Review: When Audrey Met Alice

Title: When Audrey Met Alice
Author: Rebecca Behrens
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Ages: 11-15

Goodreads Description:
First Daughter Audrey Rhodes is convinced that living in the White House is like being permanently grounded. Except with better security. What good is having your own bowling alley if you don’t have anyone to play with?

After the Secret Service cancels the party she'd spent forever planning, Audrey is ready to give up and spend the next four years totally friendless--until she discovers Alice Roosevelt’s hidden diary. Alice was a White House wild child, and her diary tells all about her outrageous turn-of-the-century exploits, like shocking State visitors with her pet snake and racking up speeding tickets in her runabout. Audrey starts asking herself: What Would Alice Do? The former First Daughter’s outrageous antics give Audrey a ton of ideas for having fun . . . and get her into more trouble than she can handle!

My Review:
I loved this book! Audrey is living the life as a First Daughter is the White House.  Through the book we get a glimpse into life at the White House, but while there are perks to living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, there are also many challenges.  Audrey struggles to get the adults around her to recognize that she not a baby any longer and to allow her to gain some freedoms.  This is well written as I felt myself getting annoyed at Audrey's circumstances and cheering her on as she tries to live her own life.  Additionally, Audrey finds Alice Roosevelt's diary, which adds another fascinating character to the story.  It was interesting to compare her life in the White House to security today, as well as to learn a little about this spunky Roosevelt.  While the diary is fiction it included some real events and managed to capture Alice's sass.  The resources that the author includes are a wonderful addition to the book as after finishing the story, I was interested in learning more about the Roosevelt's as well as life for the residents of 1600.

*ARC provided by NetGalley

December reading

Sorry it's been so quiet around here lately! Here's a quick look at what I've been reading this past month.

The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan

  

Duncan gets the opportunity to hear the full version of last year's tragic events from last year's senior Tim.  A story of unlikely love and trying to fit into the social dynamics of high school.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbra Robinson

What happens when the worst kids in the history of the world decide to join the church's Christmas pageant? Hilarity and a thought provoking look at the story of the nativity.

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

The story of a lighthouse keeper and his wife as they deal with the unforeseen consequences of their actions when they decide not to report boat that washes ashore with a dead man and baby.  Despite all the great recommendations I was given, I struggled to get to the end of this book.  The plot was a little too slow for my liking.

The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements

Getting hit by a rubber band is the last straw for the choir director.  As a result the students are in charge of their own holiday concert and the most popular student, Hart, is elected to be in charge.  Hart most learn to balance popularity with leadership while trying to produce an original holiday concert.  A good book by a great author.