Ngga ada satu orangpun yang pernah bilang sama gue, kalo jadi remaja itu SUSAH.Lebih susah dari sekedar naik metromini ke melawai, terus ngerjain soal-soal spmb yang hasilnya cuma bisa menjawab 4 pertanyaan buat mata pelajaran matematika yang jumlah soalnya ada.. 25. And double that.Lebih susah dari sekedar bangun pagi-pagi buta, menyeret badan ke kamar mandi, cuci muka-gosok gigi-pake kaos kaki dan sepatu lari, lalu membuka pintu pagar, nyalain mp3, dan mulai pemanasan. Lari pagi. Selama 3 bulan berturut-turut. And still, you can double that.Menjadi remaja itu, SUSAH.Sesusah menahan gejolak cinta yang deritanya tak pernah berakhir. Menahan godaan untuk TIDAK selalu naksir pada SETIAP remaja cowok yang kakinya panjang, lebih tinggi dari dirinya sendiri, tidak dekil, tidak bau jempol, dan kaos kakinya tidak bolong, YANG LEWAT didepannya. You can ask Patkay for that. Kalo ngga percaya.Tapi untung ada mama yang membantu gue melewati semua itu dengan baik.Yang memberi tahu bedanya Laurier kemasan warna hijau dan pink. Dan kemudian menyarankan untuk ganti pake Charm maxi, karena lebih safe. Dan nyaman. Dan ngga iritasi.Yang dengan segera menyerahkan setumpuk miniset setelah gue mengadu, "tadi pas pelajaran olah raga, DADA aku diliatin melulu ama anak laki2! Lagian ngapain sih gurunya nyuruh lompat2 ditempat? Kurang kerjaan!" *tendang kursi*Yang melarang ngga boleh main hujan-hujanan di luar lagi. "Karena kamu kan udah ada TETE-nya." *ngejengkang*Yang mengenalkan bedak Harum Sari..Yang membekali sisir, handuk dan baju dalam bersih di hari-hari setiap kali ada pelajaran olah raga.Yang memilihkan baju baru buat lebaran karena kebanyakan baju gue saat itu adalah kaos dan jeans. *mama beringsut pelan. menyerahkan sehelai blazer dengan busa di bahu, dengan rok selutut yang serasi.* "Nih nanti dipake pas mau ke rumah Bapak (kakek) yah." *nangis darah*Tapi disamping hal-hal tersebut, diantara hal-hal yang membuat hidup seorang remaja menjadi lebih mudah dalam melewati masa-masa puber, bergulat dengan hormonnya yang bergejolak, terkadang ada keputusan yang membuat si remaja nyaris memilih untuk tinggal di kaki Gunung Kilimanjaro. Sendirian. Menempuh perjalanan dengan berjalan kaki. Dari Pondok Gede. Karena tidak sanggup menanggung malu.Siapa yang bisa menanggung kepedihan hati macam ini? Remaja manapun tidak akan ada yang sanggup.Sang ibu menuntunnya dengan senyum sumringah. "Jadi rambut kamu akan dipotong hari ini. Mama ada salon baru. Mama cocok kok potong rambut disitu. Kamu mau ya? Kan sebentar lagi masuk SMP. Biar rambutnya rapih sedikit.""Aku ga mau potong rambut! Ga suka salon!""Dirapihin aja kok. Janji deh ngga pendek2..""Bener ya? Ngga pendek2 ya?""Janji""Dari dulu aku potong pendek terus rambutnya, sekarang mau panjangin!""Iya boleh dipanjangin, tapi asal rapih. Makanya dirapihin. Potong dikit aja.""Se-dikit apa?""satu senti?"Si remaja memainkan helai-helai rambutnya sambil berpikir. Satu senti.. berarti.. masih bisa di bawah bahu deh panjangnya. Ia menatap sengit ibunya. Teringat akan dendam lama."Bener ya cuma satu senti?""Bener, suwer deh," ibunya mengangkat jari, membentuk huruf V.Setengah jam kemudian, sang anak ditemukan sedang menangis di depan pintu salon. Menangisi helai-helai rambutnya yang diamputasi. Menangisi masa depannya. Hari-hari barunya. Mulai saat itu, nama gue tinggallah nama. Nama yang melekat, pada sosok remaja dengan potongan rambut seperti MELISA SEMUT-SEMUT KECIL yang menggelitik bagian belakang lehernya. Seumur kelas 1 SMPnya. Karena tipu muslihat kapster salon, dan ibu kandungnya sendiri."
