I loved reading about Sheila and the Tubmans and their wonderfully realistic experiences. Sheila is the ultimate combination of a cocky yet insecure young adult and the lessons she learns are universal. This is a book who's moral, "that it's better to admit you don't know than to pretend to know it all" should be shared by all. I can think of a few people I'd like to lend it to:) A great book for all preteens who are entering that uncomfortable place of the unknown and the uncomfortable. And I got more than a few good laughs too. ( )

This book is about Sheila,Peter Hatcher's neighbor. Sheila has to face her worst fears in this book. Like spiders, the dark, and her bad fear of dogs. I won't tell you anymore about this book for I will wreck the story. ( Tip: Read Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing) : ) ( )

When her parents announce that the family will be spending the summer house- and pet-sitting for family friends, Sheila must face her fear of dogs, the dark, and spiders. To make matters worse, her parents insist she must take swimming lessons--and Sheila also has a fear of the water. Will she be able to transform herself from Shelia the Fearful to Sheila the Great?

I don't like this book as much as I like Judy Blume's other books, especially the Fudge series.

This one tells the story of Sheila - neighbour of Fudge & Peter and classmate of Peter - on her summer holiday with her parents in a small town. As usual Judy tells it from the first person perspective, i.e. we all see the world through Sheila's eyes.

The problem is, I don't think Sheila is a very likable person. If like me you have read the Fudge books then you'll know why. She is a bit annoying, a miss know all. So even looking at the world through her eyes, and hence we understand her thoughts, reasons and motives, we still don't understand why she does all the stupid things she does.

I'm not sure whether Judy doesn't really like girls, or whether girls are basically annoying. As I was a girl myself once, of course I don't think I was that annoying. Or I'd like to think that I wasn't. At least I hope there are girls out there that are a lot less annoying than Sheila.

Yes, I'm not really happy with Judy this time. She can create an interesting and funny boy like Peter, why can't she create a funny and interesting girl? ( )

Sheila Tubman and her sister Libby are taken to live in a house-swap by their parents. Sheila dreams of a beautiful girls bedroom all of her own but gets a boys room full of notes telling her not to touch his stuff. She does, however, make a new friend and slowly learns to overcome her fears (dogs, thunderstorms etc). Peter Hatcher's most dreaded neighbour stars in her own book and manages to charm the reader even though this isn't the best Judy Blume book. ( )