Marcelo in the Real World
Francisco X. Stork
ISBN 978-0-545-05474-4
312 pages
Arthur A. Levine, 2009
Genre: Coming of Age
Readers' Annotation:
Marcelo, who has Asperger's syndrome (an autism spectrum disorder), confronts the complexity of human relationships while working for his father's law firm the summer before his senior year of high school.
Plot Summary
Marcelo, an articulate 17-year-old, has a condition he describes as similar to Asperger's syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. People with Asperger's are generally intelligent and high-functioning and highly logical and have a hard time understanding the many nuances involved in a typical human relationship. Marcelo has spent his whole life as a student at Paterson, a school for special needs children, where he is comfortable and enjoys taking care of the horses they stable there for use in therapy. His mother is supportive, but his father believes Marcelo is ready to become more independent and needs to move out of his comfort zone; he wants him to attend the local public high school for his senior year. His father makes a deal with Marcelo; if he can survive the summer working in the real world, at the law firm where his father is a successful partner, Marcelo can choose to spend his senior year at the school of his choice.
Marcelo takes his job as a mailroom clerk seriously and works hard to fit in. He is befriended by Jasmine, his boss, as well as Wendell, the son of his father's partner. Though Marcelo has previously viewed the world mostly in terms of black and white, the summer provides him with a number of situations that are more gray. He must wade through some complicated moral issues and figure out what he thinks about them, and also learns that not everyone is trustworthy, perhaps not even his own father.
Critical Evaluation:
This was a wonderfully original book, unlike anything I'd ever read before. Some reviewers and critics compared it to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, which also features an autistic first-person narrator, but I actually thought this was much better. Marcelo is a little more accessible than the narrator of Dog, who really cannot understand the emotional significance of the events that occur. Marcelo, on the other hand, slowly picks up on some nuances in the interoffice relationships that have been clear to the reader all along. The reader decides that perhaps Marcelo's father does have a point; though Marcelo may find more intimate human interactions uncomfortable, he is certainly capable of them.
There are some really interesting comments on race and class in the novel, too. Marcelo and his family are Hispanic; though his father grew up poor, he graduated from Harvard Law School and is now a successful attorney. Jasmine, who works in the mail room with Marcelo, is a working-class Hispanic young woman, and Marcelo's father's partner and his college-aged son Wendell are well-connected wealthy WASPs. These characters all interact in ways that are affected by their race, education level, and socioeconomic class, though these subtleties are hard for Marcelo to grasp at first.
It's a beautifully written and thought-provoking book; Marcelo must make some pretty tough choices, choices that would be tough for anyone. It's wonderful to see how Marcelo grows and changes in the novel. The ending, where he truly has a vision for his future and his place in the world, is quite moving.
About the author:
Francisco X. Stork, an attorney, has written two previous young adult novels. Behind the Eyes, his second novel, was included on a list of New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age in 2007. His books feature Hispanic males as their protagonists.
Curriculum Ties:
This would be a great book for English teachers to use as an example of an unreliable narrator. Marcelo isn't unreliable, per se--he's truthful to a fault--but the reader may have a different take on early events in the book than Marcelo does. It could also be used to discuss autism.
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Try to do a booktalk in character as Marcelo, using his very definite and precise voice.
2. Talk about Asperger's/autism and explain how it may affect Marcelo's view of the world.
3. Explore the relationship between Marcelo and Jasmine.
4. Explore the relationship between Marcelo and his parents and their different views of his future.
Reading/Interest Levels: 9th grade and up
Challenge Issues: There's a fair bit of swearing in the book, as well as some frank sexual discussion.
Selection Criteria:
I was intrigued by a review of the book for the Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California, where it was rated outstanding. Other reviews I read agreed.
Showing posts with label coming of age. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coming of age. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Stephen Chbosky
ISBN 0-671-0273-4
213 pages
MTV Books/Pocket Books, 1999
Genre: Coming of Age, Epistolary
Reader's Annotation:
In a series of frank and funny letters to a virtual stranger, Charlie, a sad loner, details his sophomore year of high school and his struggle to participate in life more actively.
Plot Summary:
Charlie begins his sophomore year of high school by finding out that his one friend, Michael, has killed himself. He decides to write a series of letters about his feelings to an unnamed person (presumably a recent graduate of the high school) whom he does not personally know, but about whom he has heard other students say kind things. Through these extremely frank and funny letters, we learn about Charlie's past and home life. His beloved Aunt Helen, who came to live with his family after a tragedy, died unexpectedly on his 7th birthday, sending him into a spiral of depression and into psychiatric care. His parents are good and loving, though they both come from troubled backgrounds, and his older siblings are successful. His brother is a player on the Penn State football team and his sister is a top student at the high school.
Charlie's English teacher Bill recognizes his potential and assigns him a series of great books (The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye) to read outside of class; throughout the book, Charlie gives his reactions to these works. Music is also very important to Charlie, and throughout the book, he uses songs and music to express his emotions in a way he has trouble doing otherwise. Bill is concerned that Charlie is experiencing his life on the sidelines, so encourages him to "participate" more actively. Charlie befriends a brother and sister, Patrick and Sam, who include him in their circle of friends and expose him to a wider world that includes drug use, drinking, and homosexuality. Charlie also must deal with problems at home, including his sister's abusive relationship.
Throughout the novel, Charlie grows and becomes more involved in both his family and friends' emotional lives, but to truly participate in life, he must figure out why he put boundaries up in the first place.
Critical Evaluation:
What an excellent and moving book! I knew very little about this book before reading it, so it all unfolded for me naturally, without any spoilers or anticipation of major plot points. I think the epistolary format of this novel was a smart one; it lets us see into Charlie's mind and his thoughts on the day-to-day happenings of his life, but since we, like the unknown recipient of these letters, are not privy to his history, we slowly get filled in on Charlie's backstory as he realizes that for certain events to have context, he needs to fill in his reader on things that happened before. The reader becomes used to the conceit and accepts it, but later in the story, Chbosky reminds us, to great effect, that it's rather strange for Charlie to be opening up this frankly to a complete stranger and makes us wonder what it would be like to be the recipient of these letters.
Chbosky is very smart at depicting the role of adolescent friendships. While Patrick, Sam, and the rest of their friends open up to Charlie and give him a social network he's been missing, Chbosky is also very smart at portraying the ways in which Charlie does and does not reciprocate their friendship. Chbosky explores a lot of hot-button issues in this novel--homosexuality, molestation, teenage sex and pregnancy, teen drug use and drinking--but he wisely lets them be explored largely "off-screen" by Charlie's friends, forcing Charlie and the reader to make up their own mind about them.
The depiction of Charlie's nuclear and extended family is realistic and nuanced. While his extended family on both sides is quite dysfunctional, his parents are good and loving people who try to do the right thing. The sibling relationships in this book are smart, too: the brother off in college who still leaves a large and looming presence, and an older sibling who suddenly and unexpectedly becomes a close friend once you reach a certain age.
Chbosky also effectively uses culture--music, books, movies and television--to let us into Charlie's world. Music allows him a way to express himself to friends and family, especially ideas and emotions he does not yet have the ability to put into words, a trait many readers may relate to.
About the author:
Perks is the only novel Chbosky has written, though he has worked in film and television as a screenwriter and producer. After Perks, he is perhaps best known for his work as creator of the show Jericho.
Curriculum Ties:
Many people (including Chbosky himself) have commented that Wallflower explores many of the same issues of adolescence as does Catcher in the Rye. The book and the character of Charlie could definitely be explored in a high school English class--there's a lot going on here both structurally and emotionally that would be exciting for teens to discuss--but the controversial nature of the book (see below) may preclude its use in this fashion in many districts.
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Give the talk in the form of one of Charlie's letters.
2. Talk about the friendship between Charlie, Patrick and Sam
3. Talk about the role of books and music in the novel.
Reading Interest/Level:
9th and up
Challenge Issues:
Teen sex, teen pregnancy, homosexuality, violence, teen drinking, drug use, molestation, suicide
This book is often listed as one of the most challenged books of the year by ALA. Librarians facing a challenge should be aware of their library's selection policy and be able to explain and defend it to challengers. One could point to the many positive critical reviews it has received and its selection as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults as proof of its merits.
Selection Criteria:
I knew very little about this book, other than the fact that I had heard of it many times. When I saw it on the library shelf, I decided to pick it up. I was pleased to see so many classmates mention it during our discussion for Luna!
Stephen Chbosky
ISBN 0-671-0273-4
213 pages
MTV Books/Pocket Books, 1999
Genre: Coming of Age, Epistolary
Reader's Annotation:
In a series of frank and funny letters to a virtual stranger, Charlie, a sad loner, details his sophomore year of high school and his struggle to participate in life more actively.
Plot Summary:
Charlie begins his sophomore year of high school by finding out that his one friend, Michael, has killed himself. He decides to write a series of letters about his feelings to an unnamed person (presumably a recent graduate of the high school) whom he does not personally know, but about whom he has heard other students say kind things. Through these extremely frank and funny letters, we learn about Charlie's past and home life. His beloved Aunt Helen, who came to live with his family after a tragedy, died unexpectedly on his 7th birthday, sending him into a spiral of depression and into psychiatric care. His parents are good and loving, though they both come from troubled backgrounds, and his older siblings are successful. His brother is a player on the Penn State football team and his sister is a top student at the high school.
Charlie's English teacher Bill recognizes his potential and assigns him a series of great books (The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye) to read outside of class; throughout the book, Charlie gives his reactions to these works. Music is also very important to Charlie, and throughout the book, he uses songs and music to express his emotions in a way he has trouble doing otherwise. Bill is concerned that Charlie is experiencing his life on the sidelines, so encourages him to "participate" more actively. Charlie befriends a brother and sister, Patrick and Sam, who include him in their circle of friends and expose him to a wider world that includes drug use, drinking, and homosexuality. Charlie also must deal with problems at home, including his sister's abusive relationship.
Throughout the novel, Charlie grows and becomes more involved in both his family and friends' emotional lives, but to truly participate in life, he must figure out why he put boundaries up in the first place.
Critical Evaluation:
What an excellent and moving book! I knew very little about this book before reading it, so it all unfolded for me naturally, without any spoilers or anticipation of major plot points. I think the epistolary format of this novel was a smart one; it lets us see into Charlie's mind and his thoughts on the day-to-day happenings of his life, but since we, like the unknown recipient of these letters, are not privy to his history, we slowly get filled in on Charlie's backstory as he realizes that for certain events to have context, he needs to fill in his reader on things that happened before. The reader becomes used to the conceit and accepts it, but later in the story, Chbosky reminds us, to great effect, that it's rather strange for Charlie to be opening up this frankly to a complete stranger and makes us wonder what it would be like to be the recipient of these letters.
Chbosky is very smart at depicting the role of adolescent friendships. While Patrick, Sam, and the rest of their friends open up to Charlie and give him a social network he's been missing, Chbosky is also very smart at portraying the ways in which Charlie does and does not reciprocate their friendship. Chbosky explores a lot of hot-button issues in this novel--homosexuality, molestation, teenage sex and pregnancy, teen drug use and drinking--but he wisely lets them be explored largely "off-screen" by Charlie's friends, forcing Charlie and the reader to make up their own mind about them.
The depiction of Charlie's nuclear and extended family is realistic and nuanced. While his extended family on both sides is quite dysfunctional, his parents are good and loving people who try to do the right thing. The sibling relationships in this book are smart, too: the brother off in college who still leaves a large and looming presence, and an older sibling who suddenly and unexpectedly becomes a close friend once you reach a certain age.
Chbosky also effectively uses culture--music, books, movies and television--to let us into Charlie's world. Music allows him a way to express himself to friends and family, especially ideas and emotions he does not yet have the ability to put into words, a trait many readers may relate to.
About the author:
Perks is the only novel Chbosky has written, though he has worked in film and television as a screenwriter and producer. After Perks, he is perhaps best known for his work as creator of the show Jericho.
Curriculum Ties:
Many people (including Chbosky himself) have commented that Wallflower explores many of the same issues of adolescence as does Catcher in the Rye. The book and the character of Charlie could definitely be explored in a high school English class--there's a lot going on here both structurally and emotionally that would be exciting for teens to discuss--but the controversial nature of the book (see below) may preclude its use in this fashion in many districts.
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Give the talk in the form of one of Charlie's letters.
2. Talk about the friendship between Charlie, Patrick and Sam
3. Talk about the role of books and music in the novel.
Reading Interest/Level:
9th and up
Challenge Issues:
Teen sex, teen pregnancy, homosexuality, violence, teen drinking, drug use, molestation, suicide
This book is often listed as one of the most challenged books of the year by ALA. Librarians facing a challenge should be aware of their library's selection policy and be able to explain and defend it to challengers. One could point to the many positive critical reviews it has received and its selection as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults as proof of its merits.
Selection Criteria:
I knew very little about this book, other than the fact that I had heard of it many times. When I saw it on the library shelf, I decided to pick it up. I was pleased to see so many classmates mention it during our discussion for Luna!
Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
Someone Like You
Sarah Dessen
ISBN 978-0-14-240177-4
281 pages
Viking, 1998
Genre: Coming of Age, Issue Novel
Reader's Annotation:
Though Halley's life is falling apart, she knows she must stay strong for her best friend Scarlett, who found out she was pregnant after her boyfriend died.
Plot Summary:
Halley and Scarlett have been best friends ever since Scarlett and her mother moved in the house across the street. Scarlett's always been the brave one, helping Halley navigate the social waters of school. When Scarlett's boyfriend Michael is killed in a motorcycle accident just before the start of junior year and she realizes she's pregnant with his child, though, she must rely on Halley to help her get through.
Halley wants to be strong for her best friend, but she also has her own demons to battle with. These days she can't even manage a civil conversation with her mother, a well-respected counselor who's famous for dispensing advice on how to get along with your teenage daughter. And jealous of the relationship Scarlett and Michael shared, Halley enters a relationship with Macon, Michael's best friend, a freewheeling bad boy. Halley finds Macon exciting and dangerous, but both Scarlett and Halley's mother worry about his influence and how he may be pressuring her.
Critical Evaluation:
Dessen creates very well-rounded and believable characters. She perfectly captures the age where all of a sudden, you can no longer get along with one or both of your parents, but nobody's quite sure what happened and how to fix it. She also captures how critically important one's friends are in this period when one may not be able to reach out to one's family for help. Both Scarlett and Halley are failed by their mothers, but they're able to nurture each other and help each other make positive decisions. And when Halley fails Scarlett, too, there's yet another friend there to provide support and pick up the pieces.
The story is a little slight; it's rather short, and of course, of course, Scarlett goes into labor on the night of the prom. On the other hand, it's very honest and well-observed. One can see exactly why Halley is attracted to Macon, even though it's clear to everyone but her what a bad influence he is.
About the author:
Dessen has written eight other young adult books, which have been critically well-reviewed and remain extremely popular among YA readers. She's known for her thoughtful brand of "chick lit," in which the power of female friendship is stressed. This book was merged with another book by Dessen, That Summer, and turned into a movie called How to Deal starring Mandy Moore.
Curriculum Ties:
Teen pregnancy, Parent/Teen relationship
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Focus on the friendship between Halley and Scarlett
2. Describe the troubled relationship between Halley and her mother, and Scarlett and her mother
3. Explain the relationship between Halley and Macon
Reading/Interest Level:
8th and up
Challenge Issues:
Teen sex and pregnancy, drug use, underage drinking
If this book is challenged, one should be aware of the library policy on selection and be able to explain it to the challenger. One could point out how highly acclaimed this book was, pointing to its many positive reviews and its being named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and Best Book of the Year by SLJ.
Selection Criteria:
Because I'd read several glowing reviews of Dessen's latest novel, Along for the Ride, I decided to try some of her novels. This one caught my eye because of the aforementioned "Best Book" awards.
Sarah Dessen
ISBN 978-0-14-240177-4
281 pages
Viking, 1998
Genre: Coming of Age, Issue Novel
Reader's Annotation:
Though Halley's life is falling apart, she knows she must stay strong for her best friend Scarlett, who found out she was pregnant after her boyfriend died.
Plot Summary:
Halley and Scarlett have been best friends ever since Scarlett and her mother moved in the house across the street. Scarlett's always been the brave one, helping Halley navigate the social waters of school. When Scarlett's boyfriend Michael is killed in a motorcycle accident just before the start of junior year and she realizes she's pregnant with his child, though, she must rely on Halley to help her get through.
Halley wants to be strong for her best friend, but she also has her own demons to battle with. These days she can't even manage a civil conversation with her mother, a well-respected counselor who's famous for dispensing advice on how to get along with your teenage daughter. And jealous of the relationship Scarlett and Michael shared, Halley enters a relationship with Macon, Michael's best friend, a freewheeling bad boy. Halley finds Macon exciting and dangerous, but both Scarlett and Halley's mother worry about his influence and how he may be pressuring her.
Critical Evaluation:
Dessen creates very well-rounded and believable characters. She perfectly captures the age where all of a sudden, you can no longer get along with one or both of your parents, but nobody's quite sure what happened and how to fix it. She also captures how critically important one's friends are in this period when one may not be able to reach out to one's family for help. Both Scarlett and Halley are failed by their mothers, but they're able to nurture each other and help each other make positive decisions. And when Halley fails Scarlett, too, there's yet another friend there to provide support and pick up the pieces.
The story is a little slight; it's rather short, and of course, of course, Scarlett goes into labor on the night of the prom. On the other hand, it's very honest and well-observed. One can see exactly why Halley is attracted to Macon, even though it's clear to everyone but her what a bad influence he is.
About the author:
Dessen has written eight other young adult books, which have been critically well-reviewed and remain extremely popular among YA readers. She's known for her thoughtful brand of "chick lit," in which the power of female friendship is stressed. This book was merged with another book by Dessen, That Summer, and turned into a movie called How to Deal starring Mandy Moore.
Curriculum Ties:
Teen pregnancy, Parent/Teen relationship
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Focus on the friendship between Halley and Scarlett
2. Describe the troubled relationship between Halley and her mother, and Scarlett and her mother
3. Explain the relationship between Halley and Macon
Reading/Interest Level:
8th and up
Challenge Issues:
Teen sex and pregnancy, drug use, underage drinking
If this book is challenged, one should be aware of the library policy on selection and be able to explain it to the challenger. One could point out how highly acclaimed this book was, pointing to its many positive reviews and its being named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and Best Book of the Year by SLJ.
Selection Criteria:
Because I'd read several glowing reviews of Dessen's latest novel, Along for the Ride, I decided to try some of her novels. This one caught my eye because of the aforementioned "Best Book" awards.
Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
Lock and Key
Sarah Dessen
ISBN 978-0-14-241472-9
422 pages
Viking, 2008
Genre: Coming of Age
Reader's Annotation:
After being abandoned by her mother, 17-year-old Ruby is sent to live with her estranged sister and reexamines her life.
Plot Summary:
When 17-year-old Ruby's mother abandons her, she tries to keep things running the best she can. When her landlords discover her situation, she's immediately sent to live with her sister Cora, with whom she's been estranged for many years. It's a complete culture shock: Ruby and her mother barely made ends meet, while Cora lives in a beautiful home in a gated community in a nearby town. Ruby transfers from her crowded, underperforming high school to an amazing private school.
At first, Ruby's convinced she'll hate the school, the neighborhood, and both Cora and her husband, Jamie. She tries to run away and walks around with a giant chip on her shoulder, but as she develops a friendship with Nate, the cute boy next door, and gets to know Cora and Jamie better, she lowers her defenses and starts to reconsider events from her former life from a new perspective.
Critical Evaluation:
As I was typing up my plot summary, I kept on thinking, "Boy, this sounds so cliche," but it's a testament to Sarah Dessen that the book actually feels incredibly original and fresh. She steers away from turning the characters into stereotypes: they're all flawed and complicated and wonderful. Dessen did an especially good job with Nate, creating a funny, wise, cute and sensitive boy that will likely make teenage girls swoon... while still letting him be a fully realized character with a backstory of his own.
There are several great minor characters here, too; Olivia, another student at the private school who transferred from Ruby's old high school and is similarly ambivalent, and Harriet, the control-freak, caffeine-addict who becomes Ruby's boss at a mall kiosk.
The book covers the start of Ruby's senior year to the end, and Ruby's significant growth during that time is believable because it happens slowly and gradually. It's a very satisfying read.
About the author:
Dessen has written eight other young adult novels. She is known for her strong characterizations and a particularly thoughtful brand of "chick lit," in which the importance of female friendship is stressed. Her recent books have all been New York Times bestsellers, and her books have been critically well-received.
Curriculum Ties:
Not particularly well-suited for classroom use
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Speak in character as Ruby from the beginning of the book: just abandoned by her mother and forced to move in with a sister she barely knows, thinking she'll run away, but then rethinking that decision after a meeting with Nate from next door.
2. Talk about the different sorts of parental pressures and abuses experienced by Cora and Ruby.
3. Talk about the relationship between Nate and Ruby.
Reading/Interest Level:
8th grade and up.
Challenge Issues:
Ruby drinks, smokes pot, and has sex, though none of these are shown in a positive light and she regrets doing them.
If challenged, one should know the selection policy of the library and be able to provide it to the challenger. One could point the challenger to the numerous positive critical reviews this book received (including a starred review in Booklist), and also point out that Dessen does not glorify Ruby's behavior, and in fact uses it to show her as a flawed person making mistakes she later regrets.
Selection Criteria:
I wasn't familiar with any of Dessen's works, but I read several very positive reviews of her newest book, Along for the Ride, so when I saw this one at the local library, I decided to check it out.
Sarah Dessen
ISBN 978-0-14-241472-9
422 pages
Viking, 2008
Genre: Coming of Age
Reader's Annotation:
After being abandoned by her mother, 17-year-old Ruby is sent to live with her estranged sister and reexamines her life.
Plot Summary:
When 17-year-old Ruby's mother abandons her, she tries to keep things running the best she can. When her landlords discover her situation, she's immediately sent to live with her sister Cora, with whom she's been estranged for many years. It's a complete culture shock: Ruby and her mother barely made ends meet, while Cora lives in a beautiful home in a gated community in a nearby town. Ruby transfers from her crowded, underperforming high school to an amazing private school.
At first, Ruby's convinced she'll hate the school, the neighborhood, and both Cora and her husband, Jamie. She tries to run away and walks around with a giant chip on her shoulder, but as she develops a friendship with Nate, the cute boy next door, and gets to know Cora and Jamie better, she lowers her defenses and starts to reconsider events from her former life from a new perspective.
Critical Evaluation:
As I was typing up my plot summary, I kept on thinking, "Boy, this sounds so cliche," but it's a testament to Sarah Dessen that the book actually feels incredibly original and fresh. She steers away from turning the characters into stereotypes: they're all flawed and complicated and wonderful. Dessen did an especially good job with Nate, creating a funny, wise, cute and sensitive boy that will likely make teenage girls swoon... while still letting him be a fully realized character with a backstory of his own.
There are several great minor characters here, too; Olivia, another student at the private school who transferred from Ruby's old high school and is similarly ambivalent, and Harriet, the control-freak, caffeine-addict who becomes Ruby's boss at a mall kiosk.
The book covers the start of Ruby's senior year to the end, and Ruby's significant growth during that time is believable because it happens slowly and gradually. It's a very satisfying read.
About the author:
Dessen has written eight other young adult novels. She is known for her strong characterizations and a particularly thoughtful brand of "chick lit," in which the importance of female friendship is stressed. Her recent books have all been New York Times bestsellers, and her books have been critically well-received.
Curriculum Ties:
Not particularly well-suited for classroom use
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Speak in character as Ruby from the beginning of the book: just abandoned by her mother and forced to move in with a sister she barely knows, thinking she'll run away, but then rethinking that decision after a meeting with Nate from next door.
2. Talk about the different sorts of parental pressures and abuses experienced by Cora and Ruby.
3. Talk about the relationship between Nate and Ruby.
Reading/Interest Level:
8th grade and up.
Challenge Issues:
Ruby drinks, smokes pot, and has sex, though none of these are shown in a positive light and she regrets doing them.
If challenged, one should know the selection policy of the library and be able to provide it to the challenger. One could point the challenger to the numerous positive critical reviews this book received (including a starred review in Booklist), and also point out that Dessen does not glorify Ruby's behavior, and in fact uses it to show her as a flawed person making mistakes she later regrets.
Selection Criteria:
I wasn't familiar with any of Dessen's works, but I read several very positive reviews of her newest book, Along for the Ride, so when I saw this one at the local library, I decided to check it out.
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