For kids navigating the bewildering world of crushes and social cues, this humorous story offers a relatable look at growing up and trying to understand others.
A parent should reach for this book when their child is beginning to navigate the confusing, often awkward, world of first crushes and social dynamics. This humorous story follows Sammy, a short sixth-grader who feels clueless about girls. He decides to spy on his popular older brother to create a 'Guide to Women,' leading to a series of hilarious and cringe-worthy attempts to win over his crush. The book gently explores themes of self-confidence, honesty, and the importance of genuine friendship over trying to be someone you're not. For kids aged 8 to 12, it's a lighthearted and relatable way to normalize the anxieties of growing up and show that making mistakes is part of the process.
The book's central theme is early romantic interest and social dynamics. The 'guide' contains advice that is comically outdated and mildly sexist by today's standards (e.g., 'Treat 'Em Rough'). This is presented as a flawed strategy that ultimately fails, so the book's message is that this kind of behavior is wrong and ineffective. The approach is humorous and secular. The resolution is hopeful: Sammy learns a valuable lesson about authenticity and friendship.
Ideal Reader
A 9 to 11 year old who is starting to feel awkward around peers, especially those they have a crush on. This child might feel like everyone else knows the 'rules' of social interaction and they don't. They are looking for a funny, low-stakes story that validates their feelings of confusion.
Parent Prep
Parents might want to preview the 'advice' Sammy gets from his brother (Chapters 3, 5, 8). While played for laughs and ultimately debunked, the ideas ('Treat 'Em Rough,' 'Mystery') offer a great opportunity to discuss how we should actually treat people with respect, versus how media or peers sometimes portray relationships. It can be read cold, but a post-reading chat would be beneficial. The parent overhears their child expressing confusion or anxiety about talking to a crush, or maybe they see their child trying to act 'cool' in a way that feels inauthentic and is backfiring. A comment like, 'I don't know what to say to them!' or 'Why is this so weird?' is a perfect trigger.
Age Experience
A younger reader (8-9) will mostly enjoy the slapstick humor of Sammy's failed attempts to be cool. An older reader (10-12) will connect more deeply with the underlying emotional awkwardness and the social commentary. They'll understand the cringe factor on a more personal level and appreciate the message about friendship and being yourself.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many modern books on this topic that focus on complex emotional drama, this book's strength is its simplicity and humor. It uses a straightforward, funny premise (a kid's flawed 'guide') to explore the timeless awkwardness of first crushes. Its slightly dated feel actually serves as a good conversation starter about how social norms change, but the core feelings of insecurity don't.
Read plot summary
Sixth-grader Sammy Carducci feels inept around girls, particularly his crush, Mary Ann. He secretly observes his suave older brother, Steve, and compiles his observations into 'Sammy Carducci's Guide to Women.' He tries out these techniques (like 'Treat 'Em Rough' and 'Mystery') on Mary Ann, with disastrous and hilarious results. Ultimately, he alienates his best friend, Rebecca, and learns that his brother's advice is flawed and that being himself is the only real 'guide' he needs.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Sammy's guide is based on watching his older brother, Steve. Why do you think Steve's advice didn't work for Sammy? When is it better to just be yourself?
2
Rebecca is Sammy's best friend, but he starts ignoring her to impress Mary Ann. How do you think this made Rebecca feel? How could Sammy have handled his new crush and his old friendship better?
3
One of Steve's rules was 'Treat 'Em Rough,' which Sammy tried by knocking Mary Ann's books over. What was the result? What does it mean to treat someone with respect?
4
At the end of the book, Sammy throws his guide away. What do you think he learned about himself and about other people?