In the world of children's literature (and in recent years also YA), one name is mentioned above all others: Alice. To be specific, Alice McKinley--the intrepid heroine of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's long running children's/YA series."The Agony of Alice" is the debut novel of this series, originally published in 1985 and now out in a variety of reprints with myriad versions of cover art. Personally, I'd be more willing to consider Naylor's prequel novel "Starting With Alice" (from 2002) to be the actual beginning of this series, but having read both either seems appropriate as an introduction to Alice's world.When this story begins, Alice is preparing to move with her father and older brother, NAME. As the family packs up, Alice remembers all of the embarrassing things she did in the years leading up to the move and also wishes that, just maybe, some people like Donald Sheavers and the milk man might disappear or suddenly develop amnesia to save Alice some of her embarrassment.Of course, life doesn't work that way, so instead Alice just has to keep moving forward in her new town as she tries to make new friends, find a new mother (Alice's mother died when she was a young child), and earn a place on the coveted street patrol. Meanwhile, Alice has to decide whether she's growing up properly or backwards, cope with the worst teacher in the entire grade, and figure out how to buy a pair of jeans. Sixth grade is going to be nothing if not exciting for Alice!This is the kind of book where not many "major" things happen, it's more like opening a window into Alice's life. Happily that works. Alice is likable and entertaining. Naylor does a great job creating an authentic and readable voice in her first person narration. On a more minor note, it's kind of fun to read the early books in the series that are set in the 1980s just to get little touches like the cassette tapes thrown in to make the setting authentic.When I started "The Agony of Alice" I must admit that the book seemed a bit slow (as slow as such a short book can seem). That might have more to do with my usually reading crazy, action-packed fantasy novels. It might also have to do with my resistance to starting this series. Having done my time with sweeping series--the ones that go on for years and require a continued commitment to follow--I was hesitant to start another. Then I found out that the series would be ending when Alice turned eighteen and realized the end was in sight (Alice was already a high school junior in the latest installment). Plus, the book got more interesting the more I read which made me rethink my initial doubts.Finally, Alice is a great character. Certainly Alice has her stumbles along the way, but she always gets up and dusts herself off. It's a hard lesson to learn, so it's nice to see a character in a children's book who is already getting the hang of it.
What do You think about The Agony Of Alice (1997)?
My favorite book in the Alice series! This was the first book Naylor wrote about Alice, though now it falls 4th in the series behind the 3 prequels. Alice is in 6th grade and new to Silver Springs. She struggles with the idea of whether or not she is growing backwards as evidenced by all of her embarrassing moments. Longing for a mother, Alice sets her sights on Miss Cole, a glamorous 6th grade teacher. She is sure that if she can just get placed in Miss Cole's class, then she will be living a life close to perfection. As fate would have it, Alice is placed in plain old Mrs. Plotkin's class. Though she's not happy about it, she decides she can live with her placement after Mrs. Plotkin recommneds her as a substitute Safety Patrol member which means she can spend Wednesday lunches in Miss Cole's classroom as she oversees the group.Over the course of the school year Alice's feelings towards Mrs. Plotkin begin to change. She begins helping out in her classroom after school cleaning and organizing. Mrs. Plotkin becomes exactly the female influence she was longing for and it is Mrs. Plotkin that she misses when she makes a solo train trip to Chicago to visit family. Alice is the kind of young girl that is relatable with a good heart. She doesn't always behave in admirable ways (she has told a lie or two in her time), but she is a character who really wants to do the right thing. She has a great relationship with her brother and her father and feels comfortable enough to express herself and ask the questions a girl on the verge of puberty needs to know.I have read this book many times and love it more with each rereading. The Alice series has frequently been challenged for its frank discussion of sex, drugs, suicide, school violence, etc but it a series I would highly recommend for young girls to grow on. I'd recommend this title to girls grades 4-6.
—Samantha
Great book i read this book about 2-3 years ago when i was either a fifth grader or sixth most likely fifth. (i am now in eight grade.) I remeber reading some other ones about when she was younger and i thought that this book seemed pretty cool someone i could relate to. After i finshed reading i loved i will never regret reading it. It helped me with alot of problems. I read almost every alice book i could find in the libray too bad they don't have them all. I'm going to start looking everywher
—Angel
Laughing all along the way. Such a cute book brought back memories of teenage growing pains. The funniest part was when she got her period while visiting her aunt in Chicago. Alice, in sixth grade, lives with her father and brother, her mother passed away when she was young. The story starts out with Alice trying to switch her homeroom teacher, and ends with her cherishing Mrs. Plotkin, still her original homeroom teacher. Mrs. Plotkin gives her a family heirloom, a silver ring with a green stone. So touching that Mrs. Plotkin sees Alice as her child. Mrs. Plotkin encouraged Alice to keep a journal and that it is a healthy habit to have as it will get you over the rough places. Mrs. Plotkins turns out to be the motherly figure Alice was looking for, even though in the beginning she had thought it was Ms. Cole. Mrs. Plotkins taught her students that it is ok to have secrets as long as you don't have secrets from yourself. Mrs. Plotkin teaches her kids one of the most valuable lessons of life, self reflection. This book was very enjoyable for me and I enjoyed every word. Highly recommend for children of all ages but especially to those going through the tweens/teenage years!
—Tiffany
