| Twelve | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Lauren Myracle |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Puffin Books |
| Publication date | February 2007 |
| Pages | 202 pp (paperback) |
| ISBN | 978-0-14-241091-2 |
| OCLC Number | 213340517 |
| Preceded by | Eleven |
| Followed by | Thirteen |
Twelve is a novel by Lauren Myracle, it is the sequel to Eleven. Twelve follows the life of twelve year-old Winnie Perry through the challenges of life, from boys to friends and growing up.
Contents |
The story begins during Winnie Perry's twelfth birthday (in March); her birthday party is at a Japanese restaurant called Benihana. Also, in the beginning of the book, Winnie discovers that her shirt is too tight and she needs a bra. She doesn't want it so she hides her chest. The only people at Winnie's party are her family, Sandra's boyfriend Bo, and her friend named Dinah. After Winnie's birthday party, Dinah spends the night at Winnie's home, where they joke around and "borrow" some of Sandra's pore cleansing mask.
In April, Winnie begs her mother to take her to gets her ears pierced (which she isn't allowed to have until the age of twelve, which she is) and Sandra fusses about when she will get her drivers license. Mrs. Perry agrees to takes them to their destinations. On their way to get Winnie's ears pierced at Claire's, Mrs. Perry keeps telling stories and giving examples of people who have gotten killed by cars, which makes Sandra nervous. After Winnie gets her ears pierced, it's time for Sandra to get her driver's license, but she backs out and gives excuses so she won't have to take her driving test at the Department of Motor Vehicles. A few days later, Sandra gets her driver's license, but under "Weight" its reads 1000 pounds, which leaves Sandra furious.
A month later, during Winnie's family dinner, Mrs. Perry tells Winnie that she needs to go bra shopping soon. This causes Winnie to be horribly embarrassed. A couple of days later, Winnie and her mother go to Macy's to get Winnie a bra. While Winnie's mom is looking at bras, Winnie bumps into Gail Grayson, the school bully. Gail and her mother question Winnie and Mrs. Perry. When they are finished, Winnie and her mother leave and end up buying Winnie three bras at Target. White, black, and nude.
Winnie's Elementary Graduation comes and she looks very pretty, during which Amanda asks Winnie if she wants to come to her house for a presentation of an all girls camp, Camp Winding Gap. They see a slide show of girls swimming, riding horses, etc. Winnie's mother agrees to let Winnie go to the camp the next month. Winnie can't wait to go.
When Winnie goes to camp she becomes "camp clown", joking around all the time. One day, a horse named Pudding Treat steps on Winnie's foot, but she stays silent until one of the couselers sees her.After her foot is out of her shoe, everyone is amazed with Winnie for being so brave. She is awarded Ms. Hummingbird at the end of camp. On the last night of camp, Winnie, Amanda and three other girls skinny dip in a nearby lake. A counseler catches them, but joins them while they skinny dip.
Amanda shows Winnie Gail and Amanda's secret hideout, an old trampoline with a hole in it. Winnie becomes upset with Amanda and leaves, but takes a "short cut", and ends up getting stung by hornets 32 times. Amanda saves Winnie, but later abandons her over the phone in favor of Gail. Winnie invites Dinah over, and they share a multiple meaning conversation over chocolate pretzels.
In September, things change. Winnie and Dinah are off to middle school but have no classes together, except gym. On the second day of school a random girl calls Dinah a Bitch after Dinah attempts opening the girl's locker, thinking it's her own. Dinah is so upset that she stays home from school the next day, which leaves Winnie with no partner in gym. A girl named Cinnamon invites Winnie to be her gym partner. They strike up a friendship, and soon all three, Winnie, Dinah, and Cinnamon, are friends. One night, Winnie and Dinah are at Winnie's house, having a sleepover, when Winnie jumps on her bed while eating ice cream, and breaks it and gets in big trouble.
Louise tells the class to play a prank on a sub by using fake names. Winnie says her name is Wendy, and not Winnie. After school, Winnie's mom takes Winnie to a school meeting, in which Winnie sees Louise and a mean girl, Malena. Louise gets the idea to prank the sub by taping her to the desk if she falls asleep the next day in class. Winnie is against it, while Malena loves the idea. Louise sends Winnie to the supply closet to get masking tape. Winnie doesn't want to but does anyway. When grabbing it, Winnie decides to duck into the closet to think and hide. When she tries to get out, she bumps her head on a shelf, and the shelf breaks. Supplies pour down on her and she blacks out. It is revealed that she almost had a concussion. Later, there is a Halloween party. Cinnamon dresses up as a pirate, Dinah is, of course, a cat, and Winnie is all devil. Winnie sees her crush, Lars, who is in 8th grade. When Lars notices she is a devil, she remarks that outwardly she may be a devil, but inside she's all angel.
On the fifth, Winnie gets her period. Luckily for her, she gets it on a Saturday. Winnie tells Sandra, and Sandra tells her about stuff she heard in People Magazine. When Winnie complains about boys not having to get periods, Sandra gives her a book by Judy Blume entitled Then Again, Maybe I Won't. At school she can't look at her teachers the same way and worries about becoming perverted to Dinah and Cinnamon. When Lars walks her way in the hall she has Dinah and Cinnamon make a wall blocking her.
We are introduced to Cinnamon's older brother Carl, who works at a Christmas tree lot. He has a trailer there, and Winnie, Dinah, and Cinnamon hang out there. Cinnamon invites Lars over without Winnie's knowledge. Cinnamon tries to leave the trailer on purpose, so Winnie and Lars can be alone. Winnie is too nervous to be there alone with him, causing him to leave. The next day, Cinnamon comes over to Winnie's house. On Christmas, Lars calls Winnie and wishes her a Merry Christmas.
Louise has a birthday party at an indoor pool. Winnie worries, as she gets her period the same day as the party, and has to wear a tampon for the first time. When she hits the water after a dive, something doesn't feel right, and she realizes the tampon has fallen out. Although she is terribly anxious about this, no one notices. The she pulls the tampon out and pushes it deep into the bottom of the pool. She goes home early and starts to cry.
Cinnamon comes over to Winnie's house after school. Cinnamon shows Winnie how to see what someone thinks of you, by having a friend call someone and listening in to the conversation. Cinnamon and Winnie call Dinah. Winnie keeps quiet as Cinnamon says bad things about her, pretending she isn't there. Dinah says nothing but nice things about Winnie. At school the next day, Winnie, Cinnamon and Dinah get in line to send carnations to people for Valentine's Day. A white flower means friendship, and a pink flower means love. When Lars and his best friend Bryce get in line to greet Winnie, Dinah comes by and says that her cat has gained ten pounds, and therefore has to be put on a diet and eat "Fishy Yum Yums," which her cat hates. Winnie is very embarrassed by Dinah, and gets mad at her. Later that night, Cinnamon calls Winnie and they talk about Dinah in a very negative way because of what had happened earlier that day. When Winnie goes too far, she hears a voice that sounds like it is about to cry. Dinah then says, "Fine, if you really feel that way." Winnie keeps trying to apologize to Dinah, but Dinah won't forgive her. On Valentine's Day, Winnie receives three flowers, two white, one pink. The two whites are from Cinnamon and Dinah (who at the time was friends with Winnie). The pink one is from Lars. Eventually, Dinah forgives Winnie.
Winnie tells her mom that she wants to get makeovers with Dinah and Cinnamon for her birthday at Lenox Mall, as well as a sleepover with them. Her mom agrees. After school, while waiting for Dinah and Cinnamon to go to the mall with her to see which person they want to do their makeup, she trips, but Lars catches her. They sit down on a bench, and Lars holds Winnie's hand. The book ends with Dinah and Cinnamon finding the two of them in that position.