The book and the author.

Elusive Common Sense

By Betts Arney

Book Review

Elusive Common Sense is a middle grade book about a young girl, Alex, age 11 and her intention of gaining Common Sense.

Alex reminds herself to use Common Sense and tells herself when she used Common Sense.

Alex has one passion. She wants to win the Spelling Bee so she can win a dictionary and thesaurus. She works hard on her spelling words with help from her English teacher, Mr. Lance and a boy named Chip.

Alex also has a younger sister, Amanda, whom she calls a pest because she feels Amanda caused the trouble she’s accused of, and feels the accusations are unfair.

Alex also feels that her mother doesn’t understand her and then mumbles under her breath that she wishes her mother would get sick and die.

Alex regrets what she said when her mother got sick and went to the hospital. She worries about her mother, having her grandparents sleeping in her room, and practicing for the Spelling Bee.

I really liked Elusive Common Sense because it shows how Alex dealt with the Nasty Girls and her friends. Her love for her mother when she came face to face with her mother’s hospitalization after she made the remark about wishing her dead, and her father, whom she sat with on the stoop and talked to at night before she went to bed.

The author gets inside the head of an eleven-year-old girl and how she copes with the difficulties she faces. There are moments when you laugh with her, cry with her, and cheer her on. It’s a book every eleven-year-old girl can relate to. I fully recommend Elusive Common Sence. Buy a copy today for your children, grandchildren, or even yourself. It’s a book all ages will enjoy. It’s also an award winner. Totally deserving. Congratulations to Betts Arney, AKA Gail Buntin

Valerie Jean Routhieaux

Author