When Audrey Met Alice
Gr 5–8—When Audrey Rhodes's mother becomes president, the eighth grader finds life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue strikingly lonely. She feels suffocated by the Secret Service protection, even at school, which makes conversations with her classmates awkward and "plastic." Her parents' jobs are exceedingly hectic, leaving little time for family. Just as Audrey's life continues to go unnoticed by all, she finds the secret diary of a previous First Daughter, Alice Roosevelt, all entries signed "To Thine Own Self Be True, Alice." Her experiences mirror those of Audrey, yet her ambition to "eat up the world" provides Audrey with motivation to take charge of her life. According to Alice, wearing daring clothes, sneaking boys into the White House, and crashing a golf cart on the lawn are just a few of the fun things that Audrey can do as First Daughter. In the end, though, Audrey uses her position to make a bold political statement. Behrens's juxtaposition of Alice Roosevelt's voice with that of Audrey's builds genuine personas for each First Daughter. Teens will find Alice's wild diary entries outrageous and riveting. Girls, especially, will fall in love with her as she sneaks champagne and her pet garter snake into dinner parties, dances on the roof in her undergarments, and much more. Behrens's conversational writing style keeps the story moving, and will engage even reluctant readers. This book aims to inspire and stir young girls to unearth their inner Alice Roosevelt and to "eat up the world." A rowdy and winning addition.—Mary-Brook J. Townsend, The McGillis School, Salt Lake City, UT