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Love and Other Four-Letter Words
With her parents splitting up, 16-year-old Sammie Davis may not want to feel a thing, but feelings happen. For starters, she's plenty angry. Her dad's leaving their upstate New York home and moving clear across the country. Her mother—well, she's packing up and relocating to New York City with Sammie, who has no say about any of it. Overnight Sammie is forced to deal with change. And one change spawns another: Roles get reversed, old and new friendships tested, and sexual feelings awakened. It's a scary time. But as Sammie realizes that things can't stay the same forever, that even the people she loves and trusts the most can disappoint her, she begins to accept that change isn't always bad. It's how you cope, jumbled feelings and all, that counts. And as she copes, Sammie's sense of self emerges proud and strong.
247 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Carolyn Mackler
24 books965 followersCarolyn Mackler is the author of the popular teen novels, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things (A Michael L. Printz Honor Book), Infinite in Between, Tangled, Guyaholic, Vegan Virgin Valentine, and Love and Other Four-Letter Words. Carolyn's novel, The Future of Us, co-written with bestselling author Jay Asher, received starred reviews and appeared on several bestseller lists. Carolyn has also written Best Friend Next Door, a novel for younger readers. Carolyn's novels have been published in more than twenty countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, Denmark, Israel, and Indonesia.
Carolyn lives in New York City with her husband and two sons. Her new novel for teens, The Universe is Expanding and So Am I, will be published in May 2018. This is the long-awaited sequel to the Printz-honor winning novel, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things.
Carolyn lives in New York City with her husband and two sons. Her new novel for teens, The Universe is Expanding and So Am I, will be published in May 2018. This is the long-awaited sequel to the Printz-honor winning novel, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
April 27, 2013
I'm sorry, but I just couldn't get into this book. It was too much and too little at the same time. The book had too many elements - her parents' separation, her selfish ex best friend, her new friend, the cute JD, the Rosenthals, and might as well throw in some dog philosophies and music. But Mackler just glossed over the concepts, so I didn't sympathize with Sammie nor did I see her grow as a character. I mean, I guess she's learned to discover what love means, but um, no, I didn't feel it. I don't know, this book just didn't do it for me.
November 14, 2013
From when we first started reading books to now we are told to never judge a book by its' cover. Well I can admit that I don't really follow those rules, and this book is just piece of evidence that I don't.
When I picked up this book I thought it would maybe be about a girl that loved but in the end her feelings were crushed and now she thinks of love not being that great. She could describe love in a different four letter word. What did you think of right away when you first read the title?
Well "Love and Other Four Letter Words" by Carolyn Mackler is set in the summer in New York City. Sammie Davis is forced to leave her hometown of Ithaca, New York, leave her best friend Kitty and her dad, who moved to California. Sammie and her mom were never all that close and the next thing she knows she's sharing a one-bedroom apartment in the smelly city with her mom and her dog Moxie. Her mom has totally gone to pieces over the separation from Sammie's dad.
This novel would be well liked by people with the same issues that Sammie is facing, such as dealing with divorce, friendship and romance. Sammie's problems with her best friend, Kitty and her new friendship with Phoebe are things anyone can relate to. Same with her stress over a rekindled, old friendship with her mom's friend's son, Eli. Did I mention Eli has turned into a nice piece of eye-candy since the last time she saw him?
I would consider Sammie's life a knot. She has so many jumbled thoughts, so many different experiences and most of all it is a struggle to get through. In my eyes her life is very difficult. Without giving away too much of the book, I will leave it at that.
The perspective is given through the eyes of Sammie. I think Carolyn wanted us to read through Sammie's eyes because she wanted us to see what a difficult life is really like. Not everyone experience divorce in their family, or not everyone has to deal with a bad relationship with a parent. I think Carolyn did a very good job showing some people how a "difficult" life really is. Everyone can argue that their life is difficult but until you've been in Sammie's shoes, don't be too fast to judge.
My thoughts/opinions of Carolyn's writing are very strong and I back her form up completely. Carolyn Mackler was a self-proclaimed misfit in junior high. She never completely fit in, and this has been a determining factor in her deciding to write young adult novels. Throughout junior high and high school, Mackler read many young adult novels in order to escape the belief that no one understood her. So as her writing career began she wanted to write novels that could have an impact on girls that are going through the same things she was.
The only thing that I would recommend for Carolyn would be to make her writing more intense. Since this book is under the genre YA the content can sometime be explicit. For instance, when Sammie has arguments with her mother or friends make the argument more "juicy" by having it sound like an actual teenager argument.
This may sound so silly to some people or it may make complete sense to some, but I really enjoyed how the printing company printed this novel. Visually it looks like a fast read when the pages are shorter and the text is larger than average. Something small like this made me even more interested in this novel right off first glance.
Now that I am through with this novel I can see how other four letter words can be related to what Sammie is going through. Fill in the spaces in your own mind. This novel was an easy read for me, which means I think everyone will like it since I am such a fussy reader.
Go check this book out from your library and learn what a difficult life is like before you think how miserable yours is.
When I picked up this book I thought it would maybe be about a girl that loved but in the end her feelings were crushed and now she thinks of love not being that great. She could describe love in a different four letter word. What did you think of right away when you first read the title?
Well "Love and Other Four Letter Words" by Carolyn Mackler is set in the summer in New York City. Sammie Davis is forced to leave her hometown of Ithaca, New York, leave her best friend Kitty and her dad, who moved to California. Sammie and her mom were never all that close and the next thing she knows she's sharing a one-bedroom apartment in the smelly city with her mom and her dog Moxie. Her mom has totally gone to pieces over the separation from Sammie's dad.
This novel would be well liked by people with the same issues that Sammie is facing, such as dealing with divorce, friendship and romance. Sammie's problems with her best friend, Kitty and her new friendship with Phoebe are things anyone can relate to. Same with her stress over a rekindled, old friendship with her mom's friend's son, Eli. Did I mention Eli has turned into a nice piece of eye-candy since the last time she saw him?
