Here's to you Rachel Robinson by Judy Blume

Blume, J. (1993). Here's to you rachel robinson. New York: Delacourt Books.

Plot

This is the sequel to Blume's book, Just as Long as We're Together, and it features the same trio of friends, Stephanie, Rachel, and Alison as they try and make heads and tales of their changing world. In this book, Rachel's perfect world is thrown upside down as her brother is kicked out of boarding school forces his volatile behavior on his sister and parents. During this time, Rachel is also trying to balance the pressure of school, awakening sexuality, and changing personalities.

Review

This is a simple and direct way of telling the story of a tween growing up in a world that throws curve ball after curve ball. Although the character of Rachel is far from ordinary, middle school girls will be able to relate to the common obstacles teen girls go through. I remember reading this book thinking that their had never been a character that I could relate to, until I found Rachele Robinson. We had the same name, we both played the flute, we were both over achievers, and we both were going through so much at such a young age. Even though this book has been challenged for its references to sexuality and topics that some think too risque for tweens, I think that tweens are already made aware of them and need to read about others going through the same thing. 

Genre

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Age

5th-8th grade/ Tween

Similar Books

Forever- Judy Blume

P.S Longer Letter Later- Paula Dazinger

Someone Like You- Sarah Dessen

Characters

Rachel Robinson- Female protagonist who is a perfectionist and overachiever. Her life is turned upside down when her brother is forced to come after being kicked out from his boarding school.

Stephanie Hirsch- Rachel's best friend since the third grade. 

Charles Robinson- Rachel's brother who is a problem maker and takes the attention away from Rachel. 

Paul Mediros- Rachel brother's older tutor who Rachel develops a crush on. 

Jeremy "The Dragon" Kravitz- Rachel, Alison, and Stephanie's crush of middle school. To the surprise of the girls, he develops his own crush on Rachel. 

Readers Annotation

Rachel Robinson has everything that she has worked so hard for, a great family, true friends, and her middle school crush is crushing back, but despite all of this, Rachel is as lost as ever. Will she be able to achieve her goals without losing herself?

Just as Long as We are Together by Judy Blume

Blume, J. (1991). Just as long as we're together. New York: Laurel Leaf.

Plot

Stephanie has always had Rachel as her best friend and she was someone she told everything to and did everything with, that was until Alison moves in. Now, secrets are kept from another during a time when Stephanie needs her best friend the most. This book touches on middle school angst such as, divorce, friendships, first crushes, and body changes such as weight gain and menstration. Stephanie and her friends are trying to keep with the never ending changes of their bodies, minds, and hearts and they know they will be fine as long as they are together.

Review

Awww..memories. This has to be one of my favorite books of all my tween years (and a guilty pleasure now). This book taught me and will teach other tweens all about body image, friendship, crushes, drama, and sexuality in a tween friendsly type of way. This book is poignant, hilarious, and truthful. Let's face it, drama always happens with friends and this is a great book that tweens can relate to and learn from. There are true friends out there and this books proves just that. There have been challenges to this book because of the references to sex and kissing, but I truly believe that this is an appropriate book for tweens.

Genre

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Age

5th-8th grade/ Tweens

Similar Books

Are You There God, It's Me Maragret- Judy Blume

Here's to you Rachel Robinson- Judy Blume

Beacon Street Girls series- Annie Bryant

Characters

Stephanie Hirsch- The protagonist who is best friends with Rachel Robsinon. She finds out that her parents are separating and her father has a girlfriend, she is starting middle school, has put on ten pounds and started menstruating.

Rachel Robinson- Stephanie's best friend who is great at anything. She is an overachiever who like Stephanie, has started changing in more ways than one and she is hoping their friendship can last through it all.

Alison Monceau- The new girl who moves into the condos where both Rachel and Stephanie live. She is a free spirit who attracts both boys and girls. She doesn't mean to get in the middle of their friendship and will try anything to save it.

Readers Annotation

This book will tug at your heart strings as it teaches you about love and loss and the way that true friendship mends all holes.