I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter

Module 3 - Adventure, Sports & Mystery

"Read three of the following selections:"

Plot Summary

The Gallagher Academy is a super-secret spy school for girls. Cammie the chameleon has always blended in, unseen. Until she is spotted one day by a boy in town as she fulfills her first mission and falls madly in love. Through the use of spy techniques learned in classes, Cammie and her friends pursue the boy, just in case he is a honeypot (an agent who uses romance to compromise a target). Through carefully coordinated meetings, Cammie and Josh develop a bit of a relationship, but when Cammie reveals the truth to him, just before her big final exam, everything comes crashing down around them. Literally.

Critical Analysis

The glimpses into the fascinating world of spy school are believably fantastic. There are spy gadgets and spy secrets and spy techniques hinted at in nearly every explanation. It is not hard to imagine being a student at such an exceptional school, and the secretiveness and seclusion of the school makes the fact that we've never heard of such a school entirely believable.

Within the setting of the Gallagher Academy, the girls must each prove their worth as a spy. Without their parents around, the girls form their own support teams among roommates. The removal from parents for this story is essential so that each girl can show her own individual potential, but especially our protagonist, Cammie. Even though her mother is present as headmistress of the Gallagher Academy, she is a very hands-off spy-mother which allows Cammie to shine as a spy herself. For example, at the end even as her mother reveals that Cammie's "had one of the more extensive Covert Operations exercises this school has ever allowed," she also reveals that she has known about it all along and simply allowed it to continue rather than interfering in her daughter's spy and boy experiments.

Protagonist Cammie and her roommates provide the focal point for this story. The supporting cast of Bex, Liz, and Macey each have their own strengths which combine into a powerful team of super-spy-girls. This support group allows Cammie to grow and shine as the chameleon she is. It's also easy for readers to choose one of these girls to identify with as they go through the novel because each of them is so different from the other, and yet they all work together for the benefit of their spy team. Reviewers from Publishers' Weekly and School Library Journal both feel as though characters were not fully developed, but since this is the beginning of a series, there is promise that the relationships will develop further and additional details about characters will be revealed in the further installments of the series.

The relationship between Cammie and Josh develops predictably but also serves as a vehicle for the use of the recently learned spy techniques. The ending of their relationship follows a realistic curve, as he responds to the disclosure of the truth in an expected but not entirely stereotypical manner. Josh is still willing to talk about it all at the end and see Cammie around after the summer break, even though her so-called "life" was a lie throughout most of their relationship. Readers are left to wonder, however, whether the tea he shared with Cammie's mother will erase his memories or not. The romance in this novel does not eclipse the fact that this is primarily a spy novel. In fact, it facilitates it. Cammie is able to try out her spy training to discover what this mysterious boy means by the things he says and does. Boys truly are a mystery to the life-long inhabitants of the Gallagher Academy for girls, so the recent addition of Macey to the team provides the "more experienced" role of worldly advisor for the other girls as they embark on adventures relating to fashion and cute boys.

It's not just a spy adventure novel, but it also chronicles typical teen concerns like decoding what boys mean by what they say. As Cammie says early on, "even though the Gallagher Academy is a school for girl geniuses, sometimes the emphasis should be kept on the girl." Within the form of spy adventure, we're essentially just looking at the trials and tribulations of being a girl at an all girls boarding school.

Bibliography

Carter, Ally. I'd tell you I love you, but then I'd have to kill you. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2006. ISBN 1423100034.

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Reviews

New York Times Bestseller

From Publishers Weekly:

Readers may find some details familiar (Cammie lost her spy father during a mission; her CoveOps teacher is a handsome, intense man who seems to get along too well with her mother) and wish that rich, bratty Macey, a new recruit who is "capable of cracking the Y chromosome code," had been developed more fully. But the author escalates the tension well, leading to the night of the final exam, where Cammie finds herself blindfolded, kidnapped and facing off against the retired spies of the facultyand also confronting Josh. Readers will eagerly anticipate the next installment.