I would consider Sammie's life a knot. She has so many jumbled thoughts, so many different experiences and most of all it is a struggle to get through. In my eyes her life is very difficult. Without giving away too much of the book, I will leave it at that.
The perspective is given through the eyes of Sammie. I think Carolyn wanted us to read through Sammie's eyes because she wanted us to see what a difficult life is really like. Not everyone experience divorce in their family, or not everyone has to deal with a bad relationship with a parent. I think Carolyn did a very good job showing some people how a "difficult" life really is. Everyone can argue that their life is difficult but until you've been in Sammie's shoes, don't be too fast to judge.
My thoughts/opinions of Carolyn's writing are very strong and I back her form up completely. Carolyn Mackler was a self-proclaimed misfit in junior high. She never completely fit in, and this has been a determining factor in her deciding to write young adult novels. Throughout junior high and high school, Mackler read many young adult novels in order to escape the belief that no one understood her. So as her writing career began she wanted to write novels that could have an impact on girls that are going through the same things she was.
The only thing that I would recommend for Carolyn would be to make her writing more intense. Since this book is under the genre YA the content can sometime be explicit. For instance, when Sammie has arguments with her mother or friends make the argument more "juicy" by having it sound like an actual teenager argument.
This may sound so silly to some people or it may make complete sense to some, but I really enjoyed how the printing company printed this novel. Visually it looks like a fast read when the pages are shorter and the text is larger than average. Something small like this made me even more interested in this novel right off first glance.
Now that I am through with this novel I can see how other four letter words can be related to what Sammie is going through. Fill in the spaces in your own mind. This novel was an easy read for me, which means I think everyone will like it since I am such a fussy reader.
Go check this book out from your library and learn what a difficult life is like before you think how miserable yours is.
May 12, 2014
I'm gonna be honest, I only picked up this book because I have the same name as the main character. The more of her story I read, the more I realized that our similarities start and stop with our name.
Sammie's an average teenage girl, and that's fine, I just wish she was a little more active and a lot less passive. Most of the book is her biting her tongue and not telling people what she really thinks of the situations the put her in, which only leads to her own stress and breakdown. I suppose she got her way in the end, but the build up to it probably wasn't worth all the effort she did (or didn't) put in.
Plus, not even telling us that hot guys name that she fawned over half the time? Come on. I need some closure.
Sammie's an average teenage girl, and that's fine, I just wish she was a little more active and a lot less passive. Most of the book is her biting her tongue and not telling people what she really thinks of the situations the put her in, which only leads to her own stress and breakdown. I suppose she got her way in the end, but the build up to it probably wasn't worth all the effort she did (or didn't) put in.
Plus, not even telling us that hot guys name that she fawned over half the time? Come on. I need some closure.
March 10, 2017
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+
Favorite Quote: "That along with love comes other four-letter words. Like hate, obviously. And loss. And gain. And most importantly, grow."
Sammie Davis, not the entertainer, used to have a good life. She considers herself an average girl, but she lived in a middle-class home with her mother, father, and her dog Moxie. Then, her life hit a rough patch. Her parents decide to go through a trial separation. Sammie soon finds herself whisked away to New York City in a cramped Manhattan apartment while her father is enjoying freedom in California. Not only has her whole life been shaken and she has started getting anxiety from the whole ordeal, she doesn't like how she physically looks, she's never had a boyfriend, and her gorgeous best friend uses her as a therapist. As Sammie's summer drags on, she struggles to deal with the separation and dealing with her mother who is, for lack of a better word, irresponsible. This is the story about how Sammie learns to deal with this rocky patch in her life and how she comes to understand that along with love come other four-letter words: hate, loss, gain... and grow.
When I first stumbled across this book I was about 15. I found it at a local used bookstore and I bought it because I thought the title was pretty cool. Since I have the strangest system for choosing books, this book sat on my shelf for... well until yesterday. I was sure I was going to DNF this book before I even started it because I looked at it and thought the book was too young for me now. I pushed myself to start it though and I'm so glad I did. This book is a little like Judy Blume's controversial book "Forever". It's a coming of age book that is honest about sex and growing up. While the main character does not have sex, it is discussed in passing between her and her friend Kitty, who is not a virgin anymore. The book also offers a very realistic take on how a teenage girl deals with the events like Sammie has to go through. A lot of times the response is to bottle up the emotions and explode later on. The author crafted beautiful characters and a beautiful story. You come to care for every character in the story, even the characters you will hate.
My only complaint about the book is that it was a fast read and the story leaves many unanswered questions... but the story is about life and in life we will always have unanswered questions. The book also may not be suitable for many younger audiences based on the content and based on parent's differing opinions about what should be and shouldn't be available to teenagers. I find the book to be a must-read for any teen and any adult (as the lessons taught in this book are ones we need to be reminded of time and time again throughout our life). However, if you're a minor, then have your parents review this book before getting in trouble please. My recommended age was based off of my own personal experience of being gifted Forever at 16 years old.
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+
Favorite Quote: "That along with love comes other four-letter words. Like hate, obviously. And loss. And gain. And most importantly, grow."
Sammie Davis, not the entertainer, used to have a good life. She considers herself an average girl, but she lived in a middle-class home with her mother, father, and her dog Moxie. Then, her life hit a rough patch. Her parents decide to go through a trial separation. Sammie soon finds herself whisked away to New York City in a cramped Manhattan apartment while her father is enjoying freedom in California. Not only has her whole life been shaken and she has started getting anxiety from the whole ordeal, she doesn't like how she physically looks, she's never had a boyfriend, and her gorgeous best friend uses her as a therapist. As Sammie's summer drags on, she struggles to deal with the separation and dealing with her mother who is, for lack of a better word, irresponsible. This is the story about how Sammie learns to deal with this rocky patch in her life and how she comes to understand that along with love come other four-letter words: hate, loss, gain... and grow.
