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From Alice to Zen and Everyone in Between
Alice likes playing soccer and working on her go-kart with her dad. But when she moves to the suburbs, she learns from Zen, the boy down the street, that she has no hope of fitting in at her new middle school unless she starts acting more "like a girl." At first, Alice doesn't mind that she isn't just like Haley and Yvette, the school's reigning princesses. Then she realizes that being different can set you apart...and being friends with someone like Zen can set you way apart. Why does being yourself have to be so complicated?
- GenresMiddle Grade
247 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2008
52 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Atkinson
6 books92 followersI'm the award-winning Middle Grade author of FROM ALICE TO ZEN, I EMMA FREKE, THE SUGAR MOUNTAIN SNOW BALL, THE ISLAND OF BEYOND, and FLY BACK, AGNES MOON coming in Spring 2020!
My favorite part of writing for tweens is connecting with young readers and aspiring writers. I've visited with thousands of students (schools, libraries, book clubs, Skype) across the USA and as far away as Canada, Ireland, and China!
So if you're interested, check out my website www.elizabethatkinson.com and contact me about my Author Visits and writing workshops!
My favorite part of writing for tweens is connecting with young readers and aspiring writers. I've visited with thousands of students (schools, libraries, book clubs, Skype) across the USA and as far away as Canada, Ireland, and China!
So if you're interested, check out my website www.elizabethatkinson.com and contact me about my Author Visits and writing workshops!
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 17, 2018
Atkinson, Elizabeth From Alice to Zen and Everyone in Between, pgs. 247. Carolrhoda Books. Language- G; Sexual Content- G; Violence- G;
Alice is a teen who loves sports. She just moved in to a new neighborhood and she goes exploring. She meets this boy. His name is Zen. He would rather read fashion magazines then play sports. They both go to the same school and Zen helps Alice become popular. Alice realizes that popularity isn't everything. Alice encourages Zen to sing in the talent show. Zen and Alice both become unpopular but they still have friends.
I liked this book because the author did a great job of enhancing the characters. They didn't seem fake. They were realistic in a way.
MS- ADVISABLE. Student Reviewer: SH
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
Alice is a teen who loves sports. She just moved in to a new neighborhood and she goes exploring. She meets this boy. His name is Zen. He would rather read fashion magazines then play sports. They both go to the same school and Zen helps Alice become popular. Alice realizes that popularity isn't everything. Alice encourages Zen to sing in the talent show. Zen and Alice both become unpopular but they still have friends.
I liked this book because the author did a great job of enhancing the characters. They didn't seem fake. They were realistic in a way.
MS- ADVISABLE. Student Reviewer: SH
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
December 18, 2008
Alice, somewhat of a tomboy, is new in town and excited to make new friends. Unfortunately none of her neighbors have kids her age and when she goes further afield she meets the very unique and effeminate male teen Zen. He gets her ready for middle school and tells her who she should befriend. When they get to school she finds that Zen is a complete outcast and she isn't sure what to do.
April 22, 2019
One of the original books chosen for CCS/PFLAG Dayton Rainbow Reading books project in 2010-2011.
November 4, 2012
Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com
Moving to another town right before middle school can be very scary - but also exciting.
Alice has moved from a cramped little apartment in Boston to a 3,500-square-foot house in the suburbs. Alice's mom works as a vice-president in marketing at a publishing house in Boston while her father is a stay-at-home dad who buys old stuff at yard sales or from the newspapers and then sells them for a lot more on the Internet.
In fact, that is how they got the new house.
Alice is hoping that the rest of the houses near her will have a BFF for her, but when that doesn't come to fruition she goes searching for a friend before school starts. She then meets Zeninthal Stevie Wonder Malinowski, aka Zen. He is an odd boy and he gives Alice advice on how to be popular in middle school, which goes against everything that is Alice.
How she defines herself and learns about what is important in life makes a fascinating read.
I enjoyed this novel a lot. It was fast-moving and fun to read. I loved the characters. Alice is a very normal sixth-grader and her family is loving and understanding. Zen, though, is very odd, but since my daughter went to a performing arts school I knew he was real and not just a character. I have met many kids who do not fit into middle school or even high school society, and Zen is one of those.
