Stephanie Perry Moore

Take a bunch of clichés and mix in some bad dialogue. Add a dash of unlikable characters. Knead into the plot of Work What You Got.

Seriously this book was just bad. I’m quite surprised that the author mentions her own Greek experience in the acknowledgments. Maybe she had an awful experience? Otherwise I can’t really explain why someone would write such a negative sorority story. The Beta Gamma Pi members in this book are terribly mean and self-centered. The girl the story centers show more around (Hayden) is the most self-centered of them all. She completely ignores her roommates when they decide not to pledge the same sorority, she blows off the boy she likes when better things come up, and then she alienates all the girls in the sorority. The next book in the series focuses on a different girl, so maybe it’ll have more likable characters; I have my doubts that the dialogue or plot will be any better. I’m sure it’ll be the same clichés once again. show less

Gr 9-12, It’s not easy when your dad remarries, gets a new job, and moves you to a new state,; especially when your mom died of cancer. That is the reality for Skylar Cross, new transfer student to Grovehill High School. She’s a star cheerleader who is adjusting to her new life, although not as smoothly as her dad and step-mom would like. Skylar thinks she knows it all about life, but that comes into question. Her little step-sister is now in danger, throwing Skylar into re-examining show more what she once thought she knew. Flip the book over to get a different story and perspective. Meet all-star football player, Ford Frost. Ford has his own share of home-life issues. Ford and Skylar’s stories intertwine as they become closer, and fall in love. It would afford well as a hi/lo choice for those looking for romance and a standard high school story of cheerleader and football star. show less

Faith is struggling with cheerleading, friends, her family, and her faith. How can God make everything so hard if He loves her?
This "novelzine" is an interesting concept. The story is interlaced with calendars and journals to write in. It also has quotes from "blogs" about how other girls found God. These are nice, and give a girl who doesn't know how to express her thoughts a place to do so.
This book would be a nice addition to a conservative library where the readers want "Gossip Girl" and show more the "Clique," but their parents are dead set against it. It has elements of the mean girls tales that are so popular with the underlying elements of finding faith. Also, sometimes the liberals in the world forget that the conservative teams struggle as well. This is a good book for them to work through some of their questions without being overly preachy. show less

There were things I really liked about this book. It’s interactive with word searches after each chapter and lesson plans at the end. The story has promise – young Alec has just been elected 5th grade class president. He’s got a lot of good things coming his way. On the downside, his father is the school principal and his parents fight constantly. There are some good themes that go through this book. It does have a fair amount of Christian values such as allowing God to lead. With Alec show more as class president he has to learn what makes a good leader. However, I didn’t like the flow or the language of the book. It’s set in Georgia so maybe the problem is regional or even cultural. I think boys in that age group might feel differently but I don’t see this book becoming a classic. I do think it makes a great homeschooling book and as it comes in a series could be a good addition to curriculum. show less