about the book
A-n-n-a and B-o-b Wren are word nerds who have a special affinity for word play, especially palindromes—words and sentences that spell the same backward and forward. So it is not surprising they named their oldest daughter P-i-p H-a-n-n-a-h and their youngest A-v-a E-l-l-e.
Precocious, outgoing, and bubbly candid, ten-year-old Ava loves her sister but resents Pip too. Born a preemie, her parents dote on her and lovingly call her Early Bird (a play on the name Wren.) Because Pip is painfully shy, socially inept, awkward, and moody, she is always the center of their attention. It makes Ava so-o-o-o mad!
With her mom a highly organized vet’s office manager and her dad a stay-at-home playwright, Ava is an avid and much disciplined journal keeper and future author. She writes about her quirky family and fluctuating feelings daily. Sometimes her parents don’t even hear or see her and she ends up feeling mad at Pip and bad for her at the same time. Unfortunately Pip’s problems often turn into Ava’s problems.
Take Pip’s thirteenth birthday. Lots of planning and work go into putting a birthday sleepover together for Pip. Then a new student in Pip’s class, popular Bea, plans a party of her own on the very same night. It’s a girl-boy affair and you can guess which event is attended and which is not! Of course, Pip is devastated, the parents are more worried than ever, and Ava…well, once again she is just ignored.
To do what she can, and maybe draw a little attention to herself, Ava writes a dramatic and mean Sting of the Queen Bee story and enters it into a local writing contest. It gets Ava into big trouble! When Bea reads the thinly veiled tale aimed at her, instead of being angry, she honestly tells Ava how she feels. The two talk it out and quickly becomes friends. They decide to work together to help Pip overcome her shyness and develop a social life. Will they succeed?
about the author
Born September 11, 1956, Carol Weston is the daughter of writers. Her father, William, was an immigrant from Odessa who went on to become a Peabody-winning writer, director, and producer of documentaries. Carol’s mother, Marybeth Weston Lobdell, was the garden editor of House & Garden and a poet. Carol was very competitive with her two older brothers, Mark and Eric. Mark went on to write books about the world. Carol likes to say she writes books about the heart!
She sold her first essay to Seventeen Magazine when she was 19. Her father was so proud that tears came to his eyes. She has had articles and essays published in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Glamour, McCall’s, Brides, Parents, American Way, and Middlebury Magazine. She also writes quizzes for Seventeen and Cosmopolitan as well as picture book reviews for Redbook. Her first book, Girltalk: All the Stuff Your Sister Never Told You, was published in 11 languages. She has gone on to write sixteen more books, including the Melanie Martin series.
Carol studied French and Spanish comparative literature at Yale and earned a Master’s in Spanish from Middlebury College. Since 1994, she has been the “Dear Carol” advice columnist for Girls’ Life Magazine. Her online advice for adults and girls can be found at Howdini and GirlTalkWithCarol on YouTube. She also has an English and a Spanish site on You Tube, Get Your Kids to Read.
Carol lives in Manhattan with her playwright and Saturday Night Live scriptwriter husband, Rob Ackerman, and their cat, Mike. They have two grown daughters, Lizzi and Emma. Carol likes to think that they are all word nerds…well, maybe not the cat!
Sources:
Author website
Author interview: Publisher’s Weekly
Author interview: Stay Thirsty Magazine
Also by Carol Weston:
Ava XOX (Ava and Pip, Book 3). Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. 2016.
Ava and Taco Cat (Ava and Pip, Book 2). Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. 2015.
read more!
Ava and Taco Cat (Ava and Pip, Book 2) by Carol Weston
When Ava hears about an injured tabby with mismatched ears, she knows she has to help it. The family adopts the rescued cat and Ava names it Tacocat (a perfect palindrome). However, the shy kitten never snuggles or purrs. When Ava writes The Cat Who Wouldn’t Purr, the story is much acclaimed but turns into a disaster. Meanwhile Ava’s bestie Maybelle is ignoring her, too. She is hanging out with the new girl, Zara…and Zara is very mean. What’s Ava to do?
Word After Word After Word by Patricia MacLachlan
Lucy’s life is not interesting. She doesn’t have anything to say during her fourth grade class’ creative writing units. Then Ms. Mirabel, a poet, visits her class and Lucy and her friends begin to see words in a whole new way. Will Lucy ever find her story?
Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes
Gabby is confused—her mom named her after an angel, and yet when she daydreams about flying, she is scolded. In fact, most of the world seems to think Gabby is just a shy girl who has trouble paying attention, but nothing could be further from the truth. Gabby learned long ago that daydreaming is way to be free …and to escape from her constantly bickering parents.