When I first stumbled across this book I was about 15. I found it at a local used bookstore and I bought it because I thought the title was pretty cool. Since I have the strangest system for choosing books, this book sat on my shelf for... well until yesterday. I was sure I was going to DNF this book before I even started it because I looked at it and thought the book was too young for me now. I pushed myself to start it though and I'm so glad I did. This book is a little like Judy Blume's controversial book "Forever". It's a coming of age book that is honest about sex and growing up. While the main character does not have sex, it is discussed in passing between her and her friend Kitty, who is not a virgin anymore. The book also offers a very realistic take on how a teenage girl deals with the events like Sammie has to go through. A lot of times the response is to bottle up the emotions and explode later on. The author crafted beautiful characters and a beautiful story. You come to care for every character in the story, even the characters you will hate.
My only complaint about the book is that it was a fast read and the story leaves many unanswered questions... but the story is about life and in life we will always have unanswered questions. The book also may not be suitable for many younger audiences based on the content and based on parent's differing opinions about what should be and shouldn't be available to teenagers. I find the book to be a must-read for any teen and any adult (as the lessons taught in this book are ones we need to be reminded of time and time again throughout our life). However, if you're a minor, then have your parents review this book before getting in trouble please. My recommended age was based off of my own personal experience of being gifted Forever at 16 years old.
July 28, 2023
The author’s first book but my fourth read from her. For only a few pages is there vibrant description, kids trying to grow up too fast by racking up beers and bases, and wealthy parental drama. Divorce is a pretty petty problem when it’s couched with an older kid in a cushy setting. Very pop punk whining but that stuff sells. Yeah, it’s gross for the dad to not take her on the trip he promised yet will still go himself—but calling it “apocalyptic” isn’t even funny. It’s silly. Beyond that, this book becomes as boring as an actual day of school. The most humdrum protagonist ever. Oh wow, a plain girl w/ exaggerated body issues, who’s awkward at parties and a thorn in her mother’s side for no reason. Who would have seen it coming? It’s not just unlikable, it’s cardboard and pandering.
June 25, 2009
Love and Other Four-Letter Words
by Carolyn Mackler
247 pg USA
Random house children's books
ISBN 9780440228318
*mrs shah you said if i read this and the eight spells a week book that it would be counted as three books.*
there is 16 yearold sammie and she lives in plain Ithaca and her parents are trying for a trial seperation and she is suppose to go and live with her mother in new york city because her mother always had allthese dread]ms and she had planed to adress them when in ithaca but many things happend with the dad and her dreams got pushed aside now she plans on going after them angain. and it seems troubles brewing becasue her mother has not had a job since she got married and is in no way use to the life style in new york.And sammie is leaving her best friend in ithaca and shes not even sure she misses her that much.
this story is about her life after she lives with dad. i think that this story doesnt really pull me except for i think if the story doesnt have too much of a climax is a bad bok dont read this. i personally thought this book was okay and probally better for people wo have has the experiece of parents spliting up.
From this book you'll feel the drama of having to be a child in a separation I guess this is actually better if an adult reads it too one that is planning to separate see how a child would feel after separating. Most people would probably decide that they'll get new friends and Sammie dose and she finally decides what she really thinks about her best friend in Ithaca and she becomes more confident but that’s because her personality and what she has to deal with.
by Carolyn Mackler
247 pg USA
Random house children's books
ISBN 9780440228318
*mrs shah you said if i read this and the eight spells a week book that it would be counted as three books.*
there is 16 yearold sammie and she lives in plain Ithaca and her parents are trying for a trial seperation and she is suppose to go and live with her mother in new york city because her mother always had allthese dread]ms and she had planed to adress them when in ithaca but many things happend with the dad and her dreams got pushed aside now she plans on going after them angain. and it seems troubles brewing becasue her mother has not had a job since she got married and is in no way use to the life style in new york.And sammie is leaving her best friend in ithaca and shes not even sure she misses her that much.
this story is about her life after she lives with dad. i think that this story doesnt really pull me except for i think if the story doesnt have too much of a climax is a bad bok dont read this. i personally thought this book was okay and probally better for people wo have has the experiece of parents spliting up.
From this book you'll feel the drama of having to be a child in a separation I guess this is actually better if an adult reads it too one that is planning to separate see how a child would feel after separating. Most people would probably decide that they'll get new friends and Sammie dose and she finally decides what she really thinks about her best friend in Ithaca and she becomes more confident but that’s because her personality and what she has to deal with.
February 9, 2010
This book was really ineteresting. It was about this girl named
Sammie whose parents got divorced. She was really upset about it because her dad left her. She was really close to him and he disappointed her by just leaving her. Sammie and her mom moved to another city in New York. She didnt know anyone there until her mom took her wit some old friends of theirs. Sammie would go every morning to a park to walk her dog. There she met this girl named Pheobe. They became really good friends. Sammie would tell her everything about her old bestfriend but never about her own personal life. So one day when Sammie's old bestfriend came to visit her she introduced her to Pheobe but they didnt really get a long. Then Pheobe got mad and left. Sammie's friend Eli, which was the son of Sammie's mom friend, invited Sammie to go camping with him and his uncle and his girlfriend. When they were there they had some little romance and they became girlfriend and boyfriend. When Sammie went back to the city she found her dad inside her house. She was really surprised but she talked to her dad and they worked things out. He wanted her to move back with him but now that Sammie had found a really good friend(Phoebe) and a boyfriend(Eli) she didnt want to move back. But she was happy.