From School Library Journal:

The teen's double life leads to some amusing one-liners, and the invented history of the Gallagher Girls is also entertaining, but the story is short on suspense. The stakes never seem very high since there are no real villains, and the cutesy dialogue quickly becomes grating. However, the novel has been optioned for a film and will likely attract readers who enjoy lighthearted, frothy tales and squeaky-clean romances. Unfortunately, it lacks the warmth and appeal of other teen books turned into movies, such as Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries (HarperCollins, 2000) and Ann Brashares's The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Delacorte, 2001).-Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library

Voice of Youth Advocates:

Written in an easy-to-read, conversational tone, this novel combines the real (learning how to talk to boys) and the unreal (learning how to be a secret agent for the government) in a strangely believable way. Think Alias meets Gilmore Girls. The causal explanation for the complex inner workings of the secretive Gallagher Academy and the diversity of the group inside its walls make a unique and enjoyable setting. The characters and their relationships, including Cammie's mother-Headmistress of the Gallagher Academy-propel this story beyond just being an action-packed novel into something special. The promise of a second Gallagher Girl book is the promise of good times to come.-Stacey Hayman.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

Module 3 - Adventure, Sports & Mystery

"Read three of the following selections:"

Plot Summary

Eric and Sarah Byrnes have been best friends since forever. Brought together because they were both outcast for their appearance (he is obese, she is burned), they've formed a strong friendship on this basis. When Sarah is suddenly taken away to a psychiatric hospital because she is no longer talking or responding to anyone or anything, Eric loyally visits her daily. Eventually she begins to communicate through secret talks, symbols, and a notebook of writing, to share with Eric details about why she is behaving this way. The more Eric learns, the more angered he becomes and he is unable to sit by while she goes on like this. He discloses the secret to his most trusted teacher and coach, Ms. Lemry, and she is able to work with Sarah to start on a path towards escape.

Critical Analysis

The cast of characters is fairly large in this novel, but the primary action centers around Eric's response to Sarah Byrnes' current stupor. The other members of the school and town community are essential in establishing the history of the characters' relationships and developing the conflicts. The action-filled part of the story took a while to really get going. Eric spent a good deal of time trying to crack Sarah Byrnes's hard exterior. But once the action starts, the story flies by. Beneath it's cover as a book about swimming and friendships, it was an angering look at the effects of child abuse on its victims and the community. The gradual reveal of the horrors Sarah Byrnes has been subjected to entices the reader to read more, even as it angers the reader further with each new detail. There is a rather storybook happy ending, as pointed out by the Kirkus and Booklist reviewers, but with such horrific experiences for the last 17 years, readers may feel that Sarah Byrnes deserves a happy ending.

The discussions which occur within and surrounding Eric's classes and swim practice are also an essential part of the plot, as relationships with characters are developed and disclosed through these everyday interactions. The development of the community is essential as the plot progresses and Sarah Byrnes' condition is fully revealed and the solution sought out. Without the community reaction and support, Sarah Byrnes would still remain hidden in the shadows and be subjected to her abusive father.

Eric's disclosure of Sarah Byrnes' secrets to his trusted swim coach and teacher Ms. Lemry can provide a role model for teens faced with similar situations. Sarah Byrnes' concerns that Lemry will immediately involve CPS are also valid, as teachers are required to report suspected abuse to CPS and Lemry strikes out into vigilante territory herself by taking the situation into her own hands personally. Lemry provides an alternative possibility to the usual results of "telling a teacher." But Eric provides a positive example by choosing carefully who he tells and proceeding cautiously to approach the authorities.

The small to midsize town setting of the novel is essential for the development of the story, because the significant and lasting relationship history must exist for each of the characters. The friendship between Eric and Sarah Byrnes is an established feature even as the novel begins. The history with the school bully of years past is essential, as is his availability and predictability later in the narrative. If the setting were a city, the abuse experienced by the characters would not evoke the same response from the community. Children's Protective Services would have been involved early on because of the anonymity of a city. But within the smaller town, each is more responsible for those around them because the turnover of inhabitants is limited. The consistency of the class composition is also essential, as each of these characters has already established their relationship with the others in the school. A community must be in place to truly show the widespread effects of child abuse.

Bibliography

Crutcher, Chris. Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes. New York: HarperTempest, 2003. ISBN 9780060094898.

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Reviews

From Kirkus:

Though Crutcher doesn't always play fair in developing his themes--all the conservative Christians here are humorless dupes or hypocrites, and one tries to commit suicide after it comes out that his girlfriend had an abortion--his language, characters, and situations are vivid and often hilarious. In the end, he deals out just deserts[sic] all around: Eric gets a stepfather he can respect; Virgil, a vicious mauling plus 20 years in stir; Sarah, a new and loving set of parents. Readers may find the storybook ending a welcome relief, though it does seem forced after the pain that precedes it. Pulse-pounding, on both visceral and intellectual levels--a wild, brutal ride.

