Most Popular Books by Marilyn Sachs

Amy and Laura, close sisters, have a falling out when Amy becomes hall monitor.

Molly and her sister were raised by different families after their parents died in a car crash. After eight years apart, Beth comes to visit and claims to have a secret memory about their past. Instead of the pleasure Molly expected from Beth’s arrival, Molly finds herself angry at Beth’s mysterious rudeness and hostility. And she’s fearful of her sister’s “secret.” Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction by Marilyn Sachs; originally published by Dutton Juvenile

Patti finds her relationships with family and friends changing as she comes to new understanding about herself, and her young, lighthearted mother.

" I read on. And then it happens. On page 89. Mary is humiliated, and I know I have to step in. There she is, in an ill-fitting, wine-colored gown that doesn''t do anything for her mousy complexion, gathering up her music, when I pass by, and spill my glass of punch right on her dress. I turn, and there is Kevin, dressed in a scarlet coat and all the rest of the uniform of a British Soldier, circa 1811. ''What are you doing here?'' I ask. ''Well, this is the part I''m up to in the book.''" The smart middle child in a blue-collar family identifies with Mary, the middle child in Jane Austen''s Pride and Prejudice. When Alice enters Mary''s world and makes changes in both their lives, she learns that first impressions aren''t always right.

Although she sucks her thumb, smells bad, and loses herself in the make-believe world of the three bears'' dollhouse, ten-year-old Fran knows how to take care of her baby sister better than anybody else.

Nicole Nieman had never really thought about being Jewish. Now, with the Nazis occupying France, refugees escaping to the border with Switzerland frequently stay with her family. Should they go, too? Then came the day when Nicole returned home to find her parents and sister gone, and the Nazis were looking for her. Where could she go? And would she ever see her family again? A New York Times Outstanding Children’s Book of the Year. Juvenile Fiction by Marilyn Sachs; originally published by Doubleday

Beebe Clarke and Mark Driscoll both live with single parents in San Francisco. They even go to the same high school—but they’ve never met. Beebe is earnestly interested in Shakespeare and acting, and Mark is deeply involved with astronomy. Both of them would like to find someone of the opposite sex who views life as seriously as they do—but they keep missing one another. Juvenile/middle grade fiction by Marilyn Sachs; originally published by Puffin

Jeff Lyons is both repelled and fascinated by Ellen de Luca, the fat girl in his ceramics class. The “crumbs of kindness” he tosses her way soon turn into advice on weight loss, college, clothes ... until good-looking Jeff dumps his girlfriend to date the fat girl! As Ellen changes, Jeff resents the happy, independent young woman he has unleashed.

Peter Wedemeyer’s former enemy, Veronica Ganz, became his best friend. Together they explored their neighborhood on rollerskates and challenged each other to do crazy things. Peter’s mother called Veronica a “troublemaker” and his friends thought he was nuts to be her friend, but Peter defended Veronica—until she let him down. Juvenile Fiction by Marilyn Sachs, sequel to Veronica Ganz; originally published by Doubleday

Veronica Ganz is a bully. She has beaten up everybody in all her classes and has never been challenged…until little Peter Wedemeyer, who only comes up to her shoulder, moves into the neighborhood. Taunting, teasing and always one step ahead of her mighty fists, Veronica must find a way to teach him who is boss. Or maybe Veronica could learn something from Peter… Juvenile Fiction for ages 9-12 by Marilyn Sachs; originally published by Doubleday

The daughter of a Russian immigrant family, newly arrived in Manhattan in 1908, has conflicting feelings about her mother''s increasingly radical union involvement.

Worried by her parents lack of concern about family finances acd her own lack of a boyfriend, Imo generates income from babysitting and gets a crush on the father of one of her charges.

When Fran and her brother and sisters reunite with their mother after living with foster families for two years, Fran has a difficult time adjusting to her new life.

Mary Rose was proud to be named after her aunt, because her aunt had been a heroine, saving the lives of everyone in the apartment building—before dying in the fire. But not everyone thought the first Mary Rose was a heroine. Young Mary Rose overheard her uncle’s remembrance of the events of that dramatic day—and they weren’t at all what she expected. Juvenile fiction by Marilyn Sachs; originally published by Doubleday

Orphaned eleven-year-old Izzy is shipped off to San Francisco, to stay with an uncle and his wife who plan to send her to boarding school. Izzy’s memory about her past is dim. Why did her father hate her uncle so much? How did her mother die? And what happened to the little dog, Gus, she had once loved? Izzy is determined to find the answers. Children’s/Young Adult Fiction by Marilyn Sachs; originally published by Doubleday (Young Readers)

When her twin sister begins to assert her individuality and her grandmother suddenly dies, thirteen-year-old Dezzy finds some comfort in her relationships with her grandfather and a new friend and in an interest in the environment. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

At first Amy is really excited about moving, and then realizes it''s going to be harder than she thought. But it''s not easy to stay miserable for long in a neighborhood where something exciting always seems to be happening.