I think I’m officially over the Alice series. It’s just not as interesting as I thought it would be. The language has become rather easy and the chapters are so short and transparent. The title to each chapter gives so much away and isn’t the least bit original, like "Total Humiliation". Lame. Each chapter covers more than one aspect of the story, and each aspect is only mentioned in 1-2 pages before moving to something else. Sometimes, things don’t even connect, and other times, the author puts in things that aren’t important for the bigger story. Like the car scenario. Alice got off work and went to her car. When she tried to start the engine, she couldn’t get it to work. Then she called her brother Lester to ask him to help, but it turned out that she’d just forgotten to turn the “P” to “D”. I kept waiting for something to happen, and when it didn’t, I was just like, Huh? Why did the author include this? A teacher once told me that every detail mattered, but I didn’t see how this could have affected anything else that happened in the story. One of the bigger reasons as to why I’m over this is because of the main character. I’m not sure if Alice has always been like this, but I certainly remember liking her so much better back in the previous books. Here, she presents herself as, well, a big mouth. Seriously. She tells everyone about the tiniest detail that happens in her life. Couldn’t get her car to start the other day? Told her best friends and family. Helped catch robbers at the mall Sunday? Yup, called just about everyone she knew. I’m not sure whether she’s just conceited or she really doesn’t know that nobody really cares. The whole idea to me sounds just silly and makes Alice seem like a character that doesn’t sound alive. I’m sure nobody can be that open—they’ve gotta keep some secrets to themselves. And “best friends share everything” or not, you do not need to tell your BFF something as uneventful as forgetting to turn the switch on to start the car. It’s just annoying to see that happen over and over and over again. Also, the fact that this books plays with so many issues, makes it sound like amateur writing. The author jumps from racism to shoplifting to cancer patients. What’s the bigger message? I like authors to stick to mainly just one topic. It will flow better like that. This book, however, looked like the mini-stories that I wrote back in 6th grade where I just fast forwarded the details and jumped into the conversation, basically missing all the flow, details, and transitions that were needed to glorify a story. And I’m definitely not too old to read Alice books. We’re both sixteen. But the book lacks the sophistication that resembles her age.
I have always enjoyed these books, but now that I live in the same county in which they are set (Montgomery County, Maryland) I find myself feeling as though I am in the know about things in ways that other readers might not be. When Alice names specific roads or landmarks, I often know where they are, and when she talks about living in Silver Spring and Takoma Park, I can now picture what those towns look like. I always connected with these books on some level, but I can also relate to how neat it must be for kids who live in this area to have those neat little inside jokes with their favorite character.As in many of the Alice books, this one takes on a lot of big issues all at once, sort of like an episode of a teen TV soap opera. While this has always been a problem for me in this series in general, I think I understand Naylor’s desire to have Alice explore as many facets of life as possible. Girls from many backgrounds follow this series and look to Alice as a role model and a guide for getting through difficult situations. With so many girls looking to Alice for inspiration and help, it does make sense that Naylor would want to show her reaction to as many different situations as possible. Sure, it seems unrealistic when a bunch of those situations come up in the same book, but taken individually, each scenario is usually well-realized and filled with sound advice (even if it’s not always advice I’d give or accept.)
What do You think about Alice In The Know (2006)?
I think of this as the "summer job" book, but Alice's job as a stock girl at a department store is really only a small part of the plot. It's my favorite part, though, because I think Alice's experiences and feelings about work - proud to be employed not by her dad, glad to make a paycheck, bored stiff by what she actually has to do, mixed feelings about letting her friends use her employee discount, failure to understand the proper chain of command (view spoiler)[leading to getting unexpectedly fired (hide spoiler)]
—Laura Hughes
I love the Alice books, but this one is not one of my favorites. It's still a wonderful read because Ms. Naylor is a wonderful writer, but I found parts of it a little tedious. As always, I love the characters, I love the way important social and relational issues are addressed, and I love the poignant ending. What felt "tedious" to me though was what came across as day-by-day journaling and I found myself wanting to get to the end of the book as quickly as possible. It's still a good read but just not my favorite in the series.
—Sandra McLeod
Alice was always the daughter every family wanted. She works in her dad's music store until one day her dad said well you are a big girl now you should go out in the world working for someone else. Alice didn't want to work at any other store except her father's music store. B"ut eventually Alice found a job in a mall. Since working in the mall Alice had learn many things about life. From shoplifting to dangerous robbery, Alice had face them all. This summer Alice is ready to grow up and become a more mature girl. Alice gets more knowledge from her work and spending time with other people instead of spending her summer time facing her father 24/7.Phyllis Naylor wrote many Alice series from children's chapter books to young adult novels on Alice. All of Phyllis Naylor's book has vaulable lesson from children to teens. Phyllis Naylor understand the many problems children and teens have throughout school and life.Every chapter contain new problems Alice is facing throughout life. These problems occurs to Alice and Alice have to try solving her own problems and to face the problems happening throughout the world. Many people had faced the same problems now the reader will know the consequence for making the same mistake as Alice. Phyllis Naylor is trying to tell us not to make the same mistake if you do go faced your problems and move on with your life just like alice.
—Wendy
