B, My Name is Bunny - Softcover

Grade 6-9 An enjoyable book, even though it has two strikes against it: the cover and the title. The cover has photographs of two cute 18-year-old girls trying to look and act like 13 year olds. It doesn't work. The title B, My Name Is Bunny follows A, My Name Is Ami (Scholastic, 1986) , making one wonder about Z, My Name Is Zebediah and everything in between. Bunny, however, is a likable, true-to-life character who hates her name and wants to be a professional clown. Her friendship with Emily is the source and depth of this simple story of two teenagers learning about life. Both have the usual amount of minor problems (babysitting and boys) and major problems (parental divorce and illness in the family), and they weather them well in a realistic school/family setting. Bunny is both hurt and angered at the effect that her grandmother's stroke has on her personally. Mazer takes Bunny through the stages of growth and acceptance with accurate and touching emotions. Her storytelling should capture young readers once again. Judie Porter, Media Services Center, Portsmouth School Department, R.I.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Bunny hates her name. So when she finds herself sitting next to a boy named James at a rock concert, she tells him her name is Emily. But that's the name of Bunny's best friendhow can Bunny tell Emily what she's done? And if Emily doesn't know, Bunny can't introduce her to James, who may be her first boyfriend (even though he's a lot older than she is). All of this may sound inane, but Mazer pulls it off. She takes the silliness of being 13 and gives it a fresh, lively appealpeppered, as it is, with a serious subplot about a baseball-loving grandmother who suffers a stroke and must come to live with Bunny's family. James does back off when he finds out just how young Bunny is, but not before the real Emily shows what best friends are for and solemnly introduces herself to himas Bunny. Funnyand fun.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.