7/10 ( )

Advance copy ( )

Alice the Brave isn't the strongest in the series. The primary story line is Alice's obsession with her fear of deep water and inability to swim. (She thinks of little else during this book, but it has never been mentioned in previous books.)
In the end, it is Lester who helps her get over her fears. Subplots involve her father's relationship with Miss Summers, and the three friends slowly budding sexuality. (Slower for Elizabeth and a bit faster for Pamela, with Alice squarely in-between.) ( )

Another great adventure with Alice! In this installment Alice learns to overcome her fear of swimming and has to come to terms with growing up. I love reading these books because I think there is really something in each one that everyone can relate to. ( )

Alice and her friends are going to be eighth graders! They are no longer the bottom of the rung, and they hang out almost every day at Mark Stedmeister’s pool. Alice and Patrick are together once more, and Elizabeth is finally beginning to open up to the idea of boys more. Pamela’s debating breaking up with Mark, but besides that, life is swell.

Or is it? These daily pool hangouts cause Alice to admit to herself her one giant fear: deep water. She can’t swim, and she’s petrified of putting her head underwater. Is this going to hamper her ability to mature when everyone else around her is conquering their fears? After all, Elizabeth is going with boys, Alice’s father and Miss Summers have something going on—what, he won’t tell Alice—and Patrick is having a great experience in Canada with his family. Will her fear of deep water be the end of her life as she knows it?

Not if her father and brother Lester have anything to say about it.

ALICE THE BRAVE is a sweet story of a family banding together to help Alice overcome her fear. I enjoyed reading about how all of the characters we have come to care about grow up and conquer challenges of their own. Eighth grade, look out! Alice is ready for anything! ( )