Finally

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Published by: Scholastic Press
Release Date: March 1, 2010
Pages: 304
ISBN13: 978-0545052429

 
Overview

Rory Swenson has been waiting her whole life to turn twelve. And she’s got a list to prove it. Whenever Rory asks her parents for something, they always say, “When you’re twelve, when you’re twelve, when you’re twelve.” Well, in exactly 18 hours, 36 minutes, and 52 seconds, it will finally happen. Rory’s life will officially begin!

Fun, funny, and full of surprises, this is a story about wanting to finally grow up, even when the universe seems to be telling you to wait.


Reviews

FINALLY is nominated for the 2011 Children's Choice Book Award!

Finally is proud to be on the Spring 2010 Kid's Indie Next List — "Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers".

Nominated for the:
2013 Garden State Children's Book Award (New Jersey)
2013 Magnolia Children's Choice Award (Mississippi)

2012 Colorado Children's Book Award

"Jersey author Wendy Mass tells a sweetly funny tale of Rory Swenson, a gifl with overprotective parents who's been keeping a list of all the things she wants to do when she "Finally" turns 12. It includes having her ears pierced and getting a pet and a cell phone--but each of her birthday wishes is turning out to be less fun (and much funnier to readers!) than she'd planned."
The Star Ledger

"My husband smiles as he hears the ruckus coming from my daughter’s room. She and I are lying on her bed, howling with laughter, tears running down our faces. And so it was every night as I read Finallyby Wendy Mass to my 8 year-old daughter. Needless to say, we have become instant fans of this new-to-us author.

The story is about Rory Swenson who upon turning twelve has a wish list of things she is now allowed to do and has wanted to do for so long, such as getting a cell phone, drinking coffee, staying home alone, getting her ears pierced, and shaving her legs. Even as I write this, I cannot help giggling as I remember each incident that happens as she asserts and tests her newly acquired independence.

Rory is a sweet, down-to-earth girl, and my daughter and I liked her immediately. I also liked the “strict” parents who were understanding, loving, and had a sense a humour. We easily related to Rory and her family. And the book’s message is a good one: Maturity doesn’t necessarily come when one hits a certain age, twelve, in this case. Rory is told by a mysterious older woman at the beginning of the story that, “You won’t get what you want, until you see what you need.” The meaning of this becomes clear at the end of the story. I won’t say more, only that it’s a great book that uses humour to deal with the issues that all young tweens and parents struggle with—autonomy, growing up, and embracing those developmental milestones.

This is an excellent mother/daughter book to read together or for a book club. We both didn’t want this book to end, relishing the bedtime reading we knew would bring pleasure and laughter. My daughter is hoping for a sequel. I think I will just go out and get her another Wendy Mass book, and give it to her as a gift."
—Laura Fabiani, Library of Clean Reads.blogspot.com 

…So overprotected that she has never ridden in the front seat of a car, Rory can’t
wait for her birthday. But those long-anticipated experiences bring some disconcerting surprises…
Rory’s lively first-person narrative clearly expresses her emotions as she seesaws between
longing and fear, confidence and insecurity.
ALA Booklist

Washington Post 10th annual Summer Book Club pick


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