"Twelve-year-old Tahlia Wilkins has to deal with getting her first period just before the biggest pool party of the year"-- - (Baker & Taylor)
When her first period comes 24 hours before a party being thrown by the most popular kid in school, as well as other embarrassing mishaps, Tahlia Wilkins must save her reputation—and her favorite jeans—from being ruined. 30,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook. - (Baker & Taylor)
In this fun and honest romp about friendship, puberty, and growing up, a debut author gives modern-day readers their own version of Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, for fans of Pixar's Turning Red.
Twelve-year-old Tahlia Wilkins is ready to kick off the perfect summer, starting with an invitation to a pool party being thrown by the most popular kid in school. But when the Red Goddess of Panties, aka her first period, arrives twenty-four hours before the party, it messes up all her plans. To make matters worse, her mom is out of town, and there’s no way she’s going to ask her awkward dad for help! Tahlia always feared that growing up would be tough, but this is just not fair.
In order to save herself from total embarrassment, it will take all of Tahlia and her best friend Lily’s scheming to keep her reputation—and her favorite jeans—from being ruined. Sneak off to the grocery store only to have the clerk price-check your tampons over the loudspeaker? Check. Trick your mature teenage neighbor into letting you use some of her tampons? Check. Take a dip into a fountain to get quarters for a bathroom period product dispenser? Check, check, check!
With the hilarious and heartwarming tone of Dork Diaries, Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins! is a coming-of-age middle-grade novel about growing up, in all of its awkward glory. - (Grand Central Pub)
KARINA EVANS studied English and film studies at the University of Delaware before going into a career in the entertainment industry. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California. Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins! is her first novel. She invites you to visit her online at karinaevans.com
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Grand Central Pub)
Booklist Reviews
It's the last day of seventh grade, and Tahlia Wilkins has a plan for herself and BFF Lily: starting with a pool party at the home of popular, friendly Noah, Tahlia and Lily will get in with the cool-kids crowd. There's only one problem: Tahlia gets her period for the first time the day before the party, right after her mom leaves for the weekend. Tahlia is desperate to avoid embarrassing herself by letting anyone except Lily know, and every attempt to handle the situation leads to disaster. Debut author Evans believably captures the emotional roller coaster of middle-school-aged kids in Tahlia's frantic, snarky first-person narrative. Tahlia comes across as quite self-centered, but a sobering bit of news from Lily brings her down to earth and helps her start being a better friend. Tahlia's experience of her first period is refreshingly matter-of-fact and extensive: she tries tampons for the first time, buys supplies on her own, and ultimately discovers that her dad can be a supportive resource. Hand this voice-driven novel to kids interested in friendship stories. Grades 5-8. Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.