From Voice of Youth Advocates:

This is a book that punches you in the stomach and never gives you a moment to breathe. Crutcher has tread along similar lines before, using the motif of a swim team in Stotan! (1986); courage and recovery in Crazy Horse Electric Game (1987); and abuse in Chinese Handcuffs (1989). Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is more tightly plotted than his earlier YA novels, yet it also allows a full, complete character development of the teen protagonists in related subplots. This is Crutcher's darkest and most riveting work to date, almost entirely unrelieved by any humor. Older YAs are likely to read this in one sitting, and then will be left thinking about it for weeks afterward. Perhaps it will jar some into considering that many teens, maybe their own classmates, are just like Sarah Byrnes, except that they carry their horrifying burns inside of them._Susan R. Farber.

From Publishers Weekly:

Such superlatives as ``riveting'' and ``powerful'' can only hint at the craftsmanship on display in this transcendent story of love, loyalty and courage. While probing such issues as friendship, free speech and moral values, Crutcher ( Chinese Handcuffs ; Stotan! ) tells a tale whose mordant humor, poignancy and suspense pack a breathtaking wallop. ... Superb plotting, extraordinary characters and crackling narrative make this novel one to be devoured in a single unforgettable sitting.

From Booklist:

Crutcher ties up loose ends and subplots a little too rosily for real life, but his book is satisfying all the same. It's strong on relationships, long on plot, and has enough humor and suspense to make it an easy booktalk with appeal across gender lines. ~--Janice Del Negro

Inside Out by Terry Trueman

Module 3 - Adventure, Sports & Mystery

"Read three of the following selections:"

Plot Summary

Inside Out begins as our protagonist walks into a cafe as it is being robbed. When their getaway is delayed, the cops arrive, and the robbers take everyone hostage in the back of the coffee shop. This is all complicated by the voices in the head of our schizophrenic narrator, Zach. Through trying to figure out what is real and what is not, Zach ends up befriending and aiding the robbers.

Critical Analysis

Zach, the protagonist, provides an unreliable narration of events, due to the voices in his head. As Zach's medicine begins to wear off, the voices increase in frequency. The layout of the book even includes some of the voices as shadows on the pages, adding to the atmosphere of persecution we experience inside of Zach's head. The Kirkus reviewer questions the sympathetic-ness of this character stating, "the flatness and lack of emotion that is part of a schizophrenic's outlook is distancing" (2004), but the action in the plot propels things forwards fast enough that the novel keeps pace with expectations while slowly revealing the reason why Zach is almost unlikeable. Zach's actions make him likeable, even if his motivations and emotions are cryptic to the average reader. The teen robbers bring in additional sympathetic viewpoints for readers. As we discover the motivation behind their actions, we get a glimpse into the desperation of their situation and can compare it with the desperation which Zach feels.

The portrayal of schizophrenia is well done and is an under-represented problem within literature. I appreciated seeing this issue approached from a rather sympathetic but not preachy viewpoint. The mental challenges Zach faces are clearly explained and become an integral part of the story, but they are approached in a more conversational manner than typically seen. The reviewer from Booklist doesn't feel as though schizophrenia is approached sympathetically in this title (2004), but I would argue that this novel is primarily about the situation and the complications and advantages within it that Zach's schizophrenia confers. The book is an adventure novel first, and happens to contain a schizophrenic protagonist. Therefore it does give us a general picture of schizophrenia, but we are not expected to sympathize entirely with the character, but instead with his situation.

The limited setting of the novel adds to the immediacy of the hostage situation. The coffee house is only so large and contains a variety of people, and yet Zach must distinguish regularly between reality and non-reality within its walls. This challenge is hard enough for him even in his familiar setting of after-school hang-out. Because we do not have to explore a large physical area in the narrative, we are able to spend more time exploring the inner landscape of Zach's mental state and develop sympathy for our captors.

Inside Out was a fast read. The story flies by in about the time it takes for the events within the story to actually occur. The events of the holdup themselves are adrenaline-inspiring. The interspersion of Zach's backstory at the beginning of each chapter extends that adrenaline rush into the past and his suicide attempt. Even as we travel forwards in time with the development of the hostage situation, we are travelling backwards in time through the development of Zach's schizophrenia.

This story felt like it ended on a great note, but then there was a newspaper story from three months later that was just crushing. Yet it wasn't an unexpected turn, and even as the story itself ends there is a possibility of later tragedy. The book would have been just as strong, however, without the inclusion of the final tragedy in newspaper-clipping form.

The reviews of Inside Out are rather mixed. Some of the complaints reviewers had were that the narrator was unsympathetic and "the flatness and lack of emotion that is part of a schizophrenic's outlook is distancing" (Kirkus 2004), or "The only weakness in this book perhaps is in the number of characters" (VOYA 2003), "The effect is disturbing, if somewhat didactic" (SLJ 2003), and Booklist says, "The facts often feel clumsily inserted, and Zach's unreliable voice doesn't allow his story to develop fully. The shocking ending also feels tacked on" (2004). Each of those weaknesses is a necessary for the story, however. The unsympathetic-ness of the schizophrenic narrator is due to the nature of schizophrenia itself and its affect on emotions and outlook. The cast of supporting characters being undeveloped is a result of their limited narratives being included to further explain the origins of Zach's diagnosis; if any more focus was given to the mother or doctor characters, this wouldn't just be Zach's story. But even with all those negatives, the book is recommended highly for its gripping plot and is recommended for reluctant readers in many of the reviews.

Bibliography

Trueman, Terry. Inside out. New York: Harpertempest, 2003. ISBN 006623963X.

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Reviews

From Kirkus:

Trueman's ability to get inside the head of this unsympathetic character is slightly less successful than in his earlier Stuck in Neutral (2000), which was a Printz Honor book. There is some context from letters at the start of each chapter, but the flatness and lack of emotion that is part of a schizophrenic's outlook is distancing and often makes Zach seem unintelligent. Readers will be unprepared for the ending, but give Trueman credit for attempting to provide some empathy for the "others" of our world who are too easily dismissed and ridiculed—in a plot line that grabs and doesn't let go.

From Publishers Weekly:

Trueman paints a vivid story of three desperate teens that recalls Robert Cormier, with its dark, disturbing theme and a narrative that shifts from one plot thread to another in rapid-fire succession. ... Trueman, who has utilized a narrator with a compromised point of view before (the narrator suffered from cerebral palsy in his debut Stuck in Neutral), does a convincing job of gradually unspooling the three tightly drawn plot lines-Zach's impending mental meltdown, the touching story of what prompted the boys to attempt the robbery, and Zach's background, revealed through excerpted letters to his psychiatrist. Despite the suspenseful story line, this is ultimately a book about understanding and empathy; the climax is surprising, logical and moving. Fans of Cormier will likely enjoy this psychological and gripping tale.

From VOYA:

Trueman is a master of point of view, as shown in his award-winning novel Stuck in Neutral (HarperCollins, 2000/VOYA December 2000). His research into the disease really helps make Zach's warped thought patterns believable to the reader. Every reader will have sympathy and new understanding of this devastating illness. The holdup situation makes the plot exciting as well, from the first page onward. The only weakness in this book perhaps is in the number of characters. There are several hostages in the coffee shop. The two robbers have their own story as their characters develop through Zach's eyes, somewhat late in the story. Zach's mother and doctor enter the book through memories or through phone calls into the hostage situation. Readers might not be satisfied with the information given about those two people who are integral to Zach's life. Certainly Trueman is an excellent writer. This book is highly recommended for school and public libraries as both pleasure reading or to start discussions.

From School Library Journal:

Trueman uses Zach's narration to challenge readers to feel the confusion and dark struggle of schizophrenia. The effect is disturbing, if somewhat didactic. Both the grim topic and strong language in this edgy novel suggest a mature audience.-Susan W. Hunter, Riverside Middle School, Springfield, VT

From Booklist:

Excerpts from Zach's psychiatric records interweave with his first-person account of the dramatic robbery, offering readers the medical facts as well as Zach's personal story, especially the terror and confusion he feels when he can't distinguish between the real and the imagined. The narrative blend isn't entirely successful. The facts often feel clumsily inserted, and Zach's unreliable voice doesn't allow his story to develop fully. The shocking ending also feels tacked on. But Trueman sometimes captures moments of heartbreaking truth, and his swift, suspenseful plot will have particular appeal to reluctant readers. Suggest Angela Johnson's Humming Whispers (1995) and Lisa Rowe Fraustino's Ash (1995) for more nuanced stories about a young person living with the illness. --Gillian Engberg

Bootleg by Karen Blumenthal - Book Trailer

Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

Module 2 - Realism, Romance & Censorship

"Read three of the following selections:"

Plot Summary

Steven, star drummer at his school, has a crush on the hottest girl in school, a female friend from jazz band whose attraction he fails to recognize, an obnoxious baby brother, and all the typical schoolwork - like English journals. From the perspective of his graduation date, Steven recounts the events of the year that focus on his little brother, the "most annoying thing in the world" according to his journal entries. Steven loves his little brother, Jeffrey, and one morning while fixing him "moatmeal" for breakfast Steven turns his back and Jeffrey falls off of the kitchen stool, getting a nosebleed in the process. When the nosebleed doesn't stop, Mom rushes Jeffrey to the emergency room and then disappears with Jeffrey for a whole week before Steven is told what is going on. Once Steven finds out that Jeffrey has been diagnosed with leukemia and is undergoing treatments for it, he buries his feelings in his drumming. His father retreats from communicating, his mother takes off from work to care for Jeffrey, and Steven is left to largely figure things out on his own. Throughout the course of the school year Steven slacks off of school work, focuses on his drumming, and tries to support his little brother through the chemotherapy treatments. In the process Steven grows as a person and learns, with help, that even though many things are out of his control, he can control some things in life. His descent into despair and his climb back to a new state of normal-for-him is thoughtfully portrayed without losing the essence of the characters and their situations.

Critical Analysis

Steven is a typical teenager thrust into the atypical situation of dealing with a brother with leukemia. Sonnenblick does a great job of spreading the focus of the book out enough that it doesn't seem overly about cancer, but is also about how Steven navigates middle school romance and the demands of school and extra-curriculars. His romantic opportunities with Renee, the hottest girl in school, and Annette, the jazz band girl, are both affected by his reactions to his brother's leukemia, but they also feel like they develop naturally and realistically to the characters involved.

The voice of our protagonist also lends a good deal of humor to what would otherwise be a rather tragic set of circumstances. This keeps the book lively and compelling even in the face of unfortunate circumstances.

Sonnenblick explains in a Q&A at the end of the novel:

I really wrote this book for one amazing girl. Her little brother had been battling cancer for years, and I wanted to find a book that she could relate to. When I couldn't find a novel that I felt was a good fit for her situation, I wrote one.

Perhaps because of this real life source of inspiration, and the basis of the character of Steven on himself, everything in the novel feels authentic. This book will be a beneficial read for anyone who needs the reassurance that, as a Booklist reviewer summarizes, "even in the midst of tragedy, life goes on, love can flower, and the one thing you can always change is yourself."

Bibliography

Sonnenblick, Jordan. Drums, girls, & dangerous pie. New York: Scholastic, 2006. ISBN 9780439755207.

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Awards/Reviews

From Publishers Weekly:

The author perceptively records the struggle within Steven to lash out against his parents for feeling neglected and to feel compassion for his brother, as well as the normal adolescent concerns, including overlooking childhood friend Annette ("It's like she's figured out how to play [piano] like Beethoven and Thelonious Monk but hasn't quite mastered the art of being a girl yet"), who clearly has a crush on him, in favor of unattainable girl-next-door Renee. The journal structure is not always entirely believable, but Steven's thoughts and feelings are (after his mother returns from one of Jeffrey's treatments, Steven has an epiphany: "I realized without any shadow of a doubt that she would have done the same for me"). Readers may well feel inspired by the teen's gradual growth over the course of the novel, and drummers especially will enjoy this insider's view.

From School Library Journal:

Steven's frequent faux pas seem belabored early in the book, but they do eventually work to show him to be an admirable fellow who grows in his ability to deal with others, including Renee and Annette, the school counselor, his parents, and Jeff. The book does not miss a single emotional beat, taking every opportunity to demonstrate that Lurlene McDaniel has no stranglehold on jerking tears as Steven details the progress of leukemia's inexorable attack. If the young characters sometimes speak beyond their years and if Steven's wise-ass voice is initially annoying, it is also fresh, energetic, and consistent, becoming more likable as the novel progresses. One stylistic device seemed unnecessary and distracting: characters' speech is indicated by italics, while quotation marks are used to set off Steven's inner thoughts and for special emphasis.-Joel Shoemaker, Southeast Junior High School, Iowa City, IA

From Booklist:

A story that could have morphed into melodrama is saved by reality, rawness, and the wit Sonnenblick infuses into Steven's first-person voice. The recriminations, cares, and nightmares that come with a cancer diagnosis are all here, underscored by vomiting, white blood cell counts, and chemotherapy ports. Yet, this is also about regrouping, solidarity, love, and hope. Most important for a middle-grade audience, Sonneblick shows that even in the midst of tragedy, life goes on, love can flower, and the one thing you can always change is yourself. --Ilene Cooper

