Buy How to Ruin Your Life by Carolyn McTighe - Bookswagon
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Home > Children's Books > Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories > Relationship stories > How to Ruin Your Life: And Other Lessons School Doesn't Teach You
How to Ruin Your Life: And Other Lessons School Doesn't Teach You

How to Ruin Your Life: And Other Lessons School Doesn't Teach You


     0     
5
4
3
2
1



Out of Stock


Notify me when this book is in stock
X
About the Book

Penelope Jane Parker - better known as PJ - is a precocious, sociable nine-year-old who, in the spring of her Grade 4 year, is keen to show her abilities as a sprinter in the annual school track meet. Her best friend, Katie, has no interest in competing in the footrace that PJ knows she, PJ, will win. What do best friends do? Well, PJ decides that, in order to encourage Katie, she'll slow down to give Katie a chance when they race together in the warm-ups the week before the meet, so her friend will feel better about herself. But, as the race begins and PJ slows down, suddenly Katie surges into the lead, and PJ is left huffing to catch up; in fact, Katie wins the race.This begins a spiral of jealousy and anger and worry that causes a rupture in the friendship and a sequence of events during which PJ goes nuts trying to figure out how to retrieve her position as winner and good friend. PJ shops for a new best friend to no avail. Her parents strongly advise her to make up with Katie. Her brother mocks her. PJ's nine-year-old world is falling apart - and it's only after a number of disastrous stumbles that the friendship is repaired and equilibrium is restored. The story is told with a lot of humour - it's the lighter side of what can sometimes be the very nasty and destructive world of plot and counter-plot that can infest the social lives of girls.

About the Author :
Carolyn McTighe is freelance writer whose articles have appeared in magazines and newspapers across Canada and the United States. She has written for CBC Radio, the Los Angeles Times, Toronto Sun, Ottawa Sun, 24 Hours Vancouver and most recently ELLE Canada. Her first children's book, The Sakura Tree, was published in 2007 by Red Deer Press, and her first non-fiction adult book, Vacuuming in Pearls will be published in 2011. Carolyn lives in British Columbia, with her husband and four children.

Review :
"How to Ruin Your Life illustrates the competitive nature of young girls. Carolyn McTighe weaves humour into P.J.'s need to be victorious through both her incessant list making and her naivete. McTighe's humourous touches accentuate even the last words of the story leaving readers with a smirk on their faces. How to Ruin Your Life is a good-natured tale that demonstrates whats truly important in life. Recommended. -- CM Magazine"McTighe's novel carries messages about the dangers of copycatting, gossip, and jealousy while offering a satisfying lesson on humility that will resonate with readers. . . McTighe offers a preteen voice in P. J. that is honest and true." -- Booklist "Author Carolyn McTighe clearly has insight into the world of nine-year-old girls; she is attuned to how girls can behave towards each other, and how young tweens' emotions, including anger and insecurity, are considerably heightened. The note-writing, the search for a new best friend, and her dramatic declaration that she is "never going to apologize" make PJ's distress believable. Although she doesn't have great depth, PJ is a character who, even at her worst moment, is relatable and, more importantly, likeable. . . McTighe lightens the story with her humorous, honest storytelling. PJ's views and commentary on her family, friends, and teachers is amusing, and her training attempts, including a disgusting drink concoction recommended by her brother, add comic relief. Although the title seems to imply a more dramatic novel, the story's lighthearted elements and universal situation create a nice balance in this book for girls just like PJ. . . With its strong message about friendship and learning what's truly important, How to Ruin Your Life is a great middle-grade book for girls." -- Foreword Magazine "McTighe tells this tale with a wicked sense of humor and employs the device of lists to convey important character details. . . I could see using this book as a read aloud in class to discuss friendship and its responsibilities, and ethics." -- Puget Sound Council for Reviewing Children's Media "(The characters) come across as real fourth graders, and the story includes some humor. All in all, this is a fast read and a pleasant running-related story." -- School Library Journal


