The first book in the Amelia Rules! series hilariously and heartbreakingly depicts the coming of age theme. The characterizations of Amelia, her parents, her aunts, her teachers, and her friends bring to life the chaotic existence of life’s players through the eyes of a precocious and unforgettable 9-year-old girl.

The story is an episodic look at Amelia’s life through a series of experiences and adventures, including surviving the hell of gym class as well as family holidays.  The writing is sharp and funny, and the illustrations are wild, colorful, and in the vein of a traditional comic strip.

The book is quite entertaining and amusing and somehow also manages to impart the grief and isolation experienced by a child of divorce. The intended audience is elementary school children, but the book can certainly be enjoyed by tweens, teens, and even adults, at whom the author winks throughout the book with references to Stan Lee, Elvis Costello, the Replacements, and Billy Joel.

This is an appropriate selection for any child who is suffering from the effects of divorce, and it beautifully demonstrates the “true spirit of Christmas” in a section of the book that made this reviewer cry into her cappuccino while reading at the coffee shop.  It’s also a wonderful example of the age-old childhood theme of how one’s friends can become one’s family when young people feel alienated from most of the adults in their lives … these kids are almost like the elementary school version of the Brat Pack.

This book is hereby deemed by me to be an essential selection for all elementary school, middle school, and public libraries because of its ability to bring forth laughter and tears and to make lonely kids feel less alone. At first glance, this book might seem silly and superficial, but its comic nature is tinged with sadness and realism, Amelia is ultimately introspective and wise, and the book conveys some great life lessons. One of the best lessons is from Aunt Tanner, who tells Amelia, “Any time you find magic in this world, you have to fight hard to keep it.”