Alice in the Know

So far I have completed most of the book, Alice in the Know by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Phyllis has written several other books that I have also enjoyed including Shiloh, which is about a relationship between a boy and his dog and many other Alice books that are in this series. About now, Alice is 16 and is learning how to drive. A lot is going on during her so called ‘bummer summer.’ During the summer, Alice’s Dad usually lets her work in the store, but this summer is different. Her Dad tells her that she must find a new job in the real world. She tries to apply for many jobs, but there isn’t an opening anywhere. Finally she arrives at Hecht’s and she gets a job while she is filling out the application. It isn’t the greatest job in the world, but she was happy. Also throughout the book, Alice finds out that one of her best friends has leukemia. She is very worried, but still tries to have fun. Pamela another friend of Alice’s is going to the beach and she gets to join them as well. They frolic and play and hang out with boys and finally indulge in some shopping, but soon it is time to go home. The next day when Alice arrives at work her partner tells her she was fired because she never told anyone that she was leaving. Alice is crushed and goes home to tell her family her disappointment. So far, that’s where I am in the book so far.



Do you think that her partner should have told her that she needed to go check with her boss before she left? Is it really Alice’s fault?

Juanita, Alice’s partner in the store says she thought that Alice already knew and she decided she wouldn’t say anything. Do you think she made the right decision? I think that Juanita should’ve told her anyway just in case Alice didn’t know. I think that it wasn’t really Alice’s fault and that she should get her job back, but rules and rules and life is life so I guess she will just have to move on like everyone else.