MARLY THE KID

by Susan Beth Pfeffer ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1975

Marly is the dumpy, intelligent, all too passive kid sister of The Beauty Queen Kit Carson, and if she's more immediately sympathetic than Kit, perhaps it's because we've met so many ugly ducklings just like her. Here Marly, who stoically endured her mother's nagging for so long, suddenly takes it into her head to leave home and is soon settled in with her Dad and his new, younger wife who's a paragon of undertanding and sense. Emboldened by the change, Marly soon discovers a new identity for herself as a ""fighter"" and becomes a school-wide cause celebre when she talks back to an abusive teacher. The heating that follows Marly's suspension develops into a souped up climax--the student council president sends in a resolution in her support, a friend has gotten classmates to sign a petition, even Marly's mother storms in from out of town to give the teacher a piece of her mind. Yet, except for Pfeffer's tendency to talk down to her readers (there's a long classroom discussion of Gerard Manley Hopkins which reveals how much she prides herself on being able to COMMUNICATE), the dialogue is sharp and spontaneous and Marly's self-dissatisfaction is realistically drawn.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1975

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1975

Categories: FICTION