The Diary of Melanie Martin

The Diary of Melanie Martin: (Or How I Survived Matt the Brat, Michelangelo, and the Leaning Tower of Pizza)
Author: Carol Weston
Series: Diary of Melanie Martin (#1)
Publisher: Random House
How Received: author

Dear Diary, You will never in a million years guess where I’m going....Italy! In Europe!! Across the ocean!!! I even have a passport. It’s really cool, except I’m squinting my eyes in the photo, so I look like a dork. At least that’s what my brother said. I call him Matt the Brat. You would too. Trust me....

When Melanie Martin heads to Italy on a family vacation with her art-obsessed mom, her grumpy dad, and her little brother, she has no idea what she’s in for. As she discovers Michelangelo, Italian ice cream, and poetry, she also realizes how much her family means to her. Maybe she won’t trade them in after all.

I had this book on my shelf from ages ago and sat down and reread it - and found, to my surprise, that I still loved it.

Since it's written from a ten year old's perspective, it isn't the most descriptive book, or the longest book, that I've read this year. (Actually, next to The Little Prince, it might be the shortest.) It is, however, funny and entertaining to look through Melanie's eyes, and I got back in touch with my inner little kid - and I was finally able to remember how my little sister thought. (Which does help... a lot.) All in all, it's a great book even if you are a teen, though not the most invigorating.

Overall Rating: 8/10
The Diary of Melanie Martin or Sloppy Firsts?: Sloppy Firsts, because it's funnier, has more description, and is an over all better read for a teen. The Diary of Melanie Martin is a great book to get your little brother or sister, or to read yourself if you just need a break from all those big-thick-heavy-giant textbooks.

Happy reading!

~Nicole