Rachel Vail

Gracie kind of maybe likes AJ, but Riley also likes AJ, but AJ likes Sienna, who... maybe likes AJ? But doesn't know what to say to him? So Gracie texts AJ using Sienna's phone, because Sienna is Gracie's best friend. But Emmett, Gracie's second-best friend, is also AJ's best friend, so Gracie can kind of use him to get info on AJ, too. But maybe there's someone Emmett likes...

Middle school is generally miserable, and some of these kids are, too, but most of them are actually very likable show more for all that. I think this got put on my reading list because of the hat-tip to Cyrano de Bergerac (my long-time fave), and it's a cute, lighthearted handling of that angle. There are also some serious bits: Gracie deals with body image issues, as well as some complicated feelings about the older sister who died before Gracie was born, and about feeling like she has to be her parents' little ray of sunshine because of that. It's cute and funny and only a little bit angsty, and I would recommend it to middle-schoolers, and also those who enjoy reading books written for middle-schoolers. show less

Here it is.

The worst book I ever read.

Everything happened at once, and nothing happened at all.

I will say this. This book is perfect for you if you like reading about shallow, spoiled, bratty, selfish fourteen-year-olds who don't know a thing about life and think they do, kissing their boyfriends from sixth grade (you read that right) and then leaving the boys hanging while they sneak around their parents' mansions and their friends party in the Hamptons with high school boys. Complaining. show more The. Entire. Time.

If the main character had actually shaped up by the end of the book that would've been something. But here's what happens. She kissed her boyfriend in sixth grade, didn't see him over a weekend and didn't talk to him after that. Just avoided the boy who supposedly had been more like a best friend than a boyfriend. (You know, 'cause eleven-year-olds have the maturity to really know.) Then again at the end of eighth grade, to the dismay of her friends, she got back with him. Not really. But kind of. They made out while in swimsuits and this eighth grader "noticed how warm his skin was".
Then, go figure, she doesn't talk to him.
At the very end of the book they kiss again. And that's all. It doesn't go on after that, to say she actually treated him right. For all we know, they never spoke again as long as they lived. If that had actually been slightly resolved it could've redeemed a story that was shallow from start to finish. But no one gained any responsibility or maturity by the end. Ooh, she humbled herself enough to accept her friend's gift of the dress they both knew she wanted more than anything. She once complimented a girl she'd been a little mean to before. Not enough to counterbalance that all along her group of "best friends" were talking about each other behind their backs.

None of these brats changed or shaped up by the end of this novel. It took over two hundred pages to say "The brats stayed brats."

But, if that's what you like, this book is for you. Hope you regret reading it less than I did. (Not really.) show less

Allison Avery is the middle sister in a family with three girls. Over the years, she has been plagued by feelings of inadequacy since both of her sisters are pretty, blonde, and perfect. She has dark wavy hair and eyes that are too far apart and considers herself to be unattractive. However, when she sells her cell phone to the devil in exchange for seven people thinking she’s beautiful, it sets her on a path to find out what true beauty is.
I really enjoyed this book. This book seems show more perfect for young teenage girls who are always questioning their looks and their personalities. Allison is by no means perfect and she questions a lot, which I could relate to. I think this book will force teenage girls to see their positive traits as well as obsessing over their negative ones. I know it’s much easier to believe the negative things people see about you, but just like Allison comes to terms with accepting and appreciating the nice things people say about her, I think it’ll help younger readers realize that what matters is internal confidence and not superficial beauty. Once again, Rachel Vail managed to write a true teenage character. show less

Josie is a 15 year old girl who doesn’t idolize the hottest senior on campus, Carson Gold. While every other girl her age is smitten with him, her friends included, she doesn’t see the appeal and is embarrassed when other girls throw fits after being dumped by him. She believes that in high school, people should hook up and move on. Of course, as young adult novels go, Carson and Josie start hooking up, it’s great for a while, and then things end.
Carson Gold knew all the right things show more to say to get Josie infatuated with him. Not being fifteen, I think I could definitely see where that was going to lead, but I think at Josie’s age, I think I would have been just as naïve as she was. It sort of breaks my heart how she treated Michael, not even realizing that he loved her, but I can’t blame her for it. However, the points he makes to her about her hypocrisy (becoming part of a couple when she insisted that people should be wholly themselves) are valid!
I think all teenagers eventually have a Carson Gold in their life, a guy who makes you fall for him and disengages when things get too serious. Someone who promises love and doesn’t deliver. I thought the novel described that relationship very truthfully. It was honest in its representation of a teenage girl who changes herself for a guy and then finds out he doesn’t love her. Even though Josie ends up turning into the girl she hates, I think by the end she is better for having the relationship with Carson…lessons learned and all. All in all, a decent read, especially for young girls. show less