The lesson of not being afraid to be yourself is done well and I recommend this to all middle schoolers.
Moving to another town right before middle school can be very scary - but also exciting.
Alice has moved from a cramped little apartment in Boston to a 3,500-square-foot house in the suburbs. Alice's mom works as a vice-president in marketing at a publishing house in Boston while her father is a stay-at-home dad who buys old stuff at yard sales or from the newspapers and then sells them for a lot more on the Internet.
In fact, that is how they got the new house.
Alice is hoping that the rest of the houses near her will have a BFF for her, but when that doesn't come to fruition she goes searching for a friend before school starts. She then meets Zeninthal Stevie Wonder Malinowski, aka Zen. He is an odd boy and he gives Alice advice on how to be popular in middle school, which goes against everything that is Alice.
How she defines herself and learns about what is important in life makes a fascinating read.
I enjoyed this novel a lot. It was fast-moving and fun to read. I loved the characters. Alice is a very normal sixth-grader and her family is loving and understanding. Zen, though, is very odd, but since my daughter went to a performing arts school I knew he was real and not just a character. I have met many kids who do not fit into middle school or even high school society, and Zen is one of those.
The lesson of not being afraid to be yourself is done well and I recommend this to all middle schoolers.
January 11, 2009
Alice is excited to move to the suburbs and make new friends before middle school starts. But she's perplexed by Zen, the only kid her age in the neighborhood. As Alice begins to chart the waters of middle school and teenagedom, she must determine whether it is better to conform in the crowd, or be an individual.
I liked this book a lot. Alice was a good narrator and had a very realistic voice. Zen was a bit annoying in the beginning, but you gain sympathy for him as his motivations are revealed. A good tween novel.
I liked this book a lot. Alice was a good narrator and had a very realistic voice. Zen was a bit annoying in the beginning, but you gain sympathy for him as his motivations are revealed. A good tween novel.
July 9, 2008
Definite tween fiction here. I was irritated by the character of Zen in the beginning to middle of the book, but his personal issues pulled through as one of the more complex characters of tween lit I have read of late.
Alice was a likable and believable individual who carried the story well. Not bad at all.
Alice was a likable and believable individual who carried the story well. Not bad at all.
March 3, 2010
This book was amazing! Even though it was over 200 pages it was worth it. I don't want to give away everything but I will say in the end......…… haaaawhoops!! i can't say that! sorry you'd better read the book it is SOOOOOOO GOOOOODD!! oh and the descriptin says that it's 168 pages……… wellll it's not it's over 200 pages so don get it expectng a QUICK read!
June 22, 2009
An upbeat look at middle school cliques and a small group of individuals who break free of peer pressure to establish true friendships built on mutual interests and trust. maybe a little too good to be true, but a nice change of pace.
July 28, 2009
A good story about kids learning to accept others who are not like them. Kids always look on the outside and this is a story about looking for something good in everyone even if they are different from you.
July 29, 2010
I don't know...so far I can't feel the characters. Finished the book and still did not feel a connection. I did like the main premise of Alice making her own choices by the end. I thought she was really naive to not understand what was going on between Haley's group and Zen.
December 1, 2013
Unsure of what side of the tree the barking would be on I was slow in getting
into the story....but I found myself identifying with the characters and had to find out if courage broke through the middle school melodrama...true, deep, life-long friendship resulted.
into the story....but I found myself identifying with the characters and had to find out if courage broke through the middle school melodrama...true, deep, life-long friendship resulted.
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December 6, 2010Annn Okay Book!
June 13, 2014
I'm looking for a fresher take on the new kid in school theme.
April 15, 2015
A great read for young people, and I enjoyed it, too. Makes a great case for learning to be yourself and to like and love others for who they are.
May 31, 2016
Solid plot, and realistic characters. I liked it, and so did our pre-teen grandchildren.
September 30, 2010
Another "new girl in a new school" story, with a fairly predictable plot.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews