ttyl by Lauren Myracle

ttyl
Lauren Myracle
ISBN 978-0-8109-8788-3
209 pages;
Amulet Books, 2004

Genre:  Epistolary; Contemporary Life; Humor;

Readers Annotation
Three best friends rely on their friendship for support during their sophomore year, in this story told exclusively through their IM logs.

Plot Summary
Cute, boy-crazy Angela, tough, sarcastic Maddie, and responsible, thoughtful Zoe are a trio of best friends who call themselves the Winsome Threesome. As they enter their sophomore year, they vow to remain as close as ever. Maddie counts down the days until she can get her driver's license. She starts the year complaining to her friends about Jana, the school's queen bee mean girl, but ends up forming a friendship with her. Angela and Zoe, though, suspect Jana may be more interested in Maddie's license and car than Maddie herself. Zoe joins the Christian fellowship. Her growing friendship with Mr. H., its faculty sponsor (and her English teacher), worries her friends, though Zoe swears his interest in her is strictly professional.  Angela crushes hard on a series of boys; she's convinced each one is "the one," though her friends have seen her repeat the pattern often enough not to take her too seriously.

Will the Winsome Threesome remain as close as ever, or will they grow apart as their lives start to take them in different directions?

Critical Evaluation

I was a bit skeptical about how the book's structure would work--the story is told exclusively through the logs of their IM sessions--but I actually really enjoyed how the story unfolded. In their IMs, the girls talk about incidents at school, the TV shows they're watching, funny things that happened at work, mean things their parents said, the online quizzes they're taking. These small details, which might not make it into a more traditionally structured novel, work to give the reader a more intimate view of what these girls' lives really look like.

While the girls do occasionallyy join a group chat session, mostly they talk one-on-one. This also helps us get a more well-rounded view of the girls and their friendship because they interact in slightly different ways with the other two. And, just as often happens in real life, at times the trio is threatened when one girl feels that the other two are ganging up on her. This format also brings up the issue of the unreliable narrator; sometimes one girl lies to another, and sometimes the other girls (and reader) see the truth of a situation before the girl involved does.

It's a quick, breezy, satisfying read--a great book to recommend to reluctant readers.

Other Books in the Series
ttfn (2007)
l8r, g8r (2008)

About the Author
Lauren Myracle is a best-selling, often-praised and honored author whose works have also been frequently challenged. Besides the "IM" series, she is best known for Kissing Kate,  a romance involving two girls, and Rhymes with Bitches, about a group of high school mean girls.  Both books have been frequently challenged for their content, though they were also included a collection of best books for teens.

Curriculum Ties
This novel could be used as an example of non-traditional storytelling, a modern take on the epistolary novel.

Booktalking Ideas
1. Talk about the book's structure, explaining how it gives the reader an intimate peek in their lives.
2. Talk about Maddie's relationship with Jana. Why she does she jump at the chance to be her friend, even though she knows she's mean?
3. Talk about Zoe's budding friendship with Mr. H. Should a teacher be friends with a student?

Reading Interest/Level
Though the book's take on friendships, relationships, and navigating social territory would appeal to both junior high and high school students, some potentially controversial content makes it more appropriate for older teens.

Challenge Issues
The book does contain some strong language, though it's used sparingly and realistically.  Mr. H is clearly trying to seduce Zoe, which has huge challenge potential. Also, Maddie attends a frat party, where she gets drunk and is egged on to take off her top and do a striptease for the guys at the party, who throw money at her.

If the book were challenged, the librarian should read the book and point out that none of these incidents are portrayed in a flattering light.  The librarian should be explain to explain and defend the library's collection policy to the challenger, pointing to ttyl's many positive reviews, including a starred review in SLJ, and its huge popularity with teen readers as proof of its worth.

Selection Criteria
ttyl was named a Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. It was also included in Anita Silvey's book 500 Best Books for Teens.