Smart Boys and Fast Girls

Smart Boys and Fast Girls

by Stephanie Davis
Published by Smooch, NY
2005
image retrieved - http://www.dyestat.com/3store/Smart%20Boys%20and%20Fast%20Girls.jpg

Plot Summary

This is the story of senior varsity track runner, Natalie. She believes that the most important thing to her life is to be seen as popular, smart and no longer single. Her success on the running team is her ticket it all; she'll become friends with the popular team captain, and catch the attention of heart throb, Zach, the captain on the senior boys varsity team.
Because of failing math grades, Natalie is in danger of being dropped from the team. Her coach and math instructor have arranged for Natalie to be tutored by her bookish and somewhat geeky classmate Matt. Ashamed of her failing grades, and with the fear that everybody will know that she is 'stupid', she pretends to be Matt's girlfriend.
Natalie likes the attention her new 'boyfriend' gets her, her closest girlfriends all have steady boyfriends and she finds herself being included in their group dates. On top of this inclusion, Zach has suddenly expressed interest in her and wants to start dating her. However, she finds that she likes being Matt's 'pretend girlfriend' and is faced with having to listen to her true feelings, and be with Matt, at the risk of being perceived as un 'cool'.

Comments

This is a typical teenage romance novel:
girl likes popular boy, but
girl is stuck in a mandatory situation with a gawky boy,
girl falls for gawky boy,
cool boy starts to like girl
girl makes a 'hard' decision
girl and gawky boy live happily ever after

The story is well written, the characters are likeable, however the circumstances that Natalie gets herself into are unbelievable. This book is a classic example of the scripted, purely make-belief Hollywood romance ideals that permeate North American society. I believe that this sort of imaginary/real life drama can only be a detriment to young girls. True love is not what this romance novels make it out to be.

The book does offer some naturalistic insights, it depicts the sometimes caddy and insensitive interactions that girls have with each other. Davis also takes a sensitive approach to the high school classroom and tries to get the reader to see and accept all types of people, whether they are jocky sporty types, gothic dressers or smart brainy people.

Overall, I would not recommend this book. I guess I'm just not a sap for teen romance.

Age Range - 13-18

Ranking

Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging - confessions of Georgia Nicholson

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicholson
by Louise Rennison
Published by Harpertempest
1999
image retrieved - http://www.dyestat.com/3store/Smart%20Boys%20and%20Fast%20Girls.jpg

Plot Summary

This is the hilarious diary of Georgia Nicholson, a fourteen year old british girl who writes about her everyday dramatic and muddled teenage life. Throughout the book we learn about her adoring yet troublesome mixed-breed wildcat, Angus; her little sister, Libby, who frequently pees in Georgia's bed, but whom she loves; her best friend Jas; and 'the sex god' Robbie, who Georgia is crazy about.
During the year that this journal takes place, Georgia faces many challenges. Her father has to move to New Zealand for lack of work in England, she has friend troubles and her nose is not getting any smaller, she dreams of the day when she can have it shrunk, have her eyebrows shaped properly and when she grows breasts.
Oh wait! What will she wear to the party in two weeks? Told from her point of view, her priorities will make any girl giggle, this is a definite knee slapper!

Excerpt: Got dressed in a short skirt, then me and Jas walked up and down to the main road. We wanted to see how many cars with boys in them hooted at us. Ten! (We had to walk up and down for four hours.....still, ten is ten!!!) (page 155)

Comments

I recently fell on the ice and fractured my hand. While waiting in the emergency department of the hospical, surrounded by extremely sick people, I read this book. I really thought that it was my saving grace, thank goodness that I had had the foresight to bring it with me. Georgia's stories encompase all of the teenage characteristics and idiosyncracies that I had when I was a teen (well, hers are more dramatic). The book was so entertaining and funny that I was able to escape into her world and forget about the pain in my hand and the terrible place where I was spending my time.
The predicaments that Georgia finds herself in, her use of gritty yet straightforward language is of an endearing quality. Her insecurities are those of most girls, however, they seem like the end of the world to her. I think that many teenage girls would enjoy this book, for its humour and its dramatised true-life depcitions of the inner workings of straight teenager girls.
I would hight recommend this to any teenage reader.

Age Range - 12-16

Ranking

Dust

Dust

by Arthur SladePublished
by Harper Collins Publishers Ltd.
2001
image retrieved - http://www.canadacouncil.ca

Plot Summary

Set in the dust and drought filled town of Horshoe, Saskatchewan during the depression-era , Robert, the main protagonist's seven year old little brother, Matthew, goes missing one day while walking to town to buy candy at the general store. Robert's parents and the entire town embark on a mission to find Matthew. However, with the arrival of Abram Harisch, the pale skinned man who dazzles them with the promise of rain, the towns people begin forgetting all of the things that were once important to them, including the strange dissapearance of Matthew. Abram Harish's appearance into the community is of no concern to the adults, they are transfixed by him, and obediantly follow his vision of building a rain making machine, without asking any questions.
Robert has a strong sense of responsibility for the disappearance of his little brother, and suspects that the newcomer to the town, Abram Harish, has something to do with the zombie-like state of the townspeople and his brother's mysterious disappearance. He struggles against falling into the dream-like state, and embarks on an investigation to find his brother and the reasons for the town peoples strange trans-like-states.

Evaluative Comments

This book takes place in a very imaginative setting. Loosely based on Saskatchewan during the dust-bowl era in the 1930's, the events and circumstances that occur in this book are entirely fictional, exciting and mysterious.
Slade's use of evocative descriptive language hooked me after reading the first chapter. Robert, the protagonist, is a bookish young man who's views of the world are largely encompassed by his daydreaming nature and love of books. Although the only book permitted in his religous household is the bible, he has had the opportunity to read widely. His uncle sneaks books into the house, and Robert, pretending to read the bible, places books inside the great book as a disguise.
Much of the book is written from Robert's point of view, however at times, his descriptions of characters are are unbelievable, his observations are too mature and his detailed descriptions would not realistically be those of a teenager. Despite this criticism, I believe that this novel can be equally enjoyed by teenagers and adults. Slade covers all of his bases, the character development of the villain, Abram Harisch is thorough enough that the reader develops a sense of distaste for him, and wants to see how his evil nature is revealed.
I would highly recommend this book. It was a fast read, a page turner and allowed my imagination to run wild. These are all characteristics that I look for in a good book

Age Range - 13 - 24

Ranking