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THE PRINCESSES OF ATLANTIS
"Trying out for the class play, parental pressure to excel, and liking the boy who doesn't like you loom as large as they do in real-life seventh grade." --Kirkus Reviews Middle-graders will relate to Arlene and Carly's realistic reactions to the ups and downs of friendship and the effects of burgeoning hormones; some may even be inspired to try writing their own adventure tales." --Booklist Twelve-year-old best friends Carly and Arlene are writing a fantasy novel about the final, catastrophic days of Atlantis. Their heroines are twin princesses struggling to escape the fate of being sacrificed to the rain god. As the princesses flee from Atlantis, Carly and Arlene realize that their own lives are moving in different and unexpected directions, too. Now that they are in seventh grade, Carly finds herself liking cool, artistic Zack Wingo. She also starts to hang out with Whitney, a sophisticated new girl who trails an air of excitement and danger. Arlene senses betrayal, especially after Carly misses a writing session to attend a sleepover at Whitney's house -- a sleepover filled with adventure. Although their relationship is strained, Carly and Arlene keep working on their novel. But as the fantasy reaches its thrilling conclusion, Carly and Arlene's friendship careens toward disaster, too, forcing them to rethink what it means to be a friend. A satisfying read for Atlantis fans, this novel offers romance, magic, and a race against time. Copyright 2002 by Lisa Williams Kline Published by Cricket Books To buy this book, click here. Reviews School Library Journal "Best friends Carly and Arlene used to spend Friday nights together writing novels, but as they enter seventh grade, their relationship begins to change. Carly becomes interested in boys, clothes, and the popular kids in school, while Arlene continues to ignore her appearance and present long explanations in class, even when other kids make fun of her. Carly's desire to fit in gets her into trouble, but the consequences of her actions, along with her forced involvement in the school play as punishment for skipping class, make her evaluate who her real friends are and who she wants to be. This narrative alternatives with the story the girls are writing about twin princesses during the destruction of Atlantis, and the relationship between them parallels and reflects the changing relationship and ultimate reconciliation between Carly and Arlene. This realistic depiction of adolescence benefits from detailed characterizations and clearly drawn supporting characters. Carly's teacher's interest in her is an unusual and heartening touch, and the fantasy within the story is well-constructed and adds to this book's appeal. This is a good choice for girls who feel that no one is ever as confused about growing up as they are, and may catch the attention of reluctant readers." Booklist "Twelve-year-olds Arlene and Carly have been best friends since second grade, but things are beginning to change. They continue writing their novel about twin princesses in Atlantis, but trouble erupts when Carly gets a crush on Zack and becomes friends with a new girl in school, who just might get Carly in with the cool crowd. Juxtaposed with this realistic thread is the fantasy story the girls are writing. The girls' "real-life" experiences are believable, though Carly's eventual epiphany is a little too tidy, and their novel, pure purple prose filled with cliches and illogically dramatic bits of action, is just what you might expect from young authors. Middle-graders will relate to Arlene and Carly's realistic reactions to the ups and downs of friendship and the effects of burgeoning hormones; some may even be inspired to try writing their own adventure tales." Kirkus Reviews Carly has lived in North Carolina all her life; her best friend Arlene moved there in second grade. At 12, Carly is beginning to realize that other kids make fun of Arlene's bony arms and legs and of her assuredness; short and plump and awkward, Carly longs to be liked. The girls' relationship is nicely plotted, and it is reflected in the novel they are writing of doomed Atlantis and its twin princesses, Eva and Lydia. The girls write together in Arlene's attic room with stars on its ceiling. Contemporary chapters in Carly's voice alternate with the Atlantis tale, mirroring the conflicts and resolutions in the girls' lives (mirrors play a big role in both stories). Trying out for the class play, parental pressure to excel, and liking the boy who doesn't like you loom as large as they do in real-life seventh grade. As the girls' lives change -- Carly shifts her allegiance -- their princessses cope with their own crises, and eventually, everyone finds a new way to cope....(T)he language can be sharp and lovely... (T)he concept is appealing and will find its audience."
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