Nico Medina

Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com

Margarita Antonia Diaz is a big, beautiful, and proud Latina woman. Okay, she's still in high school, so maybe not a woman, but definitely more than a girl. Either way, this is Margarita's senior year, and everything is perfect! She has Lucas, her fabulously gay best friend; she has amazing clothes, thanks to her talented designer of an older sister; the cute boy seems to be noticing her; and really, no one can help but love Margarita.

Except show more maybe Bridget Benson. Bridget and Margarita were best friends when they were little kids. Both were child actors and Bridget got a part that Margarita wanted. They've hardly spoken since. Not that Margarita didn't try, but it's been a long time, and the hurt has turned into anger. Somehow, during a huge confrontation at a party, Bridget and Margarita end up daring each other to compete for Prom Queen. Suddenly senior year is looking much more dramatic.

Margarita gets sucked into competing for popularity, and more than loses her perspective. In fact, she's beginning to think she's losing herself. Though not in poundage, despite her mother's best efforts to irritate and prod and serve the blandest, most boring food ever! When her dad gets sick unexpectedly, Margarita's great year has officially collapsed. What else can go wrong? Sometimes it's better not to ask, but Margarita has way too much personality to not pull through, right?

I love Margarita! I want to hang out with her every day. She feels like a real person from the first paragraph. She has such a unique, strong, hilarious voice and point of view. I felt like I was listening to her talk, not reading a story.

I love this book! It is honest, and sweet, and evil, and hilarious! This is real high school, with drunken parties, swearing, gayness, cattiness, pettiness, crushes, frustration, and serious attitude. And, really, how can you not love the title?

I fully intend to go out and buy any other book I can find by Nico Medina. If you don't want to go that far, you should at least read this one. It's way too much fun to miss! show less

Oh the tangled webs weaved by both Jonathan and Laura in this book. Laura uses Jonathan to pull the wool over the eyes of her public (and her parents) and Jonathan is bribed with tickets and a trip to London to see Kylie Minogue. It felt like everyone was using everyone else right?

Lessons are learned all around, about respecting one's self (something Jonathan should have known from the beginning - his Volvo is named Aretha after Aretha "R.E.S.P.E.C.T" Franklin!), telling the truth to each show more other and maintaining/making new friendships. One of the things these kids don't seem to learn [there are no real adults who seem aware of the problem either] is that drinking is not only bad for one's health but also for making sensible choices. The shear amount of underage drinking in this book is amazing and sad. (Yes, I have a soapbox and I will stand on it on occasion.) show less

Hip and savvy, fast paced and partied out, this story is absolutely dripping with pop-culture references.

Jonathan is gay, and out and proud, until the most popular girl in the school offers him a deal. If he will go back in the closet, and be her boyfriend for their final school year, she will pay for him to go to London to attend a Kylie Minogue concert. Accepting the deal is easy, but when a cute boy enters the scene, Jonathan must weigh the cost of denying his true self.

This novel is full show more of fun, parties, fabulous humour, rich kids, drinking, and swearing. And it’s a really interesting and clever twist on the theme of acceptance/denial of gay identity. Jonathan is a very strong character, confident and happy with how he is living his life. It is the reaction of his friends to his new found ‘straight-ness’, and his interest in a possible boyfriend, that cause him to reexamine his sense of self.

I have to say that I feel Jonathan’s life as a young gay student - totally out, totally accepted, totally confident and proud - might seem more like a fantasy story for many gay kids. That being acknowledged though, it is a fun, fabulous read. show less

Bridget Benson beat Margarita Diaz (“Madge”) out of a TV role when they were 8 years old. Madge was devastated. But she was even more devastated when Bridget didn’t return her phone calls. It was the end of a beautiful friendship.

Bridget’s career took off. She is gorgeous…what a teen TV star is supposed to look like. She has her cadre of followers and is liked for her star power rather than herself. She has to maintain her star image and works hard for it.

Madge, on the other hand, show more decided acting wasn’t for her. In the intervening 10 years, she’s put on a few pounds…well maybe a little more than a few pounds. She now tips the scale at over 200 pounds, but she has no body image problems. Actually, she’s feisty and friendly and an all around dynamo.

In a fit of drunken daring, Madge’s gay best friend Lucas dares her, for $50, to ask Bridget why she, already popular, is running for Prom Queen. Bridget’s demeaning response prompts Madge to run against her…not because she wants the prize. Only to deny Bridget the honor. Thus begins a humorous, serious, rollicking account of the Prom Queen race.

As with any such book, you have romance: Madge thinks Redneck Randy is cute. Lucas is having problems with his boyfriend Zach who is not quite ready to come out. Bridget thinks she’s irresistible to every guy. You’ve got family problems: Madge’s mom wants her to eat healthy but Madge can’t resist Krispy Kremes or McDonalds. Madge’s workaholic dad has a heart attack. I won’t tell you about Bridget’s mother. Let that be a surprise. And I certainly won’t tell you who became Prom Queen.

In fat hoochie prom queen, Nico Medina has created a bunch of characters you immediately like (Madge, Lucas, Lucas’ Mom-Mitzi) and some you don’t especially like (Bridget). He’s created a story that has both fun moments and serious moments. He has created a great beach read. Give it a try. show less