingly complex characters for a book at this level.
NOTE: Don't dismiss the one-star review here by C. Butterfield. S/he makes some very valid points. I also cringed at the mean mockery of Elsie, the the fat girl, but I, instead, gave DeClements credit for the realism of that, since I'm sure it's even worse for fat kids in reality.
As for the "scary" chapter ... it was! But, by then, I was totally in need of some action happening in the story.
I totally agree with Butterfield's criticism about the plot structure. It's not very good -- but this is a short book, so you can easily plow through the weak areas.
Rated by buyers 
-
My mom bought this for my 10 year old!! WOW makes you feel a bit old when your daughter is reading what you once read ya know!! ;) But a classic book never has an end....it is only the beginning of what is in store for them in the future and for the joys of reading!!
Rated by buyers 
-
While I enjoyed this book as a child, some parts made me very uncomfortable when I reviewed it as an adult. Apparently ALL of Elsie's behavioral, family and academic problems stem from the fact that she is fat, which is also a legitimate ground for the other children to hate her on sight (and evidently no-one else in the class is overeweight). I got the impression that the other students were doing nothing wrong by hating her, it was her own fault because she overeats so much, and to top it off she's a thief (in order to buy candy, which is again her fault due to overeating). But there are some positive lessons in the book: Elsie takes responsibility for improving her own situation rather than staying a victim, Jenny is respectful of her parents and kind to her younger brother, the girls are concerned about their grades, and, once they befriend Elsie, they are loyal and thoughtful. I think if this book had been written yesterday and not in 1980 the fat-bashing language would have been toned down (i. e. she was "very overweight" instead of "looked like a circus-freak"). Overall, I'd check it out of the library rather than purchase it if you're interested.
Rated by buyers -
Ok my book is about a girl named Elise and she became a new student at Diane's school. Elise was a rather big girl and ate a lot. Well, one day at school all of the student's money was missing for lunch and all the kids were getting angry because when they didn't bring their money they would have to eat hard peanut butter sandwiches, and they would think it was Elise. It turns out it was her. One day Elise got in trouble by the principal for taking people's food. Now she's on a diet because she's way too big.
My favorite part of the story was when the teacher made everyone get into Social Studies groups and Diane was put with Elise and one of Diane's friends and Elise was telling them how Elise's mom never did anything with her because she didn't want people to know that Elise is her Daughter.
Rated by buyers -
This is one of my favorite children's books. It was the very first book that depicted a hostile parent despite feeding and sheltering her children and it was the very first book that depicted children's relationships as less than trustworthy. After reading this book, I wished I had the author as MY teacher. I strongly recommend this book. It's better than the sequel but the sequel is worth reading as well. I picked this up in the supermarket because of the Botero-like cover art long before I learned who Botero was. I'm very happy to see that this book is still in print as the issues dealt with in the 1981 book are even more relevant today. Elsie Edwards is given lots of processed foods in lieu of affection and her single parent family uses consumerism and empty purchases as solace. She's fat and her mother has issues.
I also have Part 2 and just got Part 3. The sequels are not as enjoyable as the Nothing's Fair but I wanted to know what happened to Elsie Edwards. She also makes a cameo appearance in I Never Asked You to Understand Me.
Find other books like this one:
