Your Questions Answered
Okay, guys, it’s me, trying to make myself as ugly as possible for Halloween.
Posted on: November 2, 2009
Question:
I have been reading Alice since the beginning. They are amazing. I don’t know HOW you do it, but you do. You’re such an inspiration. I was on the website today, browsing through the fan page and “about you”. I found it so awesome that you’re from Indiana. I am too. It sure is an awesome place. I was also wondering what the age you suggest to start the pre sequels. I can’t wait to get my younger sister hooked on them too! She is 7, but has been reading much older books for her age. What do you suggest?
Phyllis replied:
Your sister should be ready for “Starting with Alice.” In this book, Alice is in third grade.
Posted on: October 31, 2009
Question:
when you where a kid what did you want to be when you grew up
Phyllis replied:
A teacher, an actress, an opera singer, or a missionary to China.
Posted on: October 28, 2009
Question:
My mom was so strong on me not shaving, because, infact, she doesn’t shave her legs herself. -She thinks it’s sexist or whatever.- I really wanted tostart though, so i had talk with her. I explained that the hair made me fel embarressed, and it was my body, so i shold be able to decide. She still wouldn’t let me shave, but we made a deal that i could start when i was eleven.
Phyllis replied:
Thanks for replying to a reader’s question about persuading her mother to let her shave her legs. I’m glad you were able to talk with your mom about it, and I’m with you: it’s your body and you should be able to decide little things like that.
Posted on: October 28, 2009
Question:
I just want to say thank you so much for the great Alice series books you’ve wrote!!
I am so sorry to bother you,but I am from Year 8,like Alice,and I liked a boy in Year 10.He is very nice and I just wished he could ask me out!!
I hope you will tell me how do I make him ask me out..
Phyllis replied:
Well, I suppose you could threaten to kill his dog or something if he doesn’t, but seriously, you can’t “make” anybody ask you out, and if you had to “make” him do it, would you really enjoy the evening? The only thing you can hope for is that you are enough alike that you share a few common interests, you make him feel comfortable around you, and you let him know in little ways that you’re attracted to him–talking to him in the hall, sitting next to him when you get the chance–all the things that a guy might do to show he liked you–and then see what happens.
Posted on: October 28, 2009
Question:
How come Alice is really popular and has great friends? That makes her seem less real to me. I would think that she and her friends wouldn’t be “besties” since the Sixth grade and never have any huge fights that could tear them a part… Just curious.
Phyllis replied:
Really popular? How? She doesn’t regularly get phone calls from guys wanting to hang out; she doesn’t run around with the most popular girls at school; she’s not a cheerleader; Jill and Karen think she’s too innocent; she didn’t start out liking Pamela at all in sixth grade; Gwen is relatively new to the group; there have been side issues now and then between the girls, but no big falling out, and the only place she’s received some recognition is on the school newspaper. She seems like a pretty average, run-of-the mill kind of girl to me. What makes you think that all groups of friends have to have some big divisive falling out?
Posted on: October 26, 2009
Question:
I am motherless, like alice. I guess thats why i find myself to be so much like her. i spent my childhood looking for a “substitute mom” and i know you dont even know my last name but its you! Just like how alice thinks of Mrs. Plotkin and pictures her in her mind and having fake conversations. ( I do that all the time!) Your sons are very lucky to have you as a mom! I guess Alice has a lot of substitute moms, like you said. Sylvia sure is a nice stepmom. I have a step mom but she is the opposite of Sylvia, so she dosent count.
I have recently started high school and I love it! i have started some new clubs and met soo many new people. everyone is so much nicer in high school! i believe i sent you an email about me being nervious, but the first day was great! (and i didnt throw up!) your atvice really helped! There is one thing that i love about high school that i love the most. People arent afraid to be independent and they dont care what other people think. I met lots of people that are gay/lesbian/bi and they are really cool! nobody was brave enough to speak out like that and be themselves in middle school. I have nothing against these people (im guessing u arent either, based on what alice thinks about lori) in fact, this might sound strange, but my grandmother is bi, and my stepmother wont let us see her because of it (like i said, she is nothing like alices stepmom)
Im so sorry for blabbing on like this but I have been thinking about emailing you all this stuff, and i hope you have time to read it!
Also, im so excited to read “Alice In charge” because it will be a nice graduation present my senior year
Thanks so much for brining alice in to my life 5 years ago!
Phyllis replied:
I’m flattered and feel very honored that you think of me as your mom. I do hope you realize that it’s a lot easier being your mom on paper than if we really lived in the same house. On paper, by email, I have a chance to think about what I’m going to say before I “open my mouth.” When people live together, life moves at a much faster, more spontaneous pace. I hope that all middle school students who are nervous about going to high school next year will read your email. It’s true that in high school, kids are much more independent. In middle school, everyone seems to try to be like everyone else. In high school, sometimes they go to the opposite extremes and try to be as different. I liked high school better than middle school, but I liked college best of all.
Posted on: October 26, 2009
Question:
I read some Emails about Alice books being “censored” in librarys. what does that mean? is that why my middle school didnt have the new ones last year? Do they take words out of the books or even chapters?
I hope not because The things you write about are good for girls to know!
Phyllis replied:
Nobody takes words or chapters out of books, though some teachers may omit words when reading chapters aloud to the class. Books are more likely to be challenged by a parent or sometimes by a teacher or a member of the community. Usually this person wants a book removed from the library for one reason or another. Middle schools sometimes won’t buy the Alice books once she reaches 15 or 16. Look for the newest books in your high school or public library.
Posted on: October 26, 2009
Question:
oh my gosh I'm a HUGE alice fan you are my all time favorite other I also love
the boys against girls series I might start wrighting my own how old where you
when you first started writing
Phyllis replied:
I started making up stories when I was in kindergarten,
but I had my first short story published when I was 16.
Posted on: October 26, 2009
Question:
I need some help but first I want to thank you so much for writng the Alice series!
I am in sixth grade(in middle school) and I found out that the boy I liked in 4th grade likes another girl. I heard him talking at the end of school when kids r being loud and stuff so im only 99% sure he said that. He moved after 4th grade 4 a year so I we dont acually talk to eachother like we some times did 2 years ago. At first i was crushed but then I was talking with a girl who has some classes with him and i told her how I liked him in 4th grade but how i dont know if i still do. She said that he doesnt like the girl who i thought he did. (I still kinda think he likes her). She also told me that this other girl told her that she likes him and how sure she was he liked her back. That how I felt for awhile cuz he isnt the type of guy who’s like “eww girls they’re so annoying” he makes a lot of girl like him becuz of that. The real problem is that there is this other guy who is really funny and nice(just like the first boy). I convinced myself to like him so I could get over the other boy. But it turns out I really do like him and I literally think of him 24/7. Unfortunatly he is just like the first guy, girls absoulutly adore him. Some just like him as a friend but I know at least 2 other girls who r crushing on him.But those 2 girls dont acually talk to him. He always goes “Hi CC” when i pass him in the hall and i say hi back,but he also does that to my best friend.(my best friend doesnt like him cuz she says she hates boys who make all the girls like him.). He also talks to me some other times. If he wasnt so friendly with girls i would be positive he likes me. A rumor has it that he likes some girl that is a HUGE jerk to everyone which doesnt make sense cuz he is so nice to everyone. Im asking how to get him to like me more than a friend and if i should ask my BFF to tell him (which she said was ok with her). -Heart ache
Phyllis replied:
Arrrggghhh! I wonder if boys know how much weight some girls attach to a simple “Hi!” And if you think you have heartache now, wait until you ask someone else to ask him if he likes you and his answer travels back to you with detours along the way. I wish girls would put as much effort into smiling at and talking to and listening to and just plain enjoying a boy’s company as they do in looking at everything he does and says through a magnifying glass and trying to predict the future.
Posted on: October 26, 2009
Phyllis on Twitter
Alice's Blog
Phyllis on Facebook
