Sometimes things go from relatively okay to much, much worse, which is exactly what happens to 15 year old Sang. In the beginning the worst thing for Sang was her parent's "no dating until your 16" rule and the fact their obnoxious aunt had moved in with them. Soon things start to go catastrophically downhill causing Sang's parents to think she is a bulimic kleptomaniac, losing her best friend and ruining any chance of being with, Jason, the love of her young life. Through it all Sang learns that what she meant to happen and what actually happens in life can be totally different.

This was an enjoyable if rather dramatic look at the life of a typical teenage girl with a bit of ethnic diversity thrown in to make it even more interesting. It sort of reminded me of the "Bend it like Beckham" movie in that respect and it is something we don't really see much of in modern young adult literature. Sang makes lots of mistakes throughout the story but also makes some mature decisions and I think it makes for a good balance showing that nobody is perfect. I also liked how Sang interacted with all the different characters, from her sister, Doodles, to her mother, her best friend and best friends mother and even her poster of Orlando Bloom. It gave a lot more depth than if it had just been a myopic “boy meets girl” tale. I felt the story itself was smoothly written and would easily hold the interest of early teens interested in reading something contemporary as opposed to the increasingly prevalent paranormal offerings dominating the market today. ( )

What I meant if a fun read about a fifteen year old girl trying to juggle the expectations of her Indian father with her desire to fit in to North American society. The biggest cause of conflict is her parents refusal to allow her to date. Complicating Sangeet's life, is the arrival of a mean, dishonest, thieving aunt, but no one seems to recognize this except Sang. ( )

I've not hated a character as much as Chachi (Sang's aunt) in a long, long time. This is a testament to Marie's vivid writing style and her ability to connect with a teenage girl trapped in traditional values, unable to say what she means. I teach many students who enjoyed this book and recommend it to their friends. I look forward to future works by this author.

~Scott Heydt
"Live, Learn, Teach"
www.scotthbooks.com ( )

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