Ten Good and Bad Thing About my Life (so far) by Ann M Martin


Ten Good and Bad things about my life  written by Ann M Martin starts with a 5th grader, Pearl Littlefield, writing her first assignment in class. She has to write an essay about her summer. She begins with her dad losing his job right before summer break and how their vacation plans are cancelled to save money. She describes various things  her family does to save money - sell their car and take subways, shop at discount stores, cancel vacation to Wild West instead staycation in NY, avoid eating outside etc. Pearl and her sister, Lexie, get to go to a camp since they were pre-registered and could not be cancelled. Pearl also talks about her friends and how she interacts with them in her essay.

The book goes through adventures of Pearl's summer and what she does during summer. Even though she is very upset at the start of the book about her dad losing job, but at the end she and her friend, James B III, start their own company where Pearl makes her art and sells it as greeting cards, stationaries etc.The book also talks about Pearl's relationship with her sister who acts much more mature than her which makes her uncomfortable.

I found the book hilarious and could imagine every detail the author has put into the chapters. This is a funny yet thought provoking book for readers in late elementary class.

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