It's a Mall World After All

2nd review: This book holds up pretty well. I had forgotten how fun her adult parents are.

1st review: Rallison defies logic. Catching the complete and utter shallow fixation that teenagers have on some of the most unimportant aspects of life, she turns it around and makes it entertaining. The awkwardness, the shame, etc. is portrayed well. And the exchanges between the characters are snappy. I guess that this is my kind of Twilight: with all the shallowness, mis-communication, and happy endings- just without the overplayed drama and illusion of perfection.

Janette Rallison is one of my favorite YA authors. Her characters are so real and flawed and wonderful. And especially hilariously funny. This book is no exception. Though I would've enjoyed a little more kissing...

Charlotte works at the mall spritzing people with perfume and while there spies her best friend's boyfriend with another girl! But when Charlotte tells Briana and Briana asks Colton, he denies everything. So it's up to Charlotte to prove the truth.

Cute story about a girl who is trying to save the world by helping underprivileged kids, her best friend all while learning to trust in guys again. I liked Charlotte's quirkiness -- she gets into some great situations and the author has great comedic timing. A fun read, pretty light, but does scratch the surface of some heavier topics.

Reviewed by Cayla Carhart for TeensReadToo.com

If you like witty and hilarious page-turners that keep you interested and laughing all the way through, then IT'S A MALL WORLD AFTER ALL by Janette Rallison is the book for you! This is the kind of book that keeps you wondering what hilarious twist is coming next.

Charlotte is a girl who works in a mall, spraying perfume on unsuspecting costumers. She's a high school student, has red hair, she's taller than normal, and she has a strict policy against dating guys from her school. Charlotte never understood why anyone would buy those perfumes at the mall. She could never figure out how anyone could believe those advertisements that say the perfume will make you irresistible if you wear it, or show more that the guys will be all over you.

When Charlotte sees her best friend, Brianna's, boyfriend, Bryant, at the mall with another girl, she is faced with the tough choice of whether to tell Brianna or to not say anything and hope it was all just a misunderstanding. When she asks Bryant's best friend (and also her study buddy), Colton, about what she saw at the mall, will Colton stick up for Bryant and deny it or agree with Charlotte? Is Bryant deceiving Colton as well as Brianna? Is Charlotte the only one who knows the truth?

What happens when Charlotte goes to great lengths to prove Bryant's lying to Brianna? Will Charlotte get pinned for everything? And will Charlotte's friendship with Brianna survive through all the lies and rumors? And why does Charlotte have a policy against dating guys at her school, anyway? What happens if she breaks the policy?

There are so many unanswered questions. But don't fret--all you have to do to answer them and have a lot of great laughs along the way is to read this book. I can tell you one thing, it has a great ending. show less

I've had this book for years. Bought is somewhere and I had the author autograph it. Then loaned it out. It went missing for a several years, and was finally returned to me a few months ago. It was a nice little middle school read. Lots of teenage issues: Boy trouble, girl trouble, social issues.... but all turns out well (for most of the characters) in the end.

Somewhat predictable, Charlotte uses her job at the mall to people watch and discovers her best friends boyfriend cheating. While attempting to get proof, she gets foiled by Colton, and makes a deal with him to help a local underprivilaged school get Christmas presents.

A quick fun read. Loved the drenching with soda parts. Made me laugh.