Smart Girls Don't Wear Mascara
Abby Smart is planning to have the most awesome year ever.
She's the leader of the Smart Girls Club and after winning the talent quest, her dream to be a musical singer looks like it might come true.
And then Stella turns up, fluttering her mascara eyelashes.
She’s way too cool for little old Kangaroo Valley. Worst of all, she’s making Abby’s friends like ridiculous things such as makeup and new music! Abby’s plans to have a great year are being turned into dog food. Will Abby follow her friends, or follow her dreams? Because she can’t have both.
After all, Smart Girls don’t wear mascara!
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Smart Girls Don't Wear Mascara is part of the Kangaroo Valley School series, set in the Aussie town of Kangaroo Valley, focusing on a character in Year 6 at school. Two of the Kangaroo Valley School titles (including this one) are listed as part of the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge .
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Reader Reviews
“A very insightful coming of age story of a young and talented girl just on the cusp of becoming a teenager. Great storytelling. Thank you for your wonderful writing.
“This was splendidly written. Abby came alive on the page within seconds. It is painful, that moment in childhood when our blissful sense feeling at one with the world crumbles away and we see ourselves as painfully alien. Our girls need books like this, full of depth, truth, and hope.
“Reasons why Smart Girls Don't Wear Mascara earned five stars from me:
1) My eleven-year-old self would have been over the moon about the story line and the characters and the Australian setting. She would have seen a little bit of herself in the story for sure. (She also wasn't a fan of mascara. :P)
2) Complicated, flawed main characters who actually develop into heroines are my favourites. Always.
3) Friendship groups are my second-favourites.
4) Also yay for Annie references and girls who both study hard and dream big.
Cecily's novels are more than cute middle-grade fiction: they are kind and empowering and wise. You (or the young girl in your life) should go and read this. :)
“Reminded me of Jane Austen's Emma. I didn't like the main character much as first but she changed and grew as a person throughout the book. I thought the characters and the issues were believable, and relatable, and relevant - and how things played out was both surprising and realistic. Throughout the book, you can tell that the author respects and cares about kids.
”I love Cecily Anne Paterson's work. This was another endearing story about growing up and the difficulties one can face.
“Cecily Paterson's "Smart Girls Don't Wear Mascara" is a real book for real girls. Paterson's use of the term "Braveheart" to address her readers encourages those readers to be brave of heart - just like Abby Smart.
