Amber Brown Is Tickled Pink

Starred review from August 6, 2012
The star of Paula Danziger’s series that began in 1994 with Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon makes an exuberant reappearance in this installment, written by two close friends of the late author. Coville (the My Teacher Is an Alien books) and Levy (the Something Queer Mysteries) don’t miss a beat as they channel the voice of Danziger’s funny, acerbic, and pun-loving heroine. Throughout the story, happiness and sadness are closely entwined for nine-year-old Amber: she’s thrilled that her divorced mother is marrying big-hearted Max, but uneasy that “for the first time in my life something huge is happening and Dad isn’t even a tiny part of it.” She struggles with this and other wedding dilemmas, including picking the perfect dress and making a toast, but she finds solutions with characteristic resolve and resourcefulness. Beyond the wedding story line, the authors deliver a sensitive portrait of a child handling divorce, especially in cruel offhand remarks her parents occasionally make about each other, which cause Amber heartache. Coville and Levy do splendid service both to this character and her creator. Ages 8–12. Agent: Amy Berkower, Writers House.

Starred review from August 15, 2012
Amber Brown fans will rejoice; against all odds, their favorite protagonist is back. After Paula Danziger passed away in 2004, it looked like readers would never find out how things would work out for Amber as her mother faced remarriage and a move to a new house. Through the efforts of two of Danziger's author friends, Amber has returned, with her funny, often slightly ironic, first-person voice that perfectly captures the tribulations and triumphs of the middle-grade years. Assigned to create a personal budget for a million dollars, she sets aside $25,000 to provide for "anti-nose-picking therapy for Fredrich Allen," a classmate. He becomes less easy to mock when she gets to know him better, since it turns out her mother and fiance Max are going to get married at the Allens' summer camp to save money, a plan Amber dreamed up. What's harder for Amber is trying to find comfortable middle ground between her father and her mother's wedding plans. She's trying not to take sides but sometimes finds herself caught between them, even in their mostly amicable split, a problem she good-naturedly deals with, setting a fine example for kids in the same position. Simple, often humorous illustrations completely capture the gentle spirit of the tale. Fully faithful to the voice Danziger gave Amber Brown, this visit with an old friend will totally satisfy readers. (afterword by Danziger's niece, "the real Amber Brown") (Fiction. 7-11)

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October 1, 2012

Gr 2-5-This 10th book in the series was written by two of Danziger's friends after her death in 2004. Amber's original voice rings true, delivering plenty of wordplay and hilarious, wide-eyed observations. Major changes are afoot for the child and her family; her mother and Max are getting married. Amber is thrilled to be in the wedding (she's going to be the "best child"), but she is disturbed by the ups and downs as Max and her mom debate whether they should have a big party or simply go to City Hall. Meanwhile, she has to deal with her dad's snarky comments about Max, find the dress, and come up with a toast. Ever insightful and resilient, Amber faces her challenges head on and recognizes that change is inevitable and difficult. The wedding, of course, is lovely, and Amber shines. Occasional artwork adds to the characters' personalities. This lovable nine-year-old will appeal to current Amber Brown fans and undoubtedly recruit new ones.-Amanda Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, Madison, WI

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2012
Grades 2-5 Paula Danziger died in 2004, but her Amber Brown series finds new life with this book. With the backing of Danziger's estate, Coville and Levy pick up where she left off: Amber is still in fourth grade, her mother and Max are planning their wedding, and her father remains unhappy about this development. Coville and Levy succeed in capturing Amber's can-do spirit as well as her mixed emotions: I love my dad. I love Mom and Max. I just don't love having to think about all of them at the same time. Young readers, especially those going through similar tumult, will appreciate how Amber copes with her feelings, solves some problems that the adults can't quite manage, and comes to terms with bigger issues that she can't control. Longtime Amber Brown illustrator Ross returns with line drawings that show Amber, lively as ever, turning from a kid into a preteen. The series will continue with additional books in fall 2013 and 2014. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Amber is an indelible character in children's lit, and there is already heavy anticipation for this new continuation of her story, created by longtime friends of the late Danziger.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
Coville and Levy, friends of the late Danziger, continue her legacy with this new Amber Brown story. Here the topic is Amber's mom's remarriage--an event fraught with practical and emotional complications. As always, Amber navigates her days with humor. The authors get the tone just right, and Amber is as spunky as ever. Breezy black-and-white line drawings enhance the chapter book's mood.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)