Sammie whose parents got divorced. She was really upset about it because her dad left her. She was really close to him and he disappointed her by just leaving her. Sammie and her mom moved to another city in New York. She didnt know anyone there until her mom took her wit some old friends of theirs. Sammie would go every morning to a park to walk her dog. There she met this girl named Pheobe. They became really good friends. Sammie would tell her everything about her old bestfriend but never about her own personal life. So one day when Sammie's old bestfriend came to visit her she introduced her to Pheobe but they didnt really get a long. Then Pheobe got mad and left. Sammie's friend Eli, which was the son of Sammie's mom friend, invited Sammie to go camping with him and his uncle and his girlfriend. When they were there they had some little romance and they became girlfriend and boyfriend. When Sammie went back to the city she found her dad inside her house. She was really surprised but she talked to her dad and they worked things out. He wanted her to move back with him but now that Sammie had found a really good friend(Phoebe) and a boyfriend(Eli) she didnt want to move back. But she was happy.
September 7, 2019
I needed a distraction from the heartache that was this past week. This book was the perfect escape. Nothing beats teenage love and how simple things seem when you have been through them and seen worse. This was a refreshing read...
July 23, 2012
I have actually read this book probably 4 or 5 times. There is just something about it that resonates with me.
Read Sept 08
Read July 12
Read Sept 08
Read July 12
December 20, 2019
I literally couldn't bring myself to read on. I found the main character so utterly boring. Wasn't for me, didn't like it.
February 27, 2017
it was alright I guess.. I found it kind of boring and very surface level with character development... I also found I didn't really care for many of the characters; they all just irritated me.
May 6, 2011
One of the characters names was Phoebe! :D
August 26, 2017
4.5 stars; I really liked this book! When I first read the synopsis, I wasn't thrilled to read it, but I really enjoyed it. It didn't seem like Sammie was 16, and I really liked the ending of the book. Summary: Sammie's parents have decided they are going to have a temporary separation. Her dad is moving to CA and she and her mom are moving to NYC. She's 16 and not excited about the move partly b/c she's leaving her best friend, Kitty. Here's what happens while she is there: her mom becomes depressed, and lays in bed all day. Sammie takes her dog to the dog park and meets Phoebe. They are alike, and begin a nice friendship. Sammie's mom's college roommate lives in NYC, so they visit them. It's awkward for Sammie, especially the teenage boy Eli. Their mom is a great person to talk to and Sammie ends up picking up the younger daughter for practice. Eli is awkward, and it seems like he has a girlfriend. He did date a girl, but she wasn't his type. He asks Sammie if she wants to go somewhere; she declines, but when he asks her to go camping with 2 of his friends, she says yes. They have a great time, and even kiss, which is something neither she or Phoebe has done. This is one thing they boons over. When Sammie talks to Kitty, all she talks about is her sexual relationship with her boyfriend. Sammie feels like hey are drifting apart, and when Kitty comes to visit, they have a fight. Phoebe meets Kitty, but leaves early on in the conversation. Now Sammie doesn't have either. So her life is a mess (this is before the date with Eli) so she leaves a voicemail about how her life is terrible, he shouldn't have left, and her mom doesn't do anything (including bailing on an interview for an art teacher position, and forgetting to take the dog to the vet). So he surprises his daughter and comes to visit. They have a talk, including about the parent situation. He isn't sure if he and his wife are going to separation, the they are going to live apart for now. They also agreed that he would give her mom some money to take some classes, and I don't think she's going to work for the next year. Her dad asks her if she wants her to live with him for the summer, and go back to NYC for school, or stay there. At the end her mom says that she will be happy with whatever place she chooses. Her mom has also decided to go go therapy, and treat her depression. Things are great again. Then Sammie patches up her friendship with Phoebe. Phoebe explains that she felt awkward with Kitty and didn't think she was helping the situation. She isn't wearing the brace on her knee b/c she explained to her mom that she never wanted to touch a tennis racket again (she had hurt her knee at tennis camp, but once she was better, she faked having her injury so she wouldn't have to go back). She and her mom also meet a guy who looks like Johnny Depp in the elevator. He calls her Sara a bunch of times, but nothing really happens between them. Everything is good, and Sammie realises that she is in control of her future, whatever decision she makes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2017
I found the book in the hotel library and read it on the beach. Divorce, friendship, teenage problems - after having read a few pages I knew that it was written for the much younger readers , but I read it because I teach teenagers. It reminded me again how teenage brain works, and how hard it is for children when their parents separate. It is brilliantly translated from English to German, witty and has interesting characters, especially the main character Sammie. What did I learn from this book? It is good to change the genre occasionally, and also read books that address problems that one does not face at the moment. Also, friendship is very important, regardless of age.
March 18, 2018
This was one of my favorite books in high school and I'm glad I got the chance to re-read it. It is almost TWENTY years old and it holds up pretty well. I also loved and had forgotten that Ithaca, NY plays a fairly significant setting in this novel (go upstate New York!). I love that the novel equally focuses on Sammie's friendships, family issues and budding romance than just solely being about her interest in a guy.
July 6, 2018
When I was in grad school our professor mentioned this book as one that was constantly being challenged by parents in her middle school library. I had to read it!
It’s pretty average for a growing up story; family issues, friend ups & downs, and boy problems, too. A bit of dog fun thrown in, too. :-)
And I do see why it was challenged in a middle school library... a few shockers in there!
It’s pretty average for a growing up story; family issues, friend ups & downs, and boy problems, too. A bit of dog fun thrown in, too. :-)
And I do see why it was challenged in a middle school library... a few shockers in there!
March 10, 2019
I never realized the difference of reading the same book back when I was a teenager and now as an adult. Rereading this book made me realize how it brings forth the issues of family separation, panic attacks, teen insecurities, mental health, and a hint of feminism in its pages. To think this book was published in 2000!
February 25, 2018
This was a really quick and easy read. I felt like there were a lot of elements to the story (family issues, new home, new friends, old friends, etc), but the author didn't really dive too deep into any of them. It was just an okay book.
June 29, 2021
It was good to be transported back to the pre-cell-phone world that I grew up in. Things were a lot simpler back then.
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for the cute plot. (It's nice that the YAs were acting like YAs, and not like sex-crazed orgying NAs.)
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for the cute plot. (It's nice that the YAs were acting like YAs, and not like sex-crazed orgying NAs.)