Best Sellers


Product Details
  • ISBN-13: 9780889954014
  • Publisher: Red Deer Press
  • Publisher Imprint: Red Deer Press
  • Height: 191 mm
  • No of Pages: 111
  • Spine Width: 8 mm
  • Weight: 141 gr
  • ISBN-10: 0889954011
  • Publisher Date: 09 Jun 2010
  • Binding: Paperback
  • Language: English
  • Returnable: Y
  • Sub Title: And Other Lessons School Doesn't Teach You
  • Width: 135 mm


Similar Products

Add Photo
Add Photo

Customer Reviews

REVIEWS      0     
Click Here To Be The First to Review this Product
How to Ruin Your Life: And Other Lessons School Doesn't Teach You
Red Deer Press -
How to Ruin Your Life: And Other Lessons School Doesn't Teach You
Writing guidlines
We want to publish your review, so please:
  • keep your review on the product. Review's that defame author's character will be rejected.
  • Keep your review focused on the product.
  • Avoid writing about customer service. contact us instead if you have issue requiring immediate attention.
  • Refrain from mentioning competitors or the specific price you paid for the product.
  • Do not include any personally identifiable information, such as full names.

How to Ruin Your Life: And Other Lessons School Doesn't Teach You

Required fields are marked with *

Review Title*
Review
    Add Photo Add up to 6 photos
    Would you recommend this product to a friend?
    Tag this Book Read more
    Does your review contain spoilers?
    What type of reader best describes you?
    I agree to the terms & conditions
    You may receive emails regarding this submission. Any emails will include the ability to opt-out of future communications.

    CUSTOMER RATINGS AND REVIEWS AND QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TERMS OF USE

    These Terms of Use govern your conduct associated with the Customer Ratings and Reviews and/or Questions and Answers service offered by Bookswagon (the "CRR Service").


    By submitting any content to Bookswagon, you guarantee that:
    • You are the sole author and owner of the intellectual property rights in the content;
    • All "moral rights" that you may have in such content have been voluntarily waived by you;
    • All content that you post is accurate;
    • You are at least 13 years old;
    • Use of the content you supply does not violate these Terms of Use and will not cause injury to any person or entity.
    You further agree that you may not submit any content:
    • That is known by you to be false, inaccurate or misleading;
    • That infringes any third party's copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary rights or rights of publicity or privacy;
    • That violates any law, statute, ordinance or regulation (including, but not limited to, those governing, consumer protection, unfair competition, anti-discrimination or false advertising);
    • That is, or may reasonably be considered to be, defamatory, libelous, hateful, racially or religiously biased or offensive, unlawfully threatening or unlawfully harassing to any individual, partnership or corporation;
    • For which you were compensated or granted any consideration by any unapproved third party;
    • That includes any information that references other websites, addresses, email addresses, contact information or phone numbers;
    • That contains any computer viruses, worms or other potentially damaging computer programs or files.
    You agree to indemnify and hold Bookswagon (and its officers, directors, agents, subsidiaries, joint ventures, employees and third-party service providers, including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc.), harmless from all claims, demands, and damages (actual and consequential) of every kind and nature, known and unknown including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of a breach of your representations and warranties set forth above, or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party.


    For any content that you submit, you grant Bookswagon a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, transferable right and license to use, copy, modify, delete in its entirety, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from and/or sell, transfer, and/or distribute such content and/or incorporate such content into any form, medium or technology throughout the world without compensation to you. Additionally,  Bookswagon may transfer or share any personal information that you submit with its third-party service providers, including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc. in accordance with  Privacy Policy


    All content that you submit may be used at Bookswagon's sole discretion. Bookswagon reserves the right to change, condense, withhold publication, remove or delete any content on Bookswagon's website that Bookswagon deems, in its sole discretion, to violate the content guidelines or any other provision of these Terms of Use.  Bookswagon does not guarantee that you will have any recourse through Bookswagon to edit or delete any content you have submitted. Ratings and written comments are generally posted within two to four business days. However, Bookswagon reserves the right to remove or to refuse to post any submission to the extent authorized by law. You acknowledge that you, not Bookswagon, are responsible for the contents of your submission. None of the content that you submit shall be subject to any obligation of confidence on the part of Bookswagon, its agents, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners or third party service providers (including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc.)and their respective directors, officers and employees.

    Accept

    Fresh on the Shelf


    Inspired by your browsing history


    Your review has been submitted!

    You've already reviewed this product!