Related Links

• Author Jordan Sonnenblick's website

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Module 2 - Realism, Romance & Censorship

"Read three of the following selections:"

Plot Summary

We meet Paul as he is out on the town with his friends Joni and Tony at a DJ event in a bookstore. He has just encountered the boy of his dreams, Noah, in the aisles. Their electrically-charged first meeting sets the stage for a whirlwind teen romance, but not without its obstacles. Paul's ex-boyfriend, Kyle, will suddenly realize he was wrong to end their relationship and will want him back. Paul's friendly gestures towards his best friend, Tony, will feed the rumor-mill. And the school bookie will take odds on Paul's relationships. Through all the romance angst, Paul's other best friend, Joni, will largely disappear into her relationship with football-player Chuck. Paul also has to plan the year's biggest school dance. Through it all, Paul and his friends will each discover that friends are as treasured as, and perhaps more important than, boyfriends.

Critical Analysis

I found this novel a bit unrealistic because of it's excessive idealism. In this high school the cheering team rides motorcycles, and the homecoming queen is also the quarterback. And there is no controversy around these high school staples. The unbelievability is redeemed slightly by Tony at the end when even he says he finds Paul's town unbelievable. However, through most of the novel I was just struck by how unusually homophilic this town and its high school was. There just aren't as many challenges to being gay in this teen's world, except for his friend Tony's experiences. The idealism of this could be a good fantasy escape for students facing ostracism in their own schools. In an ideal world maybe our quarterbacks really could be homecoming queens, but most teens are not faced with such acceptance of alternative lifestyles in their schools.

Aside from the twist of being primarily about same-sex romances, it is a basic story of teen romance and all the usual pitfalls and changing loyalties. However, in this utopian town and high school, Paul and other boys like him are free to explore their budding romances without judgments being passed, because homosexuality and other alternatives are simply accepted. There is brief discussion of bisexuality as well when Paul's ex, Kyle, who dated a girl after him shares his dilemma with Paul. However, this theme is largely left alone beyond the defining of it. And, of course, the homecoming queen/quarterback Infinite Darlene is a well-accepted, in this school, transgender example.

The free-from-judgment world of Paul and his high school and town make a statement for the benefits of LGBT equality and is a perfect place for the characters to explore romance without also having to navigate prejudice too. The School Library Journal reviewer points out that, "Levithan's prophecy of a hate-free world in which everyone loves without persecution makes this a provocative and important read for all young adults, gay or straight," describing just how beneficial it would be for everyone to realize the benefits of this gay-topia. There are a few recorded instances of prejudice in the early parts of the narrative, but they never take a center stage like they do in so many novels that approach the topic of gay teens.

The setting of this novel is particularly important, because many teen novels about homosexual relationships are full of many other things besides just the romance itself. Without the acceptance of this fictional community, the relationships would develop much differently and it would be an entirely different story. The character of Paul, who has always been gay but "wasn't confirmed until [he] was in kindergarten," would face many more obstacles in any other setting. While the setting at first seems idealistic, the character interactions and romances rely on it, and it is these interactions that make the book compelling.

Bibliography

Levithan, David. Boy meets boy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. ISBN 0375832998.

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Awards/Reviews

Lambda Literary Award - Children's/Young Adult 2003

From Publishers Weekly:

The story line takes second place to the elements of the setting. The author creates a real wonderland: the cheerleaders ride Harleys, the school fields a quiz bowling team (its captain "score[s] a strike while listing the complete works of the Bront? sisters") and the students frequent a Veggie D's (vegetarians ran the "usual processed-slaughterhouse fast-food joint" out of business, and now the place serves items like Tofu Veg-Nuggets). Most of these eccentricities work well, although a few seem forced (and some seem dated, e.g., references to the TV show Dallas and lyrics by The Smiths) and several subplots pall. Those who enter Levithan's sweet new world will find a refreshing, offbeat romance.