January 25, 2022
eh. i don’t like giving bad reviews but i didn’t really enjoy this book, it was romance but there was only an ounce of it and it was a pretty predictable. it was fine but probably wouldn’t re-read or recommend! IM SORRY
October 25, 2022
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!! This book is literally so amazing and I am just so in love! I know I literally put this in all my reviews but I hate writing reviews because I never know what to put in them!
July 4, 2017
This book was a little more depressing than I thought it would be. And I also didn't feel like all that much happened until the end of the book. It was kind of flat.
December 31, 2019
This book was good liked the storyline and the characters.
July 29, 2022
I love it!
August 15, 2023
I enjoyed the book. I thought the author really caught the feeling of a young person at that age and the confusion and troubled feelings she might have.
June 15, 2014
Inhalt:
Als ihre Eltern sich für eine "Trennung auf Zeit" entscheiden, muss Sammie mit ihrer Mutter nach New York ziehen. Jeder andere Teenager würde vermutlich gerne einen Sommer in New York verbringen, doch Sammie ist alles andere als begeistert. Ihre beste Freundin lässt sie hängen und so schlägt sie sich zusammen mit ihrem Labrador Penny die Zeit um die Ohren. Aber als sie ihre neue Freundin Phoebe kennenlernt und feststellt, dass es auch in New York ganz nette Jungs gibt, beginnt sie, ihre Zeit zu genießen.
Meine Meinung:
Mein erstes Rezensionsexemplar! Wuhu! :D Ich hab mich natürlich sehr gefreut, als ich gehört habe, dass ich bei Buchbotschafter gewonnen habe, daher hatte ich irgendwie schon gewisse Ansprüche an mein erstes Rezensionsexemplar, auch wenn es für Mädchen ab 12 gedacht ist. Aber das hab ich natürlich beim Lesen nicht vergessen, keine Sorge.
Auf den ersten paar Seiten bin ich ziemlich gut reingekommen, da mir Sammie ziemlich sympathisch war und es zwischen uns einige Parallelen gab. Im Laufe des Buches habe ich nicht mehr so viele Gemeinsamkeiten entdeckt, aber sie war mir trotzdem nicht unsympathisch oder so. Ich möchte nicht groß aus meinem Leben auspacken, aber es gab schon einige wirklich lustige Dinge, die aus meinem Leben hätten sein können, daher hat mir der Anfang schonmal gut gefallen. Die Charakterentwicklung hat mir eingeschränkt gefallen. Ich finde gewisse Dinge unrealistisch, vor allem was dieses Pubertäre Alter angeht und denke, dass manche Zwölfjährige, die dieses Buch lesen, falsche Eindrücke gewinnen könnten. Es ist alles noch im Rahmen und kein großes Ding, aber etwas merkwürdig fand ichs trotzdem.
Die Handlung bringt jetzt keine großen Überraschungen. Eigentlich steht alles schon im Klappentext, von dem ich übrigens empfehlen würde, ihn nicht vorher zu lesen, wenn man nicht von Anfang an gespoilert sein will. Der Klappentext gibt für meinen Geschmack viel zu viel preis. Man hat gar nicht die Chance selber darüber nachzudenken, welcher Typ es am Ende wird. Stattdessen steht direkt im Klappentext der Name und die Szene erkennt man auch relativ früh wieder. Schade. Trotzdem war die Geschichte ganz süß. Besonders gern mochte ich Phoebe, aber Sammies alte beste Freundin Kitty mochte ich dafür kein Stück.
Zudem finde ich den ersten Teil der Geschichte deutlich zu lang, im Verhältnis zum letzten Teil. Vorher wird alles ellenlang beschrieben, aber da wo es dann etwas spannend wird, geht alles ratz fatz und fertig ist das Buch. Da wäre sicher noch mehr drin gewesen.
Toll fand ich, dass Sammie Gitarre spielt :D Ich lerne nämlich im Moment selber fleißig :) Und wie ihr ja wisst, bin ich ein großer Musikfan, weshalb ich die kurzen Songzitate von der Idee her echt super fand! Ich kann zwar nicht alle, aber die Idee fand ich trotzdem toll, weil mir auch in den verschiedensten Situationen ständig Lieder einfallen, und ich am liebsten gleich drauflos singen würde. Trotzdem fand ich die Umsetzung etwas holprig. Statt die Lieder groß einzuleiten mit den Worten "Das Lied sowieso von sowieso hat eine Zeile, die lautet wie folgt" (Übertreibung!) hätte ich es schöner gefunden, wenn die Zeile einfach da stehen würde und dann in einem Nebensatz der Autor erwähnt würde. Gut, das ist schwierig das schön einzubauen und dann auch noch in der Deutschen Fassung zusätzlich zu übersetzen, das seh ich ein, aber etwas weniger holprig wäre schön gewesen. Trotzdem will ich mich darüber eigentlich nicht beschweren, weil ich die Idee dahinter wirklich großartig finde! Zumal sich die ein oder andere Zwölfjährige danach vielleicht mal das ein oder andere erwähnte Lied anhört. Das wär doch was.
Ich war letztes Jahr selber in New York - für eine Woche - und es war wirklich toll! Daher hatte ich mich in gewisser Weise darauf gefreut, New York nochmal zu "besuchen". Leider wurde ich in diesem Punkt eher enttäuscht, da man außer dem Central Park eigentlich nicht wirklich etwas zu "sehen" bekommt. Ich kann mich nichtmal erinnern, dass sie auch nur einmal den Times Square erwähnt hat! Und das war für mich das Absolute Highlight von New York. Also wer sich viel New York erhofft, wird enttäuscht.
