Finally by Wendy Mass

This book is called Finally. It is the sequel to 11 birthdays, which was also really good. I read this book because I had just turned 12 and I wanted to see what it was like for this character to turn 12 since she has been wanting to grow up for so long. This book is about a girl named Rory Swenson who has been waiting her whole life to turn twelve. That's because every time she asks her parents for something like a cell phone, staying home alone, wearing makeup, etc. they always tell her "when you're 12, when you're 12". Her twelfth birthday is coming up, and she's got a whole list of things to do and get when she's 12 called her Finally checklist. When her twelfth birthday finally arrives, she gets a cell phone, stays home alone, and wears makeup but some of these things on her finally checklist turn out not so well. She learns that wanting to grow up so fast may not be what she thinks it should be. But don't worry, this book is definitely fun, funny and full of surprises! I loved it because it was so well-written from the beginning and leaves small cliff hangers which kept me reading. I personally like first person books more than third person books because you can really have a sense of what the main character is feeling and see their perspective. So if you are one for interesting, first person books, definitely pick up this book. It's so good!!