From School Library Journal:

High school sophomore Paul lives in a present-day gaytopia, where boys come out of the closet to become class president, and the Gay-Straight Alliance has more members than the football team. The cheerleaders ride Harleys, and the cross-dressing homecoming queen is also the star quarterback. Paul meets artistic Noah in the bookstore. They pass notes rife with meaningful detail; paint in Noah's psychedelic, art-covered room; and fall in sweet, realistic teenage love, unencumbered by gay bashing, sexual-identity crises, and parental rejection. With these real-world plot constraints removed, the narrative is driven completely by colorful, literate characters at their unfettered best. Paul is the cerebral teen's dream narrator-reflective and insightful, occasionally snarky, and consistently hilarious. Levithan's whimsical, energetic prose and surreal setting draw comparisons to Weetzie Bat-era Francesca Lia Block. The sharp humor and thoughtful clarity of the narration are on par with those in Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower (MTV, 1999) and Ellen Wittlinger's Hard Love (S & S, 1999). Levithan's prophecy of a hate-free world in which everyone loves without persecution makes this a provocative and important read for all young adults, gay or straight.-Johanna Lewis, New York Public Library

From Booklist:

Paul, a high-school sophomore, is gay. Big deal! He's known he was gay since he was in kindergarten. Remarkably, everybody else knows it, too, and nobody cares. Clearly, the world Paul inhabits in this breakthrough book (the first upbeat gay novel for teens) differs from the real world: two boys walk through town holding hands; the cross-dressing quarterback, named Infinite Darlene, is not only captain of the football team but also homecoming queen; the school has a biker cheerleading team. Even in this whimsical world, however, the course of true love doesn't always run smoothly: Paul meets--and gets--the boy, Noah, a new kid in town, but loses him. Then, in perfect balance with this extraordinarily large-hearted, cheerful book, something unpredictable but deeply satisfying happens. Though at times arch and even precious, this wacky, charming, original story is never outrageous, and its characters are fresh, real, and deeply engaging. In its blithe acceptance and celebration of human differences, this is arguably the most important gay novel since Nancy Garden's Annie on My Mind; it certainly seems to represent a revolution in the publishing of gay-themed books for adolescents. --Michael Cart

From Voice of Youth Advocates:

Hilarious, romantic, and optimistic, the story provides another view of what life could be like if the world were more accepting, showing how youth solidarity can overcome the fears of the most homophobic parents. This title is a keeper for public and secondary school libraries; purchase multiple copies if there is a Gay-Straight Alliance in town.-Cynthia Winfield.

From Kirkus:

Somewhere on the eastern coast of the US that's home to Francesca Lia Block's Los Angeles is a town where six-foot-five drag queens play high-school football, kindergarten teachers write comments like "Definitely gay and has a very good sense of self" on student report cards, quiz-bowl teams are as important as football teams, and cheerleaders ride Harleys. Paul and his friends go to high school in this town. Paul meets Noah, falls for him, does something dumb, and loses him. The last half of the story is about Paul working to get Noah back. Paul narrates his own story, and he talks and thinks like teens wish they did, much like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and her Scooby squad. Paul learns that love is still scary when boy meets boy even if it's as accepted as mom's apple pie. With wry humor, wickedly quirky and yet real characters, and real situations, this is a must for any library serving teens.

Related Links

• List of Lambda Literary Award Winners - Explore more LGBT works

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Module 2 - Realism, Romance & Censorship

"Read three of the following selections:"

Plot Summary

Georgia Nicholson is 14 and longing for the attention of boys - especially from the "Sex God". She and her group of friends have many humorous misadventures in their pursuit of the opposite sex. Georgia's cat Angus and little sister Libby also assist in making Georgia's life an embarrassing teen nightmare. Universal teen forces like embarrassment, lust, inexperience and jealousy intertwine to form a comedic epistolary novel.

Critical Analysis

This book was pretty fabulous. There are many journal entries where Georgia will write one thing and five minutes later change her mind entirely on the subject. It had me laughing out loud (in public, no less!) many times. The diary format makes it easy to read, but hard to put down. This could be of great benefit for reluctant readers when coupled with the humorous voice of the protagonist, Georgia.

The plot itself is fairly typical for teen stories. The girl finds a boy she likes, he is seeing someone else, she tries kissing and dating other boys, is jealous of his other girls, she tries interfering with the boy's relationship, and ends up with the boy at the end. The humor in this one is really what sets it apart from others with similar plot lines. Who else has a wild cat and insane little sister to liven things up?

Set in modern-day Britain, the British slang might be a bit hard to get through for modern American teens, but the presence of a glossary does help. It becomes its own language in a way as the book progresses, much like the slang of A Clockwork Orange. It's not incomprehensible and definitely adds to the flavor and humor of the text, while firmly placing the novel in its British surroundings. Combined with Georgia's unique sense of humor, the story feels very Britcom in book format.

Overall, the unique humor of the characters, the British flavor of the slang, the typical teen situations, and the short diary entries combine to form a fast paced comedic romp that any love-struck or awkward teen can relate to. With ten books in Georgia's series of confessions, there are lots more to read when teens find they like this first book.

Bibliography

Rennison, Louise. Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging: confessions of Georgia Nicolson. London: Harper Collins, 2000. ISBN 0060288140.

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Connections

• Read more books with a unique take on slang.
  

  A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
  Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
  Bumped by Megan McCafferty
  

• Read more confessions from Georgia Nicolson.
  

  On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God: Further Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison
  Knocked Out by My Nunga-Nungas: Further, Further Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison
  Dancing in My Nuddy-Pants: Even Further Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison
  

• Compare it to the movie version.
  

  Angus Thongs & Perfect Snogging starring Georgia Groome

Awards/Reviews

Michael L. Printz Honor Book 2001

From Publishers Weekly:

British writer Rennison's subject matter may be the stuff of Bridget Jones's Diary, but the wit and bite of her delivery shares more in common with Monty Python. In a spectacular YA debut (Rennison is a comedy writer and columnist), the author creates a winning protagonist in the persona of 14-year-old Georgia Nicolson, whose wry observations and self-deprecating humor covers everything from prudish parents and bed-wetting three-year-old siblings to errant cat behavior and kissing (aka snogging) lessons. Teens will discover that nothing is sacred here (e.g., "Talking of breasts, I'm worried that I may end up like the rest of the women in my family, with just the one bust, like a sort of shelf affair"). Rennison exquisitely captures the fine art of the adolescent ability to turn chaos into stand-up comedy. For instance, when Georgia's father finds a new job in New Zealand, the teen says she's already formed her opinion of the country based on the TV show Neighbours; when her mother says, "Well, that's set in Australia," Georgia thinks, "What is this, a family crisis or a geography test?" Written as diary entries, the novel flouts the conceit, as when Georgia reports on a tennis match that she's playing concurrently ("I fall to my knees like McEnroe and the crowd is going mad"). The author bio indicates that Rennison is working on two more Georgia books; readers can only hope this heroine will keep them laughing all the way through high school.

From School Library Journal:

This is the hilarious Bridget Jones-like diary of 14-year-old Georgia, who has a rather wild cat named Angus, a three-year-old sister who pees in her bed, and a best friend who is in love with the vegetable seller's son. Georgia discusses kissing (snogging) lessons, which she needs because she has just met the "Sex God" of her dreams; what to wear to parties and school; and how to spy on your crush's girlfriend (this is where thongs come into play). In typical teen manner, Georgia lives in her own world; she thinks she is ugly, is convinced that her parents are weird, positively abhors schoolwork, and has a deep desire to be beautiful and older. Yet she still has time to enjoy the mad antics of her cat and indulge her odd but sweet sister. It will take a sophisticated reader to enjoy the wit and wisdom of this charming British import, but those who relish humor will be satisfied. Fresh, lively, and engaging.-Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Aloha, OR

From Booklist:

Although performer and comedy writer Rennison clearly owes a large debt to Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary (1998), her Georgia is a wonderful character whose misadventures are not only hysterically funny but universally recognizable. This "fabbity, fab, fab" novel will leave readers cheering, "Long live the teen!" and anxiously awaiting the promised sequel. --Michael Cart

From Voices of Youth Advocates:

Georgia Nicholson, the intrepid heroine of this hysterically funny coming-of-age novel, faces the usual traumas of teendom - pimple outbreaks, chest development (or lack thereof), and embarrassing parents. How she deals with each of these and myriad other problems, though, is what sets this novel apart from the typical and predictable. In episodic entries into her personal journal, readers learn how Georgia manages to attend a school she deems a "stalag," how she learns the techniques of snogging ("kissing" to the uninitiated), and ultimately how she becomes a more assured teen. Georgia is relentless in her journal entries, which come across as comic riffs. She questions all authority, wanting to know WHY and HOW and WHEN. It is Georgia's distinct voice that will capture readers and leave them wanting a sequel so they can find out how Georgia's budding relationship with Robbie pans out. The clever title and catchy cover surely will attract loads of readers. The only element that might keep this book from flying off the shelf is the preponderance of British slang in Georgia's journal entries and in the conversations among the main characters. Although the author includes a glossary at the end of the novel, some teens may not find using it repeatedly "double cool with knobs," but rather "poxy. -Teri Lesesne.

Related Links

• BBC Slink interview with author Louise Rennison
• Georgia Nicolson on Twitter (last updated 2009)
• Official Georgia Nicolson site - in US, UK, and AU versions. Try them all, because they each offer something different.