Fazit:
Alles in Allem hat mir "Sommer in New York" ganz gut gefallen, auch wenn es mich nicht so richtig überzeugen konnte. Es ist ein echt süßes Jugendbuch, das auch witzig sein möchte, aber nicht zwingend ist. Die Handlung ist allein schon wegen des Klappentextes mehr als vorhersehbar, was ich ziemlich schade finde. Trotzdem hatte ich Spaß beim Lesen und das, obwohl ich gerade in einer Leseflaute stecke, das heißt doch schonmal was. Daher vergebe ich insgesamt 3 von 5 Sternen.
Vielen Lieben Dank an Hierschreibenwir und den Carlsen Verlag für die Bereitstellung dieses Rezensionsexemplar :)
Als ihre Eltern sich für eine "Trennung auf Zeit" entscheiden, muss Sammie mit ihrer Mutter nach New York ziehen. Jeder andere Teenager würde vermutlich gerne einen Sommer in New York verbringen, doch Sammie ist alles andere als begeistert. Ihre beste Freundin lässt sie hängen und so schlägt sie sich zusammen mit ihrem Labrador Penny die Zeit um die Ohren. Aber als sie ihre neue Freundin Phoebe kennenlernt und feststellt, dass es auch in New York ganz nette Jungs gibt, beginnt sie, ihre Zeit zu genießen.
Meine Meinung:
Mein erstes Rezensionsexemplar! Wuhu! :D Ich hab mich natürlich sehr gefreut, als ich gehört habe, dass ich bei Buchbotschafter gewonnen habe, daher hatte ich irgendwie schon gewisse Ansprüche an mein erstes Rezensionsexemplar, auch wenn es für Mädchen ab 12 gedacht ist. Aber das hab ich natürlich beim Lesen nicht vergessen, keine Sorge.
Auf den ersten paar Seiten bin ich ziemlich gut reingekommen, da mir Sammie ziemlich sympathisch war und es zwischen uns einige Parallelen gab. Im Laufe des Buches habe ich nicht mehr so viele Gemeinsamkeiten entdeckt, aber sie war mir trotzdem nicht unsympathisch oder so. Ich möchte nicht groß aus meinem Leben auspacken, aber es gab schon einige wirklich lustige Dinge, die aus meinem Leben hätten sein können, daher hat mir der Anfang schonmal gut gefallen. Die Charakterentwicklung hat mir eingeschränkt gefallen. Ich finde gewisse Dinge unrealistisch, vor allem was dieses Pubertäre Alter angeht und denke, dass manche Zwölfjährige, die dieses Buch lesen, falsche Eindrücke gewinnen könnten. Es ist alles noch im Rahmen und kein großes Ding, aber etwas merkwürdig fand ichs trotzdem.
Die Handlung bringt jetzt keine großen Überraschungen. Eigentlich steht alles schon im Klappentext, von dem ich übrigens empfehlen würde, ihn nicht vorher zu lesen, wenn man nicht von Anfang an gespoilert sein will. Der Klappentext gibt für meinen Geschmack viel zu viel preis. Man hat gar nicht die Chance selber darüber nachzudenken, welcher Typ es am Ende wird. Stattdessen steht direkt im Klappentext der Name und die Szene erkennt man auch relativ früh wieder. Schade. Trotzdem war die Geschichte ganz süß. Besonders gern mochte ich Phoebe, aber Sammies alte beste Freundin Kitty mochte ich dafür kein Stück.
Zudem finde ich den ersten Teil der Geschichte deutlich zu lang, im Verhältnis zum letzten Teil. Vorher wird alles ellenlang beschrieben, aber da wo es dann etwas spannend wird, geht alles ratz fatz und fertig ist das Buch. Da wäre sicher noch mehr drin gewesen.
Toll fand ich, dass Sammie Gitarre spielt :D Ich lerne nämlich im Moment selber fleißig :) Und wie ihr ja wisst, bin ich ein großer Musikfan, weshalb ich die kurzen Songzitate von der Idee her echt super fand! Ich kann zwar nicht alle, aber die Idee fand ich trotzdem toll, weil mir auch in den verschiedensten Situationen ständig Lieder einfallen, und ich am liebsten gleich drauflos singen würde. Trotzdem fand ich die Umsetzung etwas holprig. Statt die Lieder groß einzuleiten mit den Worten "Das Lied sowieso von sowieso hat eine Zeile, die lautet wie folgt" (Übertreibung!) hätte ich es schöner gefunden, wenn die Zeile einfach da stehen würde und dann in einem Nebensatz der Autor erwähnt würde. Gut, das ist schwierig das schön einzubauen und dann auch noch in der Deutschen Fassung zusätzlich zu übersetzen, das seh ich ein, aber etwas weniger holprig wäre schön gewesen. Trotzdem will ich mich darüber eigentlich nicht beschweren, weil ich die Idee dahinter wirklich großartig finde! Zumal sich die ein oder andere Zwölfjährige danach vielleicht mal das ein oder andere erwähnte Lied anhört. Das wär doch was.
Ich war letztes Jahr selber in New York - für eine Woche - und es war wirklich toll! Daher hatte ich mich in gewisser Weise darauf gefreut, New York nochmal zu "besuchen". Leider wurde ich in diesem Punkt eher enttäuscht, da man außer dem Central Park eigentlich nicht wirklich etwas zu "sehen" bekommt. Ich kann mich nichtmal erinnern, dass sie auch nur einmal den Times Square erwähnt hat! Und das war für mich das Absolute Highlight von New York. Also wer sich viel New York erhofft, wird enttäuscht.
Fazit:
Alles in Allem hat mir "Sommer in New York" ganz gut gefallen, auch wenn es mich nicht so richtig überzeugen konnte. Es ist ein echt süßes Jugendbuch, das auch witzig sein möchte, aber nicht zwingend ist. Die Handlung ist allein schon wegen des Klappentextes mehr als vorhersehbar, was ich ziemlich schade finde. Trotzdem hatte ich Spaß beim Lesen und das, obwohl ich gerade in einer Leseflaute stecke, das heißt doch schonmal was. Daher vergebe ich insgesamt 3 von 5 Sternen.
Vielen Lieben Dank an Hierschreibenwir und den Carlsen Verlag für die Bereitstellung dieses Rezensionsexemplar :)
October 10, 2011
Love and other Four Letter Words- Review
Written by Carolyn Mackler
Life for HS student Sammie Davis couldn’t get any worse: her best friend Kitty has a boyfriend and is a magnet for all of the local boys, Sammie is developing physically in ways she would just assume ignore, and to make matters worse, her parents are separating temporarily (or so they say) with her dad moving to Palo Alto, California and Sammie and her mom moving to New York City!
Sammie’s life in a matter of weeks is turned upside down with all of the contents shaken out.
Love and Other four-Letter Words is the story of Sammie Davis’ life as she adjusts to her parents’ separation, a new city, a new school and most importantly, a new understanding of who she is as a teenager. She narrates her story in first person, which gives us, the reader, an emotional connection to the joys and mostly frustrations of growing up.
Sammie is frustrated by her mom’s inability to shake off her depression and her loss of close connection with her dad. Sammie’s best friend, Kitty, seems more and more self-absorbed in a way that Sammie can no longer tolerate.
All is not lost though, as Sammie meets Phoebe who walks her dog at the local dog park. Sammie and Phoebe immediately hit it off as both are awkward teenagers with their own problems (Phoebe has a runaway case of acne) and have never had boyfriends or a lot of experience kissing or anything else for the matter! They begin to forge a friendship based on mutual understanding and non-judgment. Sammie also finds herself involved in her first relationship with her childhood friend, Eli. It had been years since Sammie and and Eli had seen each other, but they are reunited as their mothers reconnect and Sammie discovers that she and Eli will attend the same high school at the end of the summer. Eli’s behavior seems aloof and at times awkward, but as we discover, there is actually a bit of chemistry brewing between them that neither sees coming.
Over the summer Sammie begins to see herself as an individual, separate herself from Kitty, speak up for herself in spite of her parents’ dysfunction, and accept the budding and unexpected romance between her and Eli. She also discovers what it means to have a true friend.
Love and Other Four Letter Words is an enjoyable book for its honesty, complexity of emotions, and interesting characters. It starts off rather slow in terms of its pacing, but once Sammie and her mom move to New York, about 50 pages in, the book becomes more interesting. I did feel that the character of Kitty was a bit over-written, as she was so self-absorbed and at times cruel, that I had a hard time believing her as a character. I also thought the relationship between Sammie and Eli was a bit too coincidental and neatly packaged to be completely believable as well but I did appreciate the lesson of “being yourself” and meeting the right person who complements you.
The message of Love… seems to be clear as Sammy heals her own heart with her parents’ trial separation and the ending of her friendship (or at least on hold) with Kitty, her new friendship with Phoebe and budding romance with Eli. It is a lot for one summer, to be sure, but as Sammie in her own words tells us, “Along with love comes other four-letter words. Like hate, obviously. And loss. And gain. And most important, grow.”
I was glad to read that Sammie makes it.
Written by Carolyn Mackler
Life for HS student Sammie Davis couldn’t get any worse: her best friend Kitty has a boyfriend and is a magnet for all of the local boys, Sammie is developing physically in ways she would just assume ignore, and to make matters worse, her parents are separating temporarily (or so they say) with her dad moving to Palo Alto, California and Sammie and her mom moving to New York City!
Sammie’s life in a matter of weeks is turned upside down with all of the contents shaken out.
Love and Other four-Letter Words is the story of Sammie Davis’ life as she adjusts to her parents’ separation, a new city, a new school and most importantly, a new understanding of who she is as a teenager. She narrates her story in first person, which gives us, the reader, an emotional connection to the joys and mostly frustrations of growing up.
Sammie is frustrated by her mom’s inability to shake off her depression and her loss of close connection with her dad. Sammie’s best friend, Kitty, seems more and more self-absorbed in a way that Sammie can no longer tolerate.
All is not lost though, as Sammie meets Phoebe who walks her dog at the local dog park. Sammie and Phoebe immediately hit it off as both are awkward teenagers with their own problems (Phoebe has a runaway case of acne) and have never had boyfriends or a lot of experience kissing or anything else for the matter! They begin to forge a friendship based on mutual understanding and non-judgment. Sammie also finds herself involved in her first relationship with her childhood friend, Eli. It had been years since Sammie and and Eli had seen each other, but they are reunited as their mothers reconnect and Sammie discovers that she and Eli will attend the same high school at the end of the summer. Eli’s behavior seems aloof and at times awkward, but as we discover, there is actually a bit of chemistry brewing between them that neither sees coming.
Over the summer Sammie begins to see herself as an individual, separate herself from Kitty, speak up for herself in spite of her parents’ dysfunction, and accept the budding and unexpected romance between her and Eli. She also discovers what it means to have a true friend.
Love and Other Four Letter Words is an enjoyable book for its honesty, complexity of emotions, and interesting characters. It starts off rather slow in terms of its pacing, but once Sammie and her mom move to New York, about 50 pages in, the book becomes more interesting. I did feel that the character of Kitty was a bit over-written, as she was so self-absorbed and at times cruel, that I had a hard time believing her as a character. I also thought the relationship between Sammie and Eli was a bit too coincidental and neatly packaged to be completely believable as well but I did appreciate the lesson of “being yourself” and meeting the right person who complements you.
The message of Love… seems to be clear as Sammy heals her own heart with her parents’ trial separation and the ending of her friendship (or at least on hold) with Kitty, her new friendship with Phoebe and budding romance with Eli. It is a lot for one summer, to be sure, but as Sammie in her own words tells us, “Along with love comes other four-letter words. Like hate, obviously. And loss. And gain. And most important, grow.”
I was glad to read that Sammie makes it.
August 13, 2022
I remembered liking Love and Other Four-letter Words as a teen, but didn't recall any details of the plot. If I had, I might not have picked a story about a young person rocked by their parents separation so soon after reviewing
The Suitcase Kid
. While the circumstances are similar, Love and Other Four-letter Words is a more mature, more rounded story, as befits Carolyn Mackler writing for an older audience. That said, the themes of friendship (both old and new) certainly recalled
Best Friend Next Door
.
Sammie Davis was immediately sympathetic as a main character, her entire life changing around her and out of her control. Adult readers can see the places where she makes mistakes in how she handles things, but they are realistic errors given her age, and they build up to a satisfying emotional conclusion. Carolyn Mackler writes Sammie's friends and family like real people, who all have their own lives going on, even when those lives aren't particularly centred in the narrative.
The romance felt realistic, with all of that teenage held-breath excitement, without stealing focus from the rest of the story. There isn't space for Sammie’s love interest to get a whole lot of personality, but he has enough for a book which is only about the very, very early stages of their relationship, and it's nice that Sammie's friendship with Phoebe gets more attention and feels like it has more of an impact on her life. Friendship is important and, as an author, Carolyn Mackler really seems to get that.
Love and Other Four-Letter Words is probably the reason I keep reading and rereading novels by Carolyn Mackler. None of the others quite live up to this level, yet, but I still have more to go so maybe I'll discover another favourite.
Sammie Davis was immediately sympathetic as a main character, her entire life changing around her and out of her control. Adult readers can see the places where she makes mistakes in how she handles things, but they are realistic errors given her age, and they build up to a satisfying emotional conclusion. Carolyn Mackler writes Sammie's friends and family like real people, who all have their own lives going on, even when those lives aren't particularly centred in the narrative.
The romance felt realistic, with all of that teenage held-breath excitement, without stealing focus from the rest of the story. There isn't space for Sammie’s love interest to get a whole lot of personality, but he has enough for a book which is only about the very, very early stages of their relationship, and it's nice that Sammie's friendship with Phoebe gets more attention and feels like it has more of an impact on her life. Friendship is important and, as an author, Carolyn Mackler really seems to get that.
Love and Other Four-Letter Words is probably the reason I keep reading and rereading novels by Carolyn Mackler. None of the others quite live up to this level, yet, but I still have more to go so maybe I'll discover another favourite.
May 18, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It was a nice dose of good old fashioned YA: lots of heart, a bit of angst, parent problems, friendship and, of course, a boy. The novel centers around a girl, Sammie, who moves with her mom from rural New York to The Big Apple after her parents get divorced. Suddenly, Sammie feels a bit like an orphan. Her dad is gone to California, and her mom can't hold herself together. On top of that, she's starting to grow apart from her best friend, but she finds some solace in the city's dog parks, where she meets a new friend, Phoebe, and with Eli, the hippie son of one of her mom's friends.
As I said before, I really liked this book. It's was just classic YA - no crazy twists, no love triangles, no gimmicks. Just one young girl's thoughts and feelings. The narrator, Sammie, felt so realistic, and I enjoyed accompanying her on this journey. She was really funny, and I think Mackler did a really good job of portraying the whole teen experience. It felt so funny.
One of the most interesting things about the book, I thought, was Sammie's relationship with her lovable but absent-minded mother. After the divorce, Sammie's mom really started to fall apart, and Sammie basically had to take care of her. It was interesting to see those roles reversed.
I also really liked how the book wasn't all about the boy. It was more focused on Sammie's friendship and her family. Even though I love a good love story, sometimes it's nice to examine other kinds of relationships, besides romantic ones.
I can't really think of any critical things to say about this book. I suppose this novel might not appeal to some people who like non-stop action, or who only like fantasy. But even though the novel was just about ordinary, everyday life, I never thought it was boring. I enjoyed being inside this character's head and getting to know her. Also, the New York City setting is always fun.
You should read this book!
As I said before, I really liked this book. It's was just classic YA - no crazy twists, no love triangles, no gimmicks. Just one young girl's thoughts and feelings. The narrator, Sammie, felt so realistic, and I enjoyed accompanying her on this journey. She was really funny, and I think Mackler did a really good job of portraying the whole teen experience. It felt so funny.
One of the most interesting things about the book, I thought, was Sammie's relationship with her lovable but absent-minded mother. After the divorce, Sammie's mom really started to fall apart, and Sammie basically had to take care of her. It was interesting to see those roles reversed.
I also really liked how the book wasn't all about the boy. It was more focused on Sammie's friendship and her family. Even though I love a good love story, sometimes it's nice to examine other kinds of relationships, besides romantic ones.
I can't really think of any critical things to say about this book. I suppose this novel might not appeal to some people who like non-stop action, or who only like fantasy. But even though the novel was just about ordinary, everyday life, I never thought it was boring. I enjoyed being inside this character's head and getting to know her. Also, the New York City setting is always fun.
You should read this book!
September 14, 2016
This was a very enjoyable read for me. Based around the hectic life of a teenage girl who's parents are newly separated, the unpredictability of this novel always left me wanting to read more. I love how the author conveys the emotions of the main character, helping the reader to obtain a deeper understanding of what the character is going through. I felt as though I could relate to some of the struggles of the main character, and I could understand the feelings that she was having. I also really loved how the author hinted at the struggles that the main character was having, but didn't always come right out and say them. The author left room for interpretation, for the reader to infer what they thought the main character was struggling with. I also really loved the subplot of the story, focusing on the age of the main character and things she went through because of that. Not only was she dealing with the emotions and new responsibilities that arose after her parents separated, but she was going through the additional struggles of being a teenage girl. She was living with her mother, who was extremely unstable after the separation, causing her to have to take the main adult role in the household. In addition to that, she was in a new place, with new people. She was juggling friendships, romance, and new responsibilities all at once. I just loved how I felt like I could really connect to this character, like I could really relate to some of her struggles. By the end of the book, the character had grown so much. She had gotten so much stronger, and so much braver. This is what I believe the author was really trying to convey with this story. Even in the toughest of situations, adjustment and growth